The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-12-01
THE ORDEAL OF -:
:: THE HONEYMOON.
BY ESTELLE BURNEY.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES;

emu vi July.
L Lady Margaret discovered with
Morning Post on her lap on rise of cur
tain)-Later in the Afternoon Mr.. and
Lady Margaret Hill left for Hengrave
Hall, Yorkshire, kindly lent by Lord
Groombridge, brother-in-law of the
bride. (Then, letting the paper slide
out of her hands)-Kindly lent! HIM!
B. (Enter Reginald Hill, his hands in
/ his pockets, his eyes DOWN.
" Reginald-Raining again, by Jove!
Lady NJ. stretching her arms with a
! yawn, and rising to her feet)-I Won
der if it's raining still. Sure to be. (She
turns end sees Reginald.) All, Reggie,
dear!
Reginald-Hullo, darling, you there:
(He comes and takes her tenderly into
his arms.)
Lady M. Cooking up at his face)-
Suppose we go for stroll.
i Reginald was about to propose it..
Lady Milf it's cleared up. Il looked
a little threatening at luncheon, didn't
it?
Reginald (innocently)-Did it? Pom
my word, Peggy, I didn't notice the
weather.
Lady NJ. (promptly)-Nor I. It's been
all sunshine for US since last Wednes-
day. Eth? (She hides her face on his
coat)
? Reginald (softly (There
: is little pause during which he kisses
her hair.)
Lady M. Qifting herself out of his
arms, and drawing him on to a seat BE-
side her)-Then We'll settle down to a
long, lovely, cozy afternoon.
Reginald OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES as we
did yesterday.
Lady M.-And the day before. (They
f. remain seated; he is gently stroking
her left hand that he holds between
both of his.)
Reginald-Queer, how often July is a
wet month.
Lady M.-Yes, and such a favorite
one, too, for weddings. Seems a pity.
" (She begins yawn, which she prompt
I ly stiles, leaning her head back against
: his breast.) What an ideal place this
: is for a honeymoon! So still. One can
Z almost hear the silence.
f. Reginald with conviction) -One can,
and no mistake.
Lady M.-And to think we are only
half-an-hour's run from Rexborough,
with it's pier and its band.
Reginald-And it's theater. Not bad
little theater, by the way; at this time
of year they have most of the London
companies down.
Lady M. Gndifferently) they?
How horrd (There is another little
silence; then she pulls herself up, and
rubs her eyes that have been on the
point of closing.) Shall 1 read you
some Browning, darling?
Reginald-Will you, sweetheart? ]
should love it. I begin to understand
bits of him here and there. The one
yesterday, for instance about ride to-
gether.
Lady M. (murmurs)- if we still
ride on, We two, with life forever old
yet new?"
Reginald - That's it - never got
there, after all, poor chap! Rather
rough on tim.
Lady M.-Where's the volume?
Reginald-Pll run and fetch it at
once, pet. (He doesn't attempt tt
move.)
Lady M. (abruptly)-This has been
quite famous place for homogeneous
hasn't it?
Reginald-Yes, Groombridge is al
ways lending it about. Looking
round.) Where's that album of his we
were to write our names in? We may
asawell look it through.
Lady M. lat once all animation)-By
all means.
Reginald Gas he brings the book to
her)-This must be it. Ha! ha! ha!
Where are they? (He points to the
gold lettering on the cover.) He's bit
OF wag, Groombridge. (He sits, and
together they look over the album.)
Reginald (reading) June, 1887,
Frank and Daisy Buck-Buckland."
Lady M. with great start) 20, Reg
gle!
Reginald (ruefully)-Bad beginning
that! She went an awful bowler, poor
j little woman, didn't she? Turning
the page) All, we'll, here are the Gray
Egertons.
Lady NJ. (dubiously)-The Gray Eyer.
tons!
Reginald (protesting)- They are not
divorced; at the worst, it's friendly
little separation.
Lady M-Very friendly! They lunch
u together on Christmas day at her moth
er's. Go on.
Reginald-Ted and Kitty Colman.
(In triumph) Come, now, they are all
right.
Lady Mare they? He has kept in
with most of his bachelor friends.
Reginald-Well, as to that, Kitty
4 doesn't wear the willow. o, don't sug.
! gest there's anything wrong; but she's
! bit fly, and if Ted goes his way, she
goes hers, and they are the best OF
friends. ~
H. Lady NJ. (as she gazes into space)-
I, The best of friends. (She quietly takes
the album from his hands, and closes
4 it, laying it down beside herr And to
think they all began like us. Here, in
this lovely. spot, with nothing to dis
tract them from one another. I wonder
If amy of them fell out during the hon.
eymoon? Isl