GIFT OF Class of 1887 TANNWALD A DRAMA i BY JOHN S. HITTELL, Author of "The Resources of California," "A Brief History of Culture,'' Etc. SAN FRANCISCO: ALTA CALIFORNIA PRINT, 529 CALIFORNIA STREET, , 1878. TANNWALD BY JOHN S. HITTELL, Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1877, by John S. Hittell, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. SAN FRANCISCO: ALTA CALIFORNIA PRINT, 529 CALIFORNIA STREET, 1878. FLACK -Ten, I have seen it before- OOUHT DICK We trait every thing to your manage- men*. SCENE II Mrs. HABTZ'S House. Mr?. HABTZ, and Mrs. MABK3. MBS. MABK3_Have you beard of the visitors from Vienna. MBS. HABTZ No. MBS. MASKS About a dczn gentlemen have come to spend a month or two at Tannwald. MBS. HABTZ What kind of people are they ? MBS. M/BKS- Tfcey belong to the Court and stop at the castle. One of them is Mr. Black, tbocousia of the Baroness ; he was at the castle last Summer for a while. MBS. HAI.TZ Is be the young fellow that was at- tentive to Barbara? MBB. MASKS - The eame one. And tteen there is the Baron's boy, the Page of tho Archduchess. They watt to g t him transferred to tbe service of the Empress, and are trying to make friends for nim. And some of these people have influence. There's a Professor, and a Count, and several offi- oers from the Army. MBS. HABTZ -Well, I suppose they will net notice the villagers ? KBS. MABKS Ob, yes they will. The Baroness met Barbara out walking, and was very civil tD her, and invited her to the castle and told her to bring her friends along. MBS. HABTZ It is the first time that she ever poke politely to anybody that did not belong to the Couitor the Nobility. You will .pot let Barbara go ? MBS. MABKS Certainly I will. MBS. HABTZ As soon as the visitors leave, the Baron and Bareness will be tbe same as before. MBS. MALES -I don't care for that. MBS. HABIZ I would. There is .no good from trying to associate with people so much above you. MBS. MABKS Barbara lived in the caetle at Lin- decgau for a while, and she knows as much and has as good manners as these Court people, and she is just as good as they are, if she is poor. Eo long as the Baroness eeeka her company, I shan't object. The Baroness apcke to Barbara of Margaret and wanted her to come, too. MBB. HABIZ I do not like the idea of girls so young going to balls. Mns. MABKS We went when we were young. MRS. HABIZ I have not forgotten; but that's where I learned the danger. MBS. MASK* Margaret must get accustomed to society. MBS. HABTZ She sees enough of society now. She visits your house and Mrs. Swerlin's and goes to church every Sunday. MBB. MARKS Let her become acquainted with the ladies and gentlemen of the Court. Let her see how the Court ladies act and dress. MBS. HABTZ Margaret is a poor girl and would be made miserable by the insolence and fine dresses and jewelry of the Court ladies. MBS. MABKS She would make them miserable With her flue face. MR*. HAKTZ - 1 want her to be contented with her humble station in life. MB*. MABKS You may make her discontented by your strictness Wil> you not le* Margaret go, then? MBB. HABTZ I do not like t) let two such young girls go without any older person to look after them. [A knock at the door.] Mas, HABIZ Come in. Enter Mrs. Swerlin. MBS. MABK9 We were talking about tbe ball. MB*. SWERLIN The Baroness came to see me, though she never ppoke to me before and invited me to coma and bring Margaret. MBS. HABTZ Do you intend to go ? MBS. SWEBLIN The Baroness was very urgent, and I promised to come if I could get either Margaret or Barbara to come with me, MHS. HABTZ! suppose I will have to let Margaret go if you will keep constant charge of her and Barbara. MBS. STERLIN-I Will. MBS. HABTZ Hava you heard of your husband lately. Mii3 SWERLIN Not since he was wounded In the ba tte near Padua, i-ix months ago. MBS. HABIZ Will it look well for you to go to a b'all ? Mrs. SWERLIN I can't stay away for that. It will be bad enough to s :ut myself up when I know that he is dead ; he has been wonnded several times before, and always got well. He never eends any word to me, and when I hear from him it is only by accident. Tte wives of other soldiers often get letters. If ALtiiony intends to bo a soldier all hia life, and act this way, it don't matter much to me whether he is alive or dead. SCENE III- Street in Tannwald. Sunday, near the church doors. SLACK, FAUSX, afterward MABQABEX and Mrs. SWEBLIN. FAFST Your friends in Tannwald are very kind to me. SLACK They do not often see people from Vienna. They have great respect for you. They almost tremble when they Talk to you. A famous Professor is something godlike, in their opinion. FAUST I remember well what an awe I had of the Professors when I first entered college. I never looked at one without seeing a halo of glory about his head, in my imagination. A Professor ; a maa that had written a book ; I considered myself as a mere worm by hia side. Even the senior students shared something of tiie almost divine majesty, as it appeared in my mind. Tbe better 1 knew them. tha less I revered them, and when 1 became a Pro- fessor, I could not but laugh at the awe of the young ttu ; .ents, who, however impudent among their asso- ciates, are terrified wheu I look at them sternly. SLACK I think it is a wise rule of the University that the Professors must not put themselves on a level witti tbe common people. FAUST I do not ; but 1 am not a Professor here. I cauio here for enjoyment, and want to drop dignity. I have made a fool of myself by spending all my life among books. I hope to see more of jovial company hereafter. PLACK -You will be welcome everywhere. FAUST -A succession of peculiar accidents has made a recluse of me since my childhood. SLACK -You have a reputation for sanctity ai well as for learning. FAUST It is the sanctity imagined by ignorance and folly. I supposed that the only enjoyment of life was in books. I know all that thece is in them, and tuat much In them is false. They pretand to give mau the truth, and tie him up in a net of lies. I am tired of metaphysics, tired of seclusion, tired of celibicy. SLACK - Of celibicy J You know t-iat the great Professors are sometimes made Cardinals ; and when they talkfd of giving you the title of Eminence, it old not displease you. FAUST No, It did not ; but it was only talk, and I do not feel like waiting. I almost doubt if I would accept a Cardinal's Lat to-day. SLACK The talk was very serious. I beard the Archduk8 Charles say the Emperor -wanted t^e icfla- ence which your learniog and eloquence would exer- cie at Home. PAUST And how much happier would I be for that? I would like the power of a Girdinal at Vienna ; but at Rome, unless there were a good pros- pect to be Pope, I would not give a fig for it. Be- sides, I have no faith. I should have a better t'me living on the estate of my fttier, the other side of younrter mountain, with a wife and children. I am not flt t.) live the life of a monk any longer. Look at that girl~~I would like such a yonng woman fora Wife. [Enter Margaret ani Mrs Siverlin.] SLACK I can make you acquaii t^d with her. FAUST- She is beautiful, and carries herself well. BLACK- She is the pride of the town. She has a brave heart, and is an excellent housekeeper and nurse. When the plague was here, two years ago, though she was very young, she faced the danger everywhere, and saved several lives and mitigated much suffering. Besides, she has a good wit of her own. FAUST T would like such a woman for a wife. SLACK You can make love to her, at anyrato, [M irgaret's handkerchief drops ; Faust picks it up and gives it to her ] FAU?T Permit me. M/BCJARET Thank you for the trouble. FAUST The trouble is most welcome that gives nae an excuse for speaking to you. [Hhe lonles at him; their eyes meet; he bows ; she blushes and looks down, and she and Mrs. Swerhn pass on j FAUST I would like to know whether she dropped her handkerchief purposely. BLACK .No ; I was observing them from the mo- ment when they came out of fie church. They did not see ua. Margaret is too modest to do anything to attract the advance of a stranger. She is simple, hearted. I do not know her, but I know of her. FAUST .Simplp.^iearfed or not, she Is lovely. You must make me acquaint 3d with her, and manage BO that I can keep up the acquaintance. SLACK Qooi ; you will meet her at the ball. FAUST At the ball? That's a long ways off. Can't you arrange it sooner ? BLACK [ande \ a, ho ! he'll jump in v o the trap. I Will try. [Exit Faust.] SLACK _I know from what Barbara his told ma taat Mrs. Hartz would never let him come to the house. Mrs. Swarliu's is the place wiiera they must meet ; but how to manas-e Mrs. 8 vf-rlia, so that she will consent, is a question? I have it. I will re- port fie deati of her husband, get Albert t:> prom- ise to marry her, and she will do anything t^ please Albert's master. j Enter Albert \ SLACK Did I not hear yon Hiy that when you were at Rltterstahl's cimp, a't irt^e Bittleof Padua, you saw a Mr. Ssverlin amoag thi wounded ? ALBERT -Yes, sir. SLACK Did you know tha man ? ALBEBT-NO, sir. BLAOK Do you know hla Qrgt name or where he aame from ? ALBBBT-.NO, sir. SLACK -Or what company he was in ? ALBEBT Nor that either. I saw hiui only once, and would not have remembered him if Ritterfctahl had not said he had seen a man that recovered from a wound just like that. It was a large spear wound in the right breast. SL.\OK That was as muih as to say that there was little chance for Swerlin to live? ALBEBT I so understood it. 8L4CK Well, he must havebaen tha husband of a Mrs. Bwerlin that lives here. She can ba of much serviC3 to Professor Faust, and I need your assist- ance with her. The professor is in love with be cousin, Miss Hartz, and wants to meat her at Mrs. Swerlin's House. Now, to get her to be favorable, I am going to tell her that her huaband is dead, and that you and I both saw him die. And then I want you to make love t> nor, and, if necessary, promise to marry her. But you need net keep the promise unless you want to. Does that suit you? ALBEBT Yes, if you say BO. 8LACK_It will be the better for both of ug. SCENE IV Mrs. SWEBLIN'S House. MARGABET, Mrs. SWJSBLIN and SLACK. MAKSARET Oh, Mrs. Svrerlin ! Mas. SWERLIS What'a the matter ? MABGABET -A servant man cama to the house this morning, and brought me this box. He said it was a present for Margaret Hartz. Just aee what ele- gant jewelry. MRS. SWEBLIN That's ever so nice. Who sent it ? It ia flt for a Princess. MABGARET The man went away as soon as he gave it to me, and I did not think to ask any ques- tions. MRS. SWEBLIN Did you know the man ? MARGAKET I never saw him before. Mas. SWEBLIN -Then Professor Faust sent it. MARGARET Why should a great man care for such, a poor girl as I am ? MBS. SWEBLIN Because he is a man. MABGABET He has a majestic look. MBS. SWJSBLIN The first thing that a pretty girl has to learn is that her face puts her on a level with the highest rank. MABGABET I can see it in Professor Faust's face that he is an honorable man. MBS. SWEBLIN You talk as if you knew all about men. The more you learn, the less you know. They ara as bad as women, and yon can not say anything worse of them. But let us look at thes* thing*. IS is a complete set necklace, bracelet, breastpin, earrings, and finger-rings. The ladies at Court do not wear richer jewelry than that. MARGARET But alas ! what good will they dome? I dare not wear them. I am afraid to let mother know I have them. She says jewels are the Devil's uniform. And then I never go anywhere except to church, and they wou'd not do there, MBS. SWEBLIN Well, come to my house and put them on here as much as you please. [Some one knockt.J MABGABET Good heavens I What if that IB my mother? MB3. SWEBLIN [peeping through the curtain] No i ia a strange gentleman ; that friend of Professo? Faust. [ Aloud] Come in. \Ezit Margiret. Enter Mr. Sla:k. ] SLACK -Does Mrs. Swerlin live hero? MBS. SWEBLIN Yes, sir. SLACK I have a message for you ; I wish it wer not so sad. I come to tell you of the death of your husband, Anthony Swerlin. MBS. SWEBLIN My dear Anthony dead ! Oh, I shall faint. [She sits down andwteps.] SLACK Three months ago I was present at hii deathbed in Padua. MBS. SWJSBLIN Are yon certain that it was my itmsbind ? BLACK inthony Swerlin, husband of Martha Swerlin of Tannwald. Ms-i. SWEBLIN The flame ! the game ! Oh, my An- thony ! 1 shall never get over the shock ! SLACK He was burled with the honors that be- came a brave soldier. MBS. HWE-JLIN What token of his affection did he fiend me? SLACK Nothing, save a request that you would have 300 masses said for his eoul. MB*. EWEBLIN Not even a breastpin or a bracelet ? Why, every soldier eaves some trinket as a keepsake lor his sweetheart, even if he has to beg his way home. BLACK Madam, he bitterly lamented his misfor. tunes. MBS. SWEBLIN lias! How unlucky some men are. I will, indeed, say many a requiem for his soul. SLACK Before he died he repented for all his sics and received absolution. He was sorry that he had deserted his wife and his trade, and that he could not aee yon to beg your forgiveness. MBS. BWERLIN [weeping]. -Poor fellow. I have long forgiven him. SLACK But then he said you were more to blame than ha. MBS. SWEBLIN -Oh, the liar. Couldn't he tell the truth even on the edge of the grave ? BLACK.