rms
established before the gray comes into my hair. If we are true to
ourselves; if our leaders are true to themselves; if they do not become
spoils of office"--she looked at Bradley, and the others followed her
glance; she saw her mistake, and colored a little as she went on--"if
they are true to their best convictions, and speak the new thoughts
that come to them, poverty will not increase her dominion."

She closed by saying: "We have with us tonight a very distinguished
young Congressman from Iowa,--the Honorable Mr. Talcott. I hope he will
feel like saying something to you."

While the people stamped and clapped hands, Ida went over to Bradley
and said: "You _must_ talk to them. Tell them just what you think."

Bradley rose. He would have done more had she asked it. He began by
speaking of the Grange and its decline, and of the apparent
hopelessness of expecting the farmers to remain united.

"I am not quite convinced the time has come for a political movement.
If I were, I'd join it, even though some of the planks in your platform
were objectionable, for I am a farmer. My people for generations have
been tillers of the soil. They have always been poor. All the blood in
my heart goes out, therefore, towards the farmer and the farmers'
movement. It seems a hopeless thing to fight the privileged classes,
with all their power and money. It can be done, but it can be done only
by union among all the poor of every class. Since coming to your State,
since day before yesterday, my mind has been changed. If I thought--if
I could believe--" As he paused he caught Ida's eyes shining into his,
and at the moment the one thing in all the world worth doing was to
follow her wish. "I do believe, and I'm with you from this time
forward." He ended there, but he stood for a moment numb, and tingling
with emotion. He had uttered a resolution which changed the course of
his life.

The people seemed to realize the importance of this confession on the
part of the speaker. There was a vibrant intensity in the tone of his
voice, which every listener felt, and they broke out in wild applause
as he abruptly ended and sat down.

Ida, with her eyes shining and wet, reached forward over the seat, and
clasped his hand and held it. "Glorious! Now you're with us, heart and
soul!" In their exaltation it did not occur to either of them what a
strange place this little schoolhouse was for such a far-reaching
compact.

*