Miss DORA BARTON.Jane Miss FORRESTER.
The Play produced under the direction of Mr. H. DE LANGE.
The ACTION of the play takes place in Denham's Studio inLondon, at the PRESENT DAY.
The Black Cat.
Act I.
_Scene: Denham's Studio. Large highlight window in sloping roof atback. Under it, in back wall, door to landing. L of thedoor the corner is curtained off for model's dressing-room.R of door a large Spanish leather folding screen, whichruns on castors, shuts off from the door the other corner, in whichis a "throne," pushed up against the wall. Above the "throne" hangsa large square mirror in a carved black frame. In front of the"throne" is a light couch of Greek form, without back._
_Fireplace, with chimney-breasts panelled in old oak, and highovermantel, in which are shelves and cupboards, L._
_Against R wall an old oak cabinet, with carved cornice,and inlaid panelled doors. Close beside it stands on a pedestal abust o
vulgar, and he shrank from the word. To lessen the sting of his disappointment, he pictured her to himself and strove to forget her faults.
On the following morning he went to his school very early. The girls were not as obtrusive as they had been. Miss Jessie Stevens did not bother him by coming up every five minutes to see what he thought of her dictation, as she had been wont to do. He was rather glad of this; it saved him importunate glances and words, and the propinquity of girlish forms, which had been more trying still. But what was the cause of the change? It was evident that the girls regarded him as belonging to Miss Conklin. He disliked the assumption; his caution took alarm; he would be more careful in future. The forenoon melted into afternoon quietly, though there were traces on Jake Conklin's bench of unusual agitation and excitement. To these signs the schoolmaster paid small heed at the moment. He was absorbed in thinking of the evening before, and in trying to appraise each of Loo's w
was dark. So he sat down upon a stone and buried his face in his hands, to wait in the Land of Negation and Denial till the light came.
And it was night in his heart also.
Then from the marshes to his right and left cold mists arose and closed about him. A fine, imperceptible rain fell in the dark, and great drops gathered on his hair and clothes. His heart beat slowly, and a numbness crept through all his limbs. Then, looking up, two merry wisp lights came dancing. He lifted his head to look at them. Nearer, nearer they came. So warm, so bright, they danced like stars of fire. They stood before him at last. From the centre of the radiating flame in one looked out a woman's face, laughing, dimpled, with streaming yellow hair. In the centre of the other were merry laughing ripples, like the bubbles on a glass of wine. They danced before him.
"Who are you," asked the hunter, "who alone come to me in my solitude and darkness?"
"We are the twins Sensuality," they cried. "Our father's n
t eat Chinese food? They won't be able to go to the country and minister in all the little country churches that are so much in need of help--they can't get Western food there! They had better have stayed at home!
After a few years had passed, however, the young man mentioned above did start to do country work, and he did it very acceptably. What is more, he even came to prefer an ordinary country meal of local food to the best Western dishes that his wife could give him at home! Seeing that, I began to realize a thing that should be a comfort to all young workers who find the food or the living conditions difficult. Over a period of time familiarity not only turns difficulty to ease, but often even removes the "dis" from dislike!
The young worker goes with an older one to make a call or two. Everything is new. Everything is strange. Everything is nerve-wearing. If a seat is offered, it is uncomfortable. If food or drink is offered, either may be unpleasant. Even if he understands more
nse of keeping herhere on account of his pride, under the thin pretext of trying to"cure" her. She knew that Sally Atherly of Rough and Ready wasn'tconsidered fit company for "Atherly of Atherly" by his fine newfriends. This and much more in a voice mingling maudlin sentimentwith bitter resentment, and with an ominous glitter in her bloodshotand glairy eyes. Peter winced with a consciousness of thehalf-truth of her reproaches, but the curiosity and excitementawakened by the revelations of her frenzy were greater than hisremorse. He said quickly:--
"You were speaking of father!--of his family--his lands andpossessions. Tell me again!"
"Wot are ye givin' us?" she ejaculated in husky suspicion, openingupon him her beady eyes, in which the film of death was alreadygathering.
"Tell me of father,--my father and his family! his great-grandfather!--the Atherlys, my relations--what you were saying.What do you know about them?"
"THAT'S all ye wanter know--is it? THAT'S what ye'r' comin'
familiar friendship, of some half-dozen whiskered cubs, having what is technically called the run of the house. No! it was a repository for feeling and for memory, and, in its fair pages, presented an image of Emily's heart. Many of these were marked, it is true; and what human being's character is unchequered? But it was blotless; and the virgin page looks not so white as when the contrast of the sable ink is there.
Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's,
"Placido zeffiretto, Se trovi il caro oggetto, Digli che sei sospiro Ma non gli dir di chi, Limpido ruscelletto, Se mai t'incontri in lei, Digli che pianto sei, Ma non le dir qual' eiglio Crescer ti fe cosi."
"And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was sorrowful enough."
Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen
THE FAREWELL.
