ut, shaking his hand with
great heartiness. He moved on with them to the sidewalk, where many of
the congregation stood talking in groups. The women came by in their
starched neatness, leading rebellious boys in torturing suits of winter
thickness topped with collars, stiff as sauce pans; while the little
girls walked as upright as dolls, looking disdainfully at their sulking
brothers. Some of the merchants passing by discussed the sermon, some
talked about crops with the farmers, and those around Bradley dipped
into the political situation guardedly.

While he was talking to some of the town people, he saw Nettie come up
and join a young man at the door whom he had recognized as the tenor in
the choir; and they sauntered off together under the full-leafed
maples--she in dainty white and pink, he in a miraculously modish suit
of gray, a rose in his lapel. Bradley looked after them without special
wonder. It was only as he went back to his room that he began to see
how fully Nettie had outgrown her passion for him.

* * * * *

He met her the next day as he was going home from the office.

"Hello, Bradley," she said, without blushing, though her eyes wavered
before his.

He held out his hand with a frank smile. "Hello, Nettie, which way are
you going?"

"Going home now, been up to the grocery. Want to go 'long?"

"I don't mind. How are you, anyway?"

"Oh, I'm all right. Say! that beard of yours makes you look as funny as
old fun."

"Does it?" he said.

"You bet! It makes you look old enough to go to Congress. Say! heard
from Radbourn lately?" Bradley shook his head. "Well, I haven't, but
Lily has. He's writing--writing for the newspapers, she said."

"Is that so? I haven't heard it."

"E-huh! Say, do you know Lily's all bent on him yet! Funny, ain't it? I
ain't that way, am I?" she ended, with her customary audacity.

"No, it's out o' sight, out o' mind with you," he replied, with equal
frankness.

"Oh, not quite so bad as that. Ain't yeh comin' in?" They were at the
gate.

"Guess not. You remember your father's command; I must never darken
his door."

She laughed heartily. "I guess that don't count now."

"Don't it? Well, some other time then."

"All right, but gimme that basket. Goin' to lug that off with you?"

XVI.

NOMINATION.

On the Monday evening following Bradley's return, there was quite a
gathering at Robie's along about sundown. Colo