The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-07-12
A CONFIDENCE GAME.
"a. ParIGr Drama. }

AParIOr Drama.)
CHARACTERS:
Philip Hayward the Confidence Man.
Benjamin Allen. a wealthy Quaker
Patience Allen, his wife,
Ruth Dexter, their. fashionable married
Daughter.
Hannah their unmarried Treasure
Lord Valentine Featherfun, live Lord.
Lieutenant Fleming, from West Point
ACT I.
A room in Friend Benjamin's House. Time
Evening.
Enter Philip.
Philip. Philip, my man, you're in a
fair way to make fool of Yourself
Here you are, the trusted confidential
friend of the best man in the world,
who took you when boy-a poor
orphan boy-into his heart and home,
who treats you as his own son, and you
have the base ingratitude to fall in love,
head over heels. with the idol of his
heart, his Youngest daughter! Now,
migrate, what have you to say for your
self? Would he be glad to have YOU
as a son-in-law? Assuredly not. Does
the lady in question return your aflec-
tionP She thinks you are an old muff,
and treats you accordingly What have
YOU to offer her except that trouble
some organ called your heart? Abso-
lutely nothing, unless that old mis-
creant, your great-uncle, should repent
his eighty years wickedness and die,
as a decent man should, remembering
to forgive his veXatious nephew Philip
for having been born, and leave him
his warm-lined shoes to step intol Bah!
Anything but waiting for dead men S
,chnnGf Nn' I1ll no a thnnph -
tears my heart out. I'll think of
Hannah no more. Away, dishonor!
What is thatcher little glove?
[7abeS gl0Ce, and SmoothS it gently
IN his ha11G.
Hannah (Outside.) Where did leave
my glover
glo0e on table. Philip, have you seen
my glove.
Philip Dignity tossing the glore toward
Ler.) Is this it?
Hannah (Domjnqy,) Well, Mr. Cross
Patch, why don't you say how well |
look in my fnery? Don't YOU know
when a girl goes to the opera for the
first time in her life, and with live
lord in the party, too, that she wants to
be told she is charming?
Philip (1rjb mock adn@ration.) You
are most charming, fair Hannah.
Hannah (Se93o@Siy) You are. most
unkind, Philip.
Philip (S05erly.) like your looks
better, Hannah, when you are mol going
to the opera with live lord in the
party. Turns his back, goes to the table,
idly turns books oUer. Undoubtedly
Lord Featherluff and Lieutenant Flem-
ing will think the stars pale in splendor
when you dawn on their vision; but
have the poor taste to prefer you in
your little home gowns and girlish
home ways. | hate society girls, with
their vapid talk and vulgar angling after
compliments.
Hannah QaughimglO! Am 1 going
ODE a society girl, and will you hate me
in that savage way, Philip l don't
know but that should rather like being
complimented. 1t would at least be
something new.
Philip, o, you'll have quite enough
to turn your head. You have no opera
glass. I'll get you mine Starts to 90.
HannaA 0aStiIy). Why, Philip,
aren't you going?
Philip (Shortly). No.
Hannab: o, Philip, you surely are
not in earnest. My first opera You
must be there to help me enjoy it. l
thought of course you were going.
Philip, l don't care to go; L have a
book | must finish reading.
Hannah (draaUjng herself up cOldly)
/ beg pardon for such childish insisting.
Your taking the trouble to tell me the
entire story of to-night's music led me to
believe you were going. 1t matters
little, however; there will be others.
You may get me the glass
[ErH Philip. ]
Hannah (clGSping her hands OUer her
forehead) 0, the humiliation of it,!
That l should love him! could laugh
myself to scorn, as he would do if he
dreamed of it. Why can't l torture
myself into hating himP They always
accused me of indomitable pride. l
haven't shred of pride to cover my
diminished heau.
IhrowS herself into chair, a0ith her
arms faSrg on the table, head
b0WGd on arm.
Philip entering Nth glass;. Hannah!
Hannah (rtSjng hastily, confrontS
HIM. How dare you speak to me?
Philip. | speak because see you in
sorrow. Hannah sinks into chair again,
corerS face 1Ojth hands,; Philip leans oUer
back Of her chair l dare because l
would help you bear your grief, what
ever it may be, as l would help dear
sister.
Hannah. Nonsense, Philip, my heart
breaking griefs are but those of a silly
girl. How you would laugh if you
knew what I've been grieving over
[raiStag her heal, Smiltnq]. can al
most find it in my heart to join you in
a merry peal.
Philip (coldly.) You are right. ]
have no claim that / can urge as a
reason for helping you bear your sor-
rows save that you used to run TO me,
when you were little lispine
child, for comfort. You found il
then, Hannah: but ought not to
expect you non TO turn to such m usty
old bookworm for comfort.
Enter Ruth. J0tioDed by Lord Feath-
crIlulf and Lieutenant Fleming