The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-02-27
AN INSPIRATION
[original.l

gomery is a long name, and we shall
have to reduce it to Monty, which is
crucifying to the romance of it, but
since his wife called him Monty there
should be no objection. He wrote at
home with his study door locked. This
did not prevent his occasionally hear
ing the baby squall OF being called up
on to leave a dramatic scene to go for
yeast cake He had never succeed
ed in getting play accepted, and the
family funds were very low. Monty
said that if he could only get an in
spiration the money would flow i'll like
water
Monty was at work on play in
which the heroine was as spotless as
Caesars wife should have been. She
was falsely charged with infidelity to
her husband by the villain of the play.
When the author came to the accu-
sation scene, which, with the proved
innocence of the lady, he intended for
the climax, he was puzzled to know
just how she would receive the stab.
Would she faint? Would she hurl
back the charge with passionate tears?
Monty was careful student of all
the emotions he portrayed, and he con-
ceiyed the idea of submitting some
woman to a similar test in order to
observe her emotions. The only avail
able person was his wife. Mrs. Monty
was matter of fact woman, with
not spark of romance in her nature,
and had no use for her husbands lit
erary works except for the money
it was hoped they might bring. Still
she was a woman, and all he wanted
to know was how any woman would
act under the circumstances. He re-
solved to try the experiment on her.
One day after the arrival of the post
man Monty called sternly for his wife
to come to the study. She came up
with her sleeves rolled up to the elbow
rolling pin in her hand and in no
good lumor at being interrupted.
"Margaretr
why, what's the matter, Monty"
Read that!'
Mrs Monty took the note he handed
her. and Monty fancied her OH the
stage. She read the accusation. Bill
Summers. a friend of her husband
whom she did not like, advised Monty
to watch her and he would find that
she was intimate with Andy Maxwell,
friend of her husband whom she did
| like. Monty watched hex as she read
and saw Il thundercloud gather on her
brow. Now" he said to himself. 81
shall get something definite" And he
did
Margaret" he said solemnly, what
have you to say to that?'
"What have | to say? 1t is true, ev-
cry word of it,
Monty turned white rs sheet and
staggered back
And why is it true?' she continued
liercely. Because have been driven
to it by my husband. Read thisT' she
sllrieked, plunging her hand in her
bosom and withdrawing note. Il
found it in your pocket L resolved to
be avenged upon you, and now that re
venge has come
Montys hand trembled so that he
could scarcely grasp the note, and he
was too stricken to read it. His wife
took ii from him and read it to him. 1t
was from woman who consented to
an designation he had evidently pro
posed. 1t had been manufactured by
some one for Il purpose, for there was
no truth in what it charged. But what
was his innocence worth now that his
wife had confessed her guilt? Life
was turned into a horror. His home
was destroyed. He saw himself and
his wife glaring ut each other in di-
vorce court, fighting for the possession
of their child. and heard the poor little
things cries because she could not have
both her papa and mamma. Then AZ
last he was dying alone in hospital
with no one to press his hand or look
loves parting into his eyes.
Monty cried his wife, "for heav
ems sake, don't look like that! It's al
Il put up job. | was telling Andy thai
you wanted an inspiration, and yor
have been telling him that you wanted
to know how wife would act whel
falsely accused. Andy put the two to
gether and laid the plan of foolirg yor
with that note | drew on you. Eve
had il in my pocket for week, bu
hadn't the heart to use it, The nott
you gave me made me mad, so | coult
do my part. Now you've got an in
spiraton, put it on paper"
While Mrs, Monty was delivering
herself of this, Monty was gradually
coming to himself Before she had fin
ished they were locked in each other
arms and Monty was sobbing like ;
woman.
There's nothing to put on paper
was crushed and didn't say word"
"But you felt it ALL"
Yes. but | could never TRANSCRIPTS
my feelings. Besides. they don't fit IN!
play
Yes, you can. Write a play they d,
fit Now, Monty, dear, go to work a
once while it's all fresh
Sweetheart" said Monty, holdin:
her off tragically and looking her owe
with an intense admiration he hat
never shown her before. 81 believ,
you've hit the bullseye. Leave me
and if am shut up here a week with
out coming out don't disturb me. NJ,
third and fourth acts must be writer
now and the play fitted to them after
ward"
10 hu