The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-18
The Last Night
THE CAST.


DIR. ]. Y. Hicks, a novelist
Cottagers. amateur photographers, small
children, yachtsmen, etc, etc.
Scene: Camp Springfield at Lake Ge-
neva, on the last evening the summer
cottagers are 10 be there. The exodus
back to the City Is to begin the next
day. a bonfire Is burning brightly, fed
by branches and driftwood thrown upon
it by the smaller children. Mrs. Sey-
more and Mrs. McNish sit enthroned on
log. while the Misses McNish and Miss
Seymore with the balance OF the cast
are disclosed in groups ranged about the
fire and on the beach.
Mrs. &cNish-"Well. it's the last night.
l wish it wasn't. It's been delightful
here"
Mrs. Seymore-''Yes and no. 1t seems
to me there are so many mosquitoes
here this year and I'm certain there's
been twice the usual number of amateur
photographers
Mrs. McNish-"Well. You ought to put
up netting everywhere, even around the
porch. That keeps them out"
Mrs. Seymore-''We used TO build a big
bonfire in front OF the house at night.
They don't like the smoke
Mrs. McNish-"Why. the ones that
came to our house smoked cigars bigger
and blacker than any bonfire smoke
Mrs. Geymore-"O. 1 meant the mos
quitoes."
Mrs. McNish-'No, no. the snapshot
boys, I would rather have five million
mosquitoes around than two of them.
Mr. AlIen-"What a heavenly night 1t
Is The full moon shedding its viii
light down on the tranquil bosom Of
the lake and the dim outline of the
woods across the water with the twink
ling lights along the shore. o. 1 could
sit here forever"
Birdie McNish-"Well, you'd need a
hotter fire than the one we've got to-
night
Florence NIcNish-"o, Birdie. why
don't you run away and help put wood
on the fire. It's getting low"
Fxeunt Birdie
Mr. Allen-"You know I'm going to
Ohio tomorrow to begin work"
Florence-"O, yes. (Sighs.) And we
go away Monday
Mr. Allen-"It's been such a sweet
summer"
Florence-"suc dear, sweet sum
mer. (Sighs.)
Mrs. Seymore-"O, here is Mr.. Hicks.
He Just dropped in today to see US and
we invited him to the bonfire"
Mr. Hicks-"Quite jolly, this. And do
you do this sort of thing every night?'
Mrs. McNish-"No. indeed. Why. Mrs.
Seymore got this thing up in Eyour honor.
Mr.. Hicks-"Really. How good and
thoughtful"
F1orence-''o. must you go away to-
morrow 1t won't seem like the same
place with you gone"
Mr.. Allen-"Yes, I must go. Besides I
couldn't bear It to stay here after Mon
day"
Florence-"why?"
'Mr Allen-"Because the sun won't
shine here nor the moon nor the stars,
after Monday"
Florence-'why. Mr.. Allen, how you
talk"
Mr.. AHen-"They won't shine for
me-"
Florence-"You mean because"
Mr.. Allen-"Yes. because-because you
are going away Monday"
Mrs. McNish--"You see. Mr.. Hicks, we
are just plain folks here. We don't
come up to the camp for the sake OF
wearing fine clothes or dancing or so
cety or anything like that. We just
come to rest during the summer and
breath sweet, fresh air and live quiet
lives and leave romance and love and
that sort of things for the people at the
hotels and the seaside resorts
Lottie Seymore and Mr.. Morton sud-
denly heard from. They are sitting on
OF being moon struck.
Lottie and Mr.. Morton:
always. always. always I'll love but
you;
Always. always, heart ever fond and
true"
Mr.. Hicks-'T suppose the reason that
romance, as you say, is not thought of
by the young people here is because
they have so much else to distract their
attention that they don't give it
thought"
Mrs. McNish-"Not only that, Mr..
Hicks, but it's because, as I believe. that
romance or love-making is more or less
of a maudlin sentiment at best. Here
the young people are kept so robust and
healthy with swimming and yachting
and fishing that 1 think If anyone was
to come along and be silly enough to try
to spoon. don't you know. that they
would only be laughed at.
Voice:
80. promise me that some day you and
VIII take our love together to some sky.
Where we may be alone, our love renew.
And find the flowers" etc, etc"
Mr.. Morton-"Well, next week back
again to old Yale"
Miss seymore-"And I don't suppose
you will ever think once of old Springfield
camp
Mr. Morton-"won't ]. though. I'll
think Of something, too, besides Spring
field camp"
Miss seymore-"o, of the yacht, sup
pose"
Mr.. Morton-'No: not the yacht"
Miss Seymore-"The bonfire. then"
Mr.. Morton-"Nor the bonfire Lottie,
YOU know what I'll think about. You
know that I'll never think Of anything
but q dear. sweet girl. with hair ike
spun gold and the dearest eyes"
Miss seymore--"O. please. We've only
known each other such a short time.
Mr.. Morton-"But you do love ne.
don't you? Ard I've only one more year
Of school. and then-wen, you are rot
going to say no II ask you to become
my wife Are you, dear?"
Mis-. Seyuore fsof,ly)-"You haven't
asked me yet"
Mrs. Seymore-''weu I'm afrai5 vel
have 20 90 in. The girls viii catch
cold. the nights are becoming 50 chilly.
Besides, our girls are rot the kind thar
Ike 20 sit around making love Ike your
young people DO in the novels. ar.
Hicks
Mr. Fncks-'Indeed"
ar. Allen (fnishinz song that ne has
been singing. soft and low 70 Florence
For a heart NAV awake
Or heart may break
So lIttls and yet 50 much. ="
Mr. Auen-'-FIorencs you aren't cry
ing are YOU You mustn't"
Florenc.-'FO, I'm SO sorry that it's all
OVER
NJ Aren-"But IS g al over FLOR
ence. don't you know. haven't you seen
all The time tazt =
Ms Seymore-'-on5s, TOW. girls. ~
must ali 70 into the house. The air Is
too cool for you - stay out longer"
Mrs. NcNis.-"Yes, come now.
Procession forms and marches ~ The