The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-02-27
UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
A Highly Entertaining Comedietta
in One Act.
CHARACTERS.

MISS KATIA BARTLETT. Mr. PERCY PELr
HAM. THOMAS, Ia serran0.
SCENE: Narning-room in Mrs. Barftf.rs
cottage at Newport. Time. nearly noon.
Ip'r Miss Rntia bartlett, in riding ha6it,
follossei By Thomas.
Katia. Thomas, has mamma returned?
Thomas. No, miss.
Katia. Has any one called during my
absence?
Thomas. IPresenting card on tray
Yes, miss, Mr.. Pelham; an q will call
again hat twelve.
kdtia's face lights up, and she assumes
an appearance Of intense satisfaction mhich
her Vords can not dissaise.l
Katia. Aside and drd,eing Of g'orss.
Percy Pelham! l told him. distinctly,
that would never be At home to him
before twelve o'clock! Audacity! No
fices an open album upon tabk. Why is
this album here, Thomas?
Thomas. Mr.. Pelham 'ad il, lOokin'
through 1t, miss.
Katia. tEeideatly delighted. Turning
kares quickly. Aside. ! thought SO!
Ny photograph is missing. [-i1ud.
That will do Thomas. EHa Thomas.
Yes. he has actually taken my picture.
Well. the impudence Of some persons is
positively appalling! FER pleasure quite
erident in her face. To think of entering
ones dwelling and appropriating part
Of one's-personal property! It's out
rageous. Ishall be very angry, Of course
What's thiso Pirks up tie ha!f-sheet OF
q litter, sonaerhdt tora.l Apparently,
letter. Tho first part OF it seems to be
gone. Rends.
''Of course I shall make love to her, old boy.
They expect tit amuscs them. and II doesn't
harm us in the least shall play it asst were
trying to win, and will write you the result.
These coquettes must be fought with in their
own code. Yours eternally,
PERCY"
[Gires slight gdsp.l Percy.-Percy7
%. it can not belt is q mistake, OF
course.-And yet it must be! Percy
Pelham. OF course it is Percy Pelham!
tAgtated.l The monster! How bastard
ly!-How perfectly inhuman!-O. oh!
The wretch means me. beyond Doubt
he is. and has been, so devoted in his
attentions.-O, ] shall go mad with
rage: Eauses. always despised him!
Family. Yes. always. And to think,
that after all his p-etentions,-he never
loved me at all. Rings bell. o. it is
too-too cruel: Enter Thomas. Thomas.
DO you know any thing about this scrap
OF letter have just found upon the
floor?
Thomas. No, miss. 1t don't 'appen
70 be haddress, do it, miss?
Katia. No.-Why?
Thomas. Because Mr.. Pelham wrote
haddress Of groom, witch e got OF
me, miss.
Katia. Whore did Mr.. Pelham obtain
the paper upon which he wrote that ad-
dress?
Thomas e took it from is pocket,
miss, and tore it hof part of letter
witch o said e 'ad forgot to post. miss.
Katia. With an assured air. That
y sufficient. Exit Thomas. The web
OF circumstantial evidence is complete.
He wrote that letter to some friend
about me-and forgot to post it! With
'nereas'ng anger. And this man-this
nend in human form--is to call At twelve,
lGAnces at clock. and it is now five min
utes Of that time! Shades OF immortal
Mars and Minerva give me strength to
crush him! Walks the floor erritedly.l 81
shall make love to her!'-"They expect
it!-"It amuses them" Sneerngly. !
We will see, my ''gay Lothario," just
how amusing this will be.-Hark! l
heard tho door close. As they say upon
the stage, III dissemble." Sits in an
RxlRA.rhn1s nj >s.snL cf
su'nes an air Of great cdrelessness. Enter
1homas.l
Thomas. Mr.. Pelham.
Enter M. Percy Pelham. Erit Thomas. I
Pelham. Ny dear Miss Katia, hope
an not too early. Twelve o'clock was
the hour you named. believe, and If /
have appeared few moments too early,
you must be kind, and make allowance
for my earnest desire to zee you.
Wnik making this speech, he has dropped
upon sofa rhich Il close to the toIk at
rhicA Rafia IL aeatsd, Ads remored one
gLore, and reached out a hand nhicE Katid
colby ignores. She rises. He immediately
Jeloses suit, but stands in lbs place at tn
scfa, looking at her.l
Katia. Don't waste your excuses upon
this visit. Spend them all upon the one
you mado IN hour ago-before you were
asked.
Pelham. Aside She wasn't here;
How did she find out? Aloud. But
my dear Miss katia!-
Katia. tAngri,y.] I'm not your "deal
Miss Katia," and insist upon your un
derstanding the difference between you,
property and mine! Therefore. replace
this instant the photograph you stole
from my album this morning!
Percy. Astonished.l /? I-I-I-
Katia, that is,-a-Miss Bartlett, AL
low
Katia. ISneerrngly.l thought so!
know you we're guilty. / 1riumphantty.
and it took me to catch you.
Percy. [CooAy.l Yes-fact. 1t doe
take thief to catch thief! But +
Katia. What do you mean, sir?
Percy. Ktndty.l Why nothing, Katia
except that you have stolen my heart
and consequently suspect me of theft
But protest my innocence. Jokingty.
II necessary, III proclaim it from tn
house-tops!
KatiA Sneerinyty.l Don't try 70 b
funny!
Percy. regret this. did not com
here this morning to quarrel. but came
like the winged messenger OF peace
Ka5ia. Indeed! Well. - l can't wal
.or your wipgs to grow, fear we mi 8
uuarrel. Ian awknard pause, durtn
pAicA Peks0m does not renaore his eyes fro,
i~ Iace.l Iwish you wouldn't look .
ne that way, you make me Aervo,si
Percy. I'm an undrtone. You hav
. ~niltv c.anaciAnca- saa. Then louder.