The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-26

couple walk as they enter the church. The
Squire has money. The Village Bride has
beauty, they love each other. they are to
be married. and they are married. AIS
well. apparently.
But there's Reuben Slade. the rejected
sutton. and there's Simon Gray the saloon
keepe:. Reuban loves the Village Pride.
and swears that ne will tear down the 1t
tie bower of bliss which the Squire and the
Village Pride have builded.
Then comes a recruiting officer who an
nounces that one Simon Slade is drafted
into the army. Simon conceives the idea of
Offering the recruiting officer Si0SG to sub
stitute. for his name that Of Squire Edward
Clair in the papers which he bears. The
recruiting officer is not refusing any easy
money. and the change is effected
erb apaT h for who
wars, while slade congratulates himself.
Before his marriage the Squire was de-
votee OF the flowing bowl. and before the
Village Pride would consent to become his
own. she exacted promise that he forever
Squire Edward Clair. captain. comes back
from his battles. covered with glory. and
Reuben sIads feels that he must renew his
ter way than. to hold forth in tempting
fashion the demon drink ?" And in pui-
suance Of the plan. for $1,000 he retains
Edward the Second now enters the play.
He enters now. because he. entered the
fighting for the salvation of the land There
Is joyous reunion between the Squire. the
Village Pride and the chubby Bit of flesh
which the father had never seen.
But Reuben and Simon get In their work.
The Squire begins coming home late at
night and making flimsy excuses to his
The latter wigs him earnestly. but it's
ponent to be overco.pe bv wifelv reproa ches.
The upshot of this state of affairs is that
the Squire becomes so heavily in debt to
property. So the Village Pride the baby
and the Squire are reduced to living in a
mere hc T She The third =, act opens in the
rapidly getting drunk. His wife, at home,
II wonder where Edward is this cold
night? Qt IS winter and snowing) oh. I
wonder il he is at Simon Gray's! Only three
years and half since our wedding day.
and We We're so haDoy. Oh. Edward! Ed
ward! But will hope for brighter and bet
ter days. for the demon drink cannot alto
sether conquer man so noble as he. We
had beautiful home: 1t was his gift to
our boy. but in such short time. 1t is all
gone. Drink and gambling. that tells the
story. Things went from bad to worse. 1t
has ended-like this" (Weeps)
The plot thickens at the saloon The
modern expression puts It, is stone broke"
your SON. is SHADES proposition. land I'll
give you unlimited rum The Squire
agrees. Sladc eyultS
We'll. nv proud beauty" he proclaims
in an irnacinary conversation win the VII
lage Pride you once scorned the love of
an honest man. Well. l am even with YOU
at last: Your house and lands are mine.
your boy is mine. and now. proud May. I'll
claim you for my own"
The Squire goes TO his home. His wife is
out temporarily, chopping wood in the
snow. He steals the babe. starts with Ed
ward. the Second. to present him to Slade.
The Village Pride comes back. misses her
child and tears her hair and waIlOwS in
exclamation points in the excess of grief
stage grief. With a mothers intuition. she
rushes to the tavern. where she finds Ed
ward the Second-in SHADES arms The