The Irish standard., 1906-08-04

vel! sentimental wen, my handsome
mother for just this morning. what is
1t you have to say to me? Ucstingly.)
The Woman: do not know just
how to begin. Listen. If ever trouble
should befall YOU. If ever misfortune
should entangle you. you will promise
to come to me?
The Girl: Misfortune? What is on
your mind. Grace?
The Woman: Promise!
The Girl: ! promise Uaughs.)
The Woman: | am rich. Promise
that If poverty should ever come to
you. you will come to me-
The Girl (puzzlcGD: do not UNDER
stand YOU at all!
The Woman: Promise!
The Girl: promise; but
The Woman: Thank you, Betty.
The Girl growing serious): What
is all this about. Grace? You look SO
earnest.
The Woman: Some day yom will
understand. Will you answer me one
question as a daughter would answer
her mother?
The Girl (gravely): Yes.
The Woman: Would YOU marry IL
title for the titles sake?
The Girl Indignantly: 1?
The Woman: Yes; would you?
The Girl: shall marry the man l
love, and if not him, nobody. mean,
of course. when | love-
The Woman: Blushing again? My
dear. is Karloff anything to you?
The Girl: Karloff? Mercy. no. lie
is handsome and fascinating and rich
but | could not love him. 1t would be
easier to lovc-to love my groom out
side.
(They both smile)
The Woman grave once more):
That is all | wished to know dear.
Karloff is not worthy of you.
The Girl (sitting very erecD: I do
not understand Is he not honorable?
The Woman (hcsitatingly): | have
known him for seven years; l have
always found him honorable.
The Girl: Why. then, should he not
be worthy of me?
The Woman 0ightly): Is any man:
The Girl: You are parrying my
there must be no fencing.
The Woman( rising and going over
to the portrait AGAIN.: There are some
things that mother may not tel
even to her daughter
The Girl (dcterminedly): Grace
you have said too much or too little
l do not love KarloT. l never could
love him; but like him. and liking
him. feel called upon to defend him
The Woman (surprised into showing
her dismay): You defend him? You!
The Girl: And why not? That il
what wish to know; why not?
The Woman: My dear, you do not
love him. That is all wished tc
know. KarloM is a brilliant, handsome
man, gentleman; his sense OF honor
such as it is, would do credit to many
another man: but behind all this
there is power which makes him
helpless, makes him puppet, and
robs him of certain worthy impulses.
| have read somewhere that corpora
tions have no souls; neither have gov
ernments. Ask me nothing more,
Betty, for l shall answer no more
questions.
The Girl: don't think you are
treating me fairly.
The Woman: At this moment I
would willingly share with you half
of all l possess in the world.
The Girl: But all this mystery!
The Woman: AS have said, some
day You will understand. Treat Kar-
loft as you have always treated him
politely and pleasantly. And beg OF
You never to repeat our conversation.
The Girl Ito whom illumination sud
denly comes; rises quickly and goes
over to the woman; takes her by the
shoulders, and the two stare into each
others eyes, the one searchingly, the
other fearfully): Grace!
The Woman: l am poor, foolish
woman, Betty, for all my worldliness
and wisdom; but love you (softly),
and that is why l appear weak before
you. The blind envy those who see,
the deaf those who hear; what one
does not want another can not have.
Karloff loves you, but you do not
love him.
(The girl kisses the woman gravely
on the cheek, and without word.
makes her denarfurel
The Woman Gas she hears the car
rage roll away: Poor girl! Poor,
happy, unconscious, motherless child!
II only l had the power to stay the
blow! Who can 1t be, then,
that she loves?
The Girl Tin her carriage): Poor
thing! She adores Karloff, and l never
suspected It! shall begin to hate
him.
How well women read each other!
James had never parted with his
rose and his handkerchief. They were