it. He stole our caucus for you to-day, your grandfather did--"

"You don't mean to say I was nominated!"

"That's too polite a word, Mr. Harlan Thornton. I gave you the right one
the first time. He stampeded our caucus by having that fire set on the
Jo Quacca hills. Three sets of farm buildings offered up to the gods of
rotten politics! That's a nice kind of sacrifice, Thornton's grandson!
It goes well with the crowd you're in with. It will smell well in the
nostrils of the people of this State. You ought to be proud of being
made a lawmaker in that way."

It was not reproach--it was insult, sneered in the agitator's bitterest
tone.

"The property of three poor toilers of the soil laid flat in ashes, a
town terrified by danger rushing down through the heavens like the
flight of the war eagle," shouted Niles, declaiming after his accustomed
manner, "and all to put you into a seat in the State House, where you
can keep stealing the few things that your grandfather ain't had time or
strength to steal! You've had your bonfire and your celebration--now go
down and hoist the Star-Spangled Banner over 'The Barracks'--but you'd
better hoist it Union down!"

Harlan dropped off his horse and strode to Niles. He seized him by the
shoulder and shook him roughly, for the man had begun his oratory once
more.

"Enough of that, Niles! Was I chosen in the caucus to-day? I want yes or
no."

"Yes--and after three-quarters of the voters had been stampeded to fight
that fire that was sweeping down on their property! And you--"

Harlan pushed him to one side, leaped upon his horse, and rode away.
The girl jumped her roan to his side.

"It's wicked, Harlan," she gasped, "wicked! I heard him! What are you
going to do?"

That was another of her questions that he found it hard to answer. "I'm
going to find my grandfather, Clare, and I'm going in a great hurry.
Come, I can't talk now, little girl!"

They galloped down the long hill to the bridge, their horses neck and
neck.

"The last ride as playmates!" she cried, as they started. Her voice
broke, pathetically. He did not reply. He was too furiously angry to
trust himself in conversation at that moment, and he rode like a madman,
knowing that she could keep pace with him.

They drew rein at the end of the bridge.

"It's only a bit of a run for you now, little girl. I'll keep on home."

She put her hand out to him and held him for a moment.

"I'm afraid you'll go away to be