-! am sure be slandered you. He said you were gadding about all day long, squandering every cent yon could lay your hands on, and scolding when you came home at night. MBS. SWEBLIN. -A scamp, to tell such falsehoods about a faithful wife. SLACK- After all, beseemed to think kindly of you, for he spoke of having at one battle taken a good share of booty which he laid by for you. MBS. BWEBLIN How ? Where ? Did he bury the money? SLACK -The Lord knows. He did not stick to his virtuous resolutions. While he was having a jolly time In Naples, af er a hard campaign, be fell in with a handsome young lady who did him many favors, of which he thought of every day till he died. MBS. SWEBLIN. -Oh, the villain I How he could forget his poor wife in that way? Nothing could Atop bis shameless life. SLACK -Alas, be is dead. But mourning will be- com* you. I should not wonder if you had another husband within a year. Mas. SWEBLIN- Ob, Lord 1 Anthony was a good t oul, after all. I might hunt a long time without finding another like him. Everybody had to ba merry when he was about. But then be would get drunk and gamble, idle away his time, go in debt and run after strango women. BLACK The bent fish are not all caught. I wish I Were settled down a"d had a wife as good as you are. Mai. SWKRLIS Oh I you're joking. BLACK \aridt ] -She would marry the devil him- elf. [Aloud ] Permit me to take my leave. Mit3. KWERLIN One moment ; have you any cer- tificate of ray mi-b tnd'fl clflath ? BLACK No ; hut Mr. Albert, who is also stopping at the castl, was with me when your husband died ; and he and I together will make an affidavit of the death. Mrs BWBBLI* ..Then you aro one of t l io party at the castle. I thought so when you came in. Ire. member seg up Htlfnstem to tfws Brhr. ] -Mlas i r. let IDS introduce Mr. Helf^ustein, a'dtatin. ished gentleman of r.ho Ojurt. | She litesand maket a ridiculous court'ty find grin-ice 1 HKLFEN TEIN [bowmy with a haughtg and distant air] Shall I have tiie pleasure of your cooapauy for the promenade ? Miss BEHB [taking his ara]_ T never expec'ed to enjoy such an honor. SLACK offers his .nn to MBS. SWEBLIN and prome- nades. MBS. KLIN*; and Mi? a GKEEH kit sitting alone, look at each oilier. Miss GBEKN What bus become of all the gentle- wen ? MBS. KLINE \lr. Slack is the manager of the party, and he evidently does not iuieud to provide us with partners. Miss GREEN I told you no, but you would insist on coming MRS KLINE You were much more anxious to cornn thsn I was. Miss GKEEN No such thing. These people are BO mightily stuck up that they are not tit lor polite company. I told you so. 1 will never come to ano'her party at this Castle. [Helens' tin and Miss Behr come forward J HELFENSTKIN The fame of your literary accom- plishment reached me at Vienna, Mies Behr, aud the desire of making jour acquaintance was one 01 my naotivf 8 fcr accepting the iavKatiou of Baron JRott to vlait his delightful castle, Mi-s BEHE I did not suppose the people at Court thought BO much of learning. But perhaps you are a distinguished scholar yourself ? HELFENSTEis Ihavebeen too busy with the active dutu-p of Oi u' life to give each time to book* as I wished, and I envy those who, like yourself, can live continually in a high intellectual atmosphere. Still, I congratulate myself that by Univem'y train- ing snd association with learned men, I um not un- able 1 1 appreciate the charms of your conversation. Misa BEHR- Perhaps you can give me some light on a matter that has a deep interest for me ? I havd been unable, to find in any Lutin Grammar a satis- factory rule for the formation of the third person p'ural of the compound pluperfect tense, in the in- dicative mood, active voice. HELFENSTKIK That is a complex question that will requirw more time than we can gwe it this evening. It would be a pleasant task to me, at some good op- portunity, to go through the conjugation of the verb amo with yon. Miss BKHB Dear Mr. Halfenstein, I fear that you are like other courtiers, if what I have heard is true. Would it u< t be better to take up the noun matri motiia first? BELFENSTEIN -With all my heart. Miss UEHR Ah ! Mr. Helfenetein. BELFEN8TKiN_Ah 1 Miss Behr. [Faust aid Mar- gar if, tome forward ] MARGATE v I feel it well that you condescend to tre; t me so only because you are polite to every- body. My poor conversation can not interest a grrat mnn Jike you. FAUST- Oae word, one look from you interests me more than all the wisdom of the world. [ He kisses h(r hand. ] MARGARET How can you 1 My hand is so ronah. I have to work hard. Mother is very Htrict. [ They pass 'o the rear ; Mr. Slack and Mrs. Stotrlin comejor- ward ] Mrs twERLiN - And you travel much 1 LACK -My business has required it, but I have *een in many places where I could have spent my life, happily. Mrs. SWERLIN The years go swiftly by, and at last a ticue comes whan men grow old and they are miserable if they have to live alon*. SLACK I often thought o! that with cppreheneion. Mrs. SWEBLIN -I advise you to get married before it is too late, j They pass to the rear; Hclfenstein and Miss Behr come forward.] HELFENH&IN Adorable Miss BEHB I can not ex- plain the gratification I experience in your sympa- thetic conversation. Miss BEHB I have always had an intuition that I phould some day meet a congenial spirit like your self. HELFENSTEIN At the first sight of thoFe delicate features, of that graceful form, of this tasteful dress, I was enraptured. Miss BEHB-Ah, Mr. HelfenPtein, your compliments would completely abash me if I did not think they were j nst. It is oiie of tie great disadvantages of village life that there is no appreciation for genuine merit. People of refined faste are treated with neglect. [ Tl.ey pass to the rear; Faust and Margaret come to fiejront MARGABEi. Yes, out of sight, out of mind. You will so^n forget me in the company of fashionable women more attractive than I am. FAUST.- Beet one, believe me that fashion is noth- ing bin assumption and vanity. MARGARET.- How? FAUST Oh thtt simplicity and innocence never understand their OWQ value; that humility and purity, the highest gifts of p^ner 'is nature MARGARET (interrupting] If you will think but a moment of rue, I shall have time enough to think of you FAUST I suppose you are often alone. MARGARET Yes, our bouse is small, but there is much work in it We have no servant, and I must cook, sweep, dust, sew, darn, anc! ran early and late. We might live more at our ease, but mother is se- vere. My life is quiet. My brother is in the army, and my little eister is dead. She gave me no end of trouble, but I loved her dearly. FAU T She was an angel, if like you. MARGARET 1 nursed her and she loved me. Mother was sick after baby was born and I had to take charge of her and feed her with milk and sugar, and so she became mine. In my arms, she ate, slept, played, grew, and learned to smile. FAUST You have surely felt the purest happiness. MARG-RET -And many weary hoars, too. Her cradle tt >od by my bedside, and if she moved, I awoke. I had to feed her and take her into bed with me or carry her up and down the room. Then at daybreak I bad to go to the washtub, run to market, stand over the fire, and always the same round of toil, day after day. You can well believe t'jat some- times I was sick of life, but then I alwavs bad a good app-tite and could sleep well, f They pass to the rear; Siack and Mrs Swerlin come J one arJ. J MB*. SWEBLIN Toe poor woman are at a disad- vantage. It'a hard work to catch a good husband now-a-days. SLACK -One like you could make me think dlflerently. Mat. fcwERLiN Have you not some thought of getting married ? SLACK The proverb says. A faithful wife and your own fireside are worth more than gold and jewels." Mas. SWERLIN But have you not often felt the wat t of a home? SLACK I am always glad when t>ld to mako my. self at home. MR*. SWEBLIN I meant to ask whether you do not feel like paying serious attention to som lady. tLACK I would never treat love as a joke. MBS. f-wEBLis O, you will not uaderstand me. SLACK I will not pretend any more to uaiBuada stand yon. My affections are elsewhere engaged, but Mr Albert, who is now promenading w't'i Miss Btrbara. wants a wife, and would make a good bus. band. He is employed in the University, under Prof. Fanst, and If you cm catch him, you c n n ba surrounded by Court people, and have a jolly time every day. MBS SWERLIN _ .Do you think he would like me ? SLACK I do : ami I am certain he vou'd. if Pro- fessor Faust should take a mtion to Miss Harfz, as I suppose ho has ; and I would bo glad if you will make opportunities f->r Profe-so* Favst to meet Miss Hartz You will, will yon not ? MBS. 8*FRLiN_YeR, if it will please you ] Aftfe ] Anvthing t> &"t Mxvny from T^nnwiH. \ They pass to the rear; Hc'/enstc-ii and J/t'ss Btlir comeforu ard.] HKLFKSSTKIX You were born fcr a more exalted Station tfihu you occupy here. Miss BEHB \Iy in'uitions have told me thst I should not always be tied down to the drudgery of a village school. EELFENSTEIX _ I perceive that you have many in- tuitions. So have I. I have an intuition that you would ornament the Court. In the ppacious castle where I make my home thera is need of an intel- lectual lady to give tone to society. Mis? BEHB \h, Mr. Heiff>n f e, ; loves mo not. ; ho loves me; love* me not. ; [tearing out the last l*.af exult- ing'y ;] he loves me. FAU-T Y?s, mych'ld. Let this flower announce to you Heaven's decree he lovea you. Do you know what that means? Ha loves you. [He takes her two hands ] MARGARET t am all trembling. FAUST 'Jn.-Hremble not. Let this look, let this band-gra

, staje, a id the scene cha-iys.] Act IT. 80EVE I ^LACK and ALBERT. SLICK H*s F.iiTjt ordered you to Vienna? ALBERT I start to-morrow with a letter to the Secretary of the Imperial Council. SLACK It i* a petition for a release from his vow of celibacy. I brought him hers to no 1 a mistress, and he has spoiled my plan by t:iklng a notion t) marry an 1 live in the country. Wdo coild have foreseen such a whim? Y m wan* him to b a Oar dins! as well as I do, and the Archduke old me Mi u elf that the Emperor in'ends to rficoTom*nd Faust for the firrft vacancy atnonsr the German Cardinals. Baveral of them are very old and may be expected to drop off any day. When he gets a red hat, I shall be his Secretary and yon will be his BtewirX and wa will both be rich. You will a>s ; st me to defeat him? /LBEBT Certain'y. Onr interests are the, samo. SLACK I will give you a letter to the Secretary of the Council txpMnint? that F. : ust do R not want to be released, but winhes to have pom thing that he can show as an excuse for rot marry ng. I have paid the S-ecr-tary for oth*-r work, and he will help me now in tbi*. Even if we knew that. Fanst n^ver would be Cardinal, it w^nld b our pr 1'oy to keep him a Professor, for I went to be an rffi -er of the University by his influence ; and if he lives in the country, you cannot fo!!ov him there. ALBERT I will do my be-t. SLACK Find out what the answer ia befors yon leave ; do not make any great h'isto to rot urn in. any cape. If t'jp Council grant his rfqu^st. brin ; the letter to me first,, si t.hat I can nonsid-r what should be done. 8 u e Mrs Swerlin before starMng, and b ave her with the fullest conu<1f;nee that you will marry her. Then I can manage her during your absence. Faust i crazy. After spending the bint years c>f hia life to mabe a reputation aa a scholar and sii'it, and when about to reap the great reward reserved for the few who succeed in ench ambi'ian, then to Mvldn- ly throw way all nia past, abandon his learning, the Dniveraity, the Church, tne Ooart, his cfllebrity, and all for a girl withouteduaa'ion, without wealth, without friends. The like wi3 never heard of before, except aiuong lovesick man. And such a Inran of ice as he u ; ed to eem. it is only another proof of the old <6t)rv that every man will sucrifiie evnry- thing for a worn in, when the right one g"t hold of him. But this f-.-ver for matrimony is like a fit It will not last long. SCENE If Mrs. KLIS'S'E hon?e. Mrs. KLINE and Mins GREEN. Enter Mra. SWERLI* and Miss BEHB MRI. S^ERT.TS Wasn't it a glorious bail ? Mus BEHB Nover enjoyed myself so much. Mus ttREEN Elegant suppT. Miss BEHK The people had such grind mannera. tAtt. KLIS^ iS^pecivlly Mr Helfenstein. MIH BEHR^Vell, sinca you r^minl me of it, especially M . Halten-t nu Yucins^e in all hia movements, an1 hear it in every sentence, that he is a man of ariTO^rat c intuitions a^ well a^ of aris- tocratic aesociation-t from his earlie-t ohil-thood. MRI. KLINE Oi. yea, he is an ari.stoji--it, t> the b^ickftonfl. Tni^ is th* w*v ho riid i', | -S'j-r i ni'atea He'ftHst in's manner, aldressivg herself In Mi-s Grt.tn.