“Providence seems to further our efforts.” 
          (Signed,) “Abner Dilworthy, U. S. S.,
                         per Washington Hawkins, P. S.”

At the end of a week, Washington was able to send the happy news, officially, as usual,—­that the needed vote had been added and the bill favorably reported from the Committee.  Other letters recorded its perils in Committee of the whole, and by and by its victory, by just the skin of its teeth, on third reading and final passage.  Then came letters telling of Mr. Dilworthy’s struggles with a stubborn majority in his own Committee in the Senate; of how these gentlemen succumbed, one by one, till a majority was secured.

Then there was a hiatus.  Washington watched every move on the board, and he was in a good position to do this, for he was clerk of this committee, and also one other.  He received no salary as private secretary, but these two clerkships, procured by his benefactor, paid him an aggregate of twelve dollars a day, without counting the twenty percent extra compensation which would of course be voted to him on the last night of the session.

He saw the bill go into Committee of the whole and struggle for its life again, and finally worry through.  In the fullness of time he noted its second reading, and by and by the day arrived when the grand ordeal came, and it was put upon its final passage.  Washington listened with bated breath to the “Aye!” “No!” “No!” “Aye!” of the voters, for a few dread minutes, and then could bear the suspense no longer.  He ran down from the gallery and hurried home to wait.

At the end of two or three hours the Senator arrived in the bosom of his family, and dinner was waiting.  Washington sprang forward, with the eager question on his lips, and the Senator said: 

“We may rejoice freely, now, my son—­Providence has crowned our efforts with success.”

CHAPTER XXV.

Washington sent grand good news to Col.  Sellers that night.  To Louise he wrote: 

“It is beautiful to hear him talk when his heart is full of thankfulness for some manifestation of the Divine favor.  You shall know him, some day my Louise, and knowing him you will honor him, as I do.”

Harry wrote: 

“I pulled it through, Colonel, but it was a tough job, there is no question about that.  There was not a friend to the measure in the House committee when I began, and not a friend in the Senate committee except old Dil himself, but they were all fixed for a majority report when I hauled off my forces.  Everybody here says you can’t get a thing like this through Congress without buying committees for straight-out cash on delivery, but I think I’ve taught them a thing or two—­if I could only make them believe it.  When I tell the old residenters that this thing went through without buying a vote