fHE FATHER HENRY COPLEY GREENE ClassJilii^.S 15 BookJEAfe^Fd Copyright N° 9 OS COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr THE FATHER PERSONS OF THE PLAY John Watson Mrs. Watson Ralph Margaretta Elizabeth Wood A Capitalist His Wife Their Son Their Daughter A Singer Time : September ^ i8g6 Place : Mr. Watso7i s house at Mount Desert THE FATH ER ^"^ <> ^'^.o ACT I The Parlor. Doors left and right. In the center^ a table; onit^ around a simple but handsome lamp, magazines^ a novel or two^ larger books^ a portfolio^ and some em- broidery. Near the embroidery^ two chairs^ one standing askew. Against the right- hand wall and under a framed photograph of Lincoln.^ a stiff woode7i chair ; in the cor- ner further back^ an arm-chair. To the left of it, an open window., and nearer the middle a glass door, through both of which the darkening afterglow of sunset is seen. Over a corner fireplace to the left, on the brick mantelpiece, a vase of white roses and a photograph of Duse. Between them a cast of^'-La Femme Inconnue." Margaretta turns from the window and stands glancing quickly back and forth from the roses to the photographs, takes a photograph of Elizabeth from the portfolio on the table, sets it beside the photograph of Duse, and seats herself in the rocking-chair. Mrs. Watson Entering left Not yet, Margaretta. Margaretta Who, Momps.? Mrs. Watson Your father, dear. Margaretta Oh! Prob'ly he stopped in Bar Har- bor — for grub, you know. Mrs. Watson ^'"^^y "Grub".? II Seating herself at the table and taking up the embroidery To herself After a pause^ catching sight of the photograph on the table Margaretta Well, feedy Mommy darling, if you pre- fer it. Mrs. Watson I really prefer English. Margaretta But Momps — Mrs. Watson Listen ! No. Margaretta What are you celebrating ? Mrs. Watson I thought I heard the horn. I told Peters to blow it when he got to the turning, so that I could be at the door to meet your father. Is that Elizabeth ? Margaretta Sure. Mrs. Watson Why not have kept her with the rest of your friends ? Margaretta She's a celebrity; anyhow, she's going to be. And then, I want Pa to see her as soon as he arrives. So there she is — in his room, too, in case he goes right up. 12 Mrs. Watson But he '11 see her herself. Margaretta Will he ? She 's liable, you know, to take most as long coming from the beach as Dad from Idaho ! Mrs. Watson She does delight in it. Margaretta It 's perfect fizz for her, specially when Ralph 's along. Mrs. Watson And Ralph is * along" now.? Margaretta Sure. Mrs. Watson Margaretta, do you realize how you mur- der the Queen's English? Margaretta No worse than Elizabeth. Mrs. Watson That *s hardly true, dear, except when she makes fun of you. And even if it were true, she would be hardly a good model for you. Her mother could not give advantages; and in the last seems to have lived in really Putting aside the embroidery her your years she rath er After a pause With serious intensity Lighting the lamp 13 Bohemian surroundings . . .with singular sweetness, I admit. I am not condemn- ing her. She 's wonderfully kind to you, with her sunrise walks and her rid- ing and singing ; and then she has . . . well . . . the sort of genius that trans- figures almost impossible remarks. Margaretta And capers? Mrs. Watson Yes, actions, too. Yet, some of them, even lit up with her special exquisite- ness, I could hardly bear in my daughter. Margaretta Getting up Momps! Mrs. Watson Well, dear. Margaretta You wouldn 't mind *em, would you, in your d'diUghttv -in-law ? Mrs. Watson It hasn't come to that.? Margaretta But s'pose it had, Mrs. Watson Ralph would have told me. Margaretta On the arm of her mother's ^^ COUrse, dearest. chair 1 4 And they 're not even engaged; at least, when they went out they were n't. I almost hope they are n't. They both seemed so ecstatically full of fears. J pause Was yours like that? Mrs. Watson Your father's love and mine? Yes, dear, for a while. Margaretta "A while"? Mrs. Watson You know we 're happy. Margaretta Um ! I do know you 're good. But sometimes, sometimes, you know, I do long to see you both, oh, just beautifully bad! Mrs. Watson That 's worse than . . . Elizabeth. Margaretta How you hate her! Mrs. Watson No, in a way I almost love her. And yet — . Margaretta, do you think she cares for Ralph? Margaretta It 's as plain as the nose on your dear sweet exquisite face ! 