=Scene 1=: SITTING-ROOM IN THE MAITLAND COTTAGE.
_ANASTASIA discovered seated knitting at table, L. C._
=Anas.= War, and war, and war--and nothing but war! What earthly sense
can there be in a lot of men standing up to be shot at, I'd like to
know? Men making targets of themselves for others to practice shooting
at! If they want to shoot so bad there are enough shooting galleries,
where they can bang away to their hearts' content. But that's just the
way with the men. They always will be doing things they ought not to.
If the women only had the control of the Government, there would not be
any war--never! Everything would be peace and harmony.
=Enter= _MORRIS, D. R. 3 E._
=Mor.= [_R. C._] Good morning, sister! Where is my little darling Alice?
=Anas.= Out in the garden with her mother and Hilda.
=Mor.= [_Anxiously._] I am almost afraid to let them venture out of the
house for fear there might be some rebels lurking in the neighborhood.
=Anas.= [_Drops knitting and rises._] Good gracious, brother Morris!
There is no danger of the fighting coming so close?
=Mor.= It is hard to tell how it will be. Warfare is very uncertain,
although I do not think there is any immediate danger. The rebels are
fleeing towards the north-west, out of our track entirely. The Union
forces are but six miles to our west.
=Anas.= What if they should turn back? What will become of us?
=Mor.= True; but I believe the greatest danger is past! The rebels have
a determined pursuer, who will not be forced back. Grant is not the
man to acknowledge defeat. He has entered the fight to win, and I have
faith in him to believe that he will not turn his back upon the rebels
until he has forced them to submission.
=Anas.= Just to think that we might all have been shot and cut up--ugh!
It makes my blood run cold.
=Mor.= But the danger is not entirely over. The enemy is getting
desperate. Their supplies are cut off, and I fear some depredation
from foraging parties. I must caution them not to go out of sight of
the house, and not to allow Alice out of hearing. It would tear my
heart-strings should harm come to my darling little Alice.
=Anas.= Bless the sweet child! How she does grow. Ah! brother, she
looks more and more like our poor lost Alice every day.
=Mor.= Anastasia! I beg of you do not re-open the old wound. Revive not
the bitter memories of the past, which still have power to renew the
agony of a father's woful loss. [_Turns away._]
=Anas.= Forgive me, brother! I did not wish to make you feel sad. I'm
too sympathetic--I'm--I'm--[_She sits and cries affectedly._]
=Mor.= There, there! Don't let us have a scene. John is about ready to
start for the post-office. If you have any letters to send, you will
please have them ready. I will go and seek my little torment, Alice.
[=Exit= _D. R. F._]
=Anas.= [_Takes letter from pocket and reads it._] Ah, how he loves
the child! Should anything happen to Alice, it would kill him.
[_Addresses letter._] George Washington Dollerclutch, Esq. There,
you brave man! I'm so afraid his lion courage will make him too
venturesome. History will be full of his great deeds of bravery and
valor. But I must hasten, or I shall be too late. [=Exit= _D. L. 2 E._]
=Enter= _HILDA, D. R. 3 E. She goes to chair R. of table._
=Hil.= How cruel is fate! The friend on whom I had based my hopes to
help me sustain an honorable recognition before the world is debarred,
by the cruel requirements of war, from clearing my name of the stain
and reproach heaped upon it by a designing and depraved villain.
=Enter= _ADRIENNE, D. R. 3 E._
=Adri.= What! brooding again, Hilda? Come, cheer up! Put a firm trust
in the Almighty, and He will help you out of your great trouble.
=Hil.= I do! [_Rises._] But, oh! it seems so long to wait!
=Adri.= Alas, yes! We are apt to question sometimes, if He has deserted
us. But, rest assured, Hilda, He is all mercy and justice, and will, in
His good time, bring the balm of peace and joy to the suffering heart.
=Hil.= Thanks, my lady! You have been so good to me.
