that, in returning a man of integrity and tradition to his seat in the
Congress of the nation, you have rendered a service to the nation."

The senator paused, and Aladdin, still standing, waited for him to
finish.

"After a week," said the senator, "I shall return to my duties in
Washington. In the meanwhile, Margaret" (he had hitherto always referred
to her before Aladdin as "my daughter") "and I are keeping open house,
and if it will give you pleasure we shall be charmed" (the word fell
from the senator's lips like a complete poem) "to have you make us a
visit. Two of my sons will be at home, and other young people."

"Indeed, and it will give me pleasure!" cried Aladdin, falling into the
least suspicion of a brogue.

"I will write a line to your chief," continued the senator, "and I have
reason to believe that he will see you excused. We shall expect you
to-morrow by the fourthirty."

"I'm ever so much obliged, sir," said Aladdin.

"My boy," said the senator, gravely, after a full minute's pause, "we
are all concerned in your future, which promises to be a brilliant
one. It rests with you. But, if an old man may be permitted a word of
caution, it would be this: Let your chief recreation lie in your work;
leave the other things. Do I make myself clear enough?" (Aladdin nodded
guiltily.) "Leave the frailties to the dullards of this world."

He rose to go.

"My young friend," said the senator, "you have my best wishes."

Grimacing with the pain in his foot, limping badly, but always stately
and impressive,--almost superimpending,--Hannibal St. John moved slowly
out of the office.

XV

The weather turned suddenly gusty and cold, and that afternoon it began
to snow, and it kept on snowing. All night fine dry flakes fell in
unexampled profusion, and by morning the face of the land was many
inches deep. Nor did the snow then cease. All the morning it continued
to fall with vigor. The train by which Aladdin was to go to the St.
Johns' left at two-thirty, arriving there two hours later; and it was
with numb feet and stinging ears that he entered the car reserved for
smokers, and, bundling in a somewhat threadbare over coat, endeavored
to make himself comfortable for the journey. As the train creaked and
jerked out of the protecting station, the storm smote upon the windows
with a noise like thrown sand, and a back draft down the chimney of
the iron stove in one end of the car sent out puffs of smutty smo