‘Been in an asylum?’ Mr. St. Claire said, wonderingly.

‘Yes,’ Arthur continued, ’I was only out three months ago.  I wrote occasionally to Frank and Gretchen, but did not tell them where I was.  They called it a maison de sante, and treated me well because I paid well, but the sight of so many crazy people made me worse, and if I had staid I should have been mad as the maddest of them.  As it was, I forgot almost everything that ever happened, and fancied I was an Austrian.  As soon as I came out I was better, though I was not quite myself till I got to Liverpool.  Then things came back to me.  Stand by me, St. Claire.  I can see I am in the way, and Frank would like to be rid of me; but stand by me, and don’t let them do it.’

His manner was very pleading, and like one who was in fear of something, and remembering the past when a golden-haired girl had begged him to save her from iron bars and bolts, Mr. St. Claire assured him of his support against any steps which might be taken to prove him mad enough for the asylum.

‘But I would not come for Gretchen any more,’ he said.  ’I would give her a rest.  Who is she?’

Instantly the old look of cunning came into Arthur’s eyes, as he replied: 

‘She is Gretchen;’ and then he walked toward the carriage, while Mr. St. Claire looked curiously after him, and said to himself: 

’That fellow is not right, but he is not a subject for a mad house, and I should oppose his being sent there.  I do not believe, however, that they will try it on.’

CHAPTER X.

ARTHUR SETTLES HIMSELF.

They did try it on, but not until after the November election, at which Frank was defeated by a large majority, for Peterkin worked against him and brought all the ‘heft of his powerful disapprobation’ to bear upon him.  Although Frank had had no part in turning him from the door that morning after the party, he had not tried to prevent it by a word, and this the low, brutal man resented, and swearing vengeance upon the whole Tracy tribe, declared his intention to defeat Frank if it cost him half his fortune to do so.  And it did cost him at least two thousand dollars, for Frank Tracy was popular with both parties; many of the Democrats voted for him, but the rabble, the scum, those who could be bought on both sides, went against him, even to the Widow Shipley’s four sons; and when all was over, Frank found himself defeated by just as many votes as old Peterkin had paid for, not only in Shannondale, but in the adjoining towns, where his money carried ‘heft,’ as he expressed it.

It was a terrible disappointment to Frank and his wife, who had looked forward to enjoying a winter in Washington, where they intended to take a house and enjoy all society had to offer them in the national metropolis.  Particularly were they anxious for the change now that Arthur had come home, for it was not altogether pleasant to be ruled where they had so long been rulers, and to see the house turned upside down without the right to protest.