The President of the Senate called the session to order and announced that the eleventh general assembly would now proceed to take the sixty-fourth ballot for the election of a United States Senator.
In an oppressive silence the clerk began to call the roll.
“Allan.”
A raw-boned farmer from one of the coast counties rose and answered “Hardy.”
“Anderson.”
In broken English a fat Swede shouted, “Harty.”
“Ashton.”
“Hardy.” The word fell hesitantly from dry lips. The man would have voted for the Transcontinental candidate had he dared, but he was not sure enough that the crucial moment was at hand and the pressure of his environment was too great.
“Bentley.”
Three hundred eyes focused expectantly on the gaunt white-faced legislator who rose nervously at the sound of his name and almost inaudibly gulped the word “Frome.”