linching under the indignant protest.

"If it's yours will you inform me what you intend to do with it?"

"I intend to introduce it in the House at to-morrow's session and work
for its passage."

"He's got a bill there," roared the chairman, turning to the Duke,
"that's written by the Devil himself! It makes old Waymouth archfiend of
all the ramrodders in this State! Our sheriffs are made his deputies and
the Russian Tsar becomes a hog-reeve beside him." He blurted out the
purport of the measure, garnishing the recital with good, round oaths.

"So you're loaded with that, are you?" inquired the elder Thornton. He
was as careless of the presence of the listeners as the chairman had
been. He began invective, but the young man broke in.

"Grandfather," he said, firmly, "I've listened long enough to that kind
of talk from you and Mr. Presson--I've listened to all kinds of reasons
why a man should come here and sell his soul for the sake of getting
ahead in politics." He was thinking of the temptation that had come to
him in the form of Madeleine Presson. "I don't want any more of it. I
don't know of any reason why this State shouldn't obey its laws so long
as they remain laws. As to my private business, I suggest that the two
of you keep still."

They had no appetite for further discourse with this young madman just
then.

The Duke turned on his heel and walked out. Presson followed.

"Gentlemen," said the young man to those who remained, "I have no
quarrel with you. I do not want any. Do you understand?" He wiped his
hands with his handkerchief, smoothed his hair, and walked past them.

As calmly as he could he hurried through the lobbies and the rotunda of
the State House. The crowds were thinning. The band had gone. The women
had scattered to prepare for the ball of the evening. Among the few that
were left he could not find her.

He went back to his committee-room and pondered until dusk fell.

One matter presented itself to his mood as a duty. He called a carriage
and was driven to the Presson home.

Madeleine came down in answer to his card. But as she entered the
reception-room her father followed at her heels, beginning threats as he
came in.

"Father," she said, quietly, "I have just listened to you. You need not
fear that I do not understand myself and my duty. I ask you to retire."

He stood there a moment, still muttering his wrathful protest, but in
the end her dignity mastered him. He went away