to it--and then we'll send
you to Congress."

"I might not care to go," returned the colonel, smiling.

"You could not resist, sir, the unanimous demand of a determined
constituency. Upon the rare occasions when, in this State, the office
has had a chance to seek the man, it has never sought in vain."

_Nineteen_

Time slipped rapidly by, and the colonel had been in Clarendon a
couple of months when he went home one afternoon, and not finding Phil
and Peter, went around to the Treadwells' as the most likely place to
seek them.

"Henry," said Miss Laura, "Philip does not seem quite well to-day.
There are dark circles under his eyes, and he has been coughing a
little."

The colonel was startled. Had his growing absorption in other things
led him to neglect his child? Phil needed a mother. This dear,
thoughtful woman, whom nature had made for motherhood, had seen things
about his child, that he, the child's father, had not perceived. To a
mind like Colonel French's, this juxtaposition of a motherly heart and
a motherless child seemed very pleasing.

He despatched a messenger on horseback immediately for Dr. Price. The
colonel had made the doctor's acquaintance soon after coming to
Clarendon, and out of abundant precaution, had engaged him to call
once a week to see Phil. A physician of skill and experience, a
gentleman by birth and breeding, a thoughtful student of men and
manners, and a good story teller, he had proved excellent company and
the colonel soon numbered him among his intimate friends. He had seen
Phil a few days before, but it was yet several days before his next
visit.

Dr. Price owned a place in the country, several miles away, on the
road to Mink Run, and thither the messenger went to find him. He was
in his town office only at stated hours. The colonel was waiting at
home, an hour later, when the doctor drove up to the gate with Ben
Dudley, in the shabby old buggy to which Ben sometimes drove his one
good horse on his trips to town.

"I broke one of my buggy wheels going out home this morning,"
explained the doctor, "and had just sent it to the shop when your
messenger came. I would have ridden your horse back, and let the man
walk in, but Mr. Dudley fortunately came along and gave me a lift."

He looked at Phil, left some tablets, with directions for their use,
and said that it was nothing serious and the child would be all right
in a day or two.

"What he needs, colonel, at his