The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-27
in SUCH A NIGHT.

Characters-Walter Bennett. Edith
Layton.
scene-A garden at night. Bennett
and Edith are seated on a rustic bench.
Bennett. with his arms folded across
his breast, is gazing with rapturous
expression at the moon. Edith. glanc-
ing carelessly from time to time al Ben
nett's face. is toying with her fan.
Edith-And her hat! Why. it was
simply atrocious 1t might have been
all right to lounge about in on house
boat: but it was the last thing in the
world any rational being would have
selected for lawn tea party. (2esign-
edly) Still. Julia has always rather
prided herself on doing and wearing
remarkable things: don't you think so i?
Pauses. and fans herself languidly.
Bennett continues to contemplate celes-
tial objects,) I dare say you've never
remarked it, though Tell me Mr.. Ben
nett. do men ever notice what women
wea-a
Bennett Sometimes. (Sighs
heavilv.l
Edith don't believe they do. A
woman NAV
Bennett transferring his rapturous
gaze from the. moon to Edith's face,
and speaking sentimentally)-Are you
fond of Shakespeare, Miss Layton I
Edith (surprised)-Sh Shakespeare,
Bennett (softly)-Yes. l mean do you
read him much?
Edith-Not very much; but some of
Rehan in the Tanning the Shrew?" .
she was simply lightfuI-cfarming
(complacently) I saw her.
Bennett drawing nearer his COM
panion, and raising his arm to the back
Of the bench)-Do you remember the
lines?
Edith-In the Tanning of the
Shrew %
Bennett-No; in the Merchant of
Edith-What lines?
Bennett (placing his arm on the back
OF the bench in such a manner that il
encircles Edith but does not touch
herr
THE moon shines bright-in such a
night as this
Where the sweet wind did gently kiss
the trees,
And they did make no noise; in such a
night
Troilus, methods, mounted the Trojan
walls
And sighed his soul toward the Grecian
tents.
Where Cressid lay
Edith (after pause)-Why, saw
Henry Irving in the Merchant of Ven
ice; but don't remember those lines
Bennett-O, Shylock didn't say them
1t was Lorenzo--Lorenzo, you know
the lover of Jessica. He said them to
Jessica.
Edith (vaguely)-Oi I think I do re-
member now.
Bennett (edging a little closero-Hum
-ahem, say. Miss Layton, it may--it
must have been a night like-like this
A man, you know-that is to say, some
men
Edith facing him suddenly and tap
ping him on the shoulder with her FAM
%, say! Who do you suppose I saw
at the Garrick the other night?
Bennett (sighing, and letting his
amorous arm fall over the back of the
5eat)-Who?
Edith-Guess.
Bennett-Well, I really can't you
know.
Edith-Give it up?
Bennett (wearily)-Yes.
Edith-George Willoughby and his
wife. They are back from their honey
moon.
Bepnett-They must be very happy.
Marriage is really the right thing. after
all, for man-and woman 1.-THE amor
Gus arm again rises to the back of the
bench). Don't you think so. Miss Lay
ton?
Edith with conviction)-Of course it
is.
people like George and his wife settle
down in home of their own and dedi-
cate their lives to one anothers happi-
ness it makes me feel-(pauses; both
gaze dreamily over the landscape). Miss
Layton. I'm not much of a fellow, I
know; but deans closer toward her and
the enterprising arm develops nervous
symptoms)-but do you think you could
ever learn to- ~
Edith Observation-Disclosures spent their
honeymoon in Venice. (Bennett's arm
again falls inertly and perpendicularly
behind the bench.) It's awfully jolly in
Venice, isn't it?
Bennett (suggestively. as the arm
again reports for duty)-I suppose so; it
is always so delightful there in the au-
! tumn, 1 should like to go there IN the
autumn-the early autumn-wouldn'i
you? (Tenderly) Miss Layton, let US
Edith (neditatively)-I think I'd rath-
er go to Rome though. Mrs. Sherltol
was there last season. and Mrs. Sherlton
says
Bennett (frigidlyl-I never admired
Mrs. SherIton.
Edith-Why. Mr.. Bennett! Every one
likes Mrs. Sherlton. She isn't pretty, t.
be sure. but everybody ad1nires her.
! Bennett folding his arms across his
breast)-I am really very sorry for
| everybody, then, and feel constrained t.