=Adri.= Nay, Hilda! I deeply sympathize with you in your trouble, and
I feel assured that your villainous husband will, some day, meet the
punishment he so richly deserves.
=Hil.= Yes, my lady. How near he came to wrecking your happiness, also.
It makes me shudder to think of it.
=Adri.= Yes, Hilda! but Heaven saved me from such a fate. It is with
shame that I must acknowledge that I was so blinded to his real
character as to love him. Thank Heaven, my eyes have been opened to his
treachery and baseness.
=Hil.= Oh, my lady! I am so glad to know that you forgave my silence
about his true character.
=Adri.= I could not blame you, Hilda. It was a bitter lesson, and I
can only reproach my folly for listening to his ardent appeals of
love. I thought him a gentleman of the highest honor, worthy of the
love of a virtuous and innocent girl. But your exposure of his utter
depravity has saved me from despair. It has awakened me to a keen
sense of the great injustice I have done him who has honored me with
his name--my husband. Oh, the agony I have inflicted upon that noble,
trusting heart! Oh, that it was I that drove him from me by my wretched
cruelty!--perhaps to meet his death upon the gory field of battle.
=Enter= _MORRIS, door in L. F. He pauses and listens._
=Adri.= Oh, may the Heavenly Father spare his life and bring him safely
back to this bleeding heart.
=Hil.= Oh, Adrienne! then you love him?
=Adri.= Love him, Hilda! Yea. I worship him. The grand nobility of his
soul has inspired my heart with the strong, undying love of the wife.
=Hil.= And does Reginald know of the change of your heart?
=Adri.= Alas, no! Pride--foolish pride--has kept me from making the
confession to him.
=Hil.= Adrienne, let me beseech you, then, to write to him at once,
and bring the sunshine of joy to his wretched heart. Do not mar your
own happiness by withholding the true state of your feelings. Think
of your child--your darling Alice. Do not deprive her future of the
happiness of a father's love.
=Adri.= I am so unworthy of him. Can he--will he forgive? [_Aside._]
His words when he left me--"Perhaps in time your feelings may change;
if so, the words 'Reginald, I love you--come back,' will bring to your
side one who will forever love you." [_To HILDA._] Yes, yes, Hilda,
you have taught me my duty. I will unburden to him my heart. I _will_
say--"Reginald, I love you--come back." [_MORRIS comes forward. Down
L._]
=Mor.= God bless you, my daughter!
=Adri.= You here?
=Mor.= Forgive me, Adrienne, for being a listener. But I am glad, for
it has convinced me how much I had wronged you in my thoughts. It has
shown me the true and loving heart of a woman--of a true and loyal
wife, who can yet be a pride to the loving heart of a husband, and a
joy in the declining years of his father. I have treated you coldly,
harshly, unjustly. I knew not the cause--the motive of your action. I
looked but upon the result. I now ask, in all humility and deference,
your forgiveness. [_He kneels to her._]
=Adri.= Rise, most noble sir! I have naught to forgive! I, alone, am to
blame. I have merited your censure by my conduct. Heaven grant it may
not be too late to restore to your arms an honored and dutiful son, and
to me a cherished and beloved husband.
=Mor.= [_Embraces her._] Adrienne! [_Kisses her forehead._] God bless
you, my daughter! [_His head droops on her shoulder. ADRIENNE gives her
hand to HILDA, who takes it in both her own. Picture. Whistle scene._]
=Scene 2=: WOOD PASS IN 1ST GROOVE. NIGHT.
=Enter= _DOLLERCLUTCH, R. 1 E., enveloped in cloak._
=Dol.= I got safely away without being discovered. The camp was wrapped
in slumber, not a soul stirring but the sentinels. [_Looks around._] If
I'm not mistaken, I must be near the house. Ah! some one approaches!
