New-York tribune., 1918-02-03

with Maurice Monnicr Gou Tellegcn)
for four years, deserts him to marry a
man with money, leaving him a
wrecked and broken thing, comes back
to renew their old relations. From the
depths Of his drunkenness he re-
proachcs her.
Connic-But am here to-day to prove
to you that I love you-I have money
now--hc is very rich. I want you to
begin agan--to build up your strength
to go away into the country and
come back the man you were. When
you are again the Maurice of old we
can begin again-ho need never know,
Maurice (raising his hand to strike
her)-Damn you! Damn you! 1t only
needed that to show me that my esti-
mate Of you is right! Four years with
me, and you know nothing Of me. 1t
proves what I have just said to you,
that you know nothing of the man in
me-becausc you did not wish to. You
only knew the beast, because you
thought that was all there was to me.
You ask me to take his money-your
money-go to the country and come
back to you, another mans wife, you
say that to me! Get out of here! Get
out of here before l kill you! For as
sure as God, l will kill you if you
stay!
Connic-Maurice, please! Listen to
Maurice-Are you going?
Connie-Wo you kiss me goodby =?
Maurice-Are you going?
Connie slowly turns and walks to
the door. Maurice goes to the cup
board and reaches for the bottle that
is there, just as Tubby arrives, fol-
lowed by Louis. Maurice discusses his
situation in regard to Connie. Sud-
denly Henri staggers in, picturesque
character of about fifty beard streaked
with gray, face eloquent with suffering
and in appearance little better than a
tramp.)
Henri-Bon soir, my good friends.
Maurice-You will never know how
glad am to sec you. You are the only
man in Paris who knows how to 90 to
hell gracefully. Teach me, my good
friend. I swear to you Pm an apt
pupil!
Henri-It would appear from all that
I have heard that you have chosen a
sure path for yourself, my friend!
Louis--Don't mind him, Henri-he's
not quite himself
Maurice-Who would be himself un-
der such conditions when he could be
some one else? This man has discov-
cred the only pleasant way to perdi-
ton I have seen.
Henri-That is because I am a liar
to myself, Maurie; my heart is heavier
than any mans in Paris, but lie to
myself because I have not the cour-
age to tell the truth
Maurice-Courage!
Henri-Couragc! To 20 to hell is
easy, but to sink into hell until the
soles Of ones feet are already scorched
by its fires, and then through your
own superhuman effort to pull YOUR
self out-that is the thing, my friend,
TO pull yourself out!
Louisiana that is what we have
preached to Mauric. He never loved
the woman he is running himself
about-and yet he will not make an
effort to save himself.
Tubby-Mauric has a half-brother
and mother in America. If he would
only go there and get rid of all this!
Maurice-And so you think, my good
Henri, that to lift ones self up after
one has been scorched is hard task Z?
Eh?
Henri-So hard, my friend, that few
accomplish it!
Maurice (reAectively)--I WONDER
He sits buried in thought.)
Henri-But we are growing morbid
and came up for a drink-it has been
over two hours since I had one and I
am beginning to think again. Won't
some one give me a drink
Maurice (absent-mindedly)- y)-You'll
find some absinthe in the Cupboard
Tubby-I'll take little drink N.Y.
self, if you have it to spare.
Louis-And it shall be my first drink
to-day.
(Ihey stir about getting the drinks
Henri Quitting glass on table beside
Maurice, who still continues to stare
straight ahead)-There, MY friend!
Drink and forget; and now, my friends,
toast-a toast, to Blind Youth, to
all lying women.
Maurice Cat table Just mbment
Hubby, what's the fare to New York?
Iubby~-You can go for about five
hundred francs Whvp