The Washington times., 1922-09-24

"oHi Suh'uohhSSS III tho otOhO-
yard.
MlNNA (r0ith hOrrorJ-oh, jan
they didn't put you there!
JANUs-what did you think l was
dOingf Gliding pine conesi Or
learning ~ play the zitberf
M1NNA (aneaSily)-Must we speak
OF It? Oh, must wei
JANIS (0rfWIy)-We must. I've
saved up lot OF fascinating
bts to tell you--and you'll hear
elm! Never mind how much you
writhe and squirm. Things I've
seen. Things I've learned. (Wifh
.aH ugly lduVh.) HO! 1t was o
pretty sight tO see the rough.
necks In their zebra nighties--
with the eyes OF wild beasts star.
Ing from their heads!
MINNA--l see that you hate me
just as bitterly as ever. Your
letters were brutal.
JANUS-And you've been browsing
OH this farm ever siDcei Listen
ing to the cow.bells In the gloamI
ing and playing wheezy hymns On
ye old family melodeon--chortt
ling to the chickens. Bah! Some
rustic romance behind II all! Oh.
know von.
MINNA--LOOk at me. Look at me,
Janus! Do / seem like woman
with a romance?
JANUS-Ten years ago you had q
laughing devil In your throat
like the wicked gurgle at the bot
tom OF a we'll Your eyes were
yellow as a panther's. | used TO
thin. they wert phosphOrescent
at night. But now | know they
never were. Lord. what jackass6s
men make VI themselvesi
MINNA--I was pretty and painted
and reckless. And that was all.
We were both unbalanced by dis
sipatiOn--
ness-a sort Of wind.blown graz.
And you used to lie. smoking a
cigarette, on the chaise Tongue.
with those pale, slim arms OF
yours curled round the pillows
MINNA-Oh. had hoped that time
would efface those images from
your mind. / bless the years that
carry me away from them!
JANUS-DOn't fret, old girl, You're
travelling fast enough All your
silken textures. your tlower-cOlOr.
ing, has withered. Wrinkles have
foIlou an yau like a Veil
MINNA Il laugh so seldom It
doesn't really matter, Janus. me
turns from her NTH snecrin0 pitD.
Suddenly his ezprsssi0n changes
He POINTS across the Odrden.)
JANUS (hdlt rising from his seat
BY Cad! That's bully!
wouldn't have missed that trick
for one OF the warden's best
cigars!
MGNNA ttoith a Hstlcss d0h)--
What is 1t?
JANTS-That grisly old giant in
the blue overalls over there
MINNA (Cih instant intCrest)--
Oh, you mean the gardener----
JANUS-Grabbed a wild vine that
was twined around the root of q
tree and uprOOted 1t! Plucked 1t
out Of the earth with one wrench
OF his arm!
MINNA - That Is the man who
owns this farm. lie likes us to
called him the Gardener. Simply
that.
JAM l'S-Tremendous! As though
a woman 0uld appreciate 1t!
Why, do you realize that vines Of
that age are stronger than chains:
And twice as hard tO break?
daresay | couldn't have torn up
the weakest part Of II. (He sinks
back In his chair and cOUers his
face toith his hdnds.) | lied like
a blithering bubble-blower when
told you | was sound and whole.
I am q piece Of wreckage. OF
course, that's plain to you. A
one-eyed fool could have seen II
Immediately. I'm a crumbling
shell OF clay. Nothing flickers
In me but hate--hate Of you!
Hate Of myself
MtENA - But now you are here
with me-safe! Away from all
the horror. And you shall be
observation-disclosures
JANUS-Aw, cut ont the pretty
pathos!
M1NNA-The sin was mine.
graded YOU to jealousy
JANUS--Ten years for manslaugh.
ter! My bit for your fun!
MINNA-The eternal. undying yes.
terday! All the tears in the
world will not wipe|it out!
JAMES (jeerin0)-That's It! Bleat
out your woe in tragic phrases!
Chant II till II becomes music to
your earsl Stand before your
mirror and practice penitentia1
attitudes! Tear your hair to
rags! Cultivate dementia! That's
noble way to snffer---but it's
not like serving time!
MINNA (qutUerin0)-lt is cruel OF
you to mock me! have been
down into the depths. But a hand
l.. a