I will not be the lightsome lark, That carols to the r
Miss DORA BARTON.Jane Miss FORRESTER.
The Play produced under the direction of Mr. H. DE LANGE.
The ACTION of the play takes place in Denham's Studio inLondon, at the PRESENT DAY.
The Black Cat.
Act I.
_Scene: Denham's Studio. Large highlight window in sloping roof atback. Under it, in back wall, door to landing. L of thedoor the corner is curtained off for model's dressing-room.R of door a large Spanish leather folding screen, whichruns on castors, shuts off from the door the other corner, in whichis a "throne," pushed up against the wall. Above the "throne" hangsa large square mirror in a carved black frame. In front of the"throne" is a light couch of Greek form, without back._
_Fireplace, with chimney-breasts panelled in old oak, and highovermantel, in which are shelves and cupboards, L._
_Against R wall an old oak cabinet, with carved cornice,and inlaid panelled doors. Close beside it stands on a pedestal abust o
vulgar, and he shrank from the word. To lessen the sting of his disappointment, he pictured her to himself and strove to forget her faults.
On the following morning he went to his school very early. The girls were not as obtrusive as they had been. Miss Jessie Stevens did not bother him by coming up every five minutes to see what he thought of her dictation, as she had been wont to do. He was rather glad of this; it saved him importunate glances and words, and the propinquity of girlish forms, which had been more trying still. But what was the cause of the change? It was evident that the girls regarded him as belonging to Miss Conklin. He disliked the assumption; his caution took alarm; he would be more careful in future. The forenoon melted into afternoon quietly, though there were traces on Jake Conklin's bench of unusual agitation and excitement. To these signs the schoolmaster paid small heed at the moment. He was absorbed in thinking of the evening before, and in trying to appraise each of Loo's w
was dark. So he sat down upon a stone and buried his face in his hands, to wait in the Land of Negation and Denial till the light came.
And it was night in his heart also.
Then from the marshes to his right and left cold mists arose and closed about him. A fine, imperceptible rain fell in the dark, and great drops gathered on his hair and clothes. His heart beat slowly, and a numbness crept through all his limbs. Then, looking up, two merry wisp lights came dancing. He lifted his head to look at them. Nearer, nearer they came. So warm, so bright, they danced like stars of fire. They stood before him at last. From the centre of the radiating flame in one looked out a woman's face, laughing, dimpled, with streaming yellow hair. In the centre of the other were merry laughing ripples, like the bubbles on a glass of wine. They danced before him.
"Who are you," asked the hunter, "who alone come to me in my solitude and darkness?"
"We are the twins Sensuality," they cried. "Our father's n
t eat Chinese food? They won't be able to go to the country and minister in all the little country churches that are so much in need of help--they can't get Western food there! They had better have stayed at home!
After a few years had passed, however, the young man mentioned above did start to do country work, and he did it very acceptably. What is more, he even came to prefer an ordinary country meal of local food to the best Western dishes that his wife could give him at home! Seeing that, I began to realize a thing that should be a comfort to all young workers who find the food or the living conditions difficult. Over a period of time familiarity not only turns difficulty to ease, but often even removes the "dis" from dislike!
The young worker goes with an older one to make a call or two. Everything is new. Everything is strange. Everything is nerve-wearing. If a seat is offered, it is uncomfortable. If food or drink is offered, either may be unpleasant. Even if he understands more
nse of keeping herhere on account of his pride, under the thin pretext of trying to"cure" her. She knew that Sally Atherly of Rough and Ready wasn'tconsidered fit company for "Atherly of Atherly" by his fine newfriends. This and much more in a voice mingling maudlin sentimentwith bitter resentment, and with an ominous glitter in her bloodshotand glairy eyes. Peter winced with a consciousness of thehalf-truth of her reproaches, but the curiosity and excitementawakened by the revelations of her frenzy were greater than hisremorse. He said quickly:--
"You were speaking of father!--of his family--his lands andpossessions. Tell me again!"
"Wot are ye givin' us?" she ejaculated in husky suspicion, openingupon him her beady eyes, in which the film of death was alreadygathering.
"Tell me of father,--my father and his family! his great-grandfather!--the Atherlys, my relations--what you were saying.What do you know about them?"
"THAT'S all ye wanter know--is it? THAT'S what ye'r' comin'
familiar friendship, of some half-dozen whiskered cubs, having what is technically called the run of the house. No! it was a repository for feeling and for memory, and, in its fair pages, presented an image of Emily's heart. Many of these were marked, it is true; and what human being's character is unchequered? But it was blotless; and the virgin page looks not so white as when the contrast of the sable ink is there.
Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's,
"Placido zeffiretto, Se trovi il caro oggetto, Digli che sei sospiro Ma non gli dir di chi, Limpido ruscelletto, Se mai t'incontri in lei, Digli che pianto sei, Ma non le dir qual' eiglio Crescer ti fe cosi."
"And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was sorrowful enough."
Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen
THE FAREWELL.
I will not be the lightsome lark, That carols to the r