The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-12-21
THE ORDEAL OF ::
=: THE HONEYMOON.
BY ESTELLE BURNEY.


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, brothsr-in-law of the
bride. (Then, letting the paper slide
out of her hands)-Kindly lent! HIN!
(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 and sees Reginald.) All, Reggie,
dear!
Reginald-Hullo, darling, you there.
(He comes and takes her tenderly into
his arms.)
Lady NJ. docking up at his face)-
Suppose we go for stroll.
Reginald was about to propose it.
Lady M.-If it's cleared up. 1t looked
a little threatening at luncheon, didn't
it?
Reginald Gnnocently)-Did it? Pom
my word, Peggy, l 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)-Preeious! (There
is a little pause during which he kisses
her hair)
Lady NJ. 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, coy afternoon.
Reginald Gnvoluntarily)-Just as we
did yesterday.
Lady M.-And the day before (They
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 pity
(She begins a yawn, which she prompt
ly stiles, leaning her head back against
his breast.) What an ideal place this
is for a honeymoon. So still. One can
almost hear the silence.
Reginald with conviction) -One can,
and no mistake.
Lady M.-And to think we are only
half-an-hour's run from Rexborough,
with its pier and its band.
Reginald-And its theater. Not bad
little theater, by the way; at this time
of year they have most of the London
companies down.
Lady NJ. Gndifferently)-Do they?
How horrid! (There is another little
silence; then she pulls herself up, and
rubs her eyes that have been on the
point of closing) Shall [ read you
some Browning, darling?
Reginald-Will you, sweetheart? l
should love it. I begin to understand
bits of him here and there. The one
yesterday, for instance, about ride to-
gether.
Lady NJ. (murmurs) What five 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-I'll run and fetch it at
once, pet. Gle doesn't attempt to
move.)
Lady NJ. (abruptly)-This has been
quite famous place for honeymoons,
hasn't it?
Reginald-Yes, Groombridge is al
ways lending it about. Cooking
round.) Where's that album of his we
were to write our names in? We may
as well look it through.
Lady NJ. (at once all animation)-By
all means.
Reginald (as he brings the book to
her)-This must be it. Ha. hal ha!
Where are they? (He points to the
gold lettering on the Govern 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 NJ. with great start 20, Reg
gle!
Reginald (ruefully)-Bad beginning
that! She went an awful bowler, poor
little woman, didn't she? Turning
the page) All, well, here are the Gray
Egertons.
Lady NJ. (dubiously)-The Gray Eyer
tonsl
Reginald (protesting)-They are not
divorced; at the worst, it's a friendly
little separation.
Lady M.-Very friendly! They lunch
together on Christmas day at her moth.
er's. Go on.
Reginald-Ted and Kitty Colman
Gin 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
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.
Lady NJ. Gas she gazes into space)-
The best of friends. (She quietly takes
the album from his hands, and close.
it, laying it down beside herr And tc
think they all began like us. Here, in
this lovely spot, with nothing to dis
tract them from one another. wonder
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