"You are feeling bitter against me," said I. "You think I dropped out when there was danger of heavy firing, and put you up to take it."
"No, indeed, Senator," he protested, "nothing like that. Honestly, I have not had a bitter thought against you. I'm depressed simply because, just as I had a chance to get on my feet again, they won't let me."
"But," I rejoined, "I did resign and put you in my place because I didn't want to take the fire and thought you could."
"And so I can," said he. "I haven't any reputation to lose. I'm no worse off than I was before. Let 'em do their damnedest."
"Your first campaign will probably be a failure," I went on, "and, the day after election, there'll be a shout for your head."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm enlisted for the war," said he. "You're my general. I go where you order."
I hope the feelings that surged up in me showed in my face, as I stretched out my hand. "Thank you, Doc," said I. "And—there's another side to it. It isn't all black."
"It isn't black at all," he replied stoutly.
I explained: "I've wanted you to have the place from the outset. But I shouldn't dare give it to you except at a time like this, when our party has done so many unpopular things that one more won't count; and there's so much to be said against us, so much worse things than they can possibly make out your election to be, that it'll soon be almost neglected."
"They're beginning to drop me already and go back to harrying those poor devils of ours in the legislature," said Woodruff.