Why, in the name of political strategy, has United States Senator Greene been chosen to nominate the Honourable Giles Henderson of Kingston?  Some say that it is the will of highest authority, others that the senator is a close friend of the Honourable Giles—­buys his coal from him, wholesale.  Both surmises are true.  The senator’s figure is not impressive, his voice less so, and he reads from manuscript, to the accompaniment of continual cries of “Louder!” A hook for Leviathan!  “A great deal of dribble,” said the senator, for little rocks sometimes strike fire, “has been heard about the ‘will of the people.’”

The Honourable Giles Henderson is beholden to no man and to no corporation, and will go into office prepared to do justice impartially to all.”

“Bu—­copia verborum—­let us to the main business!”

To an hundred newspapers, to Mr. Flint at Fairview, and other important personages ticks out the momentous news that the balloting has begun.  No use trying to hold your breath until the first ballot is announced; it takes time to obtain the votes of one thousand men—­especially when neither General Doby nor any one else knows who they are!  The only way is to march up on the stage by counties and file past the ballot-box.  Putnam, with their glitter-eyed duke, Mr. Bascom, at their head —­presumably solid for Adam B. Hunt; Baron Burrows, who farms out the post-office at Edmundton, leads Edmunds County; Earl Elisha Jane, consul at some hot place where he spends the inclement months drops the first ticket for Haines County, ostensibly solid for home-made virtue and the Honourable Giles.

An hour and a quarter of suspense and torture passes, while collars wilt and coats come off, and fans in the gallery wave incessantly, and excited conversation buzzes in every quarter.  And now, see! there is whispering on the stage among the big-bugs.  Mr. Chairman Doby rises with a paper in his hand, and the buzzing dies down to silence.

   The Honourable Giles Henderson of Kingston has . .398
   The Honourable Humphrey Crewe of Leith has . . . 353
   The Honourable Adam B. Hunt of Edmundton has. . 249
   And a majority being required, there is no choice!

Are the supporters of the People’s Champion crest-fallen, think you?  Mr. Tooting is not leading them for the moment, but is pressing through the crowd outside the hall and flying up the street to the Pelican and the bridal suite, where he is first with the news.  Note for an unabridged biography:  the great man is discovered sitting quietly by the window, poring over a book on the modern science of road-building, some notes from which he is making for his first message.  And instead of the reek of tobacco smoke, the room is filled with the scent of the floral tributes brought down by the Ladies’ Auxiliary from Leith.  In Mr. Crewe’s right-hand pocket, neatly typewritten, is his speech of acceptance.  He is never caught unprepared.  Unkind, now, to remind him of that prediction made last night about the first ballot to the newspapers—­and useless.