The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-12-25
THE ELkTON AMATEURS
Will Present Maud Peril" on Thursday
and Friday Evenings Next.

The people of Elllton and vicinity vii
no doubt be glad to learn that they will
| Amateur Dramatic Association render
their new play, "N+ud's Peril" in Odd
| Fellows lIill on Thursday and Friday
| evenings next. 1t is four act drama,
by Watts Phillips, author of ''rheodora, -
"Nobody's Child" Ne. "Maud's Peril
generally occupies the whole evening in
its rendition, but the amateurs have lie
cided to follow it by the amusing and
Imaginable farce Change Partners, y
thereby giving the audience the benefit
OF grand double bill. Following is a
SYNOPSIS OF THE DRAMA.
The whole of the First Act has but ore
scene-the cottage interior, and the gar
den of Susan Tdperloy. The occupant
is seen standing by table with her hand
on a chair back, i'll peusive mood. She
Is thinking of the unwelcome return OF
her ne'er- do well husband, from abroad
fact that she dares not tell her foster
sister Maud. Taperloy comes i'll, and his
first words prove him bad lot" lie
soon let's il be seen that he has come back
from transportation, no whit benefited by
punishment; indeed, he is "a returned con
Wet. He bids Susan go for some liquor,
and while she is away, he opens closet
with skeleton key and rob> his wife of
her little savings, a few sovereigns, leav.
ing her the crooked sixpence, boarded as
treasure, which he had given her in
counting days. Susan returns with some
substantial eatables aud some strong
drink. Toby squares himself tor hearty
meal, and bids Susan tell him what has
occurred since his compulsory absence.
She tells him that Miss Maud Seton is
now Lady Challoner. He expresses sur
prise at Maud,s marrying that old skin
flint, and adds in low tone, "I'll never
forget what owes to him" Susan goes
on to relate that Maud married to save
her father from ruin, although she had
engaged herself to Gerald Gwyun, Who
had once saved hei life when she had
walked to the dizzy verge OF d chalk c.ill
III her sleep. Susan relates that Gerald
was killed IL the Crimea, and that then
Maud married Sir Ralph Cnallouer. Tu5y
laughs at this, aud tells SusaIs that ne
M, 4 ,ar.Il i,~t ,,Ir ,,l
mistaken Tor country loon, was given /.
note to hand Susan for Lady Challuner.
While they are talking about tao letter,
Lady Cdalluner enters, hut seeing Susan
is not alone, she looks iuQuriugiy AT
Toby. The disguised convict instantly
speaks up-saSs that he is Il cousin of
Susans from 'lorksheer," and that
Susan had promised to try and get him a
job as pnder-gardener. The lady says
she will see what can be done for him,
and he leaves, first giving Susan the
letter tor Lady ChaloHer. Susan hands
it to Maud; 1t is addressed to Maud
Seitou." Tnen Susan is obliged to le-
The truth had been kept trulr her. Al
first they believed HIM dead: and wnen 1t
WAS discovered that lie lived, it was
deemed best by all-her father included
not to reveal the secret to her, as it
would only re awaken her sorrows. SUI
san, the lady's foster sister begs forgive
hpt iS =
world; never" Gerald hastily enters; the
lady avoids him; he rapidly details his
adv eutures. He had been left for dead
had been ii prisoner to the Russians, aud
the instant he escaped he had FASTENED To
her. Hunting horns are suddenly heard :;
it is Sir Ralph ChalIouer's party. The
Lady Maud exclaims: tits my hu&jand."
Gerald is amazed. ION, false heart" he
exclaims, Farewell" aud throwing a
packet at her containing few withered
flowers, he goes Oft, leaving her faintius
just as the husband enters by another
door. He embraces his wife, telling her
he has had excellent sport.
Act Second opens with a room IN the
Abbey. Toby Taperloy is packing
trunks; Sir Ralph is seated at table, aud
Burrell by him. Susan is just removing
wine glasses when Toby stops her and
drains the glasses unobserVed She is
just calling him by his right name, when
he stops her words, and she leaves the
room. Toby is sent from the room. and
Sir Ralph tells Burrell that as he wishes
to be elected to Parliament. they must
among others, tells him to put Mr.. Gerald
Gwynne on their list tor INVITATIONS
Susan, who has entered, hears and starts
at this. and Sir Ralph langhingly says t.
Burrell, Even the servant is alarmed at
this. He has fast reputationr' Maud
and Kate Seton enter, and are pleasantly
welcomed by Sir Ralph. Maud has in
her hand bouquet left by t:eraid she
discovers letter in it, which she throws,
unopened, into the fire. Sir Ralph bids
them good-by, and departs, followed by
Toby. Lady Challoner is left alone: she
muses. in sadness, while tie lightning
flashes and the thunder rumbles. She
she does SO Gerald comes on, cropping in
the darkness. Lady Challouer re enters
and Gerald falls upon one knee and puurs
out the passionate tale of his love and his
despair. Maud bids him rise and leave
her, and cries out that she will reveal all
to her husband. Enough. | go.' ex-
claims Gerald. A great crash is heard as
Gerald reaches the door by which he Ell.
tered. The ruined wall of the old Al bey
had fallen and closed that means OF
egress. Gerald sees there is but one way
to leave the house unseen, and thus avoid
blasting the lady's reputation. lie
springs to the window, opens it, and is
letting himself down by the clinging ivy:
Just before his face sinks below the win
dow sill, Toby enters and IL ashes a dark
lantern full on the figure OF Lady Chal-
loner, close to the window. and the face
of Gerald.
Act Third begins with room in the
interior of the Abbey. After some pre-
liminary conversation with different char
acters about the election to take place on
the morrow, all leave the room except
Sir Ralph, who sits at table making some
calculations. Maud enters, walking in
her sleep Her husband starts in sur
prise aud terror. The lady rehearses
passages of her love interviews to the