15 Looking her in the eyes Pf^ithout a smite Mrs. Watson And if it is ? Margaretta Dad won't object, will he? Mrs. Watson Half to herself His letter — Margaretta Interrupting He wrote? Tou wrote about her? Kissing her Oh, Mommy, dear, dear Mommy! Mrs. Watson Disengaging herself Yes, I wrotc, and I tried to be fair. But — Elizabeth^ outside^ is heard singing Sieglinde' s part of the final duet in Act I of the ^^tValkure" Deprecatingly Mrs. Watson assents Elizabeth stops singing Margaretta Sh-sh! — Does n't that convince you ? Mrs. Watson Her voice is beautiful; but the whole subject — of the opera, I mean — makes me shiver. Margaretta Hm. The brother and sister business? Yes? But then, it 's just symbolic, you know. Love and Spring and all that. Listen. Momps, do nt trouble him with your prejudices! Don't! Don't! Think how he loves her! i6 Comically serious Without a smile Mrs. Watson ^w I prejudiced? Getting up slowly Even without her gift it would be a problem, Margaretta ; and with it, can a clash be avoided? Think of the con- ditions: Ralph settled, full of his prob- lems, absorbed in work — and she, a singer, mixed up with managers, feted, excited, elated . . . Why, not one pair in a thousand — Margaretta They 're one in ten thousand! Mrs. Watson Only character — character rooted in gen- erations of strength — nothing else could carry it through. Why, even your father with all his strength could hardly — Margaretta Have made a bang-up success of it ? P'raps 7iot! But Ralph's had the benefit oihis bringing up, and with Elizabeth — ! Mrs. Watson Yes. Perhaps — I hope so — perhaps my instincts are deceiving me. rl/LIZABETH Jt the glass door^ radiant Margaretta ! a bit chilled as she sees Mrs. I beg your pardon, Mrs. Watson. You Watson were talking ? 17 "Joyously Unconsciously Listening To Mrs. Watson To Elizabeth Under her breath Getting up Suddenly radiant A moment' s hesitation Margaretta Yes, of Ralph and the beastly poisons and acids and . . . and burners and scales and reactions, and things that he keeps up there ! And Momps thinks it 'd be better if he 'd loaf summers. I do n't, do you? Elizabeth No-o . . . that is, — yes! Why, why should he work while all the world's a heaven of silver and crimson and sea music ? Margaretta Do you s'pose Dad thinks Idaho 's like that? By the way, dearest, where is Ralph ? Elizabeth Ralph ? Oh, star-gazing somewhere. Margaretta Elizabeth ! Mrs. Watson Could you tell me a little more exactly, Miss Wood ? I should be sorry not to have him back when his father comes. Elizabeth Then, then, then, Mr. Watson has rit come yet ! Oh, I am glad. I do so want to see him, as soon as he arrives. I 've heard so much of him, Mrs. Wat- i8 son, — carrying the flag at Cold Harbor, when he was only a boy ! and then later, his mines and the school for singers! and now, such bravery among the rioters! Is that he? Margaretta No; it can't be. Momps said Peters was to blow the horn when they got to the turning. Didn't you, Momps? Mrs. Watson Peters might have forgotten. Margaretta Peters never forgets. Elizabeth But perhaps we did n't hear it. Margaretta Oh, I think so. Biddies all off on a bat, Momps? Elizabeth Or perhaps Mr. Watson told Peters to keep still so that he could surprise you. Margaretta That 's it ! Mrs. Watson That might be it. Margaretta No: I'll go. — Dad, Dad, is it you? Dear old man! 19 Outside^ a ring at the front door Sarcastically The bell rings again Starting toward the right- hand door Also turning In the doorway Sitting down again at the table Still in the doorway In the hall^ outside Outside Outside Margaretta^ returning^ begins to open the telegram On the point of tossing it to her mother Elizabeth It must be he. Margaretta I should say not! Mrs. Watson No, it is n't he. Margaretta Thought you were Dad, Charley. Telegram ? For him ? Thanks. Office be open for an answer? Telegraph Boy All night, Miss Watson. Margaretta Good night. Telegraph Boy Good night. Mrs. Watson Margaretta ! What are you thinking of? Margaretta That's so; it's the same one they 'phoned over, two hours ago, of course. Cipher, too. You have n '/ got the code r Truly-ruly ? So help you . . . Saint Patrick ? Mrs. Watson Certainly not. 20 Margaretta All right, then. Elizabeth Well, that wasn't Mr. Watson. But he '11 be here soon, I suppose. Mrs. Watson I think I '11 take this to his room. Yes, he said he 'd be here some time this evening. Elizabeth Margaretta. Oh, Margaretta ! Margaretta Margaretta Why, what is it? Elizabeth Dearest. Margaretta Then . . . you and Ralph .? Elizabeth Ralph and I ? Margaretta You are — ? Elizabeth Well? Margaretta Are you? 21 Tossing the telegram into her lap Getting up Absently She goes out to the right Her arms about her and her cheek against her forehead Drawing back a little^ she looks at her yi pause Elizabeth Kissing her softly and slowly Dearest ! Margaretta Holding her at arms-length Oh, I was off my trolley! when you and gazing into her face said Ralph was " star-gazing some- where." Elizabeth Were you, dear? Margaretta Yes, who wouldn't be? And then, why didn't you come back together^ arm in arm, you know, sort-er walkin'-down- the-aisle-wise ? Elizabeth I needed to be alone. Margaretta I don't understand. Elizabeth Do n't you? Margaretta No. Elizabeth