Part 54 (2/2)

There was a burst of cheering in the room. They had never even hoped for Ma.s.sachusetts. From first to last it was conceded to the enemy.

”Oh, if Ma.s.sachusetts only had as many votes as New York!” groaned Hobart. ”This is so good it can't be true!”

But Sylvia smiled through her tears.

Soon there was another cheer. Fresh despatches from Ma.s.sachusetts confirmed the earlier news and made it yet better; then the state was in doubt, now it inclined to Jimmy Grayson; the gains came in, steady and large.

”We've got it by at least 20,000,” exclaimed Mr. Dexter, exultantly.

”It's a regular upset. Who'd have thought it?”

It was true. It was known in a quarter of an hour that Ma.s.sachusetts had given a majority of 25,000 for Grayson, and behind their big sister came New Hamps.h.i.+re and Rhode Island, with small but sure majorities. Jimmy Grayson had carried three New England states, when all of them had been conceded to the enemy, one of the most surprising changes ever known in a Presidential election.

There were repeated cheers in the room. Even Jimmy Grayson was compelled to smile in satisfaction. But Harley did not have hope. This, in his opinion, was merely a pleasant incident--it could not have much effect on the result; Ma.s.sachusetts had a large vote, but those of New Hamps.h.i.+re and Rhode Island were small, and there against them stood the gigantic state of New York, towering like a mountain. New York had the biggest vote of all, and he did not see how it could be overcome.

Harley now and then wrote a paragraph of his despatch to his newspaper, telling of the scene at the candidate's house and how he and his friends looked and talked, but it did not take all his time. By-and-by he went out on the steps to see the crowd in the streets and to get the fresh air. The night was cold and raw, but its touch was soothing. His thoughts were with Jimmy Grayson. He yet had little hope, and he was thinking of all those gigantic labors wasted; it was a case where a man must win or lose every thing. At the transparency the rival crowds were cheering or groaning according to the news that came.

Harley turned back and met Mrs. Grayson.

”Tell me, Mr. Harley,” she said, and her eyes were eager, ”just how the election stands so far. I know that you will tell me the truth; is there really as much hope as the others seem to feel?”

Harley looked into her clear, brave eyes, and he replied honestly:

”I think there is some hope, Mrs. Grayson, but not much. Too many big states have gone against us, and we cannot offset big states with little ones. New York, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Alabama are all in the hostile line.”

”Thank you for the truth,” she said. ”I can stand it, and so can Mr.

Grayson.”

But Harley was not sure. He felt at times that this ordeal was too great for any man or woman. When he returned to the room they were announcing news from the Pacific coast.

”We have Was.h.i.+ngton,” said Mr. Dexter; ”and Oregon is against us, but California is in doubt.”

”But we mean to have California,” said Sylvia, and the others smiled.

Good reports came from the Rocky Mountain region, all the states there except Utah going for Grayson. It had been thought once by both sides that these doubtful states would decide the election, but with the great upset in the East and Middle West affairs took on another complexion, and they must make new calculations.

”Has anything been heard from Pennsylvania?” asked Mr. Heathcote.

Several laughed, and the laugh was significant.

”Nothing at all,” replied Mr. Dexter, and there was a suggestion of contempt in his tone; ”but why should we want to hear anything? It's sure for the enemy by at least 100,000, and he may get 200,000.

Pennsylvania is one state from which I don't want to hear anything at all.”

They laughed again, but, as nothing yet came from Pennsylvania, Harley's curiosity about it began to rise. ”Strange that we do not hear anything,” he said; but Mr. Dexter laughed, and promised to read in an extra loud tone the first Pennsylvania bulletin they should get.

It was nearly midnight now and the election was still undecided; midnight came and the situation was yet unchanged, but a full half-hour later Mr. Dexter cleared his throat and said, in a high voice:

”Listen, Mr. Harley! Here's your first Pennsylvania bulletin!”

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