Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-03-18
ACT [.
SCENE.

ACT [.
SCENE
Breakfast room in Lord AveneTs
lrranges chairs, smooths the table
cloth, puts newspaper at the back of
Lord Avenel's chair. Takes bundle of
letters from a tray on the sideboard
and lays them before three chairs.
Butler. Here's the lot, and Il pretty
lot it is. Glad I'm not his lordship's
secretary. Answering all these let
ters every day would kill me in a
week. Give me my pantry and the
silver and | ask no better lot. For
his lordship-one, two-(counts)-
twenty-four letters, with a parcel.
CTakes up small parcel tied with red
weighs it, presses IT'D Marked I'm
mediate" Looks like as if it had pa
per inside of it. More reading-more
writing. That poor young man, the
secretary. Some folks are greatly to
be pitied. Now my lady's letters.
One, twO-here's 4 scented one-sOme-
thing sweet from another lady-great
ladies love each other a vast deal
more than my friends in the servants
hall. Here's Il bridesmaids bill, l
take it. Her ladyship isn't in Il hurry
to pay her bills, but give her time,
give her time. What's the use of
being a countess if you can't get time?
One, two-(counts) eleven letters,
mostly invitations. Pleasure is Il
and my silver. HOllo. Here's rum
my start! The last letter for my lady
is just exactly in the same handwrit-
ing as the packet for my lord. Odd.
amt it? Compares them.) Great
square handsome SIS; same is: same
well, it doesn't matter to me. Here's
the captains letters-one-that's
woman's handwriting. The captain
has a way with him. Another let
ter-and -and-dash my but
tons! If this isn't the rummiest go!
Why-this letter is written in the
same handwriting as the other two.
Unjust be hospital letter-or church
restoring-Or a permanent incapable
well-Qays down letters before lieu
tenants chair.
ENTER Charlie Vernon.)
Vernon. Her ladyship down yet?
Butler. Not yet, sir. Your letters, sir.
puts them on tray and hands them.
Lieut. Vernon Snatches the letter
whose handwriting has astonished the
butler, puts the rest in his pocket and
tears this one open and reads hur-
riedly.)
Vernon. The devil!
(Butler. with impressive face, goes on
smoothing the table cloth, setting knives
and forks in proper places, pokes fire.
(Vernon walks up and down the room
with vexation.)
Butler walks around the table critic
ally. Exit
Vernon. Breads letter again "Siuce
you have given me no answer to my
first letter and none to my second,
/ shall prove to you that [ can bite as
we'll as bark. | have sent all the love
letters that you have been writing
to Lady Avenel to his lordship You
will have an opportunity of explaining
things to him-I understand that you
are his guest. This will make the
business all the pleasanter for you"
This is a pretty business. Why the
devil didn't Isabel destroy the con-
founded letters when we broke it off?
This person is a woman, clearly; an
uneducated woman-where is Isabel?
Why doesn't she come down in proper
time for breakfast? Oh! confound
the thing! What am I to say?
There's no date, [ know there's no
date on any of the letters. He will
think they were written yesterday!
ENTER Lady Avenel.)
Lady A. Good morning, Charlie. Have
you got any letters this morning-any-
thing from Clarice?
Vernon 1 haven't looked-yet. I've had
something else to think about.
Lady A. What is the matter, my dear
boy? You look worried.
Vernon. [ am worried. Look here, Isa-
bel-you remember two years ago when
l thought that you were in love with
me
Lady A. (coldly) Well? This is hardly
the place for these "reminiscences, IS il :?
Vernon. Yes = know = but = There
were letters wrote you-a lot of leu
terS--
Lady A. What about them? 1 darasay
there were-I remember, now, that
there We're.
Vernon. Where are they? Did you furn
them?
Lady 4. Burn them? Burn them? T
forget-No-I believe they are whore
they were then-in my old desk-in nv
boudoir.
Vernon. Go and look
Lady a. Runs out and returns i,nmn-
diately} They are gone!
Vernon. They are stolen. Do you know
this handwriting?
Lady A. 1t is a common illiterate hand.
but | think it is the writing of my last
maid whom had to send away
Vernon. Read the letter.
Lady a. Breads it) Charliel Good heov-
ems! What does the wretched woman
mean?
Vernon. None of my letters have dates.
she believes and she hopes that Lord
Avenel will believe that they were
written yesterday. Uooks casually 0t
IsabePs cover where there are her lei
ters) See! Here is a letter for YOU in
the same writing. Glands IT'D
nd A ~ T