The Van Buren press., 1903-12-19
ADDRESSED
TO A HAT *:
Monologue Giving the History
of a Love Affair.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TINE, the present day. Scene, the

1 chateau OF Baroness ue '"iJ Oi'''
Just outside Of Paris.
Baroness de Varjolis entering and con-
tinuing to talk through the door
Until later, then, have a good time
No, you cannot persuade me to go WIN
you. | am rather tired. Good-py'
Coming down to the middle OF the
stage). There, they're gone at last!
Gone for a whole hour; that means an
hours rest and quiet for me. But they
did seem dreadfully anxious that shoulc
go with them.
Il should have had to dance, to open
the ball, anyway; and NJ de Luore
would have been sure to ask me 10
dance with him. And talking of M. de
Ludre, where did put his letter? won
der If he thought | would read 1T am
perfectly furious with him. Did anyone
ever hear OF such insolence?
Taking the letter from her pocket she
starts to tear It UP, then, changing her
mind, throws II on the table,
mo, | WON'T would only want to
read it later-suppose save this sugar
plum until I'm hungry"
Getting up and walking about the
room.
Gracious, what a relief to get rid OF
ones guests Friends are charming,
nut in the country they think they are
IN an enchanted land where the horses
are always ready to go anywhere, the
servants always on the watch to bring
them something good to eat where the
fires never go out and (smelling the odoT
Of lamp smoke, she turns down the wick)
where the lamps never smoke.
"To be frank about It, shall marry
again, II only for the comfort OF con-
fding to my husband, besides the care
Of my own happiness, the direction OF
the house
"Marriage It is great problem, a
very great problem!
-Four years OF widowhood give you
taste Of independence and habits of
Of mastery that would be hard to give
back into the hands Of real master,
Goodness, this lamp smokes out
rageousiy."
She rings.
For PHYS sake, where are all the
servants? Oh! | remember now; told
them they might go to the celebration,
but certainly told Joan to wait In the
ante room"
Opening the door.
Joan, Joan! Go and prepare the
rooms for my visitors"
She turns down the light even lower.
ITO maryland marry NJ de Ludrc,
for he has asked me formally for my
hand. He Is such a funny fellow Didn't
he come Just now, with deliberate air
and, taking of his hat-why, hero Il IS.
now. He must have gone out with his
straw hat.
"Well, he took of that famous head
covering, and, unfastcning a letter that
he had stuck in the hat band, presented
It to me-, saying;
Madame, as rode up TO your
chateau just now met a miserable sort
OF fellow who asked me how he could
manage to give you the piece OF paper
that he held In his hand. | offered to
undertake the commission myself and
since ! always carry In my portfolio
what ! need for my correspondence I
was able to put the Aforesaid piece Of
paper into an envelope, and here II u.s.
u blushed angrIly, and inquired with
an air OF affected comparisons
Was It one Of your own proteges7
In any case, added, drlly, you have
undertaken n useless commission, for
shall not give him anything and
put the letter In my pocket,
~ was completely provoked had
already told him, once for ALL that |
would never never, never marry him,
Why can't he leave me alone7
To-day he makes use Of the strategy
o' this poor man TO make me accept nj.
letter Who knows but what to-mor.
row he will have recourse TO violence?
Oh, well, II he doesn't 20 away coon I
snail, 10 that's all there Is about IT,"
She picks up the hat, playing idly
with II,
These little hats that men wear arc
perfectly fascinating, and 70 much more
becoming than those frlghtful s,oyopIpe
aUR'ts | think shali get ono for rid.
Ing. tShe tries II on and runs TO 500
the effect In the mIrror) Truly 1, ia
very becoming, UmItatng NJ. do
Ludre)
Madame, M rode UP to your
ehaltpu Just now, met miserable
looking fellow
An ma Poor fellow, know who he
Is, CLahghing, she tosses the hat upon
the table, and letter falls from it,
what, another letter. why, now. n
must belong to Robert HoudIn,"
She picks up the letter wlthou, look.
ING at 1t and lays It down upon tho table
beside the first one; then holding the ha,
before her she addresses II,
NO. NJ, do Ludre shall We Talk sor,.
onsly together for the last timer Firs,
d all " You please, no surprises, Have
you any other letters carefully con.
anhled In some secret pIace7 tShe ey.
amlhes the hut) For PHYS aake. n
mere aren't more papersl No, not lo,.
terra II II true, but notes,
80 be makes his hat n por,fo,lo ao,.