[_He retires._]
=Enter= _HILDA, L. 1 E._
=Hil.= If Reginald could but return, how happy they would be! I left
Adrienne writing to him, pouring out the love which will bring joy to
his desolate heart. [_Sighs._] And there's Henry, her brother! How my
thoughts will always revert to him. So manly in his bearing--high in
the appreciation of true worth. If I only were--but no! I must check
the feeling that has sprung up here. [_Pressing her heart._] I must not
forget that my life is linked to another--
=Dol.= [_Aside._] It's she! I'm sure it is!
=Hil.= [_Alarmed._] What's that!--who's there? [_DOLLERCLUTCH comes
forward. HILDA retreats, alarmed._]
=Dol.= Don't be alarmed, my dear girl. Don't you know your old friend?
=Hil.= [_Comes forward doubtfully._] Can it be possible? Mr.
Dollerclutch?
=Dol.= Yes, my dear girl, your stanch friend, Dollerclutch. [_Takes her
hand._]
=Hil.= I'm so glad to meet you! But what brings you in this
neighborhood? Perhaps you know--Oh, tell me, sir! Have you any news?
Relieve my suspense, sir!
=Dol.= I have news, and good news--I've discovered all; now don't you
faint. I've got the record of your marriage--and I have found your
parents. [_HILDA gets faint and staggers._] Oh, Lord! I told you not to
faint--what shall I do? [_He supports her._]
=Hil.= [_Starting up._] 'Tis over, sir! The sudden joy nearly overcame
me.
=Dol.= Now take a strong grip of your nerves--now do--that's a good
girl. I have not a minute to spare. I must get back to camp before my
absence is discovered or I shall get myself in a tight place.
=Hil.= Pardon me, sir! I will be calm!
=Dol.= That's right! [_Takes papers from pocket._] Now listen! I
haven't the time to tell you how I was successful--that I'll do by
letter--but I've got the proofs, and here they are. That is the record
of your marriage, and this is part of a letter from which, I think, I
have found out that you are the daughter of Morris Maitland.
=Hil.= [_Staggers._] Mr. Maitland my father?
=Dol.= Now be careful, I tell you! Don't forget your nerves. Now listen
to what I say. Take these papers and this dress to Morris Maitland.
[_Hands her papers and baby dress._] Tell him your story and I'll stake
my life on it that he will find a daughter and you a father.
=Hil.= How can I ever repay you for your kindness to me? You have
raised a burden from my life that was crushing me. Heaven bless you,
sir! May you meet the reward that your large and magnanimous heart
deserves.
=Dol.= I haven't got any such heart! you are mistaken--entirely
mistaken. My action was in the line of duty--purely in duty, without
any kindness whatever, do you understand? Now go! lose not a moment and
be careful not to lose the papers. [_Gently forces her to L. 1 E._]
=Hil.= I will, sir! and Heaven bless you. [=Exit= _L. 1 E._]
=Dol.= Now, I've got that poor girl happy, now for my own happiness. If
I could only meet my Anastasia! Now why the deuce didn't I ask that
girl to tell her to come out a few moments? George Washington, you're
an idiot to let a little excitement get away with your head. But who
comes this way? [_DOLLERCLUTCH hides._]
=Enter= _RALPH, R. 1 E._
=Ralph.= So! Adrienne must be the magnet which drew him from his post
of duty. I followed him like a ferret, and I'm sure that we are in the
neighborhood of his home. Curse him, he can walk like a race horse! I
had to run, at times, to keep up with him. Go to your Adrienne, you
vain fool, go to the wife whose heart enshrines another. I wish you
joy! But I too shall, perhaps, see an opportunity to speak to the proud
and haughty beauty! If I do, I'll humble her pride--curse her! [=Exit=
_L. 1 E._]
=Dol.= [_Comes forward._] Ralph Murdell, by the jumping jingo! What
brings him to this neighborhood? No good, I'll be bound! If he should
run across Hilda before she gets to the house it might upset all. No!
not while old Dollerclutch can prevent it. I'll follow the rascal, and,
if he as much as attempts to injure a hair of the girl's head, I'll
treat his black carcass to an ounce of lead. Hang me if I don't see
this thing through! [=Exit= _L. 1 E. Whistle scene._]
=Scene 3=: SAME AS SCENE 1.