Well, perhaps you can 't, dear. But if all your grays had been turned golden, if everything that was gold before had grown . . . celestial ; if your little body had been suddenly set quivering with a mystery that made your soul's song one 12 with the sea and stars — Margaretta, Margaretta, then you would understand. Apame Margaretta Yes, dear, if. Elizabeth Come. There, there — your soul's still such a funny little chrysalis ; but it soothes me to feel it, dear. Margaretta Really? Elizabeth And now I'm warm again. Margaretta Did Ma frizzle you? Elizabeth No. But it chilled me to see that her soul, you know, was still so much more frightened than she was trying not to be. Margaretta Elizabeth, can you pry into my insides like that? Elizabeth Sometimes. The way she felt scares me a little even now. I'm afraid she thinks — . Tell me, what does she think of me? Seating herself near the table. Margaretta., sitting in Eliza- beth's lap., nestles her head against her shoulder Sitting up., wide-eyed A pause Margaretta Getting up. Do you really want to know? Elizabeth Yes! Margaretta Really? Elizabeth Leaning forward^ intensely Yes, I say. Mrs. Watson Re-entering^ right \ forget, did you tell me where to look for him. Miss Wood? Elizabeth Rising Who, Mrs. Watson? Mrs. Watson My son. Elizabeth No. No, I can't have. I do n't know. We took different roads, you see. Mrs. Watson Really? Turning toward the door Very Well. Elizabeth Trying to^ bridge the chasm Won't you wait here for him? He's surely on his way. Mrs. Watson I'm afraid I should disturb you two. 24 between them Margaretta Not in the least, Mommy. Will she, dear? Elizabeth Do stay, Mrs. Watson. Margaretta As I was just going to say, Elizabeth, Mommy thinks . . . that you're charming. Elizabeth Really? Margaretta Yes. And . . . and exquisite. Elizabeth " Truly-ruly ? " Margaretta And . . . and ... a genius! Elizabeth Really? * Mrs. Watson Yes. Margaretta But then she thinks you 're — Elizabeth Well? Margaretta Unconventional ! Supremely To Elizabeth Mrs. IVatson sits down to her embroidery With roguish sternness Relenting With gentle humor A pause H Mrs. Watson Margaretta ! Elizabeth With a qm%-z.jcally birdlike Um ? «^^ Ayr Margaretta And — Elizabeth And what^ dear? Margaretta Freakish ! Mrs. Watson My child! Margaretta Maliciously Frcsh ! Mrs. Watson Be still, Margaretta ! Margaretta Light ! Elizabeth Standing up^ reproachfully ^^ • Margaretta As Mrs. Watson also gets up And in comparison with Ralph — Pompously who is **rooted in generations of strength " — rather weak. Elizabeth Perhaps so . . . yes . . . 26 Mrs. Watson Margaretta, you 're simply unpardonable. Miss Wood, if you will come to me a little later, I will explain what Marga- retta has so misstated. Elizabeth You are very kind, Mrs. Watson. Margaretta "Misstated ? " Understated — not stated at all! Great Gosh! with her whims and her notions about being " rooted in generations of strength," and then her letters to Dad, why we've just got to be candid. Anyhow I shall be, and if you are n't, why then you ay^e weak — very. Elizabeth. Elizabeth ! Elizabeth ! Dearest. Forgive me. I didnt mean to hurt. Elizabeth There's nothing to forgive, dear; it's true, I am weak. Margaretta But — but you won '/ be, dear 1 Elizabeth No, I hope not, I hope not. As Elizabeth walks noiselessly away Turning Mrs. Watson goes out to the right After an astonished pause Seeing Elizabeth quiver No answer Silence Her arms about her Kneeling Raising Margaretta' s face with her right hand., while with the left she smooths back the hair Ralph appears at the French window Her eyes fixed on Ralph Getting up and dodging back as Ralph enters and takes both of Elizabeth^ s hands Facing her After a disconcerted instant^ embracing and embraced Her hand on Ralph^ s shoulders Kissing her To Elizabeth Forcing herself to chase her with hand-clappings Margaretta goes out right^ leaving the door ajar Elizabeth^ returning and pass- ing Ralph slowly^ sinks into Mrs. TVatson''s chair Ralph May I come in? Elizabeth May you? Margaretta " Sweet dreams, Margaretta " ? Elizabeth You '11 tell your mother he *s back, won't you, and then — to bed, dear ? Margaretta Yes, but I 'm to come for you at sunrise ? Elizabeth " Sure ! " Margaretta Good night. Dear old man, good night. Ralph Sleep tight. Margaretta One more ? Elizabeth Yes, and now- — Scoo-oo-oo-oo-oot ! 28 Ralph Elizabeth ! You have n't been doubting yourself? As her eyes seek his Of course not. You aren't so cow- ardly. And / never used to be a coward. I was n't even much afraid of not win- ning you — Elizabeth Archly Ralph! Ralph — But coming back, alone under the stars, I met the fear of losing you. And I found that only years of life with you could lift me high enough to face it. Elizabeth I 'm glad you think I help you. She looks away and her hand And you know I'm even rather glad moves over Mrs. Watson's that you were morbid ? / can 't always '^^^^^ '^y cage my black-winged thoughts Looking up. and free the nightingales. Ralph Something has been troubling you. Elizabeth Yes, I was afraid, I'm still afraid, that you're building on illusions. Ralph Nonsense ! 