SCENE II.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7263, 24 January 1889, Page 2

SCENE 11.

Jefferson Avenue.

Miss Estelle Lakeside—" What a lovely evening it is, isn't it ? "■ Saltcreek—** Yes, for this time of year, it is rather nice. Still, we've had such a bad summer that the year really, owes us some good weather." Estelle—" Ah, here is my street. I'm ao much obliged to you for escorting mc home. I've enjoyed the walk very much, indeed."

Saltcreek (evidently anxious to detain her)—" I hope you were not very much disappointed about tbe way the election went, Miss Lakeside f "Estelle— "Disappointed? Well, I should say I was. Mr Brooks said that Gen.. Pisk had no chance and we almost quarrel led over it; but (a sigh) I see he was right." Saltcreek—" Poor Brooks. He always stands in his own light." _-telle—" Why, what do you mean?" Saltcreek—*' Well, you know, he's so truthful. That's one of the great faults I have with Brooks. He will • tell the truth.''

Estelle (looking at the pavement and then looking up at Saltcreek)—"l think that's not a verybad fault, do you ?" Saltcreek—"Well, I don't suppose it's crimiTial.bnt it's very injudicious sometimes. Now, some men might have perhaps thought they would win your Favour more by pretending that, the Prohibition narty had a chance." ' Estelle (Quickly)—-" Why, did you know that-Mr Riv— (checking herself and blushing)—"Oh, yes, I suppose they would.' Well, I must bidyon good night. Saltcreek (aside)—(" Why In thu___r don't that show come along")—"Oh, by the way—Miss Lakeside—do you know that—l mean—well, I was going to say that I had taken more interest in prohibition this campaign than ever before I" Estelle—"Have you really, Mr Saltcreek ? I'm so glad to hear that." Saltcreek (eagerly)—" Yes. I think I never quite understood the aims of the party before. Something Brooks said one night set mc thinking. I imagine it was —that he—that you, perhaps, had been talking about it to him." Est—lie (with disdain)—*' Oh, Mr Brooks is too sta-_—i a Democrat to—but it really does not matter."

Saltcreek (earnestly)— ** But it does matter, Miss Lakeside, I ass'ire you. I think there is no question that is fraught —that present's iteelf—nothing at the present day which—yoa know, I think ft is the question of the future—l do indeed. It rmuet be met—sooner or later." (With

rising enthusiasm.) "It is nouse. It fs no use. It is useless for us to close our eyes to the momento—_ess of the great issue that" (mopshis brow)—"that—that forces itself to the front," (Aside.) "Thank Heaven. Here they come." Estelle—"Why, I had no Idea, Mr Saltcreek, that you felt so strongly oa the subject." Saltereefc—"Oh. I do—l do, indeed. Hullo! What's this coming up the street? Surely the processions are over, now that the vote is counted." E3telle—" Oh, I'm tired of processions. I must go home." Salt-reek—*' Let's see what the hubbub is about,"

[An excited crowd, mostly of bootblacks and newsboys, are seen coming up the street. A man in a wheelbarrow with his hat beside him, seems in a jubilant state of hilarity! He waves a couple of American flags about his dishevelled head and is shouting in a cracked voice, as hoarse as a crow's: " Hurrah for Harrison!" Brooks, with stern and saddened face, on which the electric light shines whitely, is pushing the wheelbarrow in a determined, stolid manner.] Estelle (with dilated eye's, grasps Saltcreek's arm and gasps)—" Tell me—tell mc, Mr Saltcreek, what is the meaning of this?" Saltcreek (with a deep sigh)—" Don't, don't ask mc. Miss Lakeside." Estelle—" But I insist on knowing." Saltcreek—" Come—l —l—wish you had not seen poor Rivers. Don't be alarmed. Miss Lakeside—let mc see yoa to your door." Estelle—"Come then." [They walk in silence up the side street to No. 678.] Estelle—"Now, Mr Saltcreek, tell mc the truth. How long have you known that that wretched man was a drunkard?" Saltcreek (unblushingly)—" Really, Miss Lakeside, you must not take what you have seen to-night as a criterion of Mr Rivers' conduct. Indeed you must not. And don't be alarmed. Mr Brooks will see him safely home. He will, indeed. You must make some allowance for election excitement, yon know." Estelle—" I th,ink Mr Brooks might hare taken some less public way of seeing him home."

Saltcreek—"My dear Miss Lakeside, what could he do with a man in that condition ? When a man wants to go through the streets bareheaded, waving two American flags above him and shouting himself speechless, what's to be done with him 1 Brooks did not want to call a patrol wagon and have the thing in the papers next day." Estelle (thoughtfully)—" I suppose not. Please, Mr Saltcreek, do not tell either of them that I saw them to-night. Will you promise T' SaltcreeK—" Certainly, I'll not mention it. If I were you I would say nothing to Brooks. It would pain him if he knew you knew of his goodness.. Then he might try to shield Rivers in some way and to so truthful a man as Brooks that would be very embarrassing." Estelle—" I shall certainly not mention the episode, I wish I could forget it myself. Good night, Mr Saltcreek. Saltcreek—"Good-night, Miss Lakeside."