\ The fameof your literary accirnpUHameaid h is made mi anxi m= for yonr acquaintance. Mug GR?EN [imi'a inj Miis Be/ir] Peraaps you are a distinguish". I H-h Mar vourseif. MB*. KLI-JE [imi'a iny Miss Green \ T cannot ex- plain the gratincaUoa I fejl iu yoar sy^pathetio conv^rs-ition. MIH GRRBN I alwiyg had an intuHioi that I should some day meat a congenial spirit like your- self. Mm. ELINB -You were born for a more exalted station th'n you occupy h?re. MI39 OKBKM My intuitions have told ran so. MRS. KLIME-I envy those who, like your elf, livo continually in a hiiih intelleciutl tt nosphere. Mis* GREEN How do y u fnriu the confounded inaperfeet tense of tha vindictive mo^d of the Bcreiminu voice ? Mm KLTNB- We'll go through the whole conjunc- tion of a wordy amour. Mis? GRREH As soon as we have committed mat- rimonia at heart. MB?. KLINE. _Ab, Miss Bebr. Miss UBEKN _Ab, Mr. HeKenste.in. [Mrs. KUne laughs h(i y, and Miss Green a!so ] Miss biHit I am too happy to be worried by your teasiufcr. MB*. JKMNE Is not that a new dress, Miss Belir ? Mit-a BtHR -Yes, the Baroness invited me to the castje, ami i-o I got eomt thing extra. MRS. KLINE You h ok much stouter in it. Is there not too much paddiug, and are not the colors railur (ja> ? .Miss BEHR These are the fashions at Vienna. I asked Mr. Helfenstein. MRS KLINF He ktiowa more about the fashions lii hair tli:.n iu drees. Misi Bmf w hut do you mern ? MR3 KIISJ How should a barber know anything about ladies' cuess ? Miss BEHK I do net understand why you ask such a question. A court gentleman who is with couit laaies every day, must, of course *>bervc their dress. MRS, KLINF Do you suppose Mr. Helfenstein is a gentleman of the court ? He is nothing but a barbtr. Miss IKHP If you want to say something that will Hurt tuy sellings, you should invent something that people will believe when you first eay it. Don't be foolish in your spite. I was sorry to see that you were left without any attention at the ball, but several gentlemen who were expected tailed to ap- pear, atd it was supposed that some of the ladies invited would not come ; but they all did, and so there were not enough gentleiuen to go round. MBS KLINF That has nothing to do with Mr. Helferjstein'w occupation. Miss BEHH When a couple of ladies sit through a long ball as wa'l flowers, they have time to think up many remarks that will Bting their more fortu- nate friends. MBS. KUNE ifter looking on at that ball, I saw that there was only one man there whose attention I would want, and that was Professor Faust. I do belie7o that he is in love in earnest with Margaret flartz. All the others acted like snobs. The coun- t/y boys have not the manners, but they have more true politeness. They may be awkward, but ihey are never insolent. Mi is BEHRQ- vo me the courtiers. MBS. KLINK The barbers, you mean. Mi^s BEHP t'hat fib will not st ck. Mr. Slack told mo Mr. Ueifensiein has a high place at Court. MR< KLISF What does he do? Miss BEHt? I do n-Jt know. He told me himself that h^ ban a large castle. Just aa if I would look at a barber. Ma*. KLINE_YOU might be lucky to catch an honest barber ; but that Helfenstein is a humbug. I saw Count Dick, Captain Lovensteiu, and Major Hohenth&l laughing at him. Mis* BEHB Do not tease me so, Mrs. Kline. You were m-irrie i once and you ought not to be so jealous because I am to have the same happiness at last. MHB. Kt-iNEJn, ho ! engaged, is it ? That's fast work. 8 -hool inarms must be scarce in Vienna. MIS-J GREEN Or barbers plenty ! Mas. KLINE Well, I would be ashamed to tell that I had jumped at a fellow and caught him the first time I ever saw him. Miss bEHB_I did not jump. Ha begged ever eo hard before I consented to marry him. MBS KLINE Aud what more ? Mi-a BtH -Nothing more. MBB. KLINE -Oh, yes, there was. I got interested and I watched you wben yon went, to the arbor, Miss 1 EHP Oli, you wre'cb, shut up. MBS. IMJNF II'P too good ; I rnuet tell. Mies BEFIT _ You'll tell, will 'you ? | She rinn at Mrs Kline, (atdirs her by the back ff her collar b'T: dt /*. r dov n and ptmndF h' r in t'tf la k Mrs. KUn" ca'c)thtr. Tiny S'jarate, g are at rah attt>r a minute, and Mns hws the a ta>:k gi> ing n.ree largt so at'hfs In 1'jv. Klin- on < ach cheher,tlal a me in bid are id cb- scrvfd by the combatants Mrs Kline catches A'i-x B

s iff ht and then leti htr go, Mi-;s Belr sets the men, shiietcs and ii,ns cut.} MRS. tDNE \sedng the. nunj GtntUnaen, pardon me for not Welcoming you when TOU came in, tut I was. as you taw, very buey. Two of you have been in the war; did you ever tee more execution done in a short fight ? Here are the trophies of a great victory. Have either of you over brought more plunder from a field of battle? This \picf.ing up a f, ad and putting it en a ta'.le] was the breastwork o f the i nemy ; tl;i*> [holding up the buttle], one of the stern unrealities of life, was the entrenchment of the rear guard ; thie \thej aSse hair] was the chtvaua de fritze ; tbi8 [the spectac'es^ wss the field glass ; and with this [theja'.se teeth ] it' she iud been a Sam- son ebe mitjht have slain a thousand like me. These [the bor.net, Jan and sa f chel\ are part of the enemy's camp equippase. Look at the column erected in honor of the victory 1 S3ENE III !VlRi his mi-itress, loving truly, When the di:d, a goblet gave. Nought on earth so h'shly prizing, Oft h drained i% mil his peers ; Ard as of;, he- Ima-e risin ', Made his fond ejes gabh with tears. So, his la t when he w Summeil he his possessions up ; Freely to h1a heirs bequeathl- gr Towns acd toware but not her cup W'lh h's knights and barm- loyal, 'MiJ the ba- q e'.-hall 8-*r he ; Down the e 'n th? cattle ro>fal Of hi j fathers, by the tea. Thera t" e tippler s f ood and shallowed One last sup cf ife's oro bKcd ; Then, witi t emb \i\t h nd, ihe hillowed Caallca ca t into the il /id. Drooped his -Id *>y*s. wan and winking, As ther marked it in .IT main, Fall'ns-sp a-hlng uilli e infcicg Never drink he dr <> * al -i. f Margaret, seeing Faist ctrniiQ li>l>$ behind the dwr and peeps through, the crac'c. Fatst enters and looks for her. ] FAUST Thought I saw bar come in here. [Ht turns to go nut, when she spri>g; nu f . with a Boo !" FAUST Oil, ^u rogue 1 [ lit catches her and kisses her ; she kisses him in retwn. ] MABQABST Oh, Henry 1 how I love you 1 Bnt tell rue one thing. FAUST Everything. MABGABET -Are you religions? You are a good man. but I think you do not go to chinch. FAUS-T Leave that, my child. You know I love you, and would give my life for my love. MABGABET That is net enough ; you must have religion. FAUST -Must I? MABGABET Mas ! if I had only influence over you. And you do not rewpect the sacraments? FAUST Indeed I do. MABGABST But not with love. Do you believe in Goa ? FAUST My dear, who can say, I believe in God ?" Ask priest or philosopher, and tha answer is like EQOikery. MAKGABET Then you do not believe in Him ? FAUST Mistake me not, you angel. Who dares name Him ? And who can say, I believe in Him ?" Who that feels dare say, " I have iao God ?" The All- embracer, the All sustainer, does not He surround you, me, Himself ? Is not the heaven arched over us? la not the ear;h firm beneath us? Do we nit see each other, eye to eye, and does not all existence rise to your head and heart, and float in infinite majs&ty before you ? L-t your heart, big an it is, be full of the groat, idea, and when you are perfectly happy in the thought, name it what you *vill _ f^ood, heart, love, God. I have no name for it. The feel- ing is all in all ; tho name is but noise and smote. clouding celestial glory. M BGARET That is all right and good ; the priest says it, too, only in other words. FAU>T Ml men say it, each in his own way ; why not I in mine ? MABGABET Bat you are not a Christian. FAUST 1 am a Christian enough to love you with all my BOU!. MABGABET Indeed, I believe you ; and every day I love you more anl more ; and I think more of 'My- eelf because you love me. SCENE IVMiss EEHB'S house. Miss BEHB and Mr. SLACK. Miss BEHB Mr. Slack, 1 have sent for you t& tell you how I have been abused, and to get your counsel. Mrs. Kline has insulted me. She called me a liar. BLACK I wuuld have her arrested. MISS'BEHB \ud she did much worse than that. She atticked me in her own house, t)re my clothes, and pulled my hair. SLACK [a tie] There was not much to pull. Miss BJSHB \nd she taid Mr. Helfenstein is a barber. (LACK How many more crimes hag she com- mitted? Miss BEHB More than anybody knows. Tell me, please, Mr. ttelfenstein's position at court. (LACK Would it not be better tiat you should enquire of him? Miss BF.HH I do not like to. I am engaged to him ; and it wouid look liko distrust. You t )ld me he Is & distinguished gentieuvm of the court. SLACK So he is. Miss HEHS 's he a nobleman ? Miss BKBB What high office does he hold ? SLACK \ Mi*s BKUR What is the name of his castle? fc>L\CK (In uaa noue. Miss BEHB Did he inherit a large estate? SLACK MO. aSiss BfiHB Where dofcs he live in Vienna T SUCK -In Oount Dick's castle. Miss BEHB And how does ha live ? SLACK -He is an ait st in hair. Mis BEHB What do you mean? SLACK -He dresses the heads of Oount Dick.^his family and guests. Miss BEHB What is the difference between him and a barber? SLACK -I fear it is very slight. Mi-?s BEHB You do not mean to say that I am en- gaged to be married to a common barber, and that that odious Mrs Kline told the truth about him ? I will never speak to him again. I will i-u-s him for false pretences. To take advantage of toy unsus- pecting innocence in that way 1 SLXCK He will do it some other way the next time. Mies BEHB_Oh, yes ; mock me. You have served me a mean urick. I will sue you all for conspiracy to entrap me. SLACK You were a party to the conspiracy. Miss BEHB -leant for you, expecting kindness and sympathy L thought you were nay friend. SLACK -I Jfrn not your enemy. Was it wrong in me to try to find a husband for you? Miss BEHB - Bat a barber ! SLACK -I would have given you a noble if I could. You might make a worse match than Hiifeustein. He has imposing manners. Miss BEHB I must confess that I like his man- m ra. SLACK \nd he is not ignorant. Miss BEHB He talked Latin to me. SLACK He can tarn a compliment neatly. Mi s BEBB I thought so whtle I listened to him. SLACK He has many friends at Court. Mi s BEHB You plead for him as if he h-id. SLACK -He ie a handsome fellow. [Mi;s BsJir draws a long iig\ 1 SLACK Teen ho is young, and youth has some va'ue in matrimony more there, perhaps, than any where else. Mias BEHB That's so ; but to engage myself to a common baroer, wkeu I supposed I was going to marry a noble ! SLACK Your own oversight. Did he say he was not a barber ? Miss BEHR \o. FLACK T)id he say he was a noble ? Miss BKHB No ; but be spotte of his c\stle. BLACK Love mide you misunderstand him. Ho meant Count Dick's castle. Miss BEHB Ha siid an intellectual lady is needed in the castle where he makes his home, to give tone ta society. SLiCK That's t-ue. Count Dick needs a wife to taka oharne of his castle, and, perhaps, the wife of Count Dick's barber could fill the place till Count Dick marries. Miss BEHR \b, well ; I have always had a preju- dice against barbers, since one deceived me many yeiraago; but I will make another exp-irimsut; and try this one I will find out what barbars are made of. I can't help loving Helfenstein. He speaks Latin with such a pure accent ; and be t irns up his eyes BO beautifully; and he has such a sigh and such a moustache. Oh, youthful love, thou art irre- sistible. SOENE V. Ooart Room_ Judge Afterward Miss BEHB, MBS. KLINE, and others. JUDGE Clerk, how's the docket to day ? CLKHK Only one case. JUDGE 'iood. I want to go out hunting with some friends. I suppose we can despatch it in an hour. Who are the pa ties ? CLJSBK Behr vs. Kline. JUDGF I do net remember hearing the names of any such persons in the parish. CLEBK You know them well. They are Mies Behr atd Mrs. Kline. JUDGE Good Lord! A woman's case? It ma? take a week. I ordered yon not to let the women bring any suits here. To administer justice be- tween women, to their satisfaction, requires more than human wisdom. CLKHKI could not avoid receiving this case. Miss Bebr would cot be denied or put off. She eaid she knew the courtiers at the castle. If I would not bear her complaint she would have yen removed. You BDOW how tbe Judge in tie next parish was served for offending a courtier. I would not take any cbtinceR tf ih^t kind. JUDGE Well, it can net be helped now. Throw open the doors and let us get through with it as soon as possible. Let me see the papers in the case. [Cleric rpms the doors azd crowd rush in ] OFFICER Order in tbe Court. JUDGE [to Mrs. Kline] Madam, what is your ntmae? MBS. E LINE -You know my came as well as I do. It's Maria Sophia Keziah K.ire. JWDGE You tire charged with slandering MBS. KLINE [inteirupting] Judge, upon my word JUDGE [i'ittrruptir,g] \\ait, Madam, till I have explained tUe charge. MB3 KLINEI do not watt to hear it, Judge ; there's riot a word of truth in it. JUDGE Matfum, you must not interrupt MBS. KLINE [interrupting] ~I didn t mean to inter, rapt you, Juige ; what's tb use of telling me what I do not wai t to know ? The last time you took tea at my house, you said tome you did not believe a word that Miss Behr JUDGE [intirrupUng] Silence. You must not interrupt me. MBS. KLINE Well, if you do not want me to inter- rupt you, why do you interrupt me? JUDOS Madam, you are charged with slandering and beating Mas. KLISE Tt'a a lie, Judge ; it'a all a lie. Any body thu knows Miss Behr's reputation in this towr Miss BEHE Don't you sy anything against my reputation, you audacious woman. JUDGE Silence, both of you. MB.