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


Vernon. Where is your husband?
Lady A. | suppose he is dressing. What
are we to do?
Vernon. There isn't much left to do, is
there? | must explain the whole truth
secret engag ement-found it to be a
mistake-if he will only believe it.
How long is it since the last letter was
written?
Lady A. Two years-a year before [
was married.
Vernon They were rather strongly
worded letters, Isabel remember
that | thought myself madly in love
with you. 1t was because | had known
you from childhood, [ suppose.
Lady A. l suppose so. Otherwise it
would have been impossible, of course
Vernon. Isabel. AS if l could mean that
But it was mistake, wasn't it!
And I've been in love several times
since then
Lady A. And I've been in love once
and only once-in my lne-and it isu' t
with you, my dear boy.
Vernon. And now we've got to pay the
piper. Avenel is fiery man-Isabel-
and perhaps he's a jealous man-It's
all very well to explain, but it's a
thing that may rankle.
Lady A. l have been wrong-Charlie-
is all my fault. [ ought to have ex-
planned long ago. But-I-I was
dSudllcu. L COulU not pear TO lnlnK CnaC
even a mistake had been made.
ought to have destroyed the letters and
told him everything. Then, # he chose
he might have-sent me aWay--Oh.
| was so foolish-sn foolish
Vernon. 1t was a thousand pities, Isa-
bel, that you did not burn those letters.
Lady A | forgot them They were
| forgot them. l never looked at them.
What do they matter to me-now?
Vernon. Nothing you say.
Yet-a thousand pities-
Lady A. And then that detestable
woman found them and-and-I won
der if my husband has those letters
Vernon. There are his letters of the
day-(turns them over. And, Isabel,
there is her handwriting up
packet See-the packet. There are
the letters!
Lady A. Let me see CTakes the packet.
4es-it is his handwriting. There is
no doubt. This packet contains the
letters. (She holds the packet in her
hand. They look at each other in
silence.)
Vernon. What is in your thoughts, Isa-
Lady A. Tell me.
Vernon. If this packet were dropped in
the fire; if it were taken quietly away
in my pocket
Lady A. Hush! Charlie. Hush.
Vernon. (Takes the packet out of her
hands, These letters are mine, really,
because l wrote them. Let me have
them back, Isabel. Then no harm
can possibly come to you. 1t is for
your own sake, Isabel.
Lady \. No-no-
Vernon. They are stolen letters. They
were stolen from your desk by that ac-
cursed woman, your maid. Put them
Isn,I doc
erwards. OFFERS her the packet)
Lady \. Mono. That was my tempta-
tion-those were my most unworthy
thoughts, Charlie-my old friend-my
old playfellow-my brother-would you
help me to deceive my husband again
Vernon. You have never yet deceived
him.
Lady A. | have not told him of things
that he ought to have known. And
now he is to find QUITO be told by Il
woman who will give the thing all the
coloring that belongs to her depraved
imagination. | have deceived him.
But | will not deceive him any more.
Narnon. Take the packet then. Put it
among his letters Then farewell tC
your happiness, Isabel. Think! A re-
yengeful woman seeks to injure YOU
in that point which you will feel the
most keenly-the point of honor-all
YOU have to do is to put that packet in
the fire.
Lady a. I will not, then Whatever
happens, l will not deceive my husband
again.
(Enter Martin)
Butler. My lord have sent for his let
tiers, my lady. by your leave, my lady.
GSWeeps them on q tray-looks about
L beg your laGyship's pardon-There
was sealed packet noticed it
among the lettersI don't see it here,
Lady, a. 1t is this packet that you are
looking for.
Butler. Thank you, my lady. (Stoops
ct as has the same writing as her let,
tiers and his. exit MARTINI
Vernon. Well-The die is cast He has
now got the letters.
Lady A. Yes-He has got the letters.
He will learn for the first time that
his wife has received love letters from
another man.
Vernon. A pleasing discovery What
shall you do Isabel?
Lady y. | shall tell him everything
confess all that there is to confess.
Vernon. Come-there isn't much. really
Boy and girl business, at the worst
We thought we were in love and wrote
burning letters-pity they were quite so
burn!ns-pity women can't burn things
(pettishly). Heavens! What heap of
mischief would be saved if women
would burn things!
Lady "A. since L was so foolish as not
to burn these letters, l have pleasant
quarter of an hour before me. Now,
Charlie, it's no good getting savage:
Leave me for few minutes with my
husband. Go away You have got a
telegram to send or q letter to post
or something-You have gone to the
stables-GO now. Come back in a
quarter of an hour.
Vernon. And then?
Lady A. You will be guided by circum-
stances. Above all things, remember
that you have nothing to conceal and
nothing to be ashamed Of
Vernon. And you, Isabel-haye You
nothing to be afraid of? exit Yer
nom.
ACT II.
Lady A. Nothing to be afraid of? Yes
everything. He will learn that the
girl he thought innocent of so much
as a Irritation had received love let
ters-written love letters-with anoth-
er man-had gone through all the bust
ness-before he appeared upon the scene
at all. Nothing to be afraid of? Ev-
erything- everything. If I lose his re-
spect what will remain of his love:
Love dies without respect. To lose his
lOVe-tO become that miserable thing