Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02
THE RESCUE.
A PLAY IN ONE ACT.

Written Exclusively for The Evening Star.
Scene: A drawing room in New York.
Time: o'clock am. A young man
standing by the mantelpfece. Enter a
young woman.
She-You here!M
He-Don't be frightened. I arrived an
hour ago on the Titanic. I got the servant
to let me in, knowing you would come
| down to breakfast before the others. Ex-
| cuse my coming at such an hour. but I
had reason, perhaps a right. I left Ber-
lin ten days ago especially to see you. I
had to see you once more before-before
your marriage.
Shell am sure am very glad to see
you, although the hour is a little early.
Your unexpected arrival startled me a
little Do sit down. How well you are
looking! I am ever so glad to see you
again.
HeI don't think I can be looking very
well. for haven't slept all night. "a
pause. They both sit down. He continues:)
We had terrible passage over. and I am
| not a good sailor, you know. There were
plenty of people on board who know you.
But you are not looking at all well; I never
saw you look so bad!
She Laughing loudly)-What nonsense!
never felt SO well in my life.
He OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
She-Why, certainly; why shouldn't I?
Cat this moment the portieres are parted
and servant enters with parcel and
hands it to her. She opens it mechani-
cally and takes out a bunch of blue and
white violets.)
She Qanguidly)-Oh, how perfectly de-
licious! Aren't they! Smell them. Did
you ever see anything so lovely?
He Csoftly)-Never, upon my word, never.
But you haven't opened the envelope that
came with them
she-Why should you wish me to open
the envelope? Don't know already from
whom they come? For do they not come
every morning? They are his favorite
flowers.
He-Why. of course, at least I suppose
they must be. Only la pause; he leans
forward and touches her hand). Louise!
She (rising quickly)-Mr. Hollingsworth!
He-Ten days ago in the streets of Berlin
l made up my mind to come over here to
see you. 1 knew. as soon as I received
your letter, that If did not come 1 should
regret it forever. 1 foresaw this day and
hour, when l should touch your hand,
when l should see your brown eyes
She daking step toward the door)-Mr.
Hoiiingsworth!! I really cannot let you go
on You have forgotten yourself!
He (bitterly)-Forgotten myself! Yes, in
remembering the past; in seeing your face
again. But respect your wishes; pray, do
pardon know that I have no right now
TO speak to you as I have, unless-unless
you give me the right
SLe-Give you the right, Henry-Mr Hol-
lingsworth. meant do not understand
you! What right can give you? Really.
really, 1t is unkind and unlike you to for
get yourself and speak to me as you have:
you give me pain, for I don't know what
you can think of me.
He-Do you remember what said to Won
when We parted six months ago?
She-1es. You said you would never see
me again-(pauSes)
She-Unless I were in trouble and YOU
could rescue me.
He-And I also said that even then I
would not feel at liberty to come to you
unless you sent for me; didn't I?
She-You did. And you have not kept
your word, Henry.
He-Are you quite sure of that?
Shelves. perfectly In what manner have
l sent for you? Not that I am sorry you
came-oh. no, indeed! far from it, Henry,
for are you not my old friend? But it
never was quite fair in you to say you
would not see me again unless sent for.
You knew how much I valued your friend
ship. But your last words to me prevented
my expressing wish to see you again, for
they distinctly announced your intention to
attribute to any such wish of mine a GER
tain further s!gnifcation. And that of
course, I objected to- So. when you say
that my letter to you told you to come to
me
Hell beg your pardon; I did not say that,
She-Oh! Excuse me! thought you
did.
Hell simply asked you If you were quite
sure that had broken my word in coming
to see you.
She-Which amounts to the same thing.
But fail to see how you make it out that
1 sent for you-did my letter to you do
anything more than announce my engage
ment?
He-nothing.
She dn great -Then-why are
you here?
II
Shell fail to comprehend. If you mean
to infer for moment that sent for you,
you are wholly mistaken. You have no
right to assume any such thing. What
ing seems to imply? And why this bitter
tone, Henry? Come! we must be friends,
and you MUST wish me happiness; won't
you?
He-Friends! We are no longer friends.
Pauses) You ask me what trouble you
are in. I believe that you are In trouble
l believe it from the unconscious betrayal
of it in your letter. from what I read be-
tween the lines. Louise, you must hear
me! I have come to tell you again. and for
the last time, that I love you; that love
you more than ever
She (rising)-Stop! Stop! Mr.. Hollings-
worth, what are you saying! Do you know
that 1 cannot listen to you without feeling
that you do not respect me? You must
go; you must go. oh, why did you come
here to tell me this?
He Gnterrupting)-Oh, do not say that I
have no respect for you! Only listen to
what have to say! 1 beg you. Louise
Shell have no right to. You must see
that yourself. Oh, go away, I implore you!
It is mot fair; 1t is not right. (She puts
her handkerchief to her eyes and turns
away He looks at her dejectedly. At
this moment the door opens, and a servant
enters and hands her another parcel. She
opens it and takes out small box made
of pearl inlaid with gold. Unlocking it
with the gold key that was in the lock
she finds 1t packed with white violets, and
lying in the midst of them Is ruby neck
lace with a dazzling diamond heart at
tached)
She-Oh, how exquisite!!! How superb!
I never saw anything so beautiful in all my
life! never, never. Shows it to Hollings-
worth, who utters an involuntary exclama-
ticn of delight. They sit down on a sofa
tcgether)
anywhere! It is my wedding present.
Goes on examining it, breathless with ex-
element Hollingsworth watches her mar
rowly for some time)
He Ito himself, sadly)-Ah. was mis-
taken! 1 would have done better if 1 had
STAYED away (Aloud) Well, I must go.
She (stfll examining the necklace)-Go!
He bitterIy).Oh, don'N Why do you
make things harder for me? Yes, / must