The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-07-12

love the life / wished to flee from. So
we, Ben amin, must draw Ruthie back.
| do not fear for Hannah.
BENJAMIN (bt0Uing his nose as If tears
1Oere near the surface. Thou vast ever
in the right, Patience. Where is my
paper, lad? Papers seem endowed
with the spirit of will-o' -the-wisp.
Benjamin and Philip turn papers
till they find the one Wanted. Pa
tience searches for her glasses on
the table and IN her dress pocket.
BenjUnlin. What is missing, Patience?
Patience. My spectacles Perhaps
left them in my knitting basket.
Rises Slo,0ly, and nlOres quietly out
of the room after q moments 81
fence, wherein Benjamin looks
Steadily at Philip, and folds his
paper cGretuliy.
Benjamin. Philip Philip looks up
q~ickly], will thee do me a kindness,
lad?
Philip (heartay). Nothing would give
me more pleasure. What is itp
Benjamin (refectiUelgO. l would have
thee answer letter for me. With ami
maaon:l I'll unburden my mind to
thee, Philip. The case stands in this
way. Thee remembers friend Andrew
Ellicot? He was with us for a season
last year, when Hannah was home for
her midsummer vacation. He writes
me tunlbLeS IN his pocket for letter.;
reads M-m-m, ''And now the sequel
whereunto all this tends. Your daugh-
ter Hannah, whom thee knows l took
into my heart as a chick is taken under
the mothers wing, | would choose as 4
wife from all the world for this good
son of mine. Thee knows, friend Ben
jamin, abundant wealth is ouls, which
will all 90 to the lad in due season.
But, above this and beyond, the lad is
good and true, sober and upnght-a fit
mate for thy amiable daughter" Thee
sees what | would have thee do, Philip.
Write to friend Ellicot; let him know
this marriage is the wish of my heart
Be cordial in thy words Bid him
bring the lad to us that theyoung peo-
| pie may learn to care for reach other.
And, Philip, if thou wouldst kindly dis
pose Hannah toward him, q father
| blessing be thine. Holds his hand up
IN CarHi1g. Hush! no word of this to
others.
Enter Patience.
Patience. Benjamin, Henry Holt hath
come in from the farm, and would
speak with the about the new Durham.
Benjamin (g0inG toWGrd the door,.
Where is the man, Patience?
| Patience. lie sits in the kitchen de-
vouring Betty's good crullers as one
whose life promised to be all fast-days.
| ETt Benjamin. l am glad Henry
hath need of Benjamin, because | would
speak to thee, Philip, of matter too
delicate even for a third to hear.
| Philip seriously dttentjUe. Perhaps
thee wonders why l should speak to
thee, Philip, instead of some friend of
ripper years; but when l say it is of
Hannah l would speak-for 1 know
thee has more weight with her than any
other
Philip springs to his feet, and a0aZkS
rapidly back and FORTH.
Patience (reSunsing.) What ails thee,
Philip? Art thou ill, poor lad?
Philip (rapidIy). I'm nervous. l
| BEG your pardon. I'm listening.
Patience (gently). Thee always was
an odd lad, Philip; but since thee
wishes, will 90 on. IT'S a commune
cation | have very much at heart
Thee knows, now Hannah has finished
her school, and Ruthie taking her to
worldly places, she will meet many
men and women-peoplep perhaps whom
Benjamin and l would not have her
meet. Would it not be better if she
were promised to some good young
man as his future wife? Philip stops
and looks cUrjouSLy at her, then goes on.
Then the attention of the world S people
would fall on our child harmlessly
Now | 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
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 Han
nah treat with such levity the lad who
| think holds her in such high esteem.
Philip. And what would you have
me do? 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 babe in such matters, needs a
strong hand to lead her gently but firmly
into safety. 1 would have thee, Philip
show her the wisdom of choosing
Thomas Fleming for a husband. Thee
must not cross me in this. l will leave
thee now to dwell on the surest method
of bringing it about. If 1 could not
trust thee, Philip, whom should trust?
T Gathers up glasses, book, etc. EGit. !
Philip (the image Of despair, MroW-
ing himself IN q big choir). Great
heavens! what have done to bring this
mass of confidence down on my unlucky
headP Am l in Hades, and are these
others ghosts sent to torment me for
the crime of falling in love with my
benefactor's daughter? You are mag
unanimous fellow, Philip Hayward, to
give her up, forsooth, when you haven't
the shadow of chance of winning herl
Let me see: I'm to use my influence
in favor of that idiot Lord Featherhuff,
because he's English and nobleman;
with young Broad-brim Ellicot, be-
cause his father and her father think
their fortunes would look well together,