El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-22
MARTIAL LAW


hunting for the colonels QuartersD
Mrs. Desmond-What does he say in
his letter? Breads part of the letter
| aloud. Winfred tries to stop her and
takes the letter from her when the af-
| fectionate terms are read. The music
| outside ceases.) My own sweet darling
-um-um-um-you are quite right in
saying that 1 should tell my uncle. the
colonel. of our engagement, for he is Il
father to me in every way, and we shall
be really dependent ON him wher we
marry; but, my sweetest-um-um-u
you have no idea what a terrifying per
son he is. 1t is all very well for you. my
-um-un-um-to say you are not in the
least frightened of him. So you are
not in the least frightened of the colonel:
Winifred-Not the least teeny, tiny bit
Mrs. Desmond continuing the letter.
Not in the least frightened of him: bat
you don't know him. Why should we
not face him together? Get dear. kind
Mrs. Observation-Disclosures bring you
down on Wednesday by the IL O'Clock
train, and we will face him together If
We are Still on parade. please go to my
quarters. which you will find marked
with big cross on the accompanying
plan. and wait for me. And now, my
darling '-um-um-um. There's your
letter.
Francine (from window)-Oh, madame.
mann selle. re regiment is dispersed. and
re soldiers are coming this way.
Winifred-Let me look. tRuns to win
down.
Mrs. Desmond-Come away from the
window! Never be foolish as to let a
man think he's worth watching for.
(The door is flung open. and Private
Patrick Dwyer. in kersey, belt and for
age cap. bursts IND.
Patrick-Howly Moses and all the 9TH
er blessed saints, Petticoats in the mas
TIERS room! Wirra. wirra, wirra. What
shall do?
Mrs. Desmond-Go and tell your mas
ter that two ladies are waiting for him.
tShe evidently gets him out of the room
and slams the door,
Winifred with helmet)-Look at this
spiky thing
Mrs. Desmond-My dear!
Winifred-We girls all wear sailor
hats. Why shouldn't we wear soldier
hats. too? l wonder il it is becoming?
tShe puts the helmet on. Francine COM
ing to her assistance and uttering little
cries of admirationD
Winifred tswaggering up and DOWN.
What do you think of me as a soldier?
Present hup. Mar-r-rch. Now, ! should
I
/ brighten him, l should say to him.
How dare you! How dare you inter-
fere with your nephew when he wishes
to marry Miss Winifred Gresham
Then l should draw my sword-oh.
must have a sword. tShe rushes to the
fireplace and takes the sword. knocking
down the photo Of Mrs. Desmond in do
ing it,
Mrs. Desmond tpicking up photo,-
How rough you are. Winifred! Why.
this is a photo of myself. | never gave
one to Arthur Chester, but l did once
give one to That tunc is not Arthur
Chesters. 1t has medals on it and a
colonels lace. My dear. we've got into
the wrong quarters. These are
The Colonel toutside. in a thunderous
voice)-In my room. you say?
Patrick-Yes, sor: but it's not my
fault.
Winifred-Help me out of these things.
Francine, I'm so frightened. tBusness.)
The CoIoneI-Hold your tongue. idiot.
and open the door.
Enter the colonel. red faced. with
hair. He is in blue serge uniformly
The Colonel-You are all under arrest. :
Mrs. Desmond-JOhn!
The Colonel-Silence. woman, Point
ing to WinifredJ Make that girl a pris-
oner,
M, Mss- Desmond-John. you don't mean
The Colonel tsotto voce)-Not a bit.
Arthur came this morning and told me
everything. and l gave my consent. He
showed me the girls letter, and l read
that she wasn't frightened at me. Ii
she's to be my niece and come into the
regiment, she's got to be frightened Of
me. and SO I'm going to brighten her.
That's all. You must play the game.
Mrs. Desmond-You kept my portrait
all this time?
The Colonel-AI this time, Wen chat
about that later.
The Colonel (sitting. to Winifred)-Are
you aware that you are under military
law? Winifred gives a frightened mo"
to all questions.) Do you know that to
is crime! DO you know what short
drill is? Would you like your hair crop
ped short? Have you ever heard of
drumhead court martial? (To PATRICK
Send in Lieutenant Chester. Exit Pat
rick Well. l constitute myself drum
head court martial. hereby try you on
the charge of causing her majesty's uni
forms to appear ridiculous. and l find
you guilty of the charge.
ENTER Arthur Chester. in uniform.
with Patrick. Arthur makes a move to
go to Winifred. is ordered by the colonel
to stand still and not to speak. Winifred. !
who has rushed to Mrs. Desmond, is put
back in her place by that LADY,
The Colonel VERY grimly)-Have you
anything to say before sentence is
passed?
Winifred-I didn't mean anything.
Please don't cut my hair! Im-I'm so
frightened!
The Colonel-Frightened, are you?
Frightened? Good! The sentence of the
court is that you kiss your future uncle
in-law and then do the same to that
BOBBY. your future husband.-Sketch.
Unable to Pronounce 1t.