*. KLINE Do you expett me to sit ettll while Bhe calls me a woman ? Miss BEHR Nobody shall say anything against my reputation. I won't submit to it. JUDGE Silence, both of you, or I will send you to jail tor contempt of Court. .Not a word from either of you till I have stated the charge. Mrs. Kline, you are accused of slandering and beating Mig Bsbr on the 20th of last month ; are you guilty or not guilty ? MBS. KLiNF She is the guilty one, Judge ; you told me yourself she couldn't keep friends with any woman more than two weeks at a time ; and thec JUDGE [ interrupting] \nswerrayquestion. Are you guilty or not guilty ? MBS. KLINE She came into my house, and be- cause I said her beau was a barber, she jumped at me and scratched me. Mits BEHB T wished I had scratched your eyes out. I will the next time. MBS. KLINF No you won't, either. The next time I will whip you worse than I did that time. JUDGE Silence, both of you. Mrs. Kline, an- swer mj question, Are you guilty or not guilty ? MRS, XLINF I commenced to tell you and you would not let me. JUDGF Madam, listen to me. It is net your place now to tell me any story, but simply to con- fess that yon are guilty MBS. KLINE [ interrupting] I won't do any such thing. Why, Tannwald wouldn't be big enough to hold that Miss BEHB [ interrupting] Don't you call me any more name?, or JUEGE [interrupting] Silence, eilence, both of you, or 1 wilj send you bcth to jail for a month. Mies Behr, you must keep still for a few mint,tas, till I get the accused to plead guilty or not guilty, and then I will listen to your evidence. If she could only keep her mouth shut till I can finish a sentence cr two, it would go much smoother. Miss BEHF ttive it to her, Judge. Send her to prison ror talkicg too much. That's the best place lor her. MBS. KLINF You're a nice one to give such ad- vice. JUDGF Ladies, have jou entered into a conspi- racy to drive me crt zy ? Mits BEHB [aside] It's not far to drive with most men. MBS. KLINE Judge, explain to me what I ought to do or Hay. JUDGE [aside] Just as if it was or any nee to try to explain anything to a woman. [To Mrs. Kl\u\ Sfou know the meaning of the word guilty ?" MBS. KLINJ Yes, sir. JUDGE You know, also, the meaning of the words not guilty ?" MRS. KLINE Yeg, sir. JUDGE A.11 ttiat I want just HOW is that, when I question you, you shall either say guilty " or not guilty," and nothing else. MR3. KLIHE But, Judge, I am not guilty. JUDGE That is exactly what I have been trying my best for the last half-hour to get yon to eay. MBS KLINE Well, I must say that lawyers and Judges have mighty queer ways of getting at things. JUDGE It in your duty now to keep still, till the witnesses for the prosecution have been heard. After they have been heard, then you can tell your side. MBS. KLINE But, Judge, you do not intend to lis- ten to her ? [Pointing at Mits Behr.] Miss BEHB Don't you pomt your ugly finger at me. MBS KLINE Why, Judge, you told me yourself, she was the biggest liar in town. JUDGE G-ood God, madam, can't you hold your tongue for one minute ? I shall certainly have to send you to prison, if you do not allow me to take tbe testimony of Miss Behr. Miss BEHB Well, Judge, you see, this is an old story. JUDGE | init rrupting ] Silence, madam, till you have boeu nworn. Mins BEHR I swore enough to myself when that woman was making insinuations agaiust my reputa- tion. JUDGE Do you swear that you will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth ? Miss BEHK Yon question me just as if you doubt, ed my veracity. JUDGE 1 Miss Behr, yon are old enough to know Miss BBHB j interrupting J No, I am not old enough to know that you have any right to insult me by in- sinuating that I leave out or add something to the truti and by making allusions t) my age. Of course I am not very young, but I am net as old as yon are, for when I was a little girl you were running after 10 She equint-ejei, red-haired dress-maker. that after, ward became tbe mother of t us clerk of yours. JUDGE Silence ! Witness ! Miss BKHE Dual's not my name. I Am Miss Bebr. JUDGE You are a witness here, and I give you faij notice that if you do not fct >p your insolent language to the Court, I will punish you severely. You must take the oath. Miss BEHB_T'll be JUDGE Stop. Answer my question. Do you wear that you will tell the whole tn.t i and nothing but the truth ? Miss BEHB Yea, sir ; and if I must swear, I am ready now to take the wickedett oaths, just like yon men, though it's a queer preparation for telling tue truth. JUDGE You have taken the only oath that is re- quired Miss BEHB I haven't taken any oath. JUDGE Did yon not say yea to my question whether you would tell the whole truth and noth- ing but tbe truth 't Mus BEHB Well I never knew before tb&t it was n oath to nay yes. If that is profanity, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I have not been as pro- fane as some women that I know. [litre she looks at Mrs. Kline j MBS. KLJ.VE Your face protected your virtue. MIHS BEHB You had none to be protected. JUGE iilenca 1 Stop the.- each other. Witness, tell us how tbe slander and beating were committed. Confine your testimony to tbe 20th of last mouth, the day on which it is alleged the offence was committed. Mi ;s BEHB Well, Judge, you cannot understand thU triing unless I go back to the beginning. As I was telling you, when Mrs. Kiine and I were girls JUDGL Silence. I do nut want to hear anything of what happened to you when you were pirls. The village heard enough of it at the time Tell me what Mra. Kl .no did uu the 20 h of last month. Miss BEHB If you had let me go on, f would have been mere by t:iis time. When Mrs. Kline and I were girls JUDGE [interrupting] Silence. It is against the rules of evidence to permit -the recital of irrelevant testimony. You must coma down to tbe tima in question. Mies BEBB Well, now, Judge, I wrote out my evidence before I ca-ue here, and I got it by heait, and I can't say any of it right unless I start in at the beginning, and go straight through the way I learned it. JUDGE We do not want that kind of testimony. Where dm yon ur.et Mrs. Kline on the 20tu of last month ? Miss BEHB When Mrs. Kline and I wera glrle JUDQK 1> 11 the time when you were girls, and when you are women, too. MUH BEHB [to Mn. Klint, and Making her fat a her] Don't you insult me. JUDGE Mrs. Kline in not insulting you. Mies BEHB Yes, she ia, too ; and I won't stand tt. JUDGE What i she doing ? Miss BEHB lust look at her; she is laughing at me. JUDGE Oh no ; she ia laughing at the manner in which justice is administered in this 0;iurt. Miss BEHB Look at her, Judge, she is making faces at me. JUDGE It is not necessary for you t:> look at her . Miss BEHB How will I know what she is doing 7 There goes her nose again It's more than a human being can stand. That's the way she acted tha day I went to her house. JUDGE That was oa the 20th of last month ? Mws BEHB-- Yes, sir. JUDGE .nd what did you Bay to her thea ? Miss BEHB I did not say anything, but I did something. JUDGE And what did you do ? Miss BEHB- Shall I show you ? JUDGE Yes. Miss BEHB Well, this is what I did. [Going up to Mrt. Kline, catching her by the back cf her collar and pounding her ] JuDGE--8top that. [ Mrs. Klin* defends herself. Each g>ts the other by the hair and they pull exch other forward and bask ] JUDGE officers, stop that li^ht and arrest the parties. [ 'l"he crowd get between the combatants and the officer! so that the lalttr can nit do anyhing.] FIBIT cUTsiDEB I bet on the oia gal in the red dress ; she baa the longest wind. SECOND OUT-SIDES I bet on the other ; she has the most bottom. [Officers break through the crowd owd separate fie combatants.] JUDGE Tnis case is dismissed, and both parties are sentenced to ba imprisoned twenty-four hours for contampt of Court. MBS. KLISE Spare ma. Judge. What will be- come of my lap dog? JUDGE i your lap dog. Mi 48 BEHB "VIercy, Judge ; I have an engagement this evening with Mr. Helfenstein. -UDOE D n Mr. Helfenstein. OFFICEB We have only one cell that can be used for women, and if the? are put ia together, they will tear each other to pieces. JUDGE ^uah an event would not make the village more quarrelsome. Act III. SCENE I Mrs H ARIZ'S room. MARGUBST at the window. Mr*. HABTZ with back to MABGABET. MBS. HABTZ You do not keep the house so neatly as you u ; ed tj do. MABGABET Varhaps not, mother, but then we see so little co npany. Why should I bother my head about the house if nob )dy sees it ? [Mirgiret kisset her hand to somebody in the street. Mrs. Hzrte seet mo- tion in the glass.} Maa. HARTZ What girl is passing? MABGABET I do not see aay girl. MBS. HABIZ -To whom did you kiss your band then? MABGABET Did I ki?g my hand ? MB* HABTZ Wuat does thie mean ? [She gets up and looks out of the window. ] Yonder it* a strange man whom J have often noticed of late, walking past oar boust* and looking this way, and you seem ts anxious to look out as he is to look in. MARGVBET Well, mother. I mutt look out of the window sometimes. MB^. HABIZ Do yon know that man ? 11 I hare seen him before. MBS. HABTZ Did you kiss you,r hand to him ? MABGABET - Yes ; is there anything wrong about that ? MRS. HARTZ What's his name? MARGARET Prof. Faust. MRS. HAHiz-Have you ever epohen to him ? MARGARET Yes. Mas. HARTZ Where? MARGARET \t Cousin Martha's. MBS. HARTZ Why did you not tell me^f MARGARET I did not think it was right that I should be shut up in the house all the time. MBS. HARTZ You know thht you ought to have told me, anyhow ? MARGABET I told ysu when be picked up my handkerchief in the ftreet ; the first time I saw him. MRS. BARTZ That is the man, is it ? But you did Lot tell xue his came ? MARGABET I did not know it then. MBS. HABIZ Have you met him more than once at Martba'f? MARGARET Yes. MRS. HARIZ How often? MARGARET I do net know. MRS. HARTZ You do. Tell me, instantly. MARGARET I cannot tell ; perhaps eight or ten times. You know when I have gone to Martha's since the ball ? I have met him there nearly every time ; sometimes for only a few minutes. MRS. HABTZ You have never seen him elsewhere ? MARGABEJ Never. MRS. HARTZ .\nd was Martha always with you ? MARGARET She was always at home and nearly always with us. Occasionally when sue was in the house, I have gone into the garden with Prof. Faust for a few minutes. MBS. HARTZ O, you wicked girl. And you went tbere on purpose to meet him. All the people in town must know about it. I forbid you to go out of the house aloce. I will get some neighbor girl to run all the errands. I should like to wring that Martha's ntck. You shall not visit her anymore, nor shall she come here. MARGARET But, mother, you know that I see no other company, save Barbara. MB*. HABTZ You do not need any. I will see that you oo the housework properly, and then you will have no leisure for gabbing. There shall not be a epeck of dirt in the house and there is plenty' of sewing that needs to be done. MAHGABET You will let Prof. Faust visit me, Will you not ? MB*. HABTZ He must never come near my house. MARGARET Let him come only once, so taat he can teli you what he has told me, and if you find anything wrong you can explain it to me and then order him awav. Mas. HABTZ No ; I suppose that he is a plausible rogue, and you would only think the worse of me if I did not let him have his own way. The woman that listens is lost. You send word to him that he must never speak to you again. MARGARET He has treated me with all the respect that he could have paid to the noblest lady of the jand, and I cannot give him an unprovoked inault. I would rather leave your house. MBS. HARIZ T will lock you up in your room and nail up the window. MARGARET I defy you. I will tear the house down before you shall ket-p me in it against my I was not made to be a prisoner or a slave. When I am stronger than you are I do not see bow you would shut me up, and if you did I would eoream BO as to make the whole town turn out in a mob. MBS. HABTZ Shut up your impertinence. MARGARET It is not impertinence. I promised to be Henrj 't> wife, and 1 will keep it. MRS. HARTZ -And did he promise to be your husband ? MABGABET Yes, he did. MBS. HAKTZ \nd you suppose then that a Pro fessor can marry when be pleases. MARGARET He has told me that he must have the permission of the Imperial Council, but be says he is sure of getting it. He ban already sent for it. MB?. HABTZ You are a silly girl to believe all that. If be had wanted to marry you he would have come to me first. That is the custom of the country, and everybody knows that when a man goes to the girl and not to the parents, he la trying to takd ad- vantage of her. MARGARET He said he would speak to you as soon UK be pets the release from the Council. MBS. HABTZ If the time has not come for asking me, he ought not to have spoken to you. A little benee ought to tell you that I do not believe he has applied for a release from his vow, and if ha had it would not be for the purpose of marrying you. How much farther has this nonsense gone? MABGABET i have allowed him to kiss me. MBS. HARTZ -Is that all? MARGARET That is all save that I love him so much that I shall never have a happy hour if I can not Fee hitn again. MRS. HABTZ Girls' nonsense. They always think they will be miserable their whole lives if they cannot marry their first love, but they soon get over tbat and have a dozen passions before they marry. Girls with their beaux are like boys fishing : they never catch at the first nibble. MARGARET - Prof. Faust is not like a common man. MBS. HABTZ So much the worse for you. A Pro- fecsor cannot uuarry, and would not marry you if he ooula. He can get a rich and fashionable wife, with friends at Court, accustomed to Court society . He could not take you among his associates in Vienna ; they would laugh at your awkward country manners till he would be mortified to death. I know something about that ; 1 once visited your Aunt Mary when -h was the Archduchess* dressing tuaid. and even the eervant women laughed an me so much that I was glad to get away, and I nev?r want to go near a Court again. If a woman is net noble, she is nobody at Vienna. Great men are nearly always great vil- lains. I have heard of many, perhaps fifty, poor girls tbat great men prtt.