Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1901-07-10
An Unconditional $ Surrender %
By WELLESLEY PAIN.

CCENE-A dimly-lit conservatory at | tached to the house of Mrs. James Manley. In the center is group of palms and ferns, hiding a doorway in the middle of the back of the stage. The time is 11:3O p. m. during dance.
 Characters-James Manley; Capt. Arthur Norman. of the Kings Own Yeo- manry. lately returned from the front; Muriel Wilton.
 Arthur Norman (walks on L. as the curtain rises. He appears to be look ing for some one, but, as a matter of fact, he has come there for a smoke and wishes to make quite sure that he is alone before sitting down. He takes out his cigarette case, and is about to open it when James Manley walks on quickly from the back. He stops sud denly on seeing Arthur Norman. Then
 Manley-My dear Norman, where for you everywhere, and
 Norman-And in the Supper-room Did you go there? z
 MGnley-Well-no. thought sup per wasn't in your lins-I mean your illness was
 I'm all right-and I never lost my ap- petite, either. It's only you people who live in London that can't eat. But what have you been looking for me for? To bring me cigar (holding out his hand). Thanks -e er-i it's awfully thoughtful of you. old man. Come out with it.
 Manley-My dear Norman. you did mt come here to smoke cigars, and you know it. With mock gravity.) This is a serious matter, sir. Out of the goodness of her heart my wife invites you for dance, and you spend your time smokingl Don't you know you're the lion of the evening-the returned hero-the envy of the men and the pride of all the girls. the peoples idol. the?
 Norman (who is obviously pleased by the compliment but pretends not to be)-Shut up, old man, shut up. I'm getting sick of that sort of thing-I am. really. My wrist still aches from that hand-shaking business as we came up from the statiOn-absurd rot. Why on earth should couple of mil lion people-absolute strangers-want to shake hands with me?
 Manley-I don't tknOw-perhaps some of 'em wanted to shake hands with an other fellow, but, not being able to get near enough to him, thought you'd do instead But we're wasting valuable time. Come and dance.
 Norman-Me dance? Thanks, but you know I don't dance; not in my line.
 Manley-Why not? Soldiers do dance sometimes, you know.
 Norman-But you'll excuse me, won't you?
 Manley-Well, if you won't dance, come and see and be seen. Come and show yourself Whats the good of my wife having lion of the evening if the lion goes and hides himself in Hooking around the place)-er-in the jungle7 Come out, Nr Lion, in the open, and we'll soon do for you.
 Norman-There-th it - that's what you brought me here for-in or der that might be induced to-propose to some pretty girl whose enthusiasm for soldiers-er-is-er-
 Manley-Don't you make any mis- take. my dear Norman. The girls are not all so enthusiastic over you bronzed heroes as you think.
 Norman-You say that because you're not bronzed hero-you're only married. Time will prove whether you are a hero or a martyr.
 Manley-SLittles!
 Norman-It's a fact.
 Manley-Well, you're not proper sort of hero or you wouldn't talk like that. Your true hero thinks all wom- en perfect. He accepts their adula- tion with becoming mOdesty, and in due course marries the best of them.
 Norman--Well, do not think all women are perfect, and their adulation is an annoyance. haven't met wom- an since I've been back who hasn't fall en in love with me. You may say that's conceit-
 Manley-I do.
 Norman-But it's true.
 Manley-Not a bit of it. All the women aren't in love with you soldiers. Some of them are perhaps taken in with the novelty of the thing, and think that a soldier is the perfect type of man-but I shouldn't say they're in love.
 Norman-I tell you. my dear Manley. that if l hadn't checked them in time five women would have proposed to me at different times-last week.
 Manley-Well, supposing you have a change. I'll introduce you to nice little woman-well, she's only a girl who will not only not be in love with you. but will not have the faintest in tention of schooling herself to love you. Extraordinary. isn't it. You haven't met Muriel Wilston, have you?-a friend of my wife's.
 Norman-Yes, know her-nice girl pretty girl; but somehow-theres something
 Manley Qaughing)-Everyone says that about Muriel. She isn't quite the conventional sort of girl, that's all.
 Norman-Seemed to me rather rude at times-a trife too schOol-girlish- out still-she's interesting in teresting, and there
 Manley Cooking off left)-And there she is (they both look in the same di- rectiOn). When she's quite finished talking to that nice young man with the long hair I'll capture her for you
 Norman-No-er- r-don't-thanks.
 Manley But you said she was was interesting. Norman, this is a bad sign. You should never be afraid of meeting the enemy in the open, you