en right on the railroad question, on the oleo
question, and the bank question. It's going to count. That speech of
yours, yesterday, I'm going to send broadcast in Rock County. The
district convention will meet in June early. Foster will pave the way
for your nomination, by saying Rock County should have a congressman.
We'll go into the convention with a clear two-thirds majority, and then
declare your nomination unanimous. You see, your youth will be in your
favor. Your election will follow, sure. The only fight will be in the
convention."

"Looks like spring, to-day," Bradley said. It was his way of closing an
argument.

"Well, good-by. You'll find the whole pot boiling when you come home,"
the Judge said, as the train started.

As February drew on and the snow fled, the earth-longing got hold upon
Bradley. It was almost seed time, with its warm, mellow soil, its
sweeping flights of prairie pigeons, its innumerable swarms of tiny
clamorous sparrows, its whistling plovers, and its passing wild fowl.
The thought came to him there, for the first time, that nature was not
malignant nor hard; that life on a farm might be the most beautiful and
joyous life in the world. The meaning of Ida's words at last took
definite and individual shape in his mind. He had assimilated them now.

* * * * *

Bradley gave himself up to the Judge's plans. He went home in April
with eagerness and with reluctance. He was eager to escape the smoke of
the city and reluctant to leave behind him all chance to see Ida. This
feeling of hungry disappointment dominated him during his day's ride.
He had seen her but twice during his stay in Des Moines, and now--when
would he see her again?

This terrible depression and sharp pain wore away a little by the time
he reached home, and the active campaign which followed helped him to
bear it. He still wrote to her, and she replied without either
encouragement and without explicit displeasure. The campaign was really
the Judge's fight. Bradley was his field officer. Victory in the
convention only foreshadowed the sweeping victory in October. He
resigned as legislator, to become a congressman.

XXIII.

ON TO WASHINGTON.

In the west (as in rural America anywhere), the three types of great
men in the peoples' eyes are the soldier, the politician and the
minister. The whole people appear to revere the great soldier, the men
admire the successful polit