ent off down the street, joining the crowd
on the sidewalk, which was streaming away towards the fair grounds. A
roasted ox was to be served there, and speeches were to follow. The
road kept on to the south, down over the gentle slope, and turned aside
under the jack-oaks, and led through a wooden gate into an enclosure
which was used for the county fair. Down under the great shed by the
side of the race-track the people swarmed in thousands.

They were all standing about the rude tables, behind which helpers were
busily hewing off great lumps of beef and mutton, and slicing fat slabs
of bread, which were snatched and carried away in little paper plates
by the hungry men. Here and there beside their wagons, families were
eating a dinner of their own.

The same sober color predominated. There was a little more life and
gayety in their speech here. Their grim, harsh faces relaxed a little,
and now and then broke into unwonted smiles as they stood about
devouring their food and discussing the meeting, which they counted a
success. Everywhere were hearty handshakings and fraternal greetings.

All about the grounds stood feeble women in ill-fitting clothes, with
tired children in their aching arms, a painful sag in their weakened
loins. Bradley marvelled to think why such festivals had ever seemed
mirthful and happy to him. He wondered if there used to be so many
tired faces at the Grange picnics in Iowa. Were the farmers really less
comfortable and happy, or had he simply grown clear-sighted?

Kansas as it stood there was Democratic. Poverty has few distinctions
among its victims. The negro stood close beside his white brother in
adversity, and there was a certain relation and resemblance in their
stiffened walk, poor clothing, and dumb, imploring, empty hands. There
lay in the whole scene something tremendous, something far-reaching.
The movement it represented had the majesty, if not the volcanic
energy, of the rise of the peasants of the Vendee.

After the dinner was eaten, the people gradually took their seats on
the grand stand, facing a platform upon which the speakers were already
assembled. Bradley looked about for Ida, but she had not come. The
choir amused the people with a few Alliance songs, whose character may
be indicated by their titles: "Join the Alliance Step," "Get off the
Fence, Brother," "We're Marching Along," etc.

The people were watching eagerly for Ida's appearance; and when she
came in view,