The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-03
SCENE FROM
SlLAS MARINER

taSe. Epple is SedteU near oiao
knees and holding both his hands
and looking up at him. A pile OF
money is beside candle on the
table.
Silas: I'm q subdued tone) At
first I'd a sort O. feeling come
across me now and then, as II you
might be changed into gold agian;
for sometimes, turn my head which
way | would. l seemed to see the
gold and l thought / should be glad
if sould feel 1t and find 1t was
come back. But that didn't last
long. After bit, should have
thought it was curse come again,
if it had drove you from me, for Ia
got to feel the need O. your looks
and your voice and the touch O
your little fingers. You didn't
know what your old father Silas
felt for you.
Eppie: But l know now father,
II it hadn't been for you they'd
have taken me to the work house,
and there's have been nobody to
love me.
Silas: Eth, my precious child,
the blessing was mine. II you
hadn't been sent to save me,
l should ha' gone to the grave In
my misery. The money was taken
away from me in time; and you see
It's been kept-kept till 1t was
wanted for you. It's wonderful
our life is wonderful. (Silas looks
at the money! 1t takes no hold OF
me now,-the money doesn't. !
wonder II it ever could again; l
doubt it might il lost you Eppie.
Il might come to think l was for
saken again and lose the feeling
that God was good to me.
KNOCK is heard at the door,
(Eppie Pushes as she opens the
door. Then she makes a curtsy
and holds the door open. Enter
Mr.. and Mrs. Case.)
Mrs. Cass: (Taking Eppie's hand
and looking in her face, with ex-
preston of anxious interest and ad-
miration. Nancy is pale and trem-
ulous.) We're disturbing you very
late, my dear.
(Eppie places chairs for Mr.. and
Mrs. Cass, then goes and stands
against Silas, opposite them.)
Mr.. Cass: with firmness.) Well
Mariner, it's great comfort to me
to see you with your money again,
that you've been deprived Of so
many years. It was one of family
did you the wrong-the more grief
to me-and l feel bound to make
up to you for it in every way.
Whatever / can do for you will be
nothing but paying debt, even if l
looked no further than the robbery.
But there are other things I'm be-
holden-shall be beholden to you
for, Manner
Silas: with some constraint.)
Sir. I've a deal to thank you for a.
ready. Ar for the robbery, l count
it no loss to me. And II l did, you
couldn't help it; you aren't an.
swerable for it.
l MI. SdSC. AOu may IOOh 81 ~
in that way, Mariner, but l never
can, and l hope you'll let me act
according to my own feeling OF
what's just. l know you're easily
contented; you've been a hard.
working man all your life.
| Silas: (Meditatively.) Yes, sir
yes, should ha' been bad of with,
out my work; it was what l held by
when everything else was gone
from me.
! Mr.. Cass: All, 1t was a good
trade for you in this country. be
cause there's been a great deal Of
linen weaving to be done. But
you're getting rather past such
close work, Mariner, It's time you
laid by and had some rest. You
look a good deal pulled down
though you're not an old man, are
you!
Il Silas: Fifty-five, as near as
can say, sir.
Mr.. Cass: Oh, why, you may live
thirty years longer-look at old
Macy! And that money on the Ia
Bile, after all, is but little. 1t won't
go far either way whether its
!. nut out to interest or Won were tt