29 Elizabeth No, Ralph. You're even and wise and strong, dear, so you do n't see that I'm impulsive, freakish, weak. Ralph But Elizabeth — Elizabeth Another thing: I'm afraid that even you can't change me very fast. Ralph Jumping up^ and walking up Change you ! Change you ! Ton, Eliza- ^"'^ ^^" beth ! I would n't have you different — Elizabeth fFith afiaih of gay triumph Come, do n't protest too much. It is n't "moderate." Ralph Great Heaven . . . ! Elizabeth Roguishly S-s-sh ! Do n't swear, dear. It is n't " conventional." Ralph And suppose it is n't. Mrs. Watson Outside Margaretta ! Ralph Elizabeth ! You look as if the uni- verse were coming to an end. 30 Elizabeth She is wise . . . terribly . . . Margaretta Mummy ! If you interrupt 'em, your blood be on your head! That's a kind, considerate Mummy. Good night. Elizabeth She 's gone ! Ralph I see it now. What you were saying about being freakish and weak, my mother did n't say to you, of course. But she did say it? Elizabeth Yes. Ralph Try as she will, dear, I 'm afraid she' 11 never understand you. But when she's once accepted you — Elizabeth If she accepts me ! Ralph She will. And when she does, will you — Elizabeth Do all I can to understand her } and see things 31 Half to herself Outside A pause The door shuts In quiet delight Stalking to the d»or and back again After another turn Getti ng up IVitb a little shiver as she does? . . . for your sake? That is what you were going to say, isn't it? Yes, I will. But now, I must tell you why, in all these minutes that ought to have been radiant, I 've been so little . . . the girl you love. Ralph Moods can't c\\2.ngQ you ^ dear. Elizabeth Do you know what I really am ? I'm not " rooted," like you, ** in generations of strength." My weakness is rooted in weakness. My mother — Ralph I know, I know. Elizabeth No, not what I know; that her joy must once have been too passionately exquisite for this world, and her sorrow so terrible that sometimes, even in the later years, I 've seen her shaken to the depths with great gusts of it. Ralph That I didn't know; even now I do n't quite understand. Elizabeth Nor I. J silence But it shows me how deep my wildness 32 and my weakness lie. . . . Ralph, ought you, with all the great things that de- pend on you, ought you to hamper yourself with me ? Ralph I 'm nothing without you. Elizabeth With wistful gayety Nonsense, nonsense. Ralph No, dearest, sense. Since you 've lit up my world for me, problems that used to be dark and shapeless have glimmered into crystals. I begin to see almost a new universe. Elizabeth Laughing Because oi me^ Ralph? Ralph Because of you. Elizabeth Then you '11 take me, still ? Ralph l^ake you? Elizabeth Just as I am? Whatever I am? Ralph Kissing her Yes ! Yes ! Elizabeth You may have to do it pretty soon, then \ Z7> Ralph Have to ? Elizabeth I may make you . . . make ofF with me . . . to-morrow. Ralph Half delighted^half incredulous Elizabeth ! Elizabeth Yes. If your father 's going to analyze and dissect me, if he begins, even con- siderately, to sort and pigeon-hole my traits — Ralph That 's not his way. He 's whole- hearted, straight -forward, impulsive, with all his firmness ! Elizabeth But your mother 's been writing. Ralph Not to prejudice him ! Elizabeth But ifshe^^j-by mistake, if for any rea- son he's cold, you won 't wait, will you, to see my soul sliced and put on a slide and stared at through a microscope ? Ralph Do you realize what men would say if I " made off with you "? 34 Elizabeth I know, I know, just what they have said, that you 're so rich and I, so poor. I used to mind that. But now, I'm glad you can have the fun of giving me things. Ralph So am I, very. But that is n't it. The things they'd say now, dearest, would seem almost to lower our love. Elizabeth That can 't be lowered. Ralph Not for us — Elizabeth Hark ! He 's coming. of his would sound like to me if we couldn't . . .just ride away. It is n't that I mind the pain, Ralph — at least I think not — but the pettiness, the ugliness. Ralph Do n't think you must plead with me. If it is n't all gladness, if there 's a word of questioning — Elizabeth We'll ride off and away? with the breath of sunrise in our faces and the dew on the grass and the branches ? And that horn the last trump A coach horn is heard It sounds again, nearer Seeing her sensitiveness Ralph And the sea booming on the rocks. Elizabeth And then, after a day all joy in the mountains, when we 're married, you and I, shall we come back and confound them? Ralph