A Lapse of Four Years.
=Scene 1=: A CAMP IN THE ARMY.
_Discovered at rise of curtain: HENRY in Captain's uniform,
and REGINALD as a private, both seated on camp-stools, R. 2 E.
CORIOLANUS, as private, sitting near the fire, R. C. DOLLERCLUTCH,
as private, asleep in front of tent, L. 4 E. ADOLPHUS, as private,
doing sentinel duty, L. 1 E._
=Hen.= When did you hear from home last, Reginald?
=Reg.= A week ago.
=Hen.= And how is your little Alice?
=Reg.= When last I heard, she was well. Oh, Henry! she is the only joy
in my life. The future of my child is the only thing that keeps me
from despair. I live in hopes that I shall one day clasp my child to
my bosom. Oh, the yearning of a father's heart! And now that we are so
near to her, I almost feel tempted to shirk my duty and satisfy the
longing to see my beloved child.
=Hen.= We are only six miles away from your home, I believe you said?
=Reg.= Yes! day by day have we been drawing closer to it. And it is
nearly four years since I left the scene, never to return to it again.
[_He turns away._]
=Hen.= Reginald, I sincerely sympathize with you in your trouble.
[_Takes him by the hand._] Adrienne has wronged you deeply. She----
=Reg.= [_Checks him._] Henry, she is your sister, but do not forget
that she is my _wife_. I cannot listen to her condemnation even from
you.
=Hen.= Well, Reginald, I respect your wishes. But cheer up! I have
faith to believe that all will be right again--that some day will see
you reunited and happy.
=Reg.= [_Shakes his head._] This will be my only happiness, Henry.
[_Shows picture of child._]
=Hen.= Is this the picture of my niece? Why, she doesn't look a bit
like Adrienne!
=Reg.= No! the resemblance is to _my_ family. I can now readily
understand why my father wrote to me, soon after the child's birth,
asking the privilege of naming it. She bears a striking resemblance to
my little sister.
=Hen.= Your sister! I never knew you had a sister!
=Reg.= No! because that is the skeleton in our family closet. Her name
was Alice. When but three months old she was stolen from the cradle.
All effort to recover the child proved fruitless. Her disappearance has
since remained a mystery. Grief over our loss brought my mother to an
early grave. My father sacrificed his all in the hope of recovering the
child, but all his efforts proved unavailing. This happened eighteen
years ago, and we know not whether she be living or not, but we mourn
her as dead.
=Hen.= And had you no suspicion as to who stole the child?
=Reg.= None. My father did not think he had an enemy in the world.
=Hen.= Strange! very strange! The ways of Providence are mysterious,
and we must bow with resignation to His Divine Will. One moment,
Reginald. [_To ADOLPHUS._] Adolphus!
=Adol.= [_Salutes._] Captain, I await your orders.
=Hen.= Go to the officers' tent and inquire whether the mail has
arrived.
=Adol.= [_Salutes._] All right, Captain! [=Exit= _L. 1 E._]
=Hen.= [_To CORIOLANUS._] Coriolanus! [_CORIOLANUS rises and salutes._]
Take his post as sentinel! [_CORIOLANUS salutes and takes his post. To
REGINALD._] It is remarkable what a change there is in Adolphus. When I
drafted him I thought he would make a poor soldier, he was so cowardly;
but he has turned out to be one of the bravest men in the regiment. A
soldier's life has made a man of him.
=Reg.= It has, indeed! I have often wanted to ask you what ever became
of his chum, Sammy. I thought you had drafted him, also.
=Hen.= I did; but he had plenty of money, and furnished a substitute. I
wish the mail would arrive. [_Rises._] By the way, Reginald, did your
last letter mention anything about any of the rest of your household?
=Reg.= [_Rises._] For instance, Hilda? Ha! ha! ha! Oh, you sly rogue!
Henry, I remember a conversation we had, when you asked me to show you
a woman devoid of fashion's frivolities--ha! ha! ha! Perhaps, now _you_
can show one--ha! ha! ha! What! Henry, the recluse, the woman-hater, in
love with a woman? Wonderful! Ha! ha! ha!
=Hen.= Well, I'll acknowledge the corn; but I didn't know a sensible
woman until I met Hilda Wallace, whose quiet and unassuming manners
struck the chord of affinity in my nature.
=Reg.= [_Takes him by the hand._] Well, well, I'm glad of the
transformation, and I hope your future will not be marred by
disappointment. [_DOLLERCLUTCH snores._]
=Enter= _ADOLPHUS, L. 1 E._
=Hen.= [_To ADOLPHUS._] Well?