-nded to be in love with, and I never knew one match to follow. Usually, the girl was deceived, and was then deserted. And you want to add another to the list. MABGABET O, mother, do not talk BO ; you make me very nmerable. MBS. HABTZ Do you think that lies will make yon happy for a long time? The truth is what you need. Batter be miserable now lor a week or two than be disgraced for your whole life. MARGARET I cannot believe men are so bad. Mas. HARTZ Why cannot yon believe me? I have not lived 45 years for nothing. I will send for Father Bayer and Captain Garmony, to come come here and tell you how it is at Court. They have seen much, and know what men are. Experi- ence is worth something. MARGARET If there is BO much bad faith, there can be little satisfaction in life. MBS. HABTZ Look not for happiness here below. That ifi the prrat lesfcn of relipir n. This world is full of vanity and vexation of spirit. MABGABET The sooner we die, then, the better. Km. HABIZ Yes, if we are ready to die and the lime fixed for our departure has come. MABGABET I rray that my time may come Boon. MBS HAETZ Ton must speak so, my daughter; that is rebellion against the Lord's will. Promise me that you will not speak to professor Faust again, and that you will not go to cousin Martha's. MABGABET I promise you. Mas. HABTZ -Do you promise merely for the sake Of obedience, or is it done cordially ? MABGARET I give the promise with all my heart, bnt very Badly. I suppose thtt I have been foolish and that I ougtt to follow the advice of puch a good mother. MR*. HABTZThank you, my dear. I can trust you ; you know that I love you and will care for your welfare. I fear thtt I shall not live very long, and I must try to find a husband for yon ; gome man in your own station of life. I will give you a good dowry. You will let me choose a husband for you, will you not? MABGABET I will have much respect for your choice. MB3. HABTZ Bless you, my dear girl ; you were always obedient till you met this dangerous m n, and I am glad that you now understand hie wick- edness. SCENE II In Front of the Ohurcb MABGABET Coming Oat. FAUST [stepping up to her] Margaret, did you Bend the message) that I muse not speak to you any more? MABGABET Yes, sir. FA^T What have I done to offand you ? MABGAUET Mother pays I must not listen to you. FAUST Siiaii I go with you to see ner? MABGABET No. FAU*T Did you send me the message because your mother ordered you to do so? MABGABET Yea, sir, ani because I believed her when she told ma that you were trying to deceive me. FAUST But you did not discover any falsehood in my words? MABGABET No. sir. FAUST You believed me when I said I loved you ? MABGABET Yes, sir. FAUST And when I promised to marry you? MABGABET Yes, sir. FAUaT And when I told you that I had sent to get a release from my vows? MABGABBT Yes, sir. FAUST \ud after you had learned to know me, and had heard tbe story of my life, and knew that I had solicited release trom my vows, that I had thus injured, if not destroyed, all chance of my prefer- ment in the Church or in the University, all for your sake, and had prepared for an eutire change of my life, in which all my happiness was to depend upon you, you could then accept to my discredit tbe opinion of somebody else who did not know me, and discard me without a chance to suy a word in my own jiiHtiflcation ? MABGABET 'J, Honry, do not reproach me. Allow omettiing fr iny inexperience. FAUST You did love me ? MABGVBCT More than my life. FAUST If you loved me an you say you did, how could you* love be swept away by a word ? MABOA'K' T -The y .nng are under the influence of the old. When my mother told me how the courtiers mislead poor young girls, and how it is the custom of the men that want to marry to go first to the par- ents, I had to believe her. It surely cannot be a great mistake for a girl to be guided by her mother in such matters. FAUBT I must go with you to see your mother. MAHGAKET -No. Bhe is a headstrong, passionate woman ; t>Le would shut the door in your face and make my life miserable. FAU^T Can I not go to your brother and explain to him? MABGABET No ; he's off in the war. FAUST Have you no friend to whom I can go ? MABGABET My mother would be very angry if she knew that you bad spoken to my Aunt Marks or to my Cousin, Mrs. Swerlin, and those are my only rel- atives ; the hates them both. FAUJJT Am I to understand that you will never love me again? MABGABET. I fear that I shall never cease to love you. FAUST Why fear ? MABGABET Is it not enough to make fear to have a good mother on one side and an unconquerable love on the other ? FAUST -Is it unconquerable? MABGABET The longer I listen the stronger it becomes. I cannot doubt you when I hear your voice. If you ara a deceiver, then deception is nec- essary to my happiness. The pleasures which I have enjoyed in your company are far higher tbau any I ever enjoyed or had any conception of before The BUU has been brighter, the sky clearer, the breeze more grateful, my heart beats mora freely, my eoul has felt a stimulus be* fore unknown, and I seem to b~ in harmony with the landscape, with all the people that I see, and with myself ; and since I was forbidden to see you, all has become black, and I have been supremely unhappy. FAU T Tell me what I can do to prove my sincer- ity. Auy promise, any condition, any security that rea- son can demand that I will give. If all men are dishon- est, you should go into a nunnery ; if some are honest, then I am. Why trust your happiness to any man, if not to me ? I am not less fitted to love and to be happy in my love than you are, and yon are as necessary to me lor the pleasures of my life as you said I was to you. MABGABET _I still say so; I still think so. I shall never be happy without you. As for security, I can think of none, and I ask none. I will believe and trust you, no matter what they say against you. FAUST When shall we meet, again ? MABGABET I cannot see you at the house ; I never go oat except to church, and then usually with one of the neigabor girls, and even if 1 were alone, It would not do to be seen speaking to yon, for mother might hear of it. FAU TWby put me off ; I stay here for your sake only. I wish I could visit you iu the evening. MABGABET It cannot be. FAUST Doe* not your mother, like most of the old village folk, take a glass of beer every evening. MARGARET -Yes. FAUST I will Rive you something to put in her beer, and inuke her sleep like a block. MABGABET I would be afraid. FAU=T It, would make her healthier and stronger tbau site, is now. MABGABKT And do her no barm ? FAUST -Not the leatt. MABGVBKT Siie complains now that sleeplessness caus-H her much discomfort. 13 FAUST This would cure her. Will you try it ? MABGABET Perhaps. FAUST I will leave a little bct'le under the door- step this evening. Be careful to give her just three drops at a time ; never a drop more or less. In two hours she will be aIeep, and for eight hours you may shake her and scream in her ears as much as you piease without disturbing her rest. When she is in bed you can put the candle near tlie window and open the blind a little as a signal to me. MABGABET O, Henry, I fear that I love you too much. FAXJST I will deserve it all. Yon shall share my fortunes, and I will thare yours. MABGABET You must leave me now. I must hasten home. Remember the promise. FAUST I will be true to it, no matter what the cost. This is the first time since I declared my love that I must leave yon without a kiss. MABGABET - And I hope the laet. FAUST -And shall I see the signal soon ? MABGABET - Boon. FAUM I shall wait impatiently till then. [Jfxit Faust ] MABGABET [looking after 7iim,] Mother was right when she said a man could persuade a woman to anything. But how easy it is to be persuaded by such a man as Henry. What have I promised him ? to drug my mother, to admit him into my room at night ! I broke my promise to my mother that I would not ppeak with him ; shall I keep my promise to him? Duty seemed to point ytsterday in ona direction, and to day it points just the other way. Which shall I take? My judgment hesitates; but love insists upon being my guide, and him I shall follow. SCENE III Door of Mrs. HAKTZ'S house. MABGA BET and Miss GREEN. Miss GBEEN Have you heard about your cousin Barbara ? M*RGAB*T Not a word. What'g the matter ? MI?B GHEEN_A fearful scandal. She has run off. MAKGABO Impossible ; she was one of the nicest girls in town. Miss GBEEN No mistake about it. I met a man that saw her in Vienna. MABGARET In Vienna? How did ehe get there? Mi;8 GBEKN John Slack t?ok her there. MARGVEET Why did they run away ? 8ho was en- gaped to marry him, and her mother consented. Miss GBEEN He did not mean it. He took her one evening t) a dance, gave her some strong wine, carried her to bis room, as he supposed, and when Borne travellers went to the room there was a quarrel, and all the hotel people found the two loveis there together. He told her that he would marry her in Vienna, started with her next morning, and left her as soon as he got there. MABGABET Poor thing. Miss GBEEN -Well, she's your cousin, and you may pi'y her, but I don't. She was mightily stuck up because she was pretty and had more schooling than the refct of us. She was always as saucy as she could be, and she used to Bneer at the girls that had no beaux, snd there is nothing that hurts more than that. While our mothers made ua stay at home in the evenings spinning, she was off alone with her lover ; but at last she got alone with him once too often. MARGARET Ha will marry her, surely. Miss GBEEN After she has been disgraced? He is not such a fool. MABGAJRET She has no disgrace save what he has brought on her. Miss GREENThat was her lookout. MABGABET You think he is a mean fellow. Miss GBEEN No I don't. If she granted him too many privileges that was her loss. She might do with some other man just what she did with him. Ha is rich and young and good looking, and can get a wife that knows how to take care of herself. MABGABET He will never deserve one half so good as she is. Miss GBEEN After she was engaged, she said she would not marry a country fellow. Sfae wanted a city gentleman, or none at all. She might have known better than trust one of those Vienna chaps. They think that a country girl is not good enough for a wife, but they are always ready to fool around with one for * few weeks while they are out rusti- cating. Barbara has learned her lesson on that point, and it is a pity that she did not get it sooner so that some other girls might have had the benefit of it in time t j avoid a similar mistake. [Exit Miss Green. MABGABET Insut Insult. Something of this kind every day. Can it be possible that Henry is as base as John Slack ? He surely might have saved me from the disgrace, into which 1 have fallen. How do I know that he has asked for his release or that he would marry me if he got it ? But no, I can not doubt him ; if he were false there would be no truth in mankind. Poor Barbara. How I could scold once if a girl made a slip. I cfald not find words bad enough, and now I am myself guilty and I can hardly seo the sin. O Margaret, you are much changed since the time when a few mouths ago, you used to carry Sowers every morning to the ehrine of the Virgin Mary and say a little prayer, half child's play, half God in your heart. Poor girl, you need pity as well as Barbara. Your cousin ruined, yourself the subject of merciless scandal and in danger of becoming an outcast, and all within a few months. Where will this end? Oh. that I could again have the quiet that I enjoyed before tbe arrival of the party ftoin Vienna ; I would willingly sur- render my love and all its pleasures for a restora. tion of my innocence and peace of mind. If I were a man I could wipe out all the past by a sincere penitence. But there is no reward for the repent- ance of a woman. And still the world curses her because she does not reform after ehe has made a misstep. SCENE IV Night. On the Bridge in the City. BABBABA ; afterward, SLACK. BABBABA There is nothing left bat death. I thought that the c such a fury ? Well, I shall never see her again. That's one satisfaction. [He looks up and sees her spiri', in the clouds dressed in white cut-ting him, he falls on hit knses ] Mercy Barbara, have mercy. Act IV. HCENE IThe street. ALBERT, atterward FAUST- ALBERT Yonder comes our Faust. I wonder whether his love has not cooled off by this time* I staid away long enough to let his fever eibansc itself. I hope he will not be delighted at having a refusal. A. Cardinal's hat would not displease him Kfter all. May be I shall be rewarded for bribing the Secretary of the Council to write a refusal. Here he comes. [Enter Faust. He takes both of Al- berts hands. ] FAUST --Welcome back to Tannwald. You have a favorable answer for me, of course ? [ Albert takes out a paper and gives it to Faust ] ALBERT ruat is the Secretary's letter. FAU*T [while opening the letter] - You staid much longer thau you promised. ( He reads and then saysj But what is this? Accursed luck I The Council re- fuse. Such athin^ is unheard of. [ Walking up and down.] Good Heavens ! What is to be dune? I wi 1 never desert Margaret. I must go to see the Em- peror in p raon ; he will not deny me. Albert, I hve done you some favors, and will do more for you, if you will do one for me. ALBKBT- - Certainly. What is it ? FAUST I have heard that you are engaged to Mrs. Swerlin ? ALBEBT It's true FAUeT -Then I wish that you would marry h r soon. I know this is asking much of you, but I am indebted to her for the opportunities of meeting Margaret, and if I am to keep on going there, it would look bttter for both women that Mrs. Swer- lln should b * married. Beside, I would prefer when I go away from here to know that Margaret will be under eome better protection than that of a woman. You shall lose nothing by it. Let the wedding come off us soon as possible. Margaret has a brother and several cousins in the Army and I do not know how they might treat her in my ab sence, if she had no man to defend her. When you are her cousin you can tak-> her part, and when I become your cousin by marriage I will bs a better friend to you than ever before. I shall give some money to Mrs. Swerlin and tell her what I have told you ALBET Agreed. 