Yes! Elizabeth He 's here ! Ralph That's his voice. Elizabeth Impulsively No, I do 71 1 want to See him yet. rurning toward the door to Good night ! Good-bye ! Say I went to bed exhausted, hours and hours and hours ago. But come and tell me what he says. And if he does n't just hug the idea of me, then at sunrise — ? ! Indistinct voices are heard out side to the right the left^ playfully Going out Ralph We'll have our gallop. Curtain 36 ACT II Mr. Watson s room. A window to the right; near it^ a closet door. To the left^ back., another door ; on the left., forward., a third. In the center of the room., a large plain table with a green-shaded student lamp., an inkstand., a pile of letters and telegrams., a few books., a photograph of Eli-zabeth. To the left of the table., a leather-covered arm- chair; to the right., a lighter chair of wood; against the wall., right., a third chair. In the whole gray room., no ornaments., only a portrait of Mrs. IVatson hanging to the left., and over the door at the back., two flags. Mrs. Watson Are you sure you won't have supper? Mr. Watson Quite, thank you. I stopped at the Commodore's, you see; a miraculous dinner, souffles, jellies, champagne. After that, anything else would be a sacrilege ! Yes . . . Yes . . . Where 's Ralph ? Mrs. Watson There 's another, John, in cipher. I know, because they telephoned it first, as usual. Mr. Watson After me again, those brokers ? "In view of rumors, mining stocks fall. Do I wish to sell out my interest?" 39 Entering., left front., and turning as Mr. Watson.^ in a light woolen traveling suit., follows her into the room Looking over the telegrams Putting them down Pointing to the table Opening the telegrams Translating by means of a code-book which he takes from his pocket Tossing aside telegram and book Smiling Ironically Grave A pause Laughing Winding his watch and laying it on the table Nonsense! . . . **They await my reply"? They can wait. — Where 's Ralph, Mabel ? Mrs. Watson I left him with this friend of Marga- retta's. Mr. Watson Margaretta's? And Margaretta? She's with them ? Mrs. Watson No, in bed. She left word, though, twice, that you were to kiss her in her sleep. Her soul, she "guessed," would **know it and hug you." Mr. Watson How like her; the "hug," I mean. The "soul" sounds rather . . . different. Mrs. Watson She has been changing. Mr. Watson Not losing her drollery? Mrs. Watson No. If anything, that 's grown on her. Mr. Watson Good! Good! But, Mabel, I 've been thinking about her a good deal in crossing the plains. 40 Mrs. Watson And what came of it? Mr. Watson Well, in the end . . . in the end it seemed to me that if you or I should die, Mabel, or if any great shock should come to her, she 'd grow- up in a twinkling. Mrs. Watson She is growing up. Mr. Watson You don't mean she's got sentimental? Mrs. Watson Far from it. But this extraordinary friend of hers seems to have opened her eyes almost startlingly on life. Mr. Watson Urn. I don't wonder. Even your rather guarded letters gave me an impression of great charm. Has Ralph been here all along? Mrs. Watson Yes, breaking promise after promise to pay visits, on the Shore and in the Adi- rondacks. Mr. Watson Will she take him? 41 Seating herself at the table He takes off his coat and waist- coat^ hangs them in the closet., puts on his smoking jacket and comes back Lighting a cigar A pause Smiling Mrs. Watson Without a smile From what Margaretta says, I 'm afraid she will, unless you interfere. Mr. Watson Why, you wrote she was delightful, almost a genius — Mrs. Watson Yes; but weak! Mr. Watson Does Ralph need a Hercules? Mrs. Watson — And they 're both so in the clouds! Mr. Watson Such a rare symptom! Mrs. Watson Don't be sarcastic, John ; I 'm troubled ^ really. He lays down his cigar My reasons sound paltry, I know, and yet . . . their love is such a tissue of dreams and folly and song that I can't imagine it surviving the strains of life. Mr. Watson Need there be strains? There's money enough. As for other things . . . she won't have to suffer as you had to suffer ... He won't have to suffer as I had to suffer in telling . . . you before we were married — 42 He falls silent^ a look of pain crossing his face. Mrs. Watson John! Mr. Watson As you wish, Mabel. You 're right. That 's past. And now, at this very moment, perhaps, Ralph and she are planning out their life. Would you have me thwart them.? Mrs. Watson Only for their sake. Mr. Watson For their sake? It turned out useless, you know, my taking this with me. There was n't a miner in Idaho that could n't have ** got the drop on me." Won't they be a good deal like that? Mrs. Watson You brought your men to their senses. Mr. Watson Mabel, in such a love as Ralph's must be, there 's something that I for one hate to interfere with. In spite of its folly, if there is folly in