I. THE GRANGE PICNIC 1 II. THE DINNER UNDER THE OAKS 17 III. BRADLEY RESOLVES TO GO TO SCHOOL 26 IV. BRADLEY'S TRIALS AT SCHOOL 38 V. BRADLEY RISES TO ADDRESS THE CARTHAGINIANS 58 VI. BRADLEY ATTENDS A CONVENTION 78 VII. THE FARMERS OUST THE RING 87 VIII. BRADLEY OFFENDS NETTIE'S FATHER 95 IX. BRADLEY MEETS MRS. BROWN 102 X. A COUNTRY POLLING PLACE 111 XI. STUDYING WITH THE JUDGE 122 XII. THE JUDGE ADVISES BRADLEY 129 XIII. BRADLEY SEES IDA AGAIN 136 XIV. BRADLEY CHANGES HIS POLITICAL VIEWS 158 XV. HOME AGAIN WITH THE JUDGE 169 XVI. NOMINATION 180 XVII. ELECTION 195 XVIII. "DON'T BLOW OUT THE GAS" 203 XIX. CARGILL TAKES BRADLEY IN HAND 218 XX. AT THE STATE HOUSE 232 XXI. BRADLEY AND CARGILL CALL ON IDA 242 XXII. THE JUDGE PLANS A NEW CAMPAIGN 253 XXIII. ON TO WASHINGTON 265 XXIV. RADBOURN SHOWS BRADLEY ABOUT THE CAPITAL 272 XXV. IDA COMES INTO HIS LIFE AGAIN 289 XXVI. CONGRESSIONAL LIFE 296 XXVII. BRADLEY'S LONG-CHERISHED HOPE VANISHES 306 XXVIII. SPRING CONVENTIONS 314 XXIX. BRADLEY DISCOURAGED 327 XXX. THE GREAT ROUND UP 334 XXXI. IDA SHOWS BRADLEY THE WAY OUT 350 XXXII. CONCLUSION. 367 A SPOIL OF OFFICE. I. THE GRANGE PICNIC. Early in the cool hush of a June morning in the seventies, a curious vehicle left Farmer Councill's door, loaded with a merry group of young people. It was a huge omnibus, constructed out of a heavy farm wagon and a hay rack, and was drawn by six horses. The driver was Councill's hired man, Bradley Talcott. Councill himself held between his vast knees the staff of a mighty flag in which they all took immense pride. The girls of the grange had made it for the day.