8CNE II MU8 BEHB g Honsr LINA with a Broom. Afterward, HELFENSTEIN and Miss BKHB knock at tie Door. LINA [ answering I Come in. HELFENSTEIN [entering j -Is Miss Behr at home? LIMA No, sir; but sue will be here soon. Will you Bit down and wait for her ? HELFJBNSTEIN If you will entertain me. LISA [decidedly] -No sir. [He chucks her under the chin.] 16 LINA [glaring at him] If yon can't behave yon must go. My mistress may not be here for a long time. HELFENSTEIN You look pretty when you scowl. LINA You would look much better if you would act like a gentleman. HELFENSTEIN Do you want a gentleman to be afraid of a pretty girl ? LINA He can avoid insulting her without being bashful. HELFENJTEIN You are as witty as you are pretty. I did not mean to offend you. You will let me stay, will yon not? LINA I suppose I have no right to order away visitors who come to see my mistress. HELFSNBTEIN Is Miss Behr good to you ? LIHA She is very strict. HELFENSTEIN Would yon not like to live in a cas- tle at Vienna ? LINA [aside]_Thi8 is a rogue ; I will see what he means. [ To Helfenstein] Ever so muo h ; but I am poor and could not get another place if went away from here without a recommendation. HELFENSTEiNI am a fortune-teller ; let me see your hand. [She holds out her hand. Miss Behr peeps in at the window.] HELFENSIEIN [taking it] Yes, here are the lines of fortune and fashion. You will spend much of yonr life at the Court. LINA Will that conoe true? flELFENSTEiN Just as certain as that men admire a bright face and enjoy ready wit. Here is a line that says you will marry a man with a big blonde moustache. Miss BEHR [aside] Giving away my property. LINA [looking at him] You have a blonde mous- tache. HELFENSTEIN | stroking his mouttazbe] -Do you think it is ugly? LINA No, sir. HELFEN&TEIN Would you be satisfied to have such a one near yon occasionally ? Miss BEHB | a >id]- Where's the woman that would not? LISA Yes, if its owner bad a right to be there. HELFENSTEIN And then you could be kind to him? Miss BEHB [aside] I'll be kind to both of you. LINA It is ,not in my heart to be cruel to any man. HELFENSTEIN Let us see. | Catches her and at- tempts to kiss her. ] LINA [resisting] -Let me go. HELFENSTEIN [kissing her] -You will not drive me out now. [ J/ijs Behr shaking her fin at them.] LINA No, but don't you think you deserve to be driven out? HELFENSTEIN What would become of the man in cold weather ? Miss BEHB [aside] Let 'em freeze. LINA Poor fellows 1 we must take pity on them. HELFBNSTEIN -I am engaged to marry your mis- tress, but I would rather take the maid. Miss BEHB [cuide] Ob I you wretch. LISA Miss Behr thinks she is good enough for anybody. HELFENfcTEiN Do you think so, too? LINA I Don't always tell my thoughts. Mies BEHB [atide] Told too many already. HELFENSTEIN Is your mistress rich? LINA Yea ; she has more money than any other woman in Tannwald. HELFENSTEIN H!OW sad for rich people, that affec- tion will not always follow money. Miss BEHB [atide] Now he talks just like a ber. LINA It would be unfair to let them have all the money and ail the affection, too. There would be notaing left for other people. Miss BEHB [aside] . Hue is as bad as he is. HELFENSTEIN I am afraid that if you are about the house, after I am married, I can never kiss her without thinking of you. LINA Oh ! you naughty man. HELFENSTEIN You know as well as I do that you are pretty. LINA I think I am passable. HELFENSTEIN You do not need to be told that a man naturally prefers a young, lively an4 pretty girl to an old, ugly and nonsensical woman. Mis* BEHB [atide] That's me. LINA I am afraid that is so even when he is married to the old woman. Miss BEHB [ aside J Girls now have no moral principles. HELFENSTEIN Mr-re thea than ever ; and you would not be astonished at me if I did love you a little after being married to your mistress? Miss BEHB [aside] Was there ever a man that could be trusted ? LINA I have been told that a young husband with an oid wife always makes love to other women. HELFENSTEIN Ind you will permit ma to love you ? LINA Perhaps. Miss BEHB [asile] Why don't she say >a J do you take up With a vagabond of a man at the urtt minute ? HELFENSTEIN ^he's not any slower than her mis- tress. Mi -a BEHB Out of my house, both of yon. [She rushes a 1 , HelfensUin wi h the broom. ] HELFENSTEIN [trying to get out of the front door] D n it, its locked. LINA [on htr knees] Oh pardon, mistress, pardon ; I did it to expose hid villiany. Miss BEHB -I'll pardon you as eoon as I kill this villain of a barber. You have exposed yourself. HELVEN.-TEIN That's not the way you talked to me at the ball. MI-B BEHB Oh, you scamp, to remind me of that dream of happiness. And you are the master that was going to teach me to conjugate the verb amo. 17 HELFENSTKIN And yon are the lady that had for- gotten the rale for forming the third person plural of tue compound pluperfect tense ? Miss BEER Do you mock my misery ? Oh, that I oould punish you as you deserve. LINA [jumps up. run? into the other room and comes back witk a red hot poker \ Let's give him a lesson. I put this in the fire for another purpose, but it will come into play now. You will insalt my mis- tress, will you ? You come here to abuse the confi- dence of every woman in the village, did you? I was only pretending to like you, to see what your intentions were. [ After every sentence she gives him a punah with the poker, at which he winces ] Will you ever pretend to be a gentleman again ? HELFENSTEIN Never. LIMA Never come to Tannwald again ? [Punching him.] HELFENSTEIN Never. LISA Ever say a word to the discredit of Miss Behr ? HELFENSTEIS Never. LISA -Now, get out through that window as fast as you know how. [Paneling him. Hi jumps out, the punching him as he goes. J $$Mies BK.UB You are a good girl. Yon shall al- ways live with me, and be my heir. Well, it's all over. I will not marry a barber. Oh, what a hor- rid set the men are. I'll never look at am t ier. [She sinks ii a swoon.] HELFENSTEIN [looking in at the wind)w\ The old fool has fainted because she has lose her last chance for a husband. LINA Leave Tannwald to-day. To-morrow ev- erybody in town will know the story of the amor.ua barber and the hot poker. HELFENSTEIN D_n the girl, she has got the best of one man. SCENES III Mrs. PBINZ'S house. Mrs. PBINZ, Mrs. bWEBLiN. Afterward Misses BEHR and GREEN, and Mr. ALBERT. MBS PBINZ-.I have discovered a secret. Mr. Al- bert is having a wedding-ring made at the watch- maker's shop. MSB. SWEBLIN \re you certain ? MBS PBINZ Yes ; no mistake. I overheard him speaking to the watchmaker about it. You may as well own up. MBS. SWERLIN Will you promise never to tell ? MBS. PBINZ I will never breathe a syllable. MBS. tWEBUN Upon your word? Mas. PBINZ Upon my honor. Mas. SWEBLIN Then I will tell you ; that ring is for me. MBS. PBINZ When are you to be married ? MBS. SWEBLIN -Thursday of next week. You shall have an invitation to the wedding. I know the BOU! of my poor dear Anthony would be unhappy in Heaven, if he knew I was living a lonely life, with nobody to care for me. Good-bye ; I see Mr. Albert yonder. MBS. PBINZ I congratulate you ; Mr. Albert is such a nice man. Good-bye. [Exit Mrs. Swerlin ] MBS. PBINZ Plague take her ! all the widows are getting married save me, and I am just as young and good looking as any of tbem. It won't do for me to be left alone. I must break up this match. There are enough old stories about her to rake up. Her poor, dear Anthony 1 it is only for hia sake that she is going to get married. She might know that people would only laugh at such nonsense. [Enter Mines Behr and Green.] MBS. PBINZ Do you know that Mr. Albert is go- ing to marry Mrg. Swerlin ? Miss BEHB He cannot be suoh a fool. MBS. PBINZ She told me so herself. Miss GBEEN If all the stories are true, they ought to have been married long ago. Miss BEHB He might have done better. MBJ. PBISZ Uould lie have done worse? Miss GREEN She has been a grass widow eight years, and she has flirted with all the fast men about town. Miss BEHR And when they would not run after her she would rua after them. MRS. PBINZ She spends more money than she earns with her naedle, and that is ail she has to live on. Miss BEHB Sae has been flash ever since the Vienna party has been here Those bachelors make the cash fly Miss GREEN They say she drinks. Mjsa BEH Everybody knows that she is a terri- rible scold. That's what drove her nrdt husbmd to hia ruin. MBS FRINZ She will spend her last cent for a brighc ribbon. Miss GREEN And she will not be particular where she gels it. Miss BESR . She is not a day under forty. MBS. i IUNZ _ But, then, I suppose that she is just as good as he is. Miss GBEES If he could have got a wife where he w*s known, he would never marry her. Miss BEHB He has nothing but the coat on his back. [ bnter Albert ] MBS. PBINZ I congratulate you on your approach- ing marriage. ALBEBT Mrs. Swerlin told me that she let you know it uudvr strict promise of stcresy. MBS. FBISZ -The news made me so happy thai I could not keep it to myself. TneSd ladies are your best friends, and I know you would tell them. I made them promise wecresy. Miss BEBR [aside] -How she lies ! ALBEBT, [astde\~ Fine secresy ; two old maids and a widow 1 Miss GREEN I felicitate you on getting such a charming wife. She has not an enemy in town. ALBEBT Thank you. I am glad tj hear you speak so kiudiy of her. [Exit Albert.] Miss BEHB [to Mrs. Kline.] The news made you so happy ! i'hai'a good. You wouldn't have liked to get him yourself ? O, No ! [Lavg'is ] Miss GBEEN \ltjr talking as you did behind her back, I would not pretend to be such a friend of hers. MBS. PBINZ -You were both of you worse than I was. You thought you might get him away from her yet. If I was a dried up, old maid, I would not make su -h a foal of msnelf. Mis GBEEN You are just as bad as I am. You are as flat as a board. Mi*s Shanks, your dress- maker, told me abjut every pad there is on your bones. You needn't pat ou any of your airs with me. If jou do, I will let out something that you would not like other people to hear, about Mr. Marks. MBS. PBINZ Well, there, my dear ; we have quar- relled enough. Let's be friends again. Miss GBEEN No, tha&k you ; I knew I could shut you up. By-bye ; I hope you will be in a better humor when we meet the next time. [Miss Green and Miss Behr ftaun! out, after making very low bows.] SCENE IV Mrs. HABTZ'S house. Evening candle liht. Mrs. HABXZ and MARGABET. MBS. HABTZ Margaret, you have been crying. MARGARET I am unhappy. 18 MBS. HABTZ You have been sickly of late, and before you were so healthy. MABGABET I shall never be so strong as I was. Mre. BABTZ You will Boon get over that notion. People do not die of disappointment at your age. When you get to be as old as I am you will have worries and trials of which you have no idea now. MABGABETI hope I will never have any worse than those that I have now. Mrs. HABTZ Girlish nonsense. Give me a glass of beer ? MARGARET \povring out a glass ofbeerjrom a pitcher atthe cupboard and aiding something from a vial aside ] Oh ! what a mistake 1 I've put in ten times too much. I must hide this glass. [Putting it in a cor- ner. Aloud\ Mother, I must go to the cellar for some bet r f She leaves the room. ] Mrs. BARTZ There was some beer here before upper, and I know she did not drink it. [Going to the cupboard and hunting round. ] Yes, nere it is. [ Finds theg'.ass t'naMa r garet has hidden, and drinks it. ] Poor girl ! she grieves about that man. When Val- entire gets home, we must see more company. MARGARET [ returning . pours out a gla*s at the cup- board, puts in a few drops Jrom the vial] This is cool. Mrs. HABTZ [taking a sip] I am thirsty this even- ing. Valentine wni be here within a few weekc ; what shall we do to make it pleasant for him ? MARGARET Borne of his fellow soldiers will have to come Lonue with him, and I suppose he will want to spend bin time with them. MBS HABTZ You wanted him with you all through hitt lant furlough. MABGARET Yes, and he complained that I bothered liiru. MRS HABIZ_YOU know that he was only joking. He was proud to be bothered by you. MARGARET I do not feel as if I wanted to run about with him as 1 did last year. MB5. H BTZ You are much changed. I feel sick and 1 am very drowsy. MABGARET Why do you not drink your beer ? MRS HAHTZ I thought I could drink a second glaan, but I do not like the taste of the beer this evenir g. MAHGABET The second glass I You have hardly tasted tbe first glass to-day. MB*. HABTZ -I bad a glass before this one. MABGABET You must have forgct:en ; this is all you have bad. MBS. HARIZ No there was a glass in the cupboird that yen overlooked ; I drank that. MARGARET [ooing to the cupboard, finding the empty glass ana holding it wj>]_ You did not drink what was in this gins.*. MBS. HARTZ Certainly, wby not? MARGARET Good Heavens, mother, there was poison in it. MBS. HARTZ Poison ? How? Why? MABGABET Pardon, mother, oh pardon me, \ fall- ing on h(r knees] I meant to pour a few drops in your beer to make you Bleep, and poured out too much by mistake. I hope it will not hurt yon. MBS HABTZ Not hart me. I feel it already ; I am very sick. MABGABET Perhaps there was not enough to hurt you Do you know any remedy ? MRS. HABTZ Is that what has made me so drowsy of late and sleep so long? Have yon given it to me btfor- ? MABGABET f wringing her hands] YeB, yes. MRS. HABTZ -Bring me some salt and water quick. Perhaps that will help me. [Margaret ritei and brings them. Airs. Harte mixes them and MBS. HABTZ How ^dizay I am. Why did want me to sleep ? MABGABET - Henry comes to see me at night. MRS. HARTZ Gomes to see you at night ? In this house ? O, yon abandoned girl ! If I were, not so sick I would drive you into the street at once. Is that the reward for all my trouble with you? You dis- grace yourself and me, too. You poison me to get a chance to ruin yourself. Do you suppose I would keep such a girl in my house ? How long has this been going on ? [ Looks at her.] And that is the ex. plan.'