The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-16

member when we parted?
Lillian Yes. Claude, remember.
Claude. The apple blossoms were out.
We stood beneath the great tree in
the orchard. Your hair was flying in
the breeze. Your eyes were soft
they were always the softest, sweet
est eyes in the world. / kissed you
good bye. and you promised you
would not forget me. Lily. have you
kept that promise?
Lillian. Yes. Claude, have.
Claude. And vowed-do you remem-
Der. Lily. what I vowed?
Lillian. don't know. Claude.
Claude. Lily, you must remember. 1
vowed-I vowed that i should think
of you ever and aye, whatever befell
me. vowed that / would come back
to you as soon as fate would let me.
and that when came back. 1 should
ask you II you cared for me still.
Lillian. Ali 1 had forgotten.
Claude. Let me bring 1t back to your
memory now. Lily, since then / have
been I'm many strange places of the
world. seen many strange and beau
tiful and dreadful sights-been many
time at close touch with death. But
in all that time not a day has passed
that / have not thought of you,
thought of our parting. looked for
ward to our meeting. See, here are
the photograph and the lock of hair
you gave me. Every day in all that
time have kissed them both. Lily,
by the memory of the weary hours
that have been solaced by the
thought of you. by the memory of
the child I loved who has blossomed
into a woman, whom / love with
newer, deeper love, tell if-if-
Lillian. If what, Claude?
Claude. If you love me as / love you.
No, you cannot do that. For to me,
this love is the sudden brightness
that lights up all the past. and may
make the future all splendor. Lily!
For four years / have dreamed OF
this meeting, but only now do 1 know
how much ii seems to me, how much
depends upon your answer. Do you
understand me, Lily?
Lillian. Yes-I understands see Ii all
now!
Claude. You see, then. that love you,
that there is no other woman in the
world for me bat you--that you are
my heart-my life-do you see that?
(Kneels and kisses her hand.)
Lillian. 1 see one thing clearly. Daddy
has reproached me often in his les
sons with having no heart. 1 have
nonel Do not shrink from me. 1t is
because 1 have given Ii all to you
had given it all to you long ago, and
never knew it till now.
Claude. My darling!
Lillian. My hero! my love! All! I be-
lieve / could act Juliet now.
Claude. Is there any need now? (Takes
up poster) Shall tear 1T up?
Lillian. No. no. Fold it UP. Don't hurt
his feelings too much.
Claude. But you will not act now?
Lillian. To act what has come to me
as a revelation? Oh, no, no. Claude!
/ should hate to do it. Daddy has
told me what an actress is, great
and good woman If she uses her
divine gift rightly. But an actress
must be ready to assume to others
what she feels only for one. And
could not do IL.
Claude. My darling, do not do it. You
will not mind sharing a soldiers life,
Lily?
Lillian. I should not mind sharing any
life with you. But 1 must think of
poor Daddy; he will be so disap-
pointed at losing his pet pupil. How
can soften the blow to him?
Claude How, indeed? H'm-stop-I
have an idea. Soldier officers are
expected to have ideas in these days
of examinations. Didn't you say just
now that you felt as If you under
stood Juliet at last?
Lillian. Yes. Claude, / did.
Claude. Then-stop! here comes Mr..
Perigal-follow my notion.
(Enter Perigal)
Perigal Young people, you have had
your talk and 1 hope ii has been q
pleasant one.
Claude. Very pleasant, thank you, sir.
Perigal. Well, talk is talk and business
is business. we must get to business
again. (Aside.) The experiment has
succeeded. the girl looks transform
ed. (Aloud.) Don't go, Mr.. Forres-
ter, you may help us with your ad-
vice (aside) and-ahem!-exampl
| Claude. Miss Travers was telling me
sir. that she felt very nervous about
| the part-I have ventured to give
her some encouragement-I thinl
you will find she is less nervous now
! Perigal. Ali just as L hoped, just as
hoped! Now Lillian, we will take, 4
you please, the speech that always
puzzled you so much, Give me m,
Romeo"-eh?
Lillian docking at Claude).
Give me my Romeo; and, when h
shall die,
Take him and cut him out in littl
stars.
And he will make the face of HEAVIER
so fine,
That all the world will be in love wit
night,
And pay no worship to the garis
sum-"
Perigal. Brava-brava-the true touc
at last. always said the girl wa
an actress. Mr.. Forester, al
greatly obliged to you. Lillian, wha
a triumph your appearance will b
on the 10th!
Lillian. Daddy-that triumph can new
err be-you must find another julie
There are plenty of them.
Perigal. Why-what?
Lillian. You see, Daddy, Claude laugh
me. And now that 1 have learnt 1
have learnt something else. too
Perigal. What's that? what's that?
Claude. / return you the poster. sir.
will not be wanted.
Lillian (takes Claude's hand).
Perigal And I've spoiled Ii all, Oh
Lilian-Juliet-Juliet She
awakened. She knows the voice
love, and she is lost. (Sinks into
chair and buries his face in n
|, hands