The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-15

Frampton, Miss Phyllis Gay. maid.
| Scene-The Framptons' Flat. Lordcn
| Time p. N.
| Mrs. F. and Miss G. discovered seated
In front fireplace centre. Small wicker
Right centre, divan cushions. etc. Flow
ers on table. riding crop. etc.
| Mrs. F. otter a pause)-Rut, Phyl. you
must marry him. He's made for you.
He has all the qualities that go to make
| the perfect husband. and he adores you.
| Phyllis-And 1 only like him. 1 am q
| poor specimen of a girl of the period.
| This desire for love is old-fashioned, abb
surd.
Mrs. F. (thoughtfully)-No, Of course
I couldn't have married without loving,
myself; but Don and 1 are Old fashioned,
| anyway.
Phyllis (starting slighuy)-Yes. I sup
| pose 50.
Phyllis (evasivelD - No no 4
(breaks off abruptly.
| Mrs. FL wish you could, Phyl. dear
| It's wonderful-wonderful. You change
So (Softly, and talking very earnestly.
| Before 1 knew Don l was just light.
happy, careless girl, and never thought
of life as serious thing. / didn't know
how to take myself seriously. And then
he came into it, and everything took on a
new aspect for me. l began to trust.
And with that Cana wonderful feeling
of safeguard. couldn't do without it nov.
1t means too much to me.
I
| Mrs. Girls think they 1--we. They
| can't imagine how different their lives be-
come the day they meet the man they love.
Before they are narrow and afterward their
| horizon broadens out and all that they saw
before with shut eyes becomes clear. They
get more forsiving; they are better able
| to condone faults they looked upon as
crimes before.
| Phyllis Slowly and deliberately)-Sup-
! pose woman had cared for your husband
and and did still--couldn't help it, and
you knew it-could you forgive that?
Mrs. F. Observation-Disclosures that think
1 could forgive. / don't know. / should
pity her.
| phyllis gets up and moves across the
room, touching the odds and ends on the
mantelshelf aimlessly and nervously. Places
one foot on the fender aud leans on man
| telboard; then turns slowly)
las tuCuSu contemplating SOlue-
thing in her mind)-Its good of you 10
care about me. Edith! I-you were right
did once care for some one.
Mrs. F. (gently)-My dear, you care for
him still.
Phyllis (hopelessly-Yes. care for him
still. I've were parted. / suppose he
didn't care.
Mrs F. (eagerly)-But now we must do
something to make it come right. I'll help
you
Phyllis Laughing hysterically)-You
can't, you know. It's too late. Hes mar
ried. and I'm goirg to be-to Sir Her
bert Cray. 1 suppose with return to
her old manner.) Forget about this. Edith.
/ am nervous today, and foolish, think
I'll go home.
Mrs. F.-No, no, no; wait. Don will be
disappointed not to have seen you. Stay
n moment longer. He'll be in any minute
| now. Goes over to mantel. and puts her
arm around Phyllis). Poor Phyli Poor
Phyl! I'm SO sorry.
Phyllis (laughing)-Don't be sorry, dear.
| It's not worth it. I'm. happily. a modern
woman, with no heart to speak of and no
conscience. and sentiment should have no
part or place in my life. / have it in my
| power to marry one of the most eligible
| men Of the season. What more can ask?
l must forget my fancy for man who did
not care much for me, or he wouldn't have
| married another woman-that's certain.
Mrs. Poor Phyi, Poor Phyl!
Phyllis (fierceiy)-No! Don't pity me.
won't have your pity. I've told you don't
| need or deserve it. / am very happy My
gown is veritable creation-what
more"
Mrs. F. interrupting)-Don't talk like
| that It's not you-it's-somethins strain
ed. Don't do it. Why do you do it?
Phyllis (wearily)-Why do / do it?
don't know. l suppose it's my tempera-
ment- It's very different one to yours,
you know. l couldn't forgive woman, for
instance, who had ever in any way come
between me and the man loved.
Mrs. F. (though tfully)-Ah, my dear,
you'll come to that. Like all young girls.
you are hard now.
Phyllis-Yes-I'm hard Qaughs). That's
what Sir Herbert says-but I've been
made hard. Turns her head away from
Mrs. F. and looks into the fireplace
thoughtfuily with curious expression in
her eyes. Then looks I'd suddenly. Sup
pose you had been terribly-what you call
in love with man and he with you. Sup
pose you had been engaged. mrs F.
looks at her sympathetically). Yes, you
see-I was the girl. l was younger than
/ am now, and knew less of the world
and Of men, and the sort Of things men
did. and-and / cared very much. We had
been engaged four months, and a very
good friend OF his and mine. a man. was
with us a great deal at the time He hap
pened to be such a good friend OF mine
that he wouldn't let me marry a man not
worthy Of me, even though that man hap
pened to be his best friend. He told me
and proved to me certain things. and I
wrote to the man I cared for with my
whole soul and life, and told him that I
didn't care for him at all. 1t was my only
way of having my pride, but IT broke-no
not broke. frOze-my heart (snles faint
ly). Not SO with him. He never wrote,
and 1 never beard from MIN at all till
got his Wedding cards turns to Mrs. F.
again.. That's all of the story there is
Not much OF story, is it2 And it's go
like every one elses.
Mrs. F.-And you never heard of him
again?
Phyllis-No. only indirectly (smiles and
comes over TO where Mrs. +. is sitting and
takes her hands,. Don't look SO serious,
D:tha. 1 have opened a closed book for you,
and read you page. or most Of page.
| am going to close 1t again for good,
though. and marry Sir Herbert / was
very young then. and very foolish, and
sometimes l feel that l have changed so
much that now perhsps-I would not
CARE
Mrs. Poor Phyli brushes her hand
kerchief over her eyes,.
Phyllis Ckneels down on the fioor)-
Why-why, don't cry; for Gods sake. don't
cry for me, Edith. l can't stand it (chok-
nglyl.
Mrs. FL was Just thinking how selfish
l am in my great happiness. The agony
the pain of others has never reached me. I
can't conceive how could accept misery.
.f..N
takes us all (rising). How tragic We are
,rott;pa. almost ha