-.tion of your sickness ? I have been blind. MARGARET O ! mother dear, spare me. [She cries.] MBS. HABTZ -Spate you? Why did you not spare me ? What will become of your brother ? This is tha destruction of an old and honorable family. I be- lieved you when you promised you would not speak to him again. MARGARET- I believed myself, but I met him as I was coming from church, and my firm resolution gave way before his pleading. MRS. HABTZ - 1 would rather have the vilest beg. gar woman of the street in my house. People would not blame me for her misconluct, but they will for yours. Where did you get the poison ? MABGABET He gave it to me. MRS. HARTZ 0, the scoundrel I If I die, he is your accomplice in this murder. A nice pair of you 1 MABGABETI have had enough of this miserable life. There is more here than you drank ; let me die with you. [ Gets the vial, uncorks it, raises it to her lips, but Mrs. Hartz, rising, quickly gratps it, dashes it down on the floor, and sinks back in her chair.] MRS. HARTZ -How sick I am ; I mn dying. MABGARET . Let me run for the doctor ? MBS. HABTZ No, it's too far. I should be gone before you could return. The least you can do now is to stay with me. It will all be over in a few minutes. MARGARET What shall I do without you? MBS. HARTZ You do not want me. After I am dead you need not poison anybody else, unless it is your brother Valentine. He will soon be home from tbe war, and then he will be in your way. Get rid of him, and you and Martha can be as wicked as you please. MARGARET -You know I did not mean to harm you, mother ; I always loved you. MRS. HARTZ Yes; you loved me till you met that villain Faust. O, the agony ! Go for the doctor, quick. Give me gome water. Anything to cool this burning. [Margvd gives h(r some wattr. She tries to drink but cannot, and spits it out.] 1 cannot drink, Qoen the window ; let me have some fresh air. [Margaret opens the window ] Call Father Boyer to give me the latt unction. No; it's too late. You send me off with all my sins upon my head. O, what pain ! \A knock is h'.ard at the door.] MABGABET [aside] 'iood heavens I it is Henry What shall I do ? [ The knock is repeated.] MBS. HARTZ Who's tber^? [ Ma*gartt opens the door. Alargartt hesila'es Faust looks in ; sees Mrs. tiaviz. and draws back.] Gome in. FAUST I have long wanted your consent to marry your daughter. MBS. HAUXZ This is not tbe happiest occasion to ask it. FAUST It is my first opportunity. I begged Mar- garet months ago to let me call on yon, and she told me you had strictly forbidden me to enter your house. 19 Mas. HABTZ And my daughter's conduct proves how you have complied with my wishes. FAUST I hope t iut the blessing of the Priest will BOOII cure all our troubles. MR*. bABiz After you have murdered me. FAU*T I ao not understand. Mm. HABTZ I am dying. She has given me an overdose of your prescription. [Faust looks at Mar. garet J MAKGABET It is true. By mistake I poured out half the bottle into a glass of beer ami while I was out of the room she drank It. I wanted to go for the doctor and she would not let me. Have you any remedy ? Something should be done quickly. FAUST Let me have some salt and water. MBS. HAKIZ- Too late. I have tried it. There is no help. I can not swallow anything. The worst of the pain is over. I feel the approach of death. My limbs are already benumbed ; the final chill will soon strike my heart. The assignation is net BO happy as you expected. The stolen pleasures this time are bitter; you have come just in time to wit- ness the result of your wicked plotting ; but perhaps I should not con/plaiu, since life would have been nothing but mistry for me after the ruin of my daughter. FAUT- I will marry Margaret. 8ne is not ruined. I meant no harm. MBS. HABIZ -If you had, you could scarcely have done more. Do not try to cheat your own con- science. Whoever violates the law under pretencb of innocent motive is guilty of all the suffering that follows his act. You used the means aud you are responsible for the end. Before ttod, I accuse you of murder. FAUST Good Lord, madam, have some considera- tion for the future of your daughter. Pardon us our mistakes of judgment, and give us your blessing, MBS. HABTZ Kneel aown before me. Join your hands. [They do to.] MBS. HABTZ Margaret, I reared you with all ihe care and love that a mother coutd give to a daughter. You had at home every kindness and comfort within reach of my means and your station in life. Yon came from a respectable family, bad well-behaved companions and good religious train- ing. Notwithstanding all that, you gave yourself up almost at the first sight, to a strange villain. MABGABET O, mother ! MBS HABTZ And you, Professor Faust, a learned and famous man, accustomed t> Court lifa, familiar with the arts of fashionable society aud with the weaknesses of woman's nature -regarding success in deceiving her as a source of pleasure, and finding in my confiding Margaret a victim over whom you could triumph have now reached the culmination of your ambition in Tannwald. She is ruined be- yond redemption for this life. You have not now, and never had. any intention to marry her, and with my last words when I feel the hand of death about to stop the pulsations of my heart- I give you both my dying corse I repeat it, my dying curse. It ehall follow you through Una world and the next, [ShefckUs ba",k and dies. ] Act V. SCENE I MBI. SWEBLIN'S HOUSE FAUST and MAB- OABET (in black). MABGABET O, Henry I what will you say to Mar- garet now ? FAUJT -That I love her more than ever. MAGABBET I cannot help thinking of mother's death. FAUST You must not grieve about that. When we are married you will be happy. You must dig- miss unpleasant thoughts from your mind. MAKGABET It is fearful to think I murdered her. FAU*T You must not call that murder. There is no murder without a wicked intention. You loved her an 1 meant her no harm. MABGABET -Indeed I loved her. FAUST It was an accident ; you must not think of it or tell of it. Think only of the happiness toat rnuf-t be ours as soon an we are married. MABGABET Mot ler's death was terrible, and she cursed you. FAUST She did not know how honestly I love you. ftfABGABET I cannot fix my mind upon our love. Whenever I am alone, I am hauuted by spectres that torture me. FAUST You do not doubt my fidelity ? MABGABET No; but my mother's curse rings in my ears. I feel that I have exposed myself to great danger, and I am oppressed by a vague fear that I am to undergo cruel suffering. I am about to be- come a mother, and I am not yet a wife. I wi'liugly braved scandal for your *>abe, but the death of my mother, my brother's cruelty, the delay in our marriage, my exclusion from society, tha insults to which I am subjected whenever I go into the streets, and the anxiety which I see in your face at times when you do not know that I am observing you, have destroyed my peace of mind. Have you any secret cause of worry ? FAUST Nothing but tie delay in our marriage. I waittd long for a reply to my petition for lave to marry, and at last I have received an answer, but it is a refusal. MABGABET A refusal. Then yon will desert me? FAUST Never, by all th'it is sacred. I suspect some trickery or mistake, and I mu-t gee the Em- peror himself. He cannot refuse rue. MABGABET -Then you will 1 ave mo? FAUST Only for a few weeks, BOOII to return, and never to leave you again. MABGABET lienry, when you talk BO I must be happy. FAUST -Albert wants to serenade Mrs. 8erlin to- night, and I may come with him. MABGABET I will peep out to see you. 8UENE II Street before MBS. BWBRLIN'S door. VANENTINE. afterward ALBEBT, FAU^T, MABGABET, MBS. SWEBLIN, and others. VALENTINE There was a time when it was a pleas, ure for me to sit at our mess-table in the evenings and hear the fellows bragging of their favorites among the girls, and I would listen to it all and stroke my beard with satisfaction, aud after they had done I would take my full glass and say, Every- body to bid taste, but is tiere another in the whole country like my sister Margaret?" Toey would cry, ' He is right ; she is the ornament of the whole sex" And then the braggarts were dumb And now ? O, I could tear my heart out. Every rascal turns up nid nose aud cuts me with insulting hints. And yet I can not give them tlie lie. I must /ret at every accidental word. Here comes somebody. If ir, be he, I will kill him on t ieep;>t. [ Enter Albert and Faust, the former strumming on a guitar, as if about to play } VALENTINE L' t's see whether you can p'ay on this instrument. [Draws his sword and ai'a:hs Albert. Albert and Faust draw ] FAUBT \to A>'bert] I will parry. You disarm him. [ They make sever a', passes. Valentine evidently furious. Altxrt runs him though.] 20 VALENTINE Murder ! Murder I FAUST [angrily to Albert] You. have killed him. ALBERT -Did you want him to kill me? There was DO half way with him. Chme, q'lick, or we shall be caught. I hear the watch. f They leave. People come running, Margaret and Mrs. Swerlin among thtm ] MBS SWEBLIN Here is one dead man. VALENTJNK Not dead yet. MARGARET Who is it ? VALENTINE Your mother's son. MARGARET O, Got ! What agony I VALENTINE I'm dying, that's all. Gome here, you women, and stop your crying. I have a word to say to 5011. [ They step nearer, ] Margaret, you are too young yet to have mucii sense ; jou have not managed well ; I have a little secret to tell you ; you are a harlot. MABGABET Good Lord, brother, bow can you speak so ? VALENTINE- You have no right to call on the Lord. It's too lare now; what's don< can't be mended. You begin with one ; then others come, and soon the whole town has you. 8hame is born in the dark, and hides under the veil of night at first, bu< t-oon ventures out into the daylight. The more hateful it ia, the more public it becomes. I already see the time when all your old friends will Bhun you as they would a small-pox corpse. You will end your days in rage and tilth in a dark corner, among beggars and thieves, and if God forgives you in H aven. it will ba more than man will do on Mus. SWEBLIN You wretch, flow can you take eartb. advantage of such a time to tort are your unfortunate Bister? Everybody knows that that scar on your face was got in a drunken Qght at that infamous house near the mil!. Leave others alone. Com- mend your eoul to your Savior and repent your VALENTINE You shameless bawd. If it had not been for the assignations made in your garden, all would have been well to-day. If I only had strength enough to run my sword through your ribs, I would more than atone for all my siud. [Lung s furiously at htr with hit sword ] MAUUAUKT Valentine ! Oh, Valentine I VALENTINE Stop your tears. When you lost your honor, you gave mo a wound more painful than this one from the eword of your seducer. [He dirt ] 80ENE III- In the Road T.vo Peasants, then Baron RITTEB-TAHL. Stuff and Followers. Including ANTHONY SWERLIS, and finally ALBEBT and Sirs. SWEBLIN and Wedding Train Music in Distance. FIBST PEASANT They have a nice day for the wedding. There tUey come. SECOND PEASANT Acd yonder, on the other sids, comes the regiment tbat left here eight years ago for the wars. Tbo^e fellows with floe toggery iane>t be t m Colonel and nis staff [ E'nttr Bar^n Ritterstalil, stap' and followers, includ ng Mr. Suitriin j KIITEUSTAHL [to Pt ass it was the best she could do. [Exeunt Peasants. J MB SWEBLIN -Baron, do you like fun ? And if you will assist me we'll have a jolly bit of it. I know how to do it ; I saw something like it onoe before. BABON -Certainly, Anthony, what is it ? MB SWEBLIN - Let ma put on some old rags and claim my wife's hand when she cornea up, and see how she will act. Then, t you eay so, I will put on your cloak and hat, and pretend to be command- er of this regiment, and order everybody about, and see how she t -eats me then. BABON But won't that disturb your domestic fe- licity? MB. SWEBLIN Beg pardon for the profanity, Baron ; but tt bet er name would be, domestic hell. I would not live w;th her for the revenue of a Prince. She never left me in quiet for a day. I would rather charge the Swiss spears than sit still under the lash of her tongue. BABON All right, Anthony ; it shall be as you say, Gentlemen of the Staff, attention 1 Until I give >ou contrary orders, you are t > obey Anthony Swerlin with the same forms of respect tbat you pay to me. Gall him Baron Swerlin, and do everything to make people think him commander of this regiment. MB. SWEBLIN Gome, Hans, let me have your hat and cloak [Hans, in a beggerly dress, comes forward and hesitates ] Don't be afraid; I will give them oack to you. [ Taking the hat and holding it vp\\ I believe in ventilation. This suits me. Who's your hatter? When I get rich, I intend to wear a hat like this every day. There is nobody in this regi- ment that pays more regard than you do to one- half of the precept tbat you must keep your head cool and your feet warm. Wow, the cloak. [ Taking it and holding i f , vp.] The fellow that cut this cloak was a genius, thougu something of the original ef- fect has been injured by the nviovs tooth of time. This suits my new dignity. [Paradiig round in it ] Will I do for the command of the regiment? Baron Ititteretahl ia a good fellow ; b^ut he can never learn to put on the grand airs of a military commander. If I only had time I would give him a lesson. But here they come. Remember that I am to be a beggar until I tane the Baron's cloak and then you must treat me as you would a Commander- in Chief. Do not spare ceremony. I want to feel, if only for a few minutes, how it is to be approached with awe and trembling. Lieutenact Oiruiony, go off to a distance, address a note to Bjroa Swerlin pur- porting to come from General Martenstein, and bring it to me when you see me wearing the bat and cloak of Baron liitterstahl, and when I give you the sig- nal. LIEUT. OABMONY Yes, sir. [Goes off.] [Enttr Mr. Albert. Mrs Swerlin on his arm and othert. Mr. Swirlin advances to Mrs. Swtrlin. ] MB. bWBBLiN My dear Martha, I am back at last from the wars. MBS. SWEBLIN Fellow, I don't know you. MB. SWEBLIN -I am your loving husband Anthony Swerlin. Mas. SwEBLiNThis is my husband, sir. You're an impostt-r. My first husband died in Padua a year ago. I can prove it. I have the affidavits in my house. MB. SWEBLIN Can't you believe your own eyes ? Don't you recognize this scar that you made on my 21 forehead with a broomstick tie morning after we were married. MBS. SWEBLIN -You lie; I didn't. } on Wfre drunk and fell out of bed and cut yourself. That is, nay first husband did. But you are not the man and you don't look a bit like him. MB. SWEBLIN These gentlemen all know me as Anthony Hwerhu. MBS. SWEBLIN I don t care. I never saw you bet fore, and I don't want to see you again. MB SWERLIN .Madam, perhap^you will recognize me when I tnrow off this b gnarly dress and put on that wbich belongs to my rauk. Pardon me