ty, but I am free
to state that your account of it has turned my stomach. My reasons for
selecting it were, partly, that in principle at least it more nearly
approached the Liberal party in England; partly because of its weakness
in strong men. But if it is as rotten as you say I am afraid it would be
a waste of time to qualify for it; I certainly could not work in
harmony with it. However, there is an abundance of time for close
observation. I cannot vote for four years, and if I finally decide in
favor of the Republican party, at least we shall not be rivals."

"_Jiminy!_" exclaimed young Colton, ingenuously; but Gwynne could see
the glitter of his eye. "Well, I'm glad to hear it. Not much you don't
go over to the Republicans! There isn't five cents' worth of choice
between the two parties when it comes to a square deal on any measure
ever put up, and this slow wave of reform that's trying to crawl over
the country--against trusts, graft, and the like--is just strong enough
to swamp the Republicans and give us our chance. Rivals! Not a bit of
it. There's room for all, and you're just the man we want. Isabel told
me you were a wonderful speaker--I'd forgotten. That's _just_ what we
want. I can't speak for a cent. There's no one in the district that can
carry a crowd. The boss was wailing over it the other day. You can do a
lot in the next four years. You'll go to all the conventions and county
meetings with me and make my speeches. I'll introduce you to everybody
that can put you _on_. You've fallen into clover with the judge, because
his only son, who was practising with him, has had to go to southern
California to live--nerves all broken up. He'll push you all right, and
as soon as you have swallowed the California codes you can practise in
the courts by courtesy. Then I'll take you to Sacramento with me next
year--I'm a senator this term--as my private secretary, and you'll learn
a lot. Your hair will stand up straight, but never mind. All that will
pave the way for whatever office you want to begin with when your papers
are ripe. I'll see that it's a good conspicuous town or county office,
and the legislature will follow as a matter of course. That will fill in
while you are waiting a chance for Congress--you must be seven years in
the country for that--nine for the Senate. Only, you must swallow us
whole. You can't make us over. We Democrats are determined to get on top
again and have our chance at the pickings. We