ficence,
and he moved timidly on toward the centre of the rotunda with
hesitating and uncertain steps. It seemed to be the realization of his
imaginings of Chicago. It subdued him into absolute clownishness; and
the porter who rushed toward him and took his valise from his hands,
classified him off-hand as another one of those country fellows who
must be watched and prevented from blowing out the gas. Bradley signed
his name on the book without any flourishes, and without writing the
"Honorable" before his name, as most of the other members had done.

"Front!" yelled the clerk, in an imperative voice. Bradley started, and
then grew hot over his foolishness. "Show this gentleman to No. 30.
Like dinner?" the clerk asked, in a kindly interest. Bradley nodded,
suddenly remembering that in fashionable life dinner came at six
o'clock. "All ready in about ten minutes," the clerk said, looking at
the clock.

Bradley followed the boy to the elevator. He noticed that the darkey
did not enter with him, but ran up the stairs. He could see him rushing
around the curves, his hands sliding on the railings. He met him at the
door of the elevator and motioned to him--"This way, suh." There was
something in his tone that puzzled Bradley; and as he walked along the
hall, he thought of the soft carpet under his feet (it must have been
two inches thick) and of that tone in the boy's voice.

A dull fire of soft coal was burning on the grate, and the boy punched
it up, and said, "'Nother gent jes' left. I git some mo' coal."

The room, like all hotel rooms, was a desolate place, notwithstanding
its one or two elaborate pieces of furniture, its fine carpet, and its
easy chair. It had a distinctly homeless quality. Bradley sat down in
the big chair before the fire, and took time to think it all over. He
was really here as a legislator for a great State. The responsibility
and honor of the position came upon him strongly as he sat there alone
in this great hotel looking at the fire. That he, of all the men in his
county, should have been selected for this office, was magnificent. He
drew a long sigh, and said inwardly:

"I'll be true to my trust." And he meant, in addition, to be so
dignified and serious that he would not seem young to the other
legislators.

He was reading, from a little frame on the wall, the rules of the house
when the boy knocked on the door, and started away toward the fire so
that the boy should not suspect what he