From the way Betty Winter had laughed she was quite capable of flying two strings to her bow. And with all the keener interest because they happened to be brothers. Why had she asked him so pointedly about John? He had excited her curiosity, of course, by his silly brother--hero-worship. He had told her of his brilliant career in New York under Horace Greeley on the _Tribune_--of Greeley's personal interest, and the flattering letter he had written to Colonel Forney, which had made him the city editor of the New Party organ in Washington--of his cool heroism the night the mob had attacked the _Republican_ office--and last he had hinted of an affair over a woman in New York that had led to a challenge and a bloodless duel--bloodless because his opponent failed to appear. It was his own fault, of course, if Betty was keeping him at arm's length to-day. No girl could fail to be interested in such a man--no matter who her father might be--Puritan or Cavalier. His arm trembled in spite of his effort at self-control as he led her down the stately steps of the eastern facade toward the Inaugural platform. He paused on the edge of the boards and pointed to the huge bronze figure of the statue of Liberty which had been cast to crown the dome of the Capitol. It lay prostrate in the mud and the crowds were climbing over it. "I wonder if Miss Liberty will ever be lifted to her place on high?" he said musingly. "If they do finish the dome," Betty replied, "and crown it with that bronze, my father should sue for damages. One of his most eloquent figures of speech will be ruined. That prostrate work of art lying in the mud has given thousands of votes to the Republicans. I've caught myself crying over his eloquence at times myself." Ned Vaughan smiled: "A queer superstition has grown up in Washington that the dome of the Capitol will never be completed----" "Do you believe it?" "No. It will be finished. But I'm not sure whether Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis will preside on that occasion." "And I haven't the slightest doubt on that point," Betty said with quick emphasis. "I thought you were not a student of politics?" he dryly observed. "I'm not. It's just a feeling. Women know things by intuition." The young man glanced upward at the huge crane which swung from the unfinished structure of the dome. "Anyhow, Miss Betty," he said smilingly, "your Black Republican President has a beautiful day for the Inaugural." "We'll hope it's a sign for the future--shall we?" "I hope so," was the serious answer. "God knows there haven't been many happy signs lately. It was dark and threatening at dawn this morning and a few drops of rain fell up to eight o'clock." "You were up at dawn?" the girl asked in surprise. "Yes. The Senate has been in session all night over the new amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing to the South security in the possession of their slaves." "And they passed it?" "Yes----" "Over my father's prostrate form?"