=Adol.= [_Salutes._] The mail has not arrived, Captain! [REGINALD
=Exits= _into tent, C. DOLLERCLUTCH snores._]
=Hen.= Pshaw! just tickle that fellow with your boot! [_ADOLPHUS about
to do so._]
=Dol.= [_Dreaming._] Oh, Anastasia! [_ADOLPHUS, L. C. HENRY, C.
DOLLERCLUTCH asleep, L. CORIOLANUS, down L._]
=Hen.= Listen! He's dreaming!
=Dol.= Anastasia, beloved! oh, fly--fly to my arms!
=Hen.= Ha! ha! ha! I wonder whether she's got wings? [_DOLLERCLUTCH
talks again._] But, listen!
=Dol.= [_Starting._] The rebs are coming--the rebs are coming! Where
shall I hide myself? I'll be killed if I stay here. [_Sits upright._]
Don't shoot! [_He fights imaginary rebels._] Don't shoot--don't!
[_Awakes._]
=Hen.= Look out! the rebs are coming! Ha! ha! ha!
=Dol.= [_Getting on his feet. Aside._] Confound it all! I must have
been dreaming.
=Hen.= Ha! ha! ha! We've found you out at last, old Dollerclutch. You
are a _brave_ man, George Washington. I thought I never did see you
when we went into an engagement--now I can account for it.
=Dol.= [_L. C._] Sir! I have always been where the fight was thickest.
=Cor.= [_Aside._] After it was over.
=Hen.= _You_ mean George Washington was--but I mean George Washington
Dollerclutch.
=Dol.= Sir! Do you mean to insinuate that my bravery is a matter of
doubt? You wrong me, sir! You wrong me, I can assure you. My deeds of
valor have saved the day many a time--many a time. Do you understand?
But my modesty won't allow me to speak of them. Even in my childhood
was I noted for my bravery. I took Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup with
the most unflinching courage. Nothing would delight me more than a
hand-to-hand encounter with a whole regiment of rebels. I would glory
in the chance, sir! I have smelt powder many times. [_He shoots off his
revolver, smells the smoke from the barrel, and struts the stage. HENRY
whispers to ADOLPHUS and points to DOLLERCLUTCH._]
=Adol.= [_Aside to HENRY._] All right, captain; I understand! [_He
steals off cautiously, L. 2 E. HENRY beckons to CORIOLANUS to
follow him, enjoining caution._ =Exeunt=, _R. 2 E. All this is done
unperceived by DOLLERCLUTCH._]
=Dol.= To take me for a coward--bah! Gentlemen, you don't know!
you--[_Turns and finds them gone._] Hello! where the deuce did they go?
[_Looks around in the different tents._]
=Enter= _ADOLPHUS, L. 2 E., in a rebel suit, with gun and false
whiskers. He is not noticed by DOLLERCLUTCH. ADOLPHUS brings his
gun to shoulder and points it at DOLLERCLUTCH._
=Adol.= [_L. C._] Halt, and surrender. [_DOLLERCLUTCH at tent, R. 5 E.
He turns suddenly in a fright--his knees knock together--he raises his
hands and tries to speak._] Don't move a muscle or I'll bore you.
=Dol.= [_C._] Don't shoot! Oh, please don't shoot. Please, Mr. Rebel,
I have sixteen small children. Oh! consider what will become of them
when I am taken from them! [_ADOLPHUS drops his gun. Aside._] Ah! that
melted him! [_ADOLPHUS raises gun again._] Oh! oh!
=Adol.= Remove your cap! [_DOLLERCLUTCH complies with all._] Place it
on the ground. Take off your coat. Place it with your cap! [_ADOLPHUS
takes off his cap and throws it to him._] Put it on! [_Takes off
his coat and throws it to DOLLERCLUTCH._] Put it on! [_He gathers
up DOLLERCLUTCH'S clothes._] Now sit down. [_DOLLERCLUTCH goes for
stool._] No, no, on the ground! Take hold of your toes! Now sit there
till I come back. [=Exit= _L. 2 E._]
=Dol.= [_Looking around._] This is the toughest scrape I was ever in.
The camp has been surprised by the rebels. They are all captured. Oh,
Anastasia, I'm done for!
=Enter= _HENRY, R. 4 E., followed by CORIOLANUS. ADOLPHUS
re-enters, L. 2 E., in his regular uniform._
=Hen.= [_CORIOLANUS R., HENRY R. C., DOLLERCLUTCH C., ADOLPHUS L. C.
Pounces upon DOLLERCLUTCH._] I've got the rebel, boys. Get some cords,
quick! [_ADOLPHUS gets them, L. 3 E._]
=Dol.= [_Struggling._] Hold on, Captain! Let me go; it's me!
