COLONEL. What's going on here?
SENDEN. An outrageous scandal! The _Union_ has kidnapped our two most
important voters!
ACT III
SCENE I
_The_ COLONEL'S _Summer Parlor_.
_The_ COLONEL _in front, walking rapidly up and down. In the rear_,
ADELAIDE _and_ IDA _arm-in-arm, the latter in great agitation. A short
pause. Then enter_ SENDEN.
SENDEN (_hastily calling through centre door_).
All goes well! 37 votes against 29.
COLONEL.
Who has 37 votes?
SENDEN.
Why you, Colonel, of course!
COLONEL.
Of course! (_Exit_ SENDEN.) The election day is unendurable! In no
fight in my life did I have this feeling of fear. It is a mean
cannon-fever of which any ensign might be ashamed. And it is a long
time since I was an ensign!
[_Stamping his foot_.]
Confound it!
[_Goes to rear of stage_.]
IDA (_coming forward with_ ADELAIDE).
This uncertainty is frightful. Only one thing is sure, I shall be
unhappy whichever way this election turns out.
[_Leans on_ ADELAIDE.]
ADELAIDE.
Courage! Courage, little girl! Things may still turn out all right.
Hide your anxiety from your father; he is in a state of mind, as it
is, that does not please me at all.
_Enter_ BLUMENBERG _in haste; the_ COLONEL _rushes toward him_.
COLONEL.
Now, sir, how do things stand?
BLUMENBERG.
41 votes for you, Colonel, 34 for our opponents; three have fallen on
outsiders. The votes are being registered at very long intervals now,
but the difference in your favor remains much the same.
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