did. Poor Mary Randall!

MAY. Randall? (_Rises._) No, no, that was my name before I married Roy.

MATT (_hic_). Was it? ’twas mine before I met Roy. That’s something you didn’t (_hic_) find out.

MAY. Oh, heavens! if it should be! Well, well, go on.

MATT. That’s all: she (_hic_) died.

MAY. But tell me of yourself. Who are you?

MATT. A tramp (_hic_) now; a soldier once; a happy husband and father (_hic_) long ago.

MAY. A father?

MATT. Yes, I went to war, left them in a happy home; came back in a year to find the mother flown, the child (_hic_) gone with strangers. Then I went——I went to battle again to sell my life cheap (_hic_); no use, I couldn’t die. I changed my name——the name she had disgraced——and met Roy. You know the rest (_hic_). It’s only a tramp’s story (_hic_). Who cares for him?

MAY. But the child?

MATT. Oh, I’ve found her (_hic_): she’s all right.

MAY. Thank heaven! my fears are groundless.

MATT. Yes, I found her, indeed, happy: a child to be proud of; but how could I face her (_hic_)? I, a drunkard and a tramp.

MAY. Oh, she would forgive everything: run into your arms, and weep with joy upon your breast.

MATT (_rises._) Would you do that?

MAY. I?

MATT. Would you, surrounded by luxury and comfort, happy in the love of a kind husband, would you take that man to your heart, present him to your husband?

MAY (_rises_). I?

MATT. Yes, you: May Manning,——once May Randall——you who turned me from your doors——ponder well; for all the wretchedness and shame that clings to me, is part and parcel of——your father.

MAY. Ah! (_Staggers to table and falls into chair_ R. _of it, her face on her arm on table._ MATT _passes to back of chair at fireplace, and with hand upon it looks at her._) I have told you the truth. As I am, I have come to you, the father to his child. I go. If you, remembering what I am, what I have been, and what I may yet become, desire my presence, seek me. If you would escape the shame which must come with the exposure, forget me, and my lips are closed forever. (_Looks at her tenderly, opens his arms, and is about to step towards her, stops, shakes his head, and steals out door_ R. 3d E.)

MAY (_after a short pause raises her head, and falls back in chair_). Oh, shame! misery! disgrace! I, that could not warmly greet my husband’s comrade when he came, because of pride; who turned him from these doors, jealous of the kindly heart that turned to him, have found my punishment at last. “If you would escape the shame,” he said, “forget me.” (_Rises._) My father? no! no! Come shame, come disgrace, the wanderer shall find rest, the father find a champion in his daughter’s love. (_Goes_ L. _Enter_ ROY C.)

ROY. Ah, my darling. You see I’ve kept my word.

MAY (_runs up and throws herself on his breast_, C.). O Roy, Roy, never so welcome. O Roy, I am so happy. (_Weeps._)

ROY. Well, well, little wife, tears are not signs of happiness. Let me get off my coat. (MAY _turns and comes to table._ ROY _removes coat and throws hat and coat on ottoman, then comes down to chair at fireplace, and watches her, hand on back of it_. MAY _stands at table looking down._)

ROY (_aside_). She bears it bravely. (_Aloud._) Well, May, now for my promise: to tell you the mighty secret. (_Comes toward her._)

MAY. No, Roy, hear me first. (_Falls on her knees._) Hear my confession. (_Enter_ BESS _and_ MARCUS, L. I. E.)

ROY (_quickly raising her_). Hush, wife! listeners.

MAY (_steps back in line with door_, 3 E. R.). I care not: hear it all. (ROY _goes to mantel._) One whom I thought dead, one whom my mother wronged, comes now in want and wretchedness, not to claim my duty as he has a right, but with a nobleness that puts to shame my pride, to seal his lips, that, with a word, could make me blush before the world. Do you hear me, Roy?

ROY. I am listening, May.

MAY. Then seek him. It may be in dens of vice, among the fallen and debased; but seek him, and when you find him say, I wait with loving heart to greet him home,——his home for evermore.

(_Enter_ MATT, _door_ 3. E. R.)

MATT. You need not seek him: he’s here.

MAY (_throwing herself into his arms_). My father!

MATT. My child! My dear, dear daughter!

MAY. Roy, you hear.

ROY. Yes: I’ve heard too much. The weighty secret is out at last. Matt, old fellow, you organized this campaign: after your treatment here, you have a right to revenge; but to me it has been a meaner battle than ever I hoped to engage in.

MATT. ’Twas but to test a daughter’s love, Roy. “All’s fair in love and war.”

MAY. Then _you_ have been deceiving me. O Roy!

ROY. I couldn’t help it. ’Twas Matt’s work: we’ve all been engaged in it.

MARCUS. Yes: all of us.

BESS. Well, I never; it’s the first I’ve heard of it.

ROY. It’s the first time, then, your ears have been off duty.

BESS. They’re not trained to secret service. (_Runs up to_ MATT.) O Matt, I’m so glad to get you back. (_Shakes hands with him._)

SIMON (_outside_ R.) Come along, Nancy, I’ll make it all right.

ROY. Ah, who have we here?

(_Enter_ SIMON _and_ NANCY, _arm in arm_ R. I. E.)

SIMON. Mr. Manning, I came down here as a bearer of dispatches.

ROY. Ah, for me?

SIMON. To you; but not for you. (_Steps up to_ MATT.) Mr. Randall, I was guilty of a mean act towards you once.

