MRS. HAVERILL. Edith—my child! Frank loved us both.
EDITH. [Reading.] "Father's portrait of her, which she gave to me inCharleston—[HAVERILLstarts.]—helped me to be a better man."
HAVERILL. [Rising to his feet.] Constance!
EDITH. [Reading.] "It was taken from me in Richmond, and it is in the possession of Captain Edward Thornton."
HAVERILL. One moment! Stop! Let me think! [EDITHlooks at him; retires up stage.] Thornton was a prisoner—and to Kerchival West. A despatch had been found upon him—he was searched! [He moves to her and takes both her hands in his own, bowing his head over them.] My head is bowed in shame.
MRS. HAVERILL. Speak to me, John, as you used to speak! Tell me you still love me!
HAVERILL. The—the words will come—but they are—choking me—now. [Presses her hand to his lips.
MRS. HAVERILL. We will think no more of the past, except of what was bright in it. Frank's memory, and our own love, will be with us always.
EnterBUCKTHORN,followed byHEARTSEASE.
BUCKTHORN. Haverill! You are back from the war, too. It begins to look like peace in earnest.
HAVERILL. Yes. Peace and home. [Shaking hands with him.MRS.HAVERILLjoinsEDITH.
EnterBARKET.
BARKET. Gineral! [BUCKTHORNmoves to him.HAVERILLjoinsMRS. HAVERILLandEDITH. BARKETspeaks apart, twisting one side of his face.] I kissed her!
BUCKTHORN. Have you sent for a surgeon?
BARKET. I felt as if the inimy had surprised us agin, and Sheridan was sixty miles away.
HAVERILL. This is old Sergeant Barket. [BARKETsalutes.] You were the last man of us all that saw Colonel West.
BARKET. Just afther the battle of Sayder Creek began—whin Colonel Wist rode to the front to mate his retreating rigiment—the byes formed in line, at sight of him, to raysist the victorious inimy. It was just at the brow of a hill—about there, sur—[Pointing with his cane.] and—here! [He takes tray from table and sets it on the carpet. Lays the slices of bread in a row.] That be the rigiment. [All interested.MADELINEandELLINGHAMenter, and look on.BARKETarranges the two cups and saucers in a row.] That be the inimy's batthery, sur. [EnterMARGERY.She goes to the table; then looks around, sharply, atBARKET.
MARGERY. Ye ould Hibernian dhrone! What are yez doin' wid the china on the floor? You'll break it all!
BUCKTHORN. Ah—Margery! Barket is telling us where he last saw ColonelKerchival West.
MARGERY. The young Colonel! The tay-cups and saucers be's the inimy's batthery? Yez may smash 'em, if ye loike!
BUCKTHORN. Go on, Barket. [JENNYandHEARTSEASEhave entered asBARKETproceeds; the whole party lean forward, intensely interested.GERTRUDEenters in hall, looks in, beckons out left.KERCHIVALfollows. They move up stage, back of the rest and unseen, listening.
BARKET. Just as the rigiment was rayformed in line, and Colonel Wist was out in front—widout any coat or hat, and wid only a shtick in his hand—we heard cheers in the rear. Gineral Sheridan was coming! One word to the men—and we swept over the batthery like a whirlwind! [Slashing his cane through the cups and saucers.
MARGERY. Hoo-roo!
BARKET. The attack on the lift flank was checked. But when we shtopped to take breath, Colonel Wist wasn't wid us. [GERTRUDEturns lovingly toKERCHIVAL.He places his arm about her.] Heaven knows where he is now. Afther the battle was over, poor Miss Gertrude wint off by hersilf into the wilderness to find him.
KERCHIVAL. My wife! You saved my life, at last! [Embracing her.
BARKET. They'll niver come together in this world. I saw Miss Gertrude, myself, ride away into the woods and disappear behind a school-house on the battle-field, over there.
GERTRUDE. No, Barket—[All start and look.]—it was the little church; we were married there this morning!