Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-30

was to make feel at home. Homel / shall
never have home now. Looks at letter
again.l with kindest regards to the bride
LSpeaks.l The hypocrte, How l hate him.
think. oh, If mamma were only here to advise
me-,
Enter Mr.. P through window.
Mr.. P. Not dressed yet, dear?
Mrs p. Gliding letter, and struggling to ap-
pear calm). No.
Mr.. z. Why not?
Mrs. P. am not going out. I have head
ache.
Mr.. P. Your eyes look red. I'm so sorry,
dear. looming closerl Can l get you any
thing?
Mrs P. shrinking back. No. Don't touch
me.
Mr.. P. What is the matter?
Mrs. L. Oh nothing. Only my heart is broken
Mr.. =. What nonsense What has broken it i?
Mrs p. 1t may be nonsense to you, sir but it
is death to me. l have discovered your cruel
perfdy.
Mr.. P. (amazedD. My perfdy. [Aslde.l What
iii thunder is she driving at?
Mrs p. Yes You need not affect innocence.
| have proof Of one case, but | dare say it is
only one of hundreds Oh. to think that
should have married such Don Juan!
Mr. p Will you please explain what you are
talking about?
told me that l was the only woman you had
ever really loved.
MI. p. And ten you so once more.
Mrs. p. Don't! don't! DON'T. Do not, Mr.
Pedder. shatter any lingering remnant of faith
l may nave. Do not heap perjury perjury.
Mr.. p. (aside). "Mr. Pedder.' It's serious.
[Aloud.1 Ny dear, you are using very strong
words.
Mrs. p I have heard of your loves. and the
false stories you have told Others-Ihe affec-
tons you have wronged-the hearts you have
betrayed And II. who was ready to worship
You, am TO be rewarded with the worn.out feel
ings OF a rake. On. it is a bitter awakening
from my dreami
Mr.. p. you will drop your tragic vein. and
tell me what's the matter shall no doubt be
able to explain it. | can see that some one has
been trying to make mischief between Us. Who
is the lar?-the false friend? Tell me. that |
my prove myself innocent.
Mrs. P You brazen 1t out boldly, sir, but
your acting does not impose on me. / have
proOfs-the best of proofs.
Mr.. Z. Then show them to me-tell me what
they are. | cannot answer an accusation that
Is so vague.
Mrs. P. You could not answer it if l de-
meaned myself by stating 1t in the clearest
words.
Mr.. P. Ellen. is this the faith and trust you
promised NE at the altar?
Mrs. p. Do you dare to speak to me of faith
and trust! You, who are ST. false and dislOyal.
MIR. =. If you won't tell me You won't, but I'll
be hanged if / know what all this is about
Mrs. p. Go on sir. go on. Use bad language
if you want to. You don't respect me- but you
can't impose on me. Had you confessed all and
trusted to my love / might have forgiven YOU
but your shameless prOtestatons of ignorance
and innocence show me what | have to expect
in the future. | am going to my rOOm sir and
/ beg you will not disturb me. IGoes to door I
If you want amusement this morning sir YOU
can think of Lulu TOmnsOn.
[She enters room and slams door,
Mr.. P. (alone). Whe-e-e-wl Lulu TomIinsOn
FTn1a Lott. ~,
oyer.] BY Jove! I've dropped Georges, and
she's read it, And she thinks Lulu is q girl
[Laughs.] That's the best joke l ever heard
Come to think of it, his phrases were rather
ambiguous. Poor Elem it is really too bad
she should have been so worried. But | was
worried too. | began to get in no end of a
fright. / couldn't for the life of me imagine
which of my fiirtatiOns she had dropped on. 1t
all comes of this ridiculous notion of O wife
wanting to BE the only woman her husband has
ever loved. The only way to get that would be
to marry a boy baby; and then il the baby could
speak, she'd find she had a predecessor in the
nurse. Now Ellen was inclined to be jealous of
that widow. L shall have to give her a little
lesson. tGoes to door, opens it a little and calls.
Mrs. Pedderi
Mrs. P.s voice. | asked YOU to respect nv
grief.
hr. P. Gin calmly dgnified tones) l am aware
how cruelty you have misiudged me. | cannot
rest quietly under false and wicked aspersiOn
1t will be we'll for the future happiness of both
OF u5 that you come here and listen to me.
Mrs. P.'s voice. have proof.
Mr.. L. Proofs that | shall demolish.
ENTER Mrs. P
Mrs. P. l shall be only too delighted ii you
can.
Mr.. P. Kindly take seat. Thank you. When
you left NE. just now, You hurled at me the
name of Lulu TomnsOn. What If were to as
sure you that there is no such person?
Mrs. p. rising). Oh, Dick darling, isn't there
really?
Mr.. P ObIige me, Mrs. Pedder by remaining
seated.
Mrs. P. (sitting). Don't call ne Mrs. Pedder,
Dick.
Mr.. p. Madam. Just now, on groundless
suspicion, You called me Mr. Pedder once and
to my love; might have forgiven your want Of
faith-the faith that yOu promised me at the
altar.
Hides facein handkerchief
Mrs P. O. but. Dick, l din't really mean it ,
never really doubted you.
Mr.. p Madam, your acting does not impose
on me- Your anger was too natural to have
been assumed.
Mrs. P. ront. Dick, don't I can't stand it.
But You haven't explained it al yet.
Mr.. p should have, had you not interrupted
me. You found a letter dropped, and YOU i'm
mediately proceeded to read it.
Mrs. Z. | saw it was from Dir. Hammond and
you said might read it.
Mr.. Z. When l showed it 20 you. But, Mrs.
Mrs. 2. Don't, Dick dcn'tl If you call me
Mrs. Pedder again shall break my heart
Nr. L. Your distruSt has almost broken mine
You found in that letter reference to Miss
Tomlinson and Lulu, and Immediately jumped
to the conclusion that Lulu was girl to whom
l had behaved like villain.
Mrs. p. And isn't she girl?
Nj. p. No; Lulu is dog.
Mrs. p. 4 dog!
Mr.. p. A terrier of pure Skye breed
Mrs. p. Qising) Oh, Dick, how foolish l have
been.
Mr.. P. Don't touch me; hear me out. The
first time met YOU you happened to mention
your peculiar dislike to dogs. | fell in love with
you that evening, so | determined not to spoil
my chances by speaking of Lulu or letting YOU
see her. When you accepted me, the TOmlin-
sons kindly took charge OF Lulu with the I'M
derstanding that if ] didn't claim her in six
months. she was to be theirs.
Mrs. p (kneeling be ore him). Oh, Dick how
wickedIy suspicious have BEEN Can YOU ever
forgive me?
Mr. p Ny dear, I'll try, if you Will promise
never to be jealous again.
Mrs. r. Never. Dick, dear, never,
Mr.. Z. You see that, however strong appear
anceS may be, they are not proofs.
Mrs T. No, Dick, no. ] will never suspect
you again; and I'll never read any OF your let
teTs-unleSs you give them 10 me-
Ar. +. That's NY own trustiul darling again
lThey embrace
Mrs. p. Dick. believe | love Won more than
ever, though l didn't think that was possible
And. oh. Dick dear, you may send for Lulu if
Won like " -