The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-24

ward her. The letter fails out IRON
under his waistcoat Annie turns be-
fore he can pick it up. lie covers it
with his foot
Annie (sits in big chair at the right
Come here. Bobby. Come!
i She makes q movement indicating
that Dean is to sit on the arm of the
chair. Dean wipes his forehead with
his handkerchief
Dean (aside)-Great heavens, what q
situation! If move she'll see this let
ter. And it's her own father!
Annie-What are you muttering
about, Bobby?
Dean-I've got the queerest cramp
in my leg. (Stoops and rubs it,.
Aouch! can't move it without half
killing me.
Annie running up to him)-Oh, you
poor boy. Whatever can be the mat
ter?
! Dean-Don't touch it. It's full of
pins and needles Feels rs if it was
asleep.
| Annie-Why, I'm really frightened.
Dear Bobby, let me get you chair.
(She wheels one up behind him. }
There. sit down. Now I'll get an
other chair and lift your foot up into
it.
Dean (wildly>-No, no; don't try to
move it! I'm more comfortable SO.
Just let me sit here forever.
Annie beginning to cry with fright)
I'm afraid it's something perfectly
dreadful. Dean rubs his head in an
agony of perplexity.) Oh. is it going
to your head? Thank goodness, here
comes Jennie.
Mrs. Holmes enters.
Mrs. Holmes-Why, Robert. are you
i'll?
Dean-Only slight attack of paraly-
| sis.
Annie (screams)-Paralysis! Oh!
Dean-Annie, dear. if you'd run into
the parlor and get soft footstool-
Annie rushes out.
Mrs. Holmes-Now, Robert. what is
it?
Dean (picking up the letter)-It's
this. (He thrusts it into her handy
For heavens sake keep it. It's cost me
agony enough.
Mrs. Holmes-Robert. I'm shocked
Dean-So am /. though upon my soul
| don't know a word that's in it.
Promise me you won't read it, nor let
ybody see it.
Mrs. Holmes course I won't.
But think your conduct to Annie is
Dean-Hush. here she comes.
Annie runs in with four large has
socks piled in her arms and cushion
on top. She cannot see over them, and
SO collides with Mrs. Holmes. Dean, in
view of this catastrophe, forgets his
|assumed lameness and jumps up.
Annie-Why, Bobby, are you better?
Dean-It has all passed away.
Annie (suspiciously)-And you said
it was paralysis. Robert, you have de-
ceived me.
They go out towards the con erva-
tory, quarreling. Mrs. Holmes takes
the letter from her pocket.
Mrs. Holmes-This is shameful.
What ought to do? I must read it,
in spite of my promise, and then de-
eide. t
[She begins to read. Holmes enters
and Mrs. Holmes hastily conceals the
paper.]
Holmes (aside)-A letterl Can Eas-
ton have played me false?
[Easton enters. Holmes makes a
sign to him and points to Mrs. Holmes
who pretends to be busy about the
breakfast table Easton shakes his
head. 49,
Holmes taside)-Then it is her own.
This is a Judgment on me. Oh, Jennie,
Jennie! Heaven knows never dreamed
of this. But my course is plain.
(Aloudj Jennie, it seems that your
own guilty conscience prompted your
unjust suspicious few minutes ago.
1t was you who really had something
to conceal l demand to ses that let
ter.
Enter Mrs. Easton. Dean and
Annie.]
Mrs. Holmes-It is neither mine nor
yours. cannot let you see it.
Easton-What's this, Jennie? Re-
member my counsel this morning. You
should show him the letter.
Dean quilting Easton's sleeve, and
speaking aside)-Here, look out or
you'll yet into pretty mess. It's
yours
Easton fchuckling, aside) - This is
too rich. (Aloud, impressively}-I re.
peat what have said. Coming from
man SO much older than you all, my
words should have weight. Jennie,
give that letter to your husband, and |
let him read it aloud to all present, if |
he is willing to do so.
Dean laghast)-He's crazy.
Mrs. Holmes-I can't stand this.
looks significantly at Dean.) I will
not rest under unjust suspicion. Take
it and read it if you wish.
She hands the letter to Holmes. He
it at glance.
Holmes (aside)-Sbe evidently has
Mt read it. (Then aloud, holding the
letter in his hand and looking round
the group Did anyone here think for
a moment that / distrusted my wife?
Did any of you imagine that would
read this letter? II any did. let him
learn lesson by my act Let him
learn the beauty of perfect confidence
man and wife. do not care
10 pry into the secret of this little
scrap of paper. See, lay it upon these
burning Goals. It vanishes in an in
slant, and so should all doubts vanish
q