Berea High School - Prima Luce Yearbook (Berea, NC)

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phry, crying as if her heart would break. Her hair « n f „ , a is matted in curls about her head, and her dress is torn and toiled.) ' ™ Child I’m all alone, and I’m cold and hungry. Humphry Where are your parents? Child Oh ! They carried her away ! My mother • thev ™,+ w • , , , and carried her away. (Sobs) My father went tn iL n ? a co . d lard kox mother said. 7 Y WCnt t0 heaven a lon £ time ago; so Humphry (Aside) She would make a good kitchen girl and I wouldn’t have to hire one. (To the child) What is your name? 1 nave t0 llire Child My name is Lcttie Talmage. That was mv nwwL , , nLTwas S Lkd d ge! hat W ° U,d eStabHsh Humphry Well, come along with me, and you shall have a home. Child (As she follows him out) Oh! Mister T . sent you to a lonely little girl. Mother said he would. ’ SUrC 7 G ° d haS SCENE II — Five days later. (Curtain falls) PLACE— Same as Scene I. Grandfather (He hobbles in dressed in an old suit that , ... around, and then, apparently satisfied that hr A vcrc f m 1 dust. He looks park bench) Well eveWius worted Zn I supposed I d have to hang around to myself for n te 1 d planned !t - Wh 3’ wmtlrl tia-ue it tlml cl-tit-r ri, a Y ea r Or tW-0. Blit AS lurk would have it that ship wrecked the second dav after °u tW °, ' But as luck escaped. Hal they will never In™ te I il „! “f ™ «« t Shivers ) But. it makes me stiHrof tea . r . . sal an d thus (Shivers) But, it makes me shiver to think of what mkrhtT’ “v thus , escaped ' way, I’ll get a peep into Humphry’s heart. t lave ka PP ened - Any- Lettie (Walks slorvly in, with her head turned and dmb • „ which Grandfather is on. She apparently does not tee him ° f ragged dress, but her face is clean, and her cold™ i She WCars m dlrty place. She looks tired.) ' curls are combed, and in l 9 [ Page 70 ]

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Humphry What! You are not going to leave us? I say you shall not, you have only been with us six months, and you stayed with brother Richard at least nine. Why, it seems hut yesterday that you came. Have you not been well cared for ? By my word, it shall go hard with . . . Grandfather Yes! yes! I have everything I desire. I just felt cooped up. Humphry But I fear you tax your strength. Well, I’ll see you later. (Kisses Grand- father’s hand, with the air of one zvho feels well pleased with himself.) I shall send a servant to attend to you. (Exits from right, Grandfather looks after him, then slozvly walks down right talking to himself.) Grandfather I wonder if he really cares for me; he and Richard are my only kindred. Could they play foul with me? If I only knew that it was not my money that they care for. But how am I to know ? (He sinks dozvn on a park bench, takes out the morning paper from his pocket and begins to read. Presently he starts and looks pleased.) A ship sails tomorrow for unknown parts. (Scratches his head) I have it, I’ll just leave on that ship. (Takes out a piece of paper, writes a few lines on it, and addresses an envelope, thrusts it in his pocket and hobbles off.) Humphry ( Carelessly dressed and looks as if he were made at the whole world ) The deuce! I don’t see why it isn’t interest. ng here as well as at Richard’s, 1 suppose the tight wad will make his will while he is there. I bet five dollars the old miser has gone to Richard’s, for he didn’t come in last night. ( Enters servant ) Servant Hyars yer mail, Marster. Misses say why don’t you’s come to you’s breakfast? Humphry (Taking the mail) Say to your Mistress that I shall not be present at break- fast. (Exits servant) Humphry (In deep thought) If I only knew what to do with all of his junk. (Slowly opening a letter) Why — why. It’s from the old man. (Reads aloud) “Humphry, I am sailing at six o’clock, on a ship for unknown parts. Some day I shall come back to your ever- welcomed fireside, and to your heart that has always welcomed me. Your Grandfather.” (With set jaws) Well, there’s just one thing to be done and that is to wait. Why, what is the matter, Kid? (A child of about eight years of age, is, lying on the ground not far from Hum-

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PHIMA I I f r 1 I it Grandfather (He regards her for a fezv minutes with a startled look, then moves nearer to her and speaks) Why child, how tired you look. Lettie (Looking up in surprise) I am tired, I ' ve been working hard from four o’clock until six (lightly). But I don’t mind. Mr. Humphry is so good to let me live in his home. Grandfather Humphry! Why, my child, how did this happen, what is your name? Lettie My name is Lettie Talmage. (Grandfather starts, and then, thinks deep while Lettie finishes speaking) My Mother and Father died, so Mr. Humphry found me here in the park, and carried me home with him. Servant (To Lettie) Has you run away, scamp, you was told to scrub the floor and wash the dishes. Lettie (Rising) But I’m so tired, and my arms ache. (Starts off) Servant (Muttering to himself as he zvalks off stage) She must be tired, but orders are orders, and anyway I can’t get myself into trouble, by not seeing that they are obeyed. Grandfather (Watching them exit) Lettie — Lettie, my old sweetheart, and this little girl is Lettie’s daughter. (Rising) Well, I must carry out my plans. (Sees Humphry enter, and drops quickly back upon the bench) Humphry (He stops and looks at Grandfather in surprise) Why — why! Grandfather Yes, Humphry, it is me. I’ve escaped, barely with my life. The ship and all my worldly goods that I possessed went down. ( Drops his face into his hands and weeps) Humphry, all of my money went down, there is nothing but myself left, not even an extra suit. I’ve been to Richard, but he drove me from his door. Humphry (Frowning) Then, why come to me? I’m not running an alms house. I’ve just picked up one little brat last week, and she doesn’t earn her salt. (Rises and starts out muttering) Grandfather Just as I expected. t Page 71 ]