as a being, has its birth, mature age, and
decay. None seemingly is endowed with the attribute of immutability. It
was the fond hope of our forefathers that the United States should prove
the exception. Imperialism was the reef on which the classic empires
were wrecked; commercialism is the danger that threatens our ship of
state."

"You must take a brighter view of the situation," insists the sensitive
woman, to whom these lugubrious words are as dagger thrusts. "You must
fight as if there was not the shadow of a doubt but that you will be
successful. I have a premonition (woman's intuition, if you prefer),
that you will be the victor in this struggle."

With these words of encouragement ringing in his ears, Trueman departs.
He has yielded to the human weakness which prompts a man to confide his
inmost thoughts to woman. Kingdoms have been destroyed, empires have
crumbled in a day; the world's greatest generals have seen their
carefully designed campaigns fall flat, all through the treachery of
women in failing to keep secret the confessions of their confidants.

The admission that Trueman has made of his misgivings as to the result
of the election, if it were made public, would shatter his every chance.
The world will not lend its support to a man or a cause that admits its
hopelessness. A forlorn hope, however forlorn, has never wanted
volunteers.

Fortunately Trueman has made a confidant of a woman unselfishly and
devotedly his friend, and who has the good sense to realize that his
untrammeled utterances to her are for her alone.

It is eleven o'clock when Trueman reaches his party's headquarters. He
finds his supporters working with the feverish energy that attaches to a
desperate situation. The soldiers of a beleaguered fortress man the guns
with a disregard to fatigue and danger that is inspiring; the men at the
pumps, when the word goes forth that the ship is sinking, work with a
frenzy that defies nature; so it is with the leaders of the Independence
party. They are fighting against appalling odds, yet they do not stop to
question the result. "Work, work, work!" is the command they obey.

"The indications from the Southern States are brighter than ever," one
of the committeemen tells Trueman.

"Judge for yourself," adds another, and he hands the candidate a
telegram. It is from New Orleans. Trueman reads it aloud:

"CHAIRMAN BAILEY, National Headquarters, Independence
Party, Chicago, Ill.:

Fro