it, it may lift a man higher than he 'd climb without it. 43 Gently, as she leans across the table Taking her hand a moment Getting up A pause After a turn across the ri Taking a revolver from his hip-pocket and fingering it as he walks up and down A pause. He puts down the revolver Another pause Mrs. Watson Yes, John. Mr. Watson And still you 'd break this off? Mrs. Watson Puzxled Yes, almost; yes, I would. Mr. Watson You, who've always pleaded for his in- dependence, and held me back — held me back rightly — when I 've wished to oppose him ? Mrs. Watson Jlmost impatiently Ycs. Mr. Watson But why? Tell me. You can't wish me to follow with tig/it shut eyes. Mrs. Watson I 've said all I can say. Mr. Watson You mean they 're things you 've no right to say? Mrs. Watson No. Mr. Watson Well then? Can't you explain them? Mrs. Watson No, John. They 're simply . . too im- palpable. 44 Mr. Watson And you wish me to destroy what seems to Ralph the highest possibiHty in his life, because of impalpable nothings? It 's preposterous, Mabel. Think ! I don't even know the girl's name. Mrs. Watson You '11 know it soon enough with Mar- garetta's dinning in your ears of Eliza- beth this, Elizabeth that, Elizabeth the other — Mr, Watson Elizabeth ? A riame to suit even you, I should think. Who's //6/j-? Mrs. Watson That? Why, - Elizabeth." Mr. Watson A wonderful face, Mabel. Walking up and down As he turns away Suddenly stopping in front of Elizabeth^ s photograph Knocking outside Margaretta Can I come in? Home, Daddy ? Dear old Daddy! Darling Dad! Mr. Watson Why, Margaretta ! Howyou' ve changed ! Mrs. Watson You ought to be abed. 45 Entering^ left front^ with a rough bath-wrap around her Hugging him To Mrs. Watson To Mr. Watson Hugging him again Leaning back Taking up Elizabeth^ s picture Margaretta With that pesky telephone raising Cain in my very ears? That reminds me of your crazy cipher, Dad. ^'Pike's. Idaho, August 17, '99. Delayed in transmission. Columnar. Antelope. Cash. Cod. James Beard." What 's it mean? Mr. Watson How should I know? Margaretta Oh, you duck, you duck of a Dad ! But is n't it foolish ! ! " Columnar. An- telope. Cash. Cod. James Beard." And this — they just 'phoned it over — **Pon- der. Judex. S. & B." What do you s'pose it means? Eh, old man? "Ponder." Mr. Watson Just business, dear. Margaretta Oh, you 've found her, have n't you! I put her there for that. Is n't she beau- tiful? Just is n't she? Mr. Watson Haunted YeS . . . Mrs. Watson John, ought not Margaretta to write down these telegrams before she forgets them ? 46 Margaretta I shan't forget 'em. *' Columnar. An- telope. Cash. Cod. James Beard." "Ponder. Judex. S. & B." "Colum- nar. Antelope. Cash. Cod." "Ponder. Judex." Dad, what can such truck mean? Mr. Watson Look it up, and write it out for me. Elizabeth whaty Mabel? Margaretta Did n't Momps even tell you her name? Why, Mommy, you evil, evil-minded Mommy ! Mrs. Watson I can 't remember everything when I write, Margaretta. Margaretta Not even Elizabeth's name? "Columnar. Antelope. Cash . . ." Mr. Watson Her name, Mabel? Mrs. Watson Her name? Wood. Mr. Watson What? Mrs. Watson Wood, Elizabeth Wood. 47 Giving her the code-book While she sets to work near the lamp Looking up Suddenly bending over the hook Muttering As she turns over the leaves Turning over the leaves Margaretta "Rioting recommences"?! Mrs. Watson What 's that, Margaretta ? Mr. Watson Wood? Don't you mean ** Woods"? Mrs. Watson No, just the singular. — Margaretta . . . Margaretta "Wires cut"? Mr. Watson What . . . was her mother's name? Mrs. Watson You know about her mother? You always know about singers, don't you ! Margaretta "Mine's afire"?! Mrs. Watson Margaretta, what is it? Margaretta "Miners ..." Mr. Watson Mabel, tell me! Her mother'' s name?! Mrs. Watson Why, John, what's happened to you? Mr. Watson Nothing, I hope. But — 48 Margaretta " — Miners seize dynamite." Mrs. Watson Margaretta! Read it. Margaretta Let me finish first, Momps. Mr. Watson Tell me her mother's name. Mrs. Watson Why, John, are you insane?! With a fortune hanging in the balance, to insist on bagatelles? — Margaretta! Margaretta Stilt busily transcribing "Ponder." Mrs. Watson Margaretta ! Mr. Watson Mabel . . . Mrs. Watson Impatiently Her mother's name ? Yes, yes. Let me see. What was her mother's name? Clara? Clare? Mr. Watson Clare. Mrs. Watson Yes, that's it, I think, — Clare, Clare Wood. ^^ Margaretta Have n't you finished that yet, child? 