year and I fear we shall lose him."

He seemed to be packing the day I was there. His rooms were full of dry

goods boxes, into which his servant was crowding all manner of old

clothes and stuff: I suppose he will paint 'Pub. Docs' on them and frank

them home. That's good economy, isn't it?"

Yes, yes, but child, all Congressmen do that. It may not be strictly

honest, indeed it is not unless he had some public documents mixed in

with the clothes."

"It's a funny world. Good-bye, uncle. I'm going to see that chairman."

And humming a cheery opera air, she departed to her room to dress for

going out. Before she did that, however, she took out her note book and

was soon deep in its contents; marking, dashing, erasing, figuring, and

talking to herself.

"Free! I wonder what Dilworthy does think of me anyway? One . . .

two . . . eight . . . seventeen . . . twenty-one . . . 'm'm

it takes a heap for a majority. Wouldn't Dilworthy open his eyes if he

. . knew some of the things Balloon did say to me. There . . .

Hopperson's influence ought to count twenty . . . the sanctimonious

old curmudgeon. Son-in-law . . . sinecure in the negro institution.

. . That about gauges him . . . The three committeemen . . .

sons-in-law. Nothing like a son-in-law here in Washington or a brother-

The Gilded Age