_ADRIENNE discovered at table, L. C., writing. ALICE in crib, L. 4 E._
=Adri.= [_Sealing letter._] 'Tis done at last! With what feelings of
anxiety shall I count the hours until I have his reply! Will it bring
happiness to my longing heart? Yes, yes! His is a love that time cannot
change, nor separation dim! [_Goes to crib, L. 4 E._] How sweetly she
sleeps! [_She kneels in prayer._] Heaven preserve my darling child!
Watch over her with thy faithful love and guidance. Guard the father
with thy holy protection from the dangers of this cruel war, and
restore him safely to the bosom of his sorrowing family. [_Her head
droops. After a slight pause she gets up hurriedly._] I will take the
letter to John, so that he will be sure to take it to the post-office
the first thing in the morning. [=Exit= _ADRIENNE, D. L. 2 E._]
_After a pause_ =Enter= _REGINALD, D. R. F.; he looks around
eagerly; places his gun against chair, R. 2 E._
=Reg.= No one here? How my heart does beat in anticipation of seeing my
beloved Alice. [_Looks around._] Oh, the bitter memories that haunt my
mind at the sight of each familiar object! [_Sees crib, L. 4 E. Goes
to it eagerly and pulls curtain aside._] My child! my Alice! Heavenly
Father, I thank Thee! She sleeps. Oh, Thou being of innocence, free
from the taint of a deceitful world, I will not disturb the peaceful
quiet of thy innocent slumber. Let me feast my eyes upon my sleeping
darling! [_He kneels._] Let the sweet picture of purity and innocence
be forever hung in the desolate cavern of my bleeding heart, safely to
guide me to that eternal home where the soul can find a haven of peace
and rest! [_His head sinks._]
=Enter= _ADRIENNE, door L. 2 E. She goes to R. C. and sees
REGINALD. She is alarmed._
=Adri.= What means this? A stranger!
=Reg.= [_Rises suddenly and turns._] Adrienne! [_He turns away._]
=Adri.= Reginald! [_She pauses, with heaving bosom._]
=Reg.= I beg your pardon, Adrienne, for this intrusion. The impulse to
see my child caused me to forsake my post of duty. It led me here to
have but one look upon her darling form. I have been satisfied and I
am ready to return to the stern post of duty. [_He turns to go towards
door in L. F._]
=Adri.= And have you no word for me? [_He pauses._] Not a look for the
mother of your child? [_REGINALD keeps his back towards her. ADRIENNE
stretches her arms towards him._] Am I so soon forgotten? [_He presses
his brow. Pause._] Reginald, I love you! come back! [_Reginald turns
suddenly and springs towards her._]
=Reg.= Adrienne! [_She falls into his arms._] My beloved Adrienne!
=Adri.= [_After a pause._] Now am I happy, indeed! My prayers have been
answered!
=Reg.= Heaven is, indeed, merciful, in bringing this joy into my dreary
existence! I fulfilled my duty as a soldier more with the desire to die
in the service of my country, than to live. But now, I enter the fight
doubly armed, for I now know that I have something more to live for
besides my child--a loving wife.
=Adri.= Heaven grant you will be spared to us, Reginald!
=Reg.= We will put our trust in Him above, who has granted me the boon
of this happy hour! Alas that I must tear myself away from my new found
joy! But duty demands that I return at once to my post.
=Adri.= Nay, Reginald, I cannot let you go again.