=Corio.= Let's hang the rebel to a tree, Captain! He's a spy!
=Dol.= I tell you, Captain, it's me--don't you hear me?
=Adol.= Let's tie him to a stake and riddle him with bullets.
=Corio.= [_Aside._] I'll get even with him now for the indignity he
heaped upon me four years ago.
=Dol.= [_Struggling._] Oh!
=Hen.= I'll tell you what we'll do! We will give him a sound switching
first. Then we'll hang him for a spy.
=Corio.= [_Eagerly._] Let me do the switching, Captain. [_Gets switch,
L. 3 E. Aside._] I'll give it him hot!
=Dol.= Oh, Lord! I shall die! [_CORIOLANUS returns._]
=Corio.= Now, you rebel, [_cuts him with switch_] how does that feel?
=Dol.= You infernal rascal! I'll--[_CORIOLANUS cuts him again._] Oh!
=Corio.= Fits close, eh? [_Cuts again._]
=Dol.= [_Struggling._] Oh! oh! [_Pleads._] Good Coriolanus,
please--please don't! [_CORIOLANUS cuts again._] Oh! Don't you know
your old friend, Dollerclutch?
=Corio.= Dollerclutch? You? Oh, no! you're not Dollerclutch.
Dollerclutch is a _brave_ man. Oh, no! you're a black-hearted rebel.
[_Cuts him again._]
=Dol.= Oh! oh!
=Hen.= [_To CORIOLANUS._] Hold! Let me look at him! Ha! ha! ha! It is
Dollerclutch, by all that's wonderful! [_Releases DOLLERCLUTCH._] Ha!
ha! ha! a good joke!
=Dol.= [_Rises to his feet._] A joke, sir? Do you call that a joke?
But, I'll now give you an exhibition of my bravery, sir! [_Pounces
suddenly upon CORIOLANUS. They struggle off, L. 3 E. All laugh._]
=Adol.= I guess we've taken the conceit out of him, Captain!
=Hen.= Yes, I hope it will prove a wholesome lesson to him.
=Enter= _RALPH, L. 2 E., with letters, which he pulls from his
pocket. A large wallet drops unnoticed by him from his pocket, near
stool, L. 2 E._
=Ralph.= [_C._] Good afternoon, Henry!
=Hen.= [_Aside._] The mail at last! [_To RALPH._] Good afternoon,
Murdell! The mail?
=Ralph.= [_R. C._] Yes! [_Sorting letters._] Any news from the front?
=Hen.= Yes! Grant has flanked Lee and is pressing him hard.
=Ralph.= Good! He'll worry him out soon. [_Hands letter to HENRY._]
=Re-enter= _DOLLERCLUTCH, L. 3 E.; CORIOLANUS, L. 2 E._
=Hen.= Thanks, Major! [_Retires up stage and reads letter._]
=Ralph.= [_Reads from envelope._] Adolphus Softhead!
=Adol.= [_Comes forward._] Thank you, Major! [_Salutes, and retires up
stage reading._]
=Ralph.= [_As before._] George Washington Dollerclutch.
=Dol.= [_Comes down._] That's me, Major! [_He takes letter, salutes and
sits on stool, near which pocket-book lies._]
=Enter= _REGINALD, from tent._
=Reg.= [_R. C., to RALPH._] Anything for me, Major? [_Salutes._]
=Ralph.= [_Coldly._] Yes! [_Hands him letter._]
=Reg.= Thank you, Major! [_Salutes and retires up stage reading._]
=Ralph.= [_Looking after him._] Curse him! How I hate him! The proud
fool! Satisfied to remain a private! If he'd accepted promotion, as
it was offered him from time to time, for his gallant bravery in the
field, he would be my superior officer. As it is, he prefers to remain
a private, because, as he says, his ambition does not aspire to receive
the plaudits of his country. The commanding officers cannot find praise
enough for his heroism in action. Curse him! [_To HENRY on right._]
Lowville, you will meet the officers in a half hour from now, for
consultation.
=Hen.= All right, Major! [=Exit= _RALPH, L. 2 E._]
=Reg.= [_Looking at letter._] And yet no word from Adrienne! [=Exit=
_into tent, R. 5 E._]
=Dol.= [_At stool, L. 2 E., reads._] "I long for the time when this
cruel war is over, when I may receive my brave Dollerclutch to this
maiden heart." Oh! this cruel war, to keep such fond hearts apart!
Hello! Here is something on the other side--[_reads._] "Hilda tells me
to write you that she has not forgotten you, and God bless you!" No,
nor have I forgotten her! Poor girl! I've watched him and pumped him,
but I can't find out anything--he's as close as an oyster with--[_Sees
wallet on ground._] Hello! What's this? [_Picks it up._] "R. M." Why,
it's his! [_Looks around._] H'm! I'll investigate! [_Opens it and
pulls out papers. He unfolds one and jumps up excitedly._] Hurrah!
Hilda's marriage record, by the jumping jingo! [_He looks around,
places it in his pocket._] Good! [_Unfolds another._] H'm--'tis part of
a letter--[_reads_] "of old Maitland"--something torn off and then--"of
old Maitland"--[_reads further_] "Revenge is sweet. I can fancy how he
grieves for his lost Alice!" [_Studies._] Maitland! The devil! That's
Reginald's name; but he says old Maitland--he's young; but he's got
a father. Of course he has, and he's older than he. Certainly he is!
How stupid I am! [_Studies again._] H'm! [_Pulls out baby dress from
his bosom and examines initials._] A. M.! [_Jumps up._] Eureka! by the
jumping jingo! A.--Alice! M.--Maitland! That's Hilda's name, I'll stake
my life! Here comes the rascal back. [_DOLLERCLUTCH puts letter in his
pocket hastily--he leaves the wallet on the ground, where he found
it--goes a little up stage and appears interested in his own letter._]
=Enter= _RALPH, L. 2 E., as if hunting for something._
=Ralph.= Confound it! I must have dropped it when I pulled those
letters from my pocket! [_Sees wallet on ground._] Ah! Here it is!
safe! What a fortunate thing it did not fall into anybody's hands!
Good! I'm a lucky dog! [=Exit= _L. 2 E._]
=Dol.= [_Comes down and looks after him._] Yes! and I'm a luckier dog.
I can go you one better, my chap. George Washington, you did that
slick--you're a trump! But how shall I get these papers to the poor
girl? Confound it, I can't send them to her for fear they'll fall
into his hands again. If I keep them he'll soon discover his loss and
institute a search. If I hide them until the war is over, I might get
shot by an infernal rebel, and then how will the poor girl know about
them? Now, this _is_ a dilemma! [_Studies._] I have it! It is only
five or six miles to the place. I'll take them myself. I'll wait till
dark, then I'll slip away. I can be back in three hours! [_Sudden
thought._] What if my absence should be discovered? Then I'll be in
a pretty pickle! Court-martial--probably shot for a deserter. Ugh!
[_Sudden determination._] I'll risk it; I promised to see this thing
through, and, hang it, George Washington Dollerclutch will stand by his
word. Besides, I'll have a chance to see my charming Anastasia. That'll
nerve me in the undertaking. [_Retires up stage and_ =Exits= _into
tent, L. 4 E. During the last speech the stage is gradually darkened.
HENRY comes forward, C._]
=Hen.= Dollerclutch! [_DOLLERCLUTCH sticks his head out of tent._]
You will serve as sentinel on the high rock for the night. Maitland,
relieve Softhead. [_They salute and go to their respective posts.
DOLLERCLUTCH on high rock, L. 5 E. REGINALD, L. 1 E._] This is going to
be a dark night. I'll turn in. [=Exit= _HENRY, L. 2 E. The rest retire
to their tents._]
=Dol.= Now for my journey! [_He comes down, gets a cloak from tent, L.
4 E., and steals away cautiously, R. 3 E._]
=Reg.= [_L. C. In a study._] "Adrienne has taught little Alice to pray
for you." How strangely my father's words move me! Perhaps--but no!
no!--that will never be! Adrienne must be forever dead to my yearning
heart. When I entered the army I thought I had buried the joy of life
forever. But love for my child has sprung from the ashes of my forlorn
hopes, to cheer my drooping heart, like the oasis to the weary traveler
of the desert. Oh! the longing of a father's heart! What would I not
give to see her--speak to her. Oh! I feel as if I could not resist the
temptation to go and have if but one look. Yes, yes--a soldier's life
is uncertain--it may be the only opportunity to cast my eyes upon my
darling Alice!
=Enter= _RALPH, L. 2 E. He pauses. REGINALD at C._
=Reg.= I cannot resist the impulse. I must see my child! [=Exit=
_hurriedly into tent, L. 5 E. RALPH watches him cautiously._]
=Re-enter= _REGINALD from tent with cloak, and_ =Exit= _hurriedly,
R. 4 E._
=Ralph.= What does this mean? Maitland leaving his post? He acts
strangely, too! I'll follow him and see what he is up to. At last I
have the opportunity to humble his pride in the sight of the commanding
officers! [_He follows REGINALD, R. 4 E._]
=Quick Curtain.=