49 Mr. Watson Clare V. Margaretta I'm afraid we 're dished, Daddy. Reading ** Pike's, Idaho, August 17, '99. De- layed in transmission. John Watson, Bar Harbor, Maine. Rioting recom- mences. Wires cut. Mines afire. Miners seize dynamite. James Beard." Mrs. Watson It can't be true, John. Tell me it is n't true! Margaretta As Mr. Watson lays Jozun Checf up. Daddy; the worst is yet to the photograph COme. Mrs. Watson John, think. Surely something can be done. Can't you sell, even at a loss, before this is known ? Margaretta Sc'//, Mommy? — and smash the little stockholders and wreck the whole prop- erty? Mrs. Watson Be still, Margaretta. You can 't under- stand these things. Margaretta But, Mommy — 50 Helplessly Mrs. Watson Be still. Margaretta Don't you want to hear t'other one? Listen, Dad. "New York, August 1 8th, 7 P.M. John Watson, Esq., Bar Har- bor, Maine. On rumors of further riot- ing, stock has fallen to sixteen. Await advices. S. & B." Mrs. Watson John! Think, think for us. Mr. Watson Your pencil, Margaretta. ly'ritins, "Messrs. Stone & Blackwell, 6 Wall St., New York City. Hold at any cost. J. W." There, telephone that at once. Good night. Mrs. Watson For the children's sake . . . ! Margaretta Poor dear Daddy. Goodnight. Don't you care. Daddy. It '11 all come out in the wash. Kissing him Good night. Mr. Watson Quick! Margaretta Cheerily Good night. She goes out back 51 Mrs. Watson And you said a great shock would change her. Mr. Watson Mabel, was Clare Wood the whole ^ name? Mrs. Watson Still harping on that? Does our loss mean nothing to you? Mr. Watson There are worse things than loss. I can retrieve that. Mrs. Watson Worse things? What worse things? Mr. Watson Don't keep me in suspense. Was there another name? Mrs. Watson Clare Wood ? — Let me see. — Yes, Clare ,. r^ , • t , Wood-Mayano. " Mile. Clare Wood- Mr. fratson sinks into n J chair, his head between his Mayano. arms on the table John! — Look at me. Their eyes meet Mr. Watson After a long pause, standing God ! God ! They have n't deserved it. Even Clare, even I, never deserved such punishment. And did n't we suffer enough — too much?! With her ten- 52 derness and beauty — it had to be ! it had to be ! Yet . . the desolation . , . Mrs. Watson What is this? Mr. Watson And now my child . . . mine . . . Mrs. Watson Be calmer. Try to control yourself. Mr. Watson Ralph . . . loves her! A long pause. Singing is M\xr heard outside rs. Watson And I was talking of your ruin. Mr. Watson Is that Elizabeth .? Mrs. Watson Yes, John. Mr. Watson How like her . . . mother's voice. Mrs. Watson Don't speak of her! Mr. Watson In broken tones With her voice in my ears? No. You've held me still too long. Standing Silence can't strangle sins. Unless we acknowledge them, they live, they pur- sue, torture us: for all our repentance they punish us and our children. — Mabel, 53 Hr turns awav if you had n't forbidden me to tell you even Clare's name, you would have known that Elizabeth . . . // knock Knocking again Mrs. Watson I meant only the right. Mr. Watson We all of us meant the right. Mrs. Watson John, she 's knocking. Shall I send her J ■ L L- away? Again knocking Mr. Watson No. Mrs. Watson Shall I go, then.? Mr. Watson After a pause YeS. She goes out by the door, hack Slow repeated knocking. Mr. Watson goes unsteadily to left-front, and stands there with his hand against the door as if to hold it shut Mr. Watson Under his breath Elizabeth ! Elizabeth Outside, in bright tones y^^^ Watson, it 's I, Elizabeth Wood. May I come.? 54 Mr. Watson Under his breath No! No! Elizabeth I shall if you don't say no. Entering as he opens the door, and speaking furtively I thought, I thought Mrs. Watson would be here. But I 've introduced myself already, have n't I, through a two-inch plank?! Won't you shake hands with me? Mr. Watson Taking her hand I 'm glad, Elizabeth, that you 're here. Elizabeth Then you won't think me too wild — for coming, I mean ? Ralph was to tell all about me first; but when I saw him /;//,>/, ^ ^Ught gesture pacing up and down the garden, think- ing, thinking, thinking — how to put it, I suppose — I decided perhaps you 'd better Guilelessly looking up just see for yourself. Her hand on his shoulder Why, how worn you look ! It 's selfish of me, is n't it, to keep you talking now when you need to rest. Mr. Watson ^^"'^3' That is n't it. Elizabeth Has Mrs. Watson been frightening you, 55 then? Though she is so darUng, I know she can't quite approve of me. She thinks I 'm weak. And there she 's wise, bitterly. Looking up at him You must help me, you who 've always been so strong. Mr. Watson In patn -*- • Elizabeth Why, yes. Seeing his pain Mr. WatSOn, A pause if I 've hurt you, it 's unknowingly. Her hand on his arm YoU '11 bcHeve that, WOn't yOU ? Mr. Watson He moves away i eS . . . Elizabeth But I have hurt you.? Mr. Watson No; not you. Elizabeth And still you wish to be alone? Mr. Watson It 's better so. Elizabeth Giving him her hand Q^^^ night, Mr. Watson. Mr. Watson Elizabeth, first, may I have — a kiss? 56 Elizabeth Looking up for a kiss on the Why, yes ! yes ! ^\P^ , , , , ,, ^r '' , I'l T-> 1 1 » As he takes her head between Your eyes now seem almost like Ralph s ,_, -^ ^^^^^ ^„^ ^ -^^^^ ^^^ ,„ for tenderness. the forehead Mr. Watson Yours take me back. ... A silence Ralph Entering, with decision Father ! Why, Elizabeth, ahead of me? Elizabeth Yes; and I think I 've won him. Ralph If not, it 's a miracle. ^o Mr. Watson You have fallen in love with her? at first sight? yourself? Candidly, have n't yQ^p I Grasping his hand Why, I forgot I had n't seen you ! How are you? Brown; but rather worn by the strike? Well, with rest and this happiness — ! Mr. Watson Happiness ? Ralph Overlooking his impression Is n't she already almost what you called 'f f^i'^'^ness my mother once? — you remember? — "Your lily from Paradise"? 