Page:Peterson's Magazine 1842, Volume I.pdf/374

. you is a bitter draught. Happy is Edith in despising such things."

CHAPTER VI. CONGRESS was now at the most exciting period of its session, and the galleries were thronged daily with anxious listeners. In both the Senate and House measures of the most vital importance to the nation were under discussion, and the votes often ran so close that it was almost impossible to calculate on the result. All was excitement. Rumors were continually afloat respecting the defection of this one, or the accession of that : in short a session so deeply absorbing, had not occurred for years. At length Stratton brought forward his contemplated measure. It was one involving vast interests, and as strenuously advocated by one party as it was opposed by another. For some days before the bill was reported, the public curiosity became excessive to know who would reply to its framer. Nothing, however, was known on this subject, for whatever was understood behind the scenes, no intimation whatever had reached the public ear. This very uncertainty heightened the interest usually felt on such occasions, so that when the day arrived, the Hall of the House of Representatives was crowded to excess, and at an early hour. Prominent among the audience, and occupying seats on the floor of the House, were the two most beautiful women of the day- Mrs. Stratton and the still more admired Edith Wharton.

When the mover of the bill rose to advocate it, the buzz of conversation which had ran through the hall hitherto subsided into silence, and every ear was inclined to hear the first words of the orator who was now to make his debut on that floor. Stratton soon proved that his reputation had not belied his powers. His mind was one of considerable range, and his eloquence was by no means overrated. His opponents were astonished, and even some of them alarmed at the impression he was visibly making on the House, and uneasy glances were, from time to time, directed, by various members of the party, to their champion. The subject was unquestionably one in which the speaker had taken great interest, and he had deeply studied not only what arguments to use, but how to present them to his hearers. Few speeches of greater power had been heard for years in the House. In fact, it was well understood that, on the success of this favorite measure, depended Stratton's standing with his constituents, and therefore his schemes of ambition-to him it was a matter of life or death.

"A magnificent oration, by the gods," said a mercurial member of Howell's party, when Stratton sat down, "see with what exultation that proud woman, his wife, looks around the house. Would to heaven Howell was a few years older-great as are his talents I almost fear for his success against one so much his senior, and who has devoted years to the consideration of his subject." "Hist ! he rises," said his companion. Every eye was directed to the young orator, as he slowly rose in his seat ; and a murmur of astonishment ran through the House that one so young should have been chosen for so difficult a task. Stratton, who was now receiving the congratulations of his party, looked with a smile of exulting triumph on his rival, and turned to receive the compliments of the crowd around him. At this instant his wife raised her glass, and took a long stare at Howell. The looks of both stung the young man to the heart, and the momentary flutter, which he had felt at first, on rising to make his debut, and before such an audience, passed away. He was calm and collected, but with every faculty sharpened, and every indignant feeling aroused. He had not spoken a dozen words before the looks of triumph from the opposition began to be exchanged for uneasy glances ; for the strain of scorching invective in which he began, assured them that an enemy had been aroused whom few could quell. They became even more uneasy, when, gliding with consummate tact into the argument, he began dispassionately to examine and refute the sophistry of his adversary. Again he resumed his tone of invective, now giving vent to the most keen and polished sarcasm , and now denouncing his adversary and his clique in direct terins. As the speaker proceeded, Stratton turned white as ashes, and would have started to his feet, had not his friends interposed ; but Howell, notwithstanding he saw all this, proceeded in the same scathing strain, until he had completely annihilated his opponent. There was, indeed, in the young member's mind, no motive to spare him. Howell sat down amid murmurs of applause from the galleries. As he resumed his seat every eye was turned, as if instinctively, to the haughty wife of his rival. She was deadly pale, and notwithstanding her efforts to conceal her emotion, all saw in her compressed lip and blanched cheek, the agony of the heart within. In that hour Howell was revenged, ay ! how bitterly revenged. As his faithless mistress looked at him, and noticed the curious eyes fixed on herself, she felt that she was utterly degraded, and that too in the sight of the whole nation. Nor was the torture of her situation lessened, but rather tenfold increased, when she saw the glad tears gathering into Edith's eyes, and beheld the crowd who so lately flocked around her, hurrying to her rival's side. “ You have done wonders- your fame is established forever," said the gray-headed leader of Howell's party "your antagonist is annihilated. During thirty years experience I have never heard such a speech on this floor." The encomiums lavished on him would have made any other man dizzy ; but they had no other effect on