when he entered, and his strong, rugged features lightened like the rippled lake with its dancing sunshine. Cameron was active, silent and de

termined as ever. He flitted hurriedly among the distinguished guests, before the signal-gun was fired, and then retired to his immediate command. Hale and Frye were among the first to take their position; and hope and fear were plainly wrestling with each other on their faces. Both seemed well poised and reasonably self-reliant; but the contrast between their nervous apprehensions and the calm defiance of Conkling was a study for the intelligent observers of men. Chandler was restless, and his little face seemed to have shrunk away behind his eye-glasses. Logan was as calm as the dark cloud, that is waiting to hurl its thunderbolt. He seemed conscious, that his leader was beaten; but he was evidently resolved, that there should be a costly retreat for the pursuing hosts. Garfield, Foster, Dennison, Bateman, Butterworth, and other Ohio leaders were to be seen in little knots of their delegation, as if they feared defection at an early stage of the contest; and there was evident unrest among the Indiana men. General Harrison's short form and sharply cut features were shaded with anxiety. General Sewell sat in front of Conkling; and his youthful face exhibited the coolness and determination, which characterize him in the heat of battle. As far as faces could be distinguished in

the great arena, all seemed to be soberly anxious for the order to advance. When President Hoar called the Convention to order, there was a speedy hush; and the vast multitude was seated with wonderful alacrity. All seemed anxious for the fight to begin. The minister, who opened with prayer, shared the general appreciation of the value of the fleeting moments; and his petition had the merit of brevity."

The chair announced at the conclusion of the prayer, that during the balloting he would not allow any delay, debate, or tricks by changing votes, after they were once cast. Hale opened the business of the day by moving, that the Convention proceed to ballot. Conkling seconded the motion; and the roll-call was begun amid a silence, that showed the intense anxiety. The result was announced by the secretaries as follows: Grant, 304; Blaine, 284; Sherman, 93; Edmunds, 34; Washburne, 30; Windom, 10.

The incidents of this ballot were few and not

very remarkable. There was faint applause,

when Arkansas voted solid for Grant; but all sides joined in hissing it down. When Pixley announced California's vote for Blaine in a dramatic fashion, and with a sentence thrown in for the galleries, the President notified the chairmen of delegations, that no comment of any kind would be allowed. Conkling announced the vote of New York: "Two votes are reported for Sherman,

seventeen for Blaine, and fifty-one are for Grant." Ohio threw a wet blanket on the Sherman men by casting nine votes for Blaine. General Beaver thundered out: "Pennsylvania votes thirty-two for Grant, twenty-three for Blaine, and three for Sherman." After this there was but little interest; and the ballot closed in the most orderly manner. As soon as the vote was announced, the chair ordered another, holding that nothing was in order but voting. The second ballot, and the third, and the fourth were uneventful. The changes in these and the succeeding ones of the afternoon were very slight, except the nomination of Garfield by a vote from Grier (Pennsylvania), made without any particular idea of permanency. A. recess was several times proposed, but voted down. The last ballot of the morning-session was the eighteenth. Immediately after the announcement of it, a recess was ordered until seven o'clock.

The evening-session opened rather noisily; and there was some slight trouble in keeping order. The announcement of the first ballot of this session was greeted by the Sherman men with cheers, who saw that their candidate was gaining on Blaine. The Grant men held their own, and showed a determination to stand by their candidate to the last. After the twenty-seventh ballot, Morse (Massachusetts) proposed an adjournment till the next morning. It was nearly half-past

nine; and the hall was excessively hot. Not less than twelve thousand people were watching the progress of the balloting. At the conclusion of each call, while the secretaries were footing up the totals, this immense audience would with one accord rise to obtain rest by change of position. This movement was suggestive of the distant roar of a coming storm. Morse's motion to adjourn was withdrawn; and another ballot was ordered. Then a motion to adjourn was carried by 446 to 303; and the Convention at ten P. M., adjourned till the next morning.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE.

T

HE Convention had now been in session

five days; and the result had not been reached. All Chicago rose on June 8th with a settled wish, that that day might end the contest; and the delegates believed that it would. General Garfield came forth from the Grand Pacific, arm-in-arm with his friend, Governor Foster of Ohio. The suspicion, that he would before nightfall be the nominee of the Party, never entered his mind.

"I think, Charlie," said Garfield, "we shall get through with this business of president-making, to-day."

"Yes," returned Foster, "the delegates are all getting tired and want to go home."

"I am quite sure they will select a candidate before another adjournment," continued Garfield.

"I hope it will be our man," answered Foster. "Honest John Sherman will be nominated; and again Ohio will be made proud by the work of the Convention."