57 Elizabeth I begin to think not, Ralph. Mr. Watson To Elizabcih You lire that and more to me. Steeling himself And yet . . . and so — Elizabeth "So"? Ralph Why, father! Mr. Watson — so I can't — I would if I had the strength — I can't talk with you now. Elizabeth Offering her hand Good night, Mr. Watson. Mr. Watson Taking her hand Try not to judge me harshly. Elizabeth I can't understand you. But I know you would n't give me pain unless . . . unless . . . Turning toward the door Good night. Mr. Watson Good night, Elizabeth. Elizabeth To Ralph, who follows her ^q, Ralph, Stay! She goes out, left-front Ralph Turning as the door shuts How Can you let worldliness weigh 58 against such gentleness ? How could you let her go ? ! Mr. Watson _ ^ After a pause I have been talking with your mother — Ralph My mother? Mr. Watson Yes. Ralph My decision *s made, Mr. Watson Very well, Ralph. But before you . . . carry it out, I must tell you certain things. First, my affairs just now are in a crit- ical state. Indicating the papers on the I *ve received telegrams this evening table which mean that we must live very care- fully for a while. The rioting has be- gun again; the mines are on fire. Ralph I 'm sorry, sir. Mr. Watson Wincing at the "sir** I might have sold out, Ralph; but the loss would have been ruinous. As it is, we shall recover in the end. He stops to study Ralph's face Ralph And meantime you think that I can*t support my wife? 59 Mr. Watson Not that you can't. But the scientific work you care for . . . Ralph Is unremunerative. Yes, I know. Mr. Watson Have you a right to sacrifice it? Ralph I think so. Mr. Watson After pacing across the room Very Well. There 's another thing which and back I hoped to put off. — Sit down, please. Ralph Taking out hts watch I — we both — need our night's sleep, I think. Mr. Watson Try not to be so hard. Ralph I ? To you ? ! Mr. Watson I know I seem hard. Ralph, I need to be near you. Ralph If only we could be friends again ! If you only would make it possible ! But I can't understand you. 60 Mr. Watson Sit down; listen. You shall understand me. Ralph Anything you can say will only separate us more. Mr. Watson Perhaps, and yet you must know. Ralph, when I first knew your mother — or thought that I knew her — I drifted into what seemed deep friendship with the wife of — well, no matter about his name. Her tenderness and mystery brought me joy that grew into passion. It seemed to lift me above the real world. But the storm came. It brought us . . . to the earth. Ralph You left her ? Mr. Watson I tried, with all my power, to make her let me claim her before the world. She had nothing but scorn — justly — for the "illusion" that had made me too weak to protect her against herself. I have n't seen her since. She hid her- self away. Ralph Ah, now I know! 6i Seating himself also as Ralph obeys Controlling himself A pause during which Ralph glances toward the portrait of his mother, then back at Mr. Watson A pause Getting up suddenly Mr. fVatson stands to receive the blows Striding forward Mr. Watson Are you sure you understand ? Ralph I understand and despise you. Not for your sin — I could forgive you that — but for your trying to stifle love with tales of your ** illusion" — trying to turn me to some . . . richer woman, as you turned ... to my mother. Mr. Watson Ralph, listen — Ralph No. Love can't be turned; can't be smoth- ered. Its fire and light are so unquench- able, yet keen, that I can see all your pettiness as distinctly now as that — that — that! Mr. Watson It blinds you. Ralph It has opened my blind eyes. Mr. Watson But — Ralph Going to Mr. Watson's side j^^ j^ ^^^ ,^ ^e the icy communion that oj the table , i j r i /-f n • • -r 1 see you plead tor ! Call it mystic ir you 61 Pushing pens across the table and pencils will, her love and mine ; but it 's rich with the blood of life. It must be ful- filled. Do you understand me now .? Mr. Watson Stop. Ralph Let me go! Mr. Watson Your love, Ralph, is impossible. Ralph I shall marry her — within twelve hours. Mr. Watson Ralph — Ralph Let me go! Mr. Watson Not till you understand — Ralph Let me go! Mr. Watson I am . . . her father. Ralph JZ