MATT (_gives hand_). Never mind, Simon: you’ve been a good friend since.

SIMON. Well, but I do mind: it weighed upon me. I don’t like to be shabby, and so, as I’m in the ring, I’m bound to wipe that out (_gives packet_). There, sir, is a commission as postmaster; it’s a good one. I’ve influence, you know. If you don’t like it, and want something better, just say so; I’ll fix it for you, for I’m in the ring——in the ring. (_Struts down to_ NANCY, R.)

NANCY. You told me you’d have nothing more to do with rings.

SIMON. Did I? Well, I’ll keep my word; but there’s one more ring we can’t do without. (_Takes ring from his pocket and puts it on her finger._) This, for instance, is our engagement ring.

NANCY. Why, it’s a diamond, Simon.

SIMON. It is, Nancy——a buster. This shall be followed by the wedding ring, and then the teething ring.

NANCY (_claps hand over his mouth_). Simon Stone!

SIMON (_takes her hand and draws it through his arm_). You shall have them all, Nancy. There’s nothing shabby about me. (ROY _goes up to_ L. _of_ MAY.)

ROY. Well, little wife, are you satisfied?

MAY. Can you ask it, Roy? (_Gives him_ L. _hand._)

MATT. Ah, old fellow, the dear one was hardly pressed; she fought bravely, and won a peaceful victory. To her be all the glory.

MAY. She has stepped between the comrades of old days only, I trust, to be the link that binds them closer. (_Gives_ R. _hand to_ MATT.) Hereafter, in the battle of life, we three march in line, joy and sorrow, victory and defeat, to one, to all. Comrades in prosperity, comrades in adversity, ever true, sworn comrades.

(_Exit_ SIMON, NANCY, R. MATT, MAY, ROY, C. MARCUS, BESS, L.)

CURTAIN.

Transcriber’s Notes

SmallCaps have been converted to ALLCAPS.

Some typographical errors have been corrected:

Page Printed Correction Extract —————————————————————————————————————————————— 3 hat hat, slouch hat, whiskers and wig 3 Peticoat Petticoat Balmoral Petticoat, calico dress 8 ROY ROY. ROY. What! Pin him in a corner 10 Your You’re ROY. You’re right. I nearly 12 its it’s it’s hurting me. This girl loves me 13 their there there has been no confidence 15 [...] (...) (BESS _and_ MARCUS _exeunt_, ... ) 15 bran bran’ bran’ new from top to toe 16 busines business the confectionery business 17 pant’s pants Takes paper from pants pocket 19 MATT ( (MATT (MATT _staggers in from_ L. 20 MAT. MATT. MATT. ’Scuse me. 21 your’e you’re you’re his sweet—_hic_—heart now 21 condemn condemn. before you condemn. 25 her.) her. duster straight out before her. 25 N ANCY NANCY NANCY. A policeman! Simon 29 R R. (_runs in_ C. _down_ R.). 30 one. one, not you, brave little one, 30 C C. BESS (_comes to_ C.). 30 R R. BESS (_goes_ R.). I challenge 31 cats cat’s Ah! the cat’s out of the bag. 31 Twould ’Twould ’Twould be just like him. 31 L L. (_Cross to door_ L.). 32 unacountable unaccountable in some unaccountable manner 32 her’s hers a fate would be hers 32 condition condition. almost dying condition. She 36 C C. ROY (returns to C.). 41 Aside, Aside. Ahem! (_Aside._) From you, 41 Hark “Hark “Hark, from the graves 42 C C. (_turns back and stops_ C.). 42 BESS, BESS. BESS. Oh, dear! 46 NANCY, NANCY. NANCY. But you didn’t. 46 Nancy. Nancy? anything for you, Nancy? 47 anyhow anyhow. dirty business anyhow. 47 is is is She’s a smart girl, Nancy is, 48 Matt Winsor MATT WINSOR MATT WINSOR opens door 48 hic _hic_ Roy’s wife (_hic_), how are you? 48 hic _hic_ You did (_hic_) n’t spect me. 48 spect ’spect You did _hic_ n’t ’spect me. 48 hic _hic_ MATT. No such thing (_hic_) 48 hic _hic_ de (_hic_) ceived you 48 hic _hic_ but you see it’s no use (_hic_). 48 hic _hic_ Well, you lis (_hic_) ’n to me. 48 hic _hic_ deserted wife (_hic_). I went; 48 hic _hic_ Well (_hic_), 48 hic _hic_ something you didn’t (_hic_) find 48 hic _hic_ That’s all: she (_hic_) died. 49 hic _hic_ A tramp (_hic_) now; 49 hic _hic_ and father (_hic_) long ago. 49 hic _hic_ mother flown, the child (_hic_) 49 hic _hic_ sell my life cheap (_hic_); 49 hic _hic_ You know the rest (_hic_). 49 hic _hic_ It’s only a tramp’s story (_hic_). 49 hic _hic_ Oh, I’ve found her (_hic_): 49 hic _hic_ but how could I face her (_hic_)? 50 L, L. (_Goes_ L. _Enter_ 50 C C. C.). O 50 (_Weeps_). (_Weeps._) (_Weeps._) 50 R R. 3 E. R.). I care not:

Centered stage direction on page 20: (ROYAL _enters_ C.)

Added _Exit_ and parens to stage direction on page 52: (_Exit_ SIMON, NANCY, R. MATT, MAY, ROY, C. MARCUS, BESS, L.)