=Reg.= Alas! Adrienne, you must bear the separation calmly, for my sake
and for the child's. I left my post without permission, and should my
absence be discovered I shall be court-martialed. A few hours ago I
feared not the consequences of my rash act. But now I dread it, for
your sake. I must return at once, while there is yet time. Let the
thoughts of our child be your strength in my absence, as she will be
mine in the heat of battle. May the Lord of Hosts bring this bloody
war to a speedy close. [_Goes to crib._] Farewell! my child! [_Kisses
her._] Farewell! my beloved wife! [_Kisses her. She clings to him._]
Heaven guard and keep you. [_REGINALD tears himself from ADRIENNE and_
=Exits= _door L. F. hurriedly, leaving his gun behind. ADRIENNE sinks
into chair R. of table._]
=Adri.= Cruel, cruel fate! [_Her head droops._]
=Enter= _RALPH, door R. F._
=Adri.= [_Starts up joyfully._] Reginald! [_Sees it is RALPH. She draws
herself haughtily erect._] Ralph Murdell!
=Ralph.= [_Comes down R. Sneeringly._] Even I, Adrienne, your humble
servant!
=Adri.= What means this intrusion, sir, at this hour of the night?
=Ralph.= I never had the pleasure of congratulating you before on your
happy marriage!
=Adri.= Sir, you will oblige me by leaving this house!
=Ralph.= [_Aside._] That cut, did it? [_To ADRIENNE._] Pardon me,
madam, but if you will allow me to offer my sincere sympathy for your
loveless married life----
=Adri.= Leave this house instantly, or I will call assistance to eject
you forcibly!
=Ralph.= Ha! ha! ha! I made sure there was no one about to disturb us
ere I entered.
=Adri.= What do you mean?
=Ralph.= Just this! That there is not a soul within the reach of your
voice. We are alone. But listen to me, Adrienne. I do not wish you
harm--on the contrary, I offer you happiness.
=Adri.= I do not understand you, sir!
=Ralph.= When you married Reginald Maitland, it was not because you
loved him, but to gratify a feeling of pique. You gave him your hand,
but not your heart. That belonged to me! I have watched your husband
every day and have read the unhappiness and misery that he tries to
conceal. Adrienne, you are unhappy in the bonds that tie you to a
loveless life. Therefore, fly with me, and I will show you a life's
loving devotion--a life----
=Adri.= Enough! Do not pollute further the sanctity of a true and
honest husband's roof with the vile utterances of depraved villainy. My
husband I adore, and I will be loyal to him and faithful unto death.
Your influence over my heart is forever broken, and I would sooner
suffer death, aye, a thousand times, than to listen to another word
from you, whom I hate and despise--yea, whom I loathe more than a viper
in my path! Go, and may Heaven have mercy on your soul! [_She turns
away in majestic contempt._]
=Ralph.= [_Sees REGINALD'S gun and takes it._] Curse you! Those words
have sealed your doom! [_He shoots. ADRIENNE staggers and falls._] Ha!
ha! ha! Now, my proud beauty, perhaps your pride is humbled! Ha! ha!
ha! [_Looks around cautiously, puts out light, then gropes for door._]
=Enter= _DOLLERCLUTCH, door R. F._
=Dol.= [_Feeling in the dark._] I'm sure he came this way--and that
shot! I'm afraid all is not right. [_Runs into RALPH._] Ha! [_They
struggle. RALPH throws DOLLERCLUTCH from him and escapes through door,
R. F._] Confound it! He's got away! But I've got his ring, which
slipped from his finger into my hand. He shan't escape--I'll have him
yet. [=Exit= _hurriedly, door R. F._]
_After a pause_ =Enter= _REGINALD, door L. F._
=Reg.= The house is dark. Adrienne has retired for the night. In the
excitement and haste of my departure I forgot my gun. [_He feels around
in the dark._] I stood it here against a chair! [_Finds it._] Ah!
It would not do to return without it. I feel almost tempted to call
Adrienne, that I might once more clasp her to my heart--but, no! I
have delayed too long already. I will live on the fond remembrance of
our happy meeting, and pray that the day be not far distant when I can
feast my heart upon the smiles of my beloved wife and child! [=Exit=
_door R. F._]
=Quick Curtain.=