"
The old man filled a pipe, and offering me one, continued,
"Although I seldom drink myself, it was my custom to always keep
some nourishing liquor in my house for passing guests, but to-night
I find myself without any." I hastened to offer him my flask,
which, after a moment's coyness, he accepted, and presently under
its benign influence at least ten years dropped from his shoulders,
and he sat up in his chair erect and loquacious.
"And how are affairs at the National Capital, sir?" he began.
Now, if there was any subject of which I was profoundly ignorant,
it was this. But the old man was evidently bent on having a good
political talk. So I said vaguely, yet with a certain sense of
security, that I guessed there wasn't much being done.
"I see," said the old man, "in the matters of resumption; of the
sovereign rights of States and federal interference, you would
imply that a certain conservative tentative policy is to be
promulgated until after the electoral committee have given their
verdict." I looked for help towards the lady, and observed feebly
that he had very clearly expressed my views.
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