St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-01-28

speaking DflSHtiy.J have IL, HiaAiilii
LEAVES the stage with an air of conf
dence.l
. Mrs. W.-What does that rash chill
mean? must follow her. Exit MRS
Withers.
[Scene Second--Drawing-room as before
Mrs. Withers discovered walking to and fro i
restless fright Enter Nelly and Bridgetl
NeL-Now, Bridget, you understand
our position fully, don't you?
Brid.-Faith an do, and me hear
goes down into me feet one minute ant
up into me mouth the next at thu
thought of it.
Nel.-Now, Bridget, none of YOU
weak terrors! Keep your heart in The
right place, and don't increase man
mas fright. Goes to left-hand door
locks it, and puts the key into hel
pocket At least we have one frail
lock between him and ourselves!
Brid.-CDown on floor in an agony
of terror. rocking back and forth. To
think of locking naurtherer up in our
house,
Nel.-O, Bridget! hope he is not a
murderer! A burglar is bad enough!
Brid.-Murtherer or burglarer, it's
all one and the same to me. If haste
| of man breaks into an honest man S
house with intint to stale, he has but
a short step to r'ach the intint to kill.
Mr.. H.-GTrying the knob of his
door from within. Miss Nelly, are
you aware that | am locked in?
Nel.-Perfectly well aware of the
fact, Mr.. Hayward.
Mr.. H-Would you be kind enough
to explain aUhy am locked in?
NeL-[To the others. The cool
audacity of the man! Turns to the
doorl Certainly, Mr.. Hayward, will
explain. You have been discovered in
your true character. We know, now,
that instead of being Tom friend, in
whom we all trusted, you are notori-
Gus burglar: In the guise of a friend
yon have entered the isolated home of
two lonely women, and while partak-
ing of their hospitality your heart
has been full of malice towards them.
Mr.. H.-O, my dear young lady!
You wrong me deeply! Whence came
SO false a suspicion? l beg you will
tell me.
Nel.-Listen, then, to this telegram,
received but an hour ago from our sis
ter Reads telegram aloud
Mr.. H.-Alas! with such false evil
dence, seeming in your eyes so true,
what words could justify my characters
Nel-None, assured you, Mr. Hay
ward. [Goes to her mother.1 Now,
my dear mother, can you not feel COM
paEatively secure? We are safe for the
present, assure you, and at dawn the
coachman will return. Come, dearest,
seek few hours rest. Leads her off
through the right-hand door1
Bird. [Hobbling up and following
HoWly Moses! Who could rest in
house with murtherer? rShakes
with terror as she passes Mr.. Hay
wards door
Scene Third. Dtawingroom before. |
Sounds occur outsldeA as if some one trying to |
A,
wearing wrappers, rus4 in from the door on the !
right Mrs. Withers wearing a nightcap, the !
strings OF which fly loose. Bridget rushes in
from the rear, wearing red flannel nightcap
and shawl, and covers down at one end OF the |
stage, hiding her face and rocking back and !
forth in great terror.
Mrs. W.-Nelly. dear some one is
surely trying to enter the house Can
the burglar have escaped from his
room?
Mr.. H-[Calling from his ROOM
Miss Nelly!
Mel. - Going TO Mr. Hayward door,
Well, Mr.. Hayward?
Mr.. H-Do you hear those soundsp
Sounds break forth again. Nelly
seems very much startled.]
Mel. Yes, Mr.. Hayward. What
,hall we do? Can You not help usP
MIR. HI fear, Miss Nelly, that
burglars are entering the house. If
7ou will trust me and open the door I
VIII do my best to protect you.
Bird. Protect us from his own MUIR
herring band!
Mel Turning to Mrs. Withers.1
Mamma, what shall do? Mrs. With
'rs shakes her head in a helpless fash
Oh Another sound from without de-
ermines Nelly. She goes back to Mr.
door, / will unlock the
loor. Wait a moment, that we may
eturn to our rooms
NELLY unlocks his door; then she, Mrs. With
rs and Bridget all go off through door on the
ight-hand side, which she locks audibly. Mr.
hayward rushes from his room, pistol in hand
lie fires after leaving the stage, and sounds OF
eesons scuffling follow. He returns and goes
. Nellyfs door.l
Mr.. HI was right, Miss Nelly;
hey were burglars. don't think they
rill trouble you any more. Iput some
eayy shot into one, and frightened the
Their 50 thoroughly that I don't think
hey will care to try this house again to-
light. Win you be kind enough to
,ck me in nowp
Nel.--Mr Hayward. we are very CRATE
Il to you. IL don't think it neces-
ary to lock you in this time.
Mr.. 81 II might prove dangerous. I
'ig e :,ot, yet be revealed IN my ..tr,le b
nd 4 s aettf. s-soes in his room.
Mrs. Withers. Nelly and Bridget enter,J i
Nell Mamma it seems .3aferrihfT Yy1Y, \