The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-27
BEHIND THE BEYOND By Stephen Leacock


What is lt?"
my MOTHERHOOD God, she Is COM
ing. She is at the Bristol and Is COM
ing here. What can I dor
Lady Cicely Is quiet now.
Does she known"
Nothing. nothing"
How did she find your"
II don't know. I can't imagine. I
knew when I saw in the papers that
my father was dead that she would
com home. But I kept back the ad-
dress. I told the solicitors, curse them,
to keep it secret"
Mr.. Harding PAGES the stage giving
an imitation of a weak man trapped.
He keeps muttering. What can I dol"
Lady Cicely speaks very firmly and
proudly. Jack"
"What?"
There is only one thing to do.
Tell her"
Mr.. Harding, aghast. Tell herr"
Yes. tell her about our love. about
everything. I am not ashamed. Let
her Judge me-"
Mr.. Harding sinks into a chair. He
keeps shivering and saying. II tell
you. I can't: I can't. She wouldn't
understand" The letter Is fiuttsring
in his hand. His face Is contemplate.
He does 1t splendidly. Lady Cicely
picks the letter from his hand. She
reads 1t aloud, her eyes widening as
she reads:
HOTEL BRISTOL, PARIS.
MY DARLING Boy: | have found you
at last-why have you sought to avoid
me? God grant there is nothing wrong.
He Is dead. the man I taught you to
call your father. and I can tell you all
now. / am coming to you this in
slant. MARGARET HARDING.
Lady Cicely reads. her eyes widen
and her voice chokes with horror.
She advances to him and grips his
hand. What does 1t mean, Jack. tell
me. what does 1t mean?"
Good God. Cicely, don't speak like
that"
"This-these lines-about your
father"
Il don't know what 1t means-I
don't care-I hated him. the brute.
I'm glad he's dead. I don't care for
that. But she's coming here. any
minute. and I can't face it,"
Lady Cicely. more quietly, Jack,
tell me. did my-did Sir John Trevor
ever talk to you about your father?"
No. He never spoke OF him"
Did he know him?"
"fes-I think so-long ago. But
they were enemies-Trevor challenged
him to a duel-over some woman
and he wouldn't fght-the cur"
Lady Cicely (dazed and aghast)-"I
-understand-it-now." She RECEIVERS
herself and speaks quickly.
Listen. There is time yet. Go TO
the hotel. Go at once. Tell your
mother nothing. Nothing. you UNDER
stand. Keep her from coming here.
Anything. but not that. Ernestine.'
She calls to the maid. who
FOR a second-"a taxi-at once"
She hurriedly gets Harding's hat
n coat. The stage is full Of hustle.
Ihere is a great sense Of hurry. The
audience is In an agony for fear
Ernestine is too slow, or calls a four
wheei cab by mistake. II the play is
really well put OF you can presently
hear the taxi buzzing outside. Mr..
Harding goes TO kiss Lady Cicely. She
puts him from her IN horror and has
tens him out.
h calls the maid. '.Ernestine.
quick, put my things, anything, into
a valise."
Madame is going away?'
Yes, yes; at once
Madame will not eat?"
NO. no"
Madame will no. first rest?" The
slow comprehension Of these French
maids is something exasperating)
Madame will not await monsieur?
Madame will not first eat, nor drink
no? Madame will not sleep"
NO. no-quick, Ernestine. Bring
me what | want. summon a iacre.
shall be ready in a moment Lady
ticely passes through a side door into
an inner room.
She is scarcely gone when Mrs.
Harding enters. She Is a woman
about 10. still very beautiful. She is
dressed in deep black.
tThe play Is now moving very fast.
You have 10 81; tight to follow it alb
She speaks to Ernestine. "Is this
MIR. harding's apartment"
Yes, madame"
rs he here?" She looks about her.
"~No.madame, he is gone ,n.s moment
IN "A taNi-to the Hotel Bristol, l heard
him say
fiiuiHs'
one-here?"
NO madame. no one-milady was
here a ago. She too has gone
out This is a lie. but of course the
maid is Il French maid.)
Then it is true-there is some
one She Is just saying this
when the bell rings, the door opens
and there enters-Sir John Trevor.
"fou!' says Mrs. Harding.
II am too late!" gasps Sir John.
She goes To him neutrality-suspicious.
all these years" she says
1T is a long time
You have not changed
She has taken his hands and is look
ing into his face and she goes on
speaking. Il have thought of you 50
often in all these bitter years-it sus-
tanned me even at the worst-and
knew. John, that 1t was for my sake
that you had never married -"
Then as she goes on talking the au-
dience tealiZes with 4 tnrlli that Mrs.
Harding does not know that Sir John
married two years ago; that she has
come home. as she thought, to the MAJ
who loved her and mora ,bap that