for the trick that I Lave been playing. Ti e fortune of war turned in ir.y favor. I won promotion on the battle- field. I am rich, and commander of this regimen- in place of Ritterstahl, cow a General. | To the man from whom lie took the beg jar's la', and cloak] Here, lellow, take thest> rag". [ r j\> Strvant who has Rithr stall's bat and cloak] Give me my own cloab, sword and hat. [Pats them. on]. Now I feel like mjself again. [Drawing back]. Madam, if 'bat gentleman is jour husband, I hn^e nothing farther to say to you. ( To Major Aiayer]. Major, there i a large open common west, of tiie town ; l^y off a place there for the camp. Make every necessary arrangemert for staying cere a week. MA JOB MATEB Yes, sir. [ He goes riff]. MB*. SWEKLIS [having Albert'^ My utar Anthony, I begin to recognize you now. MB SWEBLIN [to Mr. Wetzel] Commissary, see that the meu have an abundant supply of ireeh pro- visions, and provide a keg of wine lor each cercpauy every day. MB. WETZEL -I will see to it. OUT IDEB Hurrah for Baron Swerlin ! MB. SWERLIN Silence tbe,re. You act as if yoa bad never been properly fed before. RITT:BTHAL D i) the fellow's impudence. That is a bit at me. | Aloud ] But, Baron MB. SWEBLIN No objections. We will talk over the expense this evening. Maa StfEBLis [rushing up] Oh, my beloved An- tbony I MB. SWEBLIN [pushing her &acfej_Wait, Madam, till I hsve given my oners. [Li-.ut. Garment/ comes up and gioes a Mt".r. J IIEDI. CABMONTA letter from General Marten- Btein for Baron Sw=rlm. MB. SWEBLIN [opening and reading the letter] Return to General Marteustein, and tell him I will stay here a week. I should be glad to have him dine with me Thursday next, and in the evening we will have a ball ia his honor, if the good ladies of the town will favor us with their presence. LADIES OF WKDDING PABTY f >h, how nice 1 MBS. BWEBLIN [rushing up a^ain anl throwing h>r arms round his neck and kissiny him[ Oh, Auliionr, I can't tell you how rejoiced I am at your return alive and well, I always knew you would be a great man if you only had a chance. MB SWEBLIN Paymaster Fohr, pay the men up when yon get hxed in camp as far as the funds will go. I want the regiment to have a good time here. MB FoHBYes, Saron. MBS SWEBLIN [to Albert J What do you mean by hanging round here ? MB. SWEBLIN I thought you said he waa your husband. MBS BWEBLIN He deceived me. He swore yoa \ere dead, and he attended your funeral. Ha ought to be arrettid for perjury. MR. SWEBLIN Did he awear that? MBS. SWEBLIN -Yes ; I have the affidavit all signed and sealed by the villfio. MB SWEBLIN [to some rf Hitters! ahl's suite] Here, you fellows, tie ihis scobndrel to yonder Viee, and give him forty stripes, well laid OB. [ They seize him end start away ui'h t h*s gone. [Looking at Mrs. Swer- lin, who stares at her [ MABGABET Do you think I am crazy ? MBs.-bwtBLiN No Why do you ask ? MABGABSX So netimes I imagine that I am real happy, but that I am subject to crazy ii>s, and tueu I have all kindd of horrid visions. Did you know my mother ? MBJ. SWEBLIN licok at me, Margaret, I am your Martha. 22 MARGARET _ \Tarth*. Yes, I hr.va heard that name before. I dreamed I bad a brother Valentine, and be said shocking things f o Martha. I dreamed that he was go good to nr* und BO proud of me till the l-.Pt time he saw me. gone *. 8 WEB UN [asi 'e] -Alas! Her wits have eLt rely JEST And they say there is another world vf.iir- good people will be happy. I must send this )utle innocent there. I coald not be so mt an as to thrn-v her into men a cruel world as this. MBS. r-wEBLiN VL^rgarot, Margaret, do you not P6- Illr- ? MARGARET _ Yes, I se yoa. I drsarued that I had a cousin, and tnat the looked like you. Sue was a g f 'Od soul and kept herself and everybody about her in f-'oubip. MR*. SWEBLIS -That's not altogether crazy. 'ViARGABEi She supposed this WHS a country \rhere she could )ive respec'ablj, without t-ampliug dowu other people. Poor soul! she was t-atnpled down herself. And now, t fancy I see her here, b^g- ting me to put my darling girl where sue will be t arnpled down in her turn. MKS. SWEBLIN Do not talk so, Margaret, MARGVBET Yes, that ia tie truth. I am not crszy on that point. I spoke w 1 1 Henry about it, and he told me so himself. He would mt toll a lie ; he never did. There was never a truer, nob'.er man. He said that the world is full of shams, sham government, sham philosophy, sham pleasure, sham religion aud sbatn virtue. The nobles imagine that their happiness depends upon keeping the mnlt,t ide in serfdom ; tae rich men hate the idea of raising the poor ont of abject poverty ; the priests are horrified at popular education, and moralist* of reputnion tell us that there must be common women to pre- serve the general chastity. As if the misery of the many were necessary f-_>r the h*ODines^ of the few. Much are tie horrible shams t tat rule tha world. Tuey mean well ; taey believe tneir own nonsense ; but they are fooli&b. All men are brothers, and ttiey must share the elevation or degrad.it on of one another. They must all rife together, before the highest happiness of which they are capible can be reached. That is whut H-ury told me. He said m*r>y sublime things. Sometimes I fe.t as if hia conversation lifted mo up into the skies. In the next world, there are no shams. That is the place for iny Jit le girl. Mrs. bwEBLi.* She will get there in the proper time. JHABGABET Yes; and I will flee fiat the proper ttuje comes very BOOU. Mrs. SWEBLIN YJU do not mean to murder her? MABGABET That's au ugiy word ; 0ut words do not scare me. No ; I will not murder. I will only transplant a pure soul from a base to a higher HP her* of exibtence. I canuol murder tho soul ; but I can release It from a debaning clod. It ;s my duty to provide for the happiness of this augal. and it must bo done and it must be soon, yes, eoun. Mrs. SWEBLIN - Mirgarut. look at me ! UABGABUT -1 see you. You are like the figures in my dreams. Just as if you were not a ghost. The look real, and the bodies like *pe tres. I pinch myself to eeo whither I am awake ; bat then I see frightful visions. I will talk to you aa if you were a real person. MM. SWEBLIN Your unpleasant dreams will soon be gone. You will live in an orange grove in Italy, and t le situ will shine there every day. WABGABET That will be delightful ; that is, if U.ury will be with me. Mrs. SWERC.IN Henry will novar leave more. MABGABET I st^ll then be satisfied. MBS. SWEBLIN So you will go to your Henry In Italy ? MABGABET Yes; I am always ready to go with him, but I caunot take this darling along. MBS 8 *ERLIN Yaa, Italy will be the place for her, too. MABGABET No, not even Italy is good enough for her. I must send her to a bet-er land. But how ? Poor thiug, tall me how. Shall I choke you? No, I cannot. A knife? No, horrid thought, away I Tha ditch? Yes, that is tie placs. The water is cool and pleasant. It,'s dirty, but it will not stain your eoul. Lst me go n<^v d finish it while I feel haopr | Jti-iny an'i goiny to the door], MB*. SwERLif _ Stop Margaret, you shall not. MARQABCT Snail not? H >w, spectra, do you sup- pose you can stop me? I wonld beat down all the furie* in bflll. IS'ifing a brush and striking Mrs. Stverlin, u-ht falls, she rushes out J 8CENE V Night, in front, of MSBGARET'S prison. FAUST, afterward ALBERT. FAUST I have retun el at the risk of my life to take Margaret away from this horrid town. I wonder whether Albert received lay letter requesting him to meet me here to-night with counterfeit keys. Ho wrote me thtt she was arrested for murdering her child nay child and that was tie only notice I had of its birth. In her bitter agony I was absent. It was her misfortune to love Fanat. There comes somebody. [Hewthlraws to one side ] ALBEBI [ entering j This is a hopeless case. 'Who's FAU.T [coming for war J and shaking 7iads] You are here on time. ALBEUT I do not like your rt turn to this unfor- tunate place. FAU T Unfortunate, indeed, it la. I fancy that every housetop is covered with grinning devils, ready to turfue me. ALBEBTWby did you come? You can do no good. You could hardly eecaoe from the police be. fore ; and it wa* folly to run tie risk again for the sake of seeing a crazy woman. FAUCT Is *he crazy now? ALBKBT They Bay she is completely gone. FAUST 'i<w damp the air, how Joul the smell I How different from her cheerful chamber. _tti.< perfection of neatness and cleanness This is the punishment of loving too much, I wonder where she is. Hist, Margaret ! She mut be asleep. Margaret 1 Margarei ! MARGARET \rising to her knees ant locking her hands in supplication J fake pity on ma. I aiu not ready to die. FAUST Do not make a noise. I have come to Bet you free. MARGARET [rising to her feet]- -Q&n't you let me live till moruing ? It is hard enough to be hanged in t'ae daytime. Let me live a few hours more. I am too youag to die. I was pretty, too, and that was my rnin. My love has desert ad me, and left me t-> suffer alone. FAUJT [taking her arm) Oome, Margaret. I am your loving Henry. I will save you. MARGA.RET- You hurt my arm. Are you going to drag me to the scaffold ? Have you no mercy ? What harm did I ever do to you? FAUST Heavens 1 what misery ! MARGARET I fcnow that you are going to kill me; but do not ba in such a hurry. Give me my child again. Let me suckle it once more ; only once. I held it in toy arma all night, and then they came and took it away. They wanted to make me miser- able. It was uuch a dear little thing. And now they say I murdered it. I shall never be happy any more. FAUST Margaret 1 Margaret, do come away. MARGARET O ! if I must die, let me pray once more. I have forgotten the prayers that my mother taught me. [Kneeling ] O, Jesus ! O, my Savior! O, Thou Man ot Sorrow ! pardon the sins of the un- happiest woman that ever was born, and let me meet my Henry and my baby in heaven ! Amen. [Getting up \ I am ready to go with you now. Be quick about it. I want to die while that prayer is fresh in my heart. FAUST I am not the hangman ; I am your Henry. MARGARET That's his voice. Henry, my Henry. I have you at last ; I am free. All my suffdring is gone. All my pain is past. I will be happy again. I will hang on your neck. I will sit on your knee. I will enjoy your sweet converse. You have come to save me. FAU3T_Yes, love ; let us go quick. MARGARET O, tell me that you are still my Henry. Where is all the agony of the prison ? What do I care now for their chains? I remember the time when I first met you. How noble you looked. I could not help loving you. [She kisses him.] FAUST Let us escapa fir at, and I will kiss you afterward. MARGARET -You will not kiss me? Have you for- gotten? You were not away so long. I am half afraid of you. If you don't love me any more tell the hangman to come. FAUST -Indeed, I love you. Will you not oome with me? MARGARET Are you not afraid to go with me? Do you Know what I have done ? FAU T Yes, yes ; I love you more than ever. MARGARET I murdered my mother, I drowned my child, I disgraced my friends. You are too good to go with such a woman. What's this on your hand? It's wet. Wipe it off It's blood. Good God, what have you done? Put up your sword, I beg you. FAUST Margaret, you wring my heart. Let us forget the past. MAR^ARETYes, we will forget the past. You must ttiy here and bury me. I will tell you about my grave. You muse see that it is ade right ; at- tend to it to-morrow. Give my mother the best place ; put Valentine at her side and me a litsle way off. with my baby at my right breass. Nobody else would like to lie near ma. We will meat again, but not in Martha's garden. FAU -T Quick, quick ; it will be too late to escape. MARGARET Don't hurry me ; the hangman will come soon enough. FAUST O, that I had never been born, f A shot is heard outside ] ALBEKT [stiggeringin and falling] Quick I Lock the door; th^ Folii-e are here. FAUST [locking the door] Are you much hurt? ALBERI A few minute will finish me. Before I die let ma confess my only treachery to you. Slack gave me money to briba the Secretary of the Coun. cil for a refusal to your petition. But for that it would have been granted. We thought it was your interest as well as ours that you should be a Car- dinal. Forgive me. 24 FAU.-T- Tuct UttJe error of judgment was the ranse of all Margaret's suffering and mice. Poor fellow. I pardon you. ALBEBT It's all over. \Hefalls lack and dies.} FAUSTHe's gone. Anct'ier death added to m/ long account. MAEGABET Look, Henry look at t'^e sopctre of that scamp Helfenstein. | ffe'fe-nt.tfin appears in the clouds ax a spectre in a conviou beckon to me, too? [Spectre nods] Have you foreo't-n your crnel words ? [Spectre nods ] You still love me ? [Spectre nods ] I am coming. | An angel appears carrying a child. ] MABGABET -My darling Henrietta I t ook. Henry; you never saw her. [Margaret falls on her knees j My child 1 my child ! do you want me, 100? Su emiles ; she beckons t;> me, too ! Let ua go, Henry, quick ! FAUST They did not beckon to me. They rto no; want me. | Ihc spestres all stret h out thtir arms. ] MABGARET Yen ; they want us both. \A noise is heard at the door The spectres di? ap* pear The door is broken open The police come in j FAUST There is no escape now but in death, ana I shall not leave that to the vulgar executioiier. The miseries of poor Margaret and her wretched seducer have at last come to an end. We shall find that peace in the grave and which we Foneht in vin on earth. [Draws his sword and kills Margaret j Dear Dett'i, protect me J ] Kills himse'f.] N UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY BERKELEY Return to desk from which borrowed. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. DEC 22 1947 LD 21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 Photomount Pamphlet Binder Gaylord Bros., Inc. Makers Stockton, Calif. PAT. JAN. 21. 1908 930869 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY