The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-25
Mary Johnston's Audrey"

Mary Johnston's Audrey"
 The story of Audrey, which will be played here Tuesday and Wednesday and Wednesday matinee is as follows:
 Act l. To the festivities, held in a field near Jamestown, Va, on May day, 1727, comes Marmaduke Harvard, the wealth. fest man in the county. He has long been away to London and elsewhere and Is steeped in cynicism. He pays his suit to Miss Evelyn Byrd, daughter of Col Will liam Byrd, the Lord of Westover whom he has known from childhood, although he tells her his love for her is akin to friendship. His suit she rejects. although she admits the love on her side. Upon the scene comes then the ill-clad, half wild girl called "Dardens Audrey" Hawa1 recognizes in her a child he rescued years before, when Indians had murdered her family, and burned their homes to the ground. He had left a pension for her With a roystering minister, and Is sur prised to find her no better reared. Audrey IS troubled with the attentions of Jean Hugon, a half-breed Indian. He is always around, demanding that she share his home and declaring his intention never to leave her.
 Harvard and Hugon meet at the home of Darden, whither Hayward goes to inquil e why his ward is not better reated and there the threat of death made by the half-breed is answered dgnifedly, but in kind, by Hayward. At the same time Harvard learns how charming is Audrey, and asks her to come with Darden's wife to his home, while 1t is being set in or der.
 Act. II. After three months spent with Audrey and her guardian at his estates, Harvard has come to Williamsburg, the oldf aon of UirOi11ia fa h ct1ft to Miss Byrd Thither comes Audrey brought by her guardian. Under Darden's s orders she writes asking her benefactor to visit her in order that she may invoke his aid in Darden's behalf. There also Hugon follows and again meets Harvard whom he threatens to kill. Miss Byrd meets Audrey, but pointedly avoids and spurns her. Harvard who is touched with the fever, however, insists that Audrey shall go with him that night to the gov. ernor's ball.
 At the ball scandal has been banded about regarding Hayward and his ward, when he surprises his friends by bringing in Audrey, clad in rich raiment. The wo- men avoid her. the men are indignant She Is frightened, and appeals to be taken away, yet when forced to stay she car. ries herself well as a woman of fashion, and brings the gallants about her. Tn the dance comes her humiliation. The women refuses to take her hand and Hayward becomes resentful. Two men up- braid him for his action in bringing there woman whom they call jade, and he draws his sword to defend her. The fever has come upon him, however, and he is taken away by a friend To Audrey the protection of Miss Byrd is extended, but it is a contemptuous favor done only for Harvard, and Audrey is forced to leave the scene an outcast, though Hayward declares his love for her as he is being taken away.
 Act III. In the Bruton church are gath cred the clergy and the aristocracy of Virginia to listen to a sermon by the bigotted preacher Eliot Audrey is there with Mrs. Darden, while her faithless guardian Darden is in front under the influence of liquor. Eliot aims his ser mon at merry makers and finally lfkens the governors ball to the feast If Belshazzar, and points the finger of scorn at Audrey, whom he calls fwanton." To her defense comes Darden, sobered by the attack and calling the words of Eliot Hes. There is commotion in the church and all leave except Audrey, Mrs. Oar den and Hugon the last named having been hiding in a pew Even Mrs. Oar den turns against the hapless girl and finally leaves her to pray in the church. It is Hugon's opportunity. He comes from his hiding place. and seizes her in his arms. She breaks from him and denounces him as one of the race wno slew her parents. He goes but with the threat to pursue her still, and she is left all alone in the church.
 Act ". To Westover a constable has brought one whom he saved from a mob that was trying to drown her as a witch Thither comes Hugon. seeking the trail Of Audrey who has disappeared from Darden's home. His efforts are reward ed. for it is Audrey who is brought in as the witch. He hides and awaits his opportunity. To Colonel Byrd's harsh questioning Audrey explains that she took shelter in the home of an old wo- man and there was captured by a mob which believed that she was the owner, changed by magic into young girl. Miss Byrd becomes her champion, and when they are alone they reveal their mutual love for Harvard. Miss Byrd, learning that Audrey had left her home because Harvard has sought her there, resolves to reunite them. HawarG comes, seeking Audrey, but almost worn out by his hunt. Miss Byrd shows him the object of his search behind the window curtains. He tells Audrey of his great love and asks her to go with him as his wife. She is about to consent when Hugon creeps in