"It is a glorious idea," said Mr. Bence. "The name of Harkless----"
Keating drowned the oratory. "But that isn't all. That little girl wants
him to go to Congress, and that settles it. He goes."
That evening Minnie and her father were strolling up and down the front
walk together, between the flowered borders.
"Do you give up?" asked the judge.
"Give up what? No!" returned his daughter.
"She hasn't told you?"
"Not yet; she and Mr. Fisbee left for the office right after those men
went."
"Haven't you discovered what the 'something about politics' she's doing
for him is? Did you understand what she meant by 'Our Candidate'?"
"Not exactly."
"Did you see her blush when she proposed that toast?"
"Yes. So would anybody--with all those men, and their eyes hanging out on
their cheeks!"
"Pooh! She got up the whole show. Do you know why?"
"I only know it's politics."
"Politics!" He glanced over his shoulder, and then, leaning toward her, he
said, in a low tone: "I'll tell you in confidence, Minnie; she's sending
him to Congress!"
"Ah!" she cried triumphantly. "If she loved him she wouldn't do that,
would she?"
"Minnie!" Briscoe turned upon her sternly. "I don't want to hear any more
talk like that. It's the way with some papers to jibe at our great
institutions, and you've been reading them; that's the trouble with you.
The only criticism any one has any business making against Congress is
that it's too good for some of the men we send there. Congress is our
great virtue, understand; the congressmen are our fault."
"I didn't mean anything like that," protested the girl. "I haven't been
reading any papers except the 'Herald.' I meant why should she send him
away if she cared about him?"
"She'll go with him."
"They couldn't both go. What would become of the 'Herald'?"
"They'd fix that easy enough; there are plenty of smart young fellows in
Rouen they could get to run it while they are in Washington."
"Mr. Harkless is sure to be elected, is he?"
"He is, if he's nominated."
"Can't he get the nomination?"
"Get it! Nobody ever happened to think of him for it till it came into
her head; and the only thing I look to see standing in the way of it is
Harkless himself; but I expect we can leave it to her to manage, and I
guess she will. She's got more diplomacy than Blaine. Kedge Halloway is up
the spout all right, but they want to keep it quiet; that's why she had
them come here instead of the office."