The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-07-10

pie msy learn 10 eare for each other.
And, Philip, If thou wouldst kindly dis
pose Hannah toward him, d fathers
blessing be thine. Hotds his hand up
In asdrHing. Hush! no word of this to
others.
Enter Patience.
Patisnce. BENJAMIN, Henry Holt hath
come id from the farm, and would
speak with the about the new Durham.
Benjdn,in (goia0 toUard the door,.
Where is the man, Patiencep
Patience. He sits in the kitchen de-
vouring Betty's good crullers as one
whose life promised to be all fast-days.
[Erit Benjamin. 1 am glad Henry
hath need of Benjamin., because I would
speak to thee, Philip, of q matter too
delicate wen for d third 10 hear.
Phillip seriously d,tentiUe.1 Perhaps
thee wonders why l should speak to
thee, Philip, instead of some friend of
ripper years; but when I say it is Of
Hannah I would speak-for I know
thee has more weight with her than any
other
[Phiiip springs 10 his feet, and vdtks
rapidly back and torth.1
Patience (resunrinq.J What ails thee,
Philip Art thou i'll, poor ladP
Philip (rupsdly). I'm nervous. l
beg your pardon. I'm listening.
Patience fqenlul. Thee always was
an odd lad, Philip; but since thee
wishes, I will go on. IT'S a communi-
cation 1 have very much at heart.
Thee knows, now Hannah has finished
her school, and Ruthie taking her-to
worldlyrplaces, she will meet many
men and women-people perhaps whom
Benjamin and 1 would not have her
meet. Would it not be better if she
were promised to some good young
man IS his future wifea Phillip stops
and looks curiously at her, then GOES on.]
Then the attention of the worlds people
would fall on our child harmlessly.
Now 1 have been thinking of young
Thomas Fleming-a good lad, though
Eighty as yet. Thee frowns, Philip.
But he means well. And Agnes Flem-
ing. the lads mother, was the friend of
my girlhood. We were wed within a
week of each other, and the wish OF
her heart, as well as mine, is that our
boy and girl should wed. We pledged
them to one another in their cradles,
and now it grieves me to see my Ham
nah treat with such levity the lad who
I think holds her In such high esteem.
Philip. Ard what would you have
me doP Surely she should be left to
choose for herself without my inter-
ference?
Patience. Nay, Philip, the little child
must be guided by a firm. hand when
learning to walk. So Hannah, being
but a babe in such matters, needs a
strong hand to lead her gently but firmly
into safety. / would have thee, Philip,
show her the wisdom of choosing
Thomas Fleming for a husband. Thee
must not cross me in this. / will leave
thee now to dwell on the surest method
of bringing it about. If I could not
trust thee, Philip, whom should l trust?
EGathers up glasses, book, etc. EgI.
Philip 1.-THE image of despair, Mroao.
ing himself IN big char. Great
heavens! what have 1 done to bring this
mass of confidence down on my unlucky
headp Am / in Hades, and are these
others ghosts sent to torment me fol
the crime of falling In love with my
benefactor's daughter? You are a mag
unanimous fellow, Philip Hayward. &c
give her up, forsooth, when you haven't
the shadow of a chance of winning her
Let me see: I'm to use my influences
in favor of that idiot Lord Featherf1uff,
because he's English and a nobleman.
with young Broad brim Ellicot, be.
cause his father and her father think
their fortunes would look well together,
and because her bright girlish spirits
must be crushed out as too worldly
with that conceited fop Tom Fleming,
because the boy looks pretty in his uni
form, and his mother and her mother
made mud pies together. Humps to hi
feet. Hang it! ] won't do it. With
out a grain of conceit, I feel myself /,
better nan than any of that rabble. l
a worthier man claimed her i woult
bury my love. 1t is the irony of fat.
that makes me the one to urge tn,
woman love to accept the hand o
another.
ACT III.
The same place. Three months later.
Enter Hannah and LieutenantF Fleming
Hannah laughing.
Lieut.. r. l say, Hannah, you ar
enough to turn a fellows hair whit
with suspense, WIZ won't you MARI
me? | have asked you on an average
three times a week since l can remem
Der.
Hannas. Well, then, Tom, suppos
you let this week be an exception, an
don't ask meP
Leaf. Can't. It'ssecond nature
Why do you always laugh at me? D.
you suppose 1 don't know what Tr
talking aboutp 1 will just tell you
Miss Hannah Allen, I'm a good hall
year older than yoa are.
Hannah (mockng'yl. o, you ancien
mariner! ~[Ser;ous'y.1 Tom. do yo
really want to know why 1 won MARI.
your
Lieut.. F. (cager,D. You bette
, believe I dol
HannGa. l am -afraid-1-do-no
hold the first place in your heart.
Licut. F. Why, Hannah, you kno,
better than that! L just worship you
Who could hold the first place, if yo
do not?
. Hannah Cunning off, laughing an
calling back.) Your looety brass but
tons.
LIEUT.. never saw so tormentln
a girl. There goes Philip. I'll get hir
. to help me. [E1it.
Re-enters wih Philip.
Philip. l tell you, Fleming, I,don'
care a pin for your confidence. You'v
t thrust it on me against my will, and
, shan't turn my hand Owe to help you
Lieut. f. (deiec'edly.) You Nigh
have some pity on a fellow. You coul
get her to listen to me if you would
She just keeps me in hot water all tn
time. One minute she orders m
around like a princess, and the mex
. she makes all manner of fun of me.
? tell you, it breaks me all up, and L ca
it right mean of you not to help a feI
low.
Philip. Call it what you please.
: don't know why every one supposes-
has the inpufence to suppose that
take an interest in his private affair,
? I'm not a father confessor. l won