Grinnell College - Cyclone Yearbook (Grinnell, IA)

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RODNEY. Run on ahead, Willetts, and open the door, can't you? H Miss WQOLSGN Lover his shoulderj. Here is the key, Mr. Wil- letts. LWilletts runs on ahead.-To Rodneyj I'm afraid I'm awfully heavy, Mr. Rodney. RODNEY fpuffiingj. Oh not at all. Miss WOOLSON ffervently to Willetts, who has opened the doorj. Oh, fbnnk you, Mr. Willetts. No, you'lI not need to come in. Mr. Rodney can do all that is necessary. You're awfully kind. Good night. WILLETTS fstill frantically clutching her hand as she passesj. Oh, Miss Rodney! I'm so sorry. I'm afraid it was my fault. I shall never forgive myself. ' RODNEY fgrimlyj. Cut short your adieux, if you don't mind, Willetts, and try to remember that the lady's name is Woolson. fWith emphasisj WILLETTS. Oh, yes, I beg your pardon, both of you. I- MISS WOOLSON fsweetly, over Rodney's shoulderj. Good night, Mr. Willetts. Uhe door shuts. Willetts still stands open- mouthed, staring at it. After some time a light dawns on his face. He puts his hands in his pockets, raises his eyebrows and puckers his lips into a prolonged whistlej SCENE IV. Miss WooIson's parlor'-Rodney is seen staggering in with that lady in his arms-I-Ie deposits her in an easy chair, then gets a hassock, and kneeling, lifts her foot gently upon it-Still kneeling, he draws out a handkerchief and wipes his brow. . RODNEY. Is that right, Miss Woolson? MISS W. Perfectly. Oh, poor Mr. Rodney! lshall always reproach myself for letting you tire yourself this way. You are so warm! fShe touches his face lightly with her handkerchief. He catches her hand as if to carry it to his lips, but, restraining him- self, bends low over it and rises, assuming a conventional tonej Don't mention it. It was a pleasure, I assure you. ljHe retires to a safe distance and stands looking down at her. She winces, and, leaning over, clasps her ankle.j RODNEY fwith disproportionate solicitudej. You are in pain. Let me call some one. fl-Ie returns and kneels again beside her.j Miss W. fbehind her handkerchiefj. No. LShe reaches out a restraining hand, which he clasps Hrmlyj It is nothing-a little twinge, it will be over in a moment. RODNEY Knot in full command of his voicej. But you must have assistance. We makes as if he would support her with his other arm, but again restrains himself with a visible effort.j I MISS W. Hooking up 'after a moment and gently withdrawing ,her hand from his, of which she seems conscious for the first timejl.

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How do you know it isn't the other way, that Mr. Rodney doesn't like me? WILLETTS flooking at her with an unmistakable expressionj. Unimaginable! MISS W. Oh-h-h! And you said that you never say anything clever! WILLETTS tbluntlyj. I never do. That's only truth. MISS W. Csweetlyl. Oh then falsehood is your synonym for clever. I think I got the impression a moment ago that you thought me clever. I thank you for the implication I am sure. WILLETTS ffloundering againl. I-now Miss Woolson-you know that I don't mean that-you know what I think of you-you know I think- MISS W. thastily averting the strokel. But you may have hit on the very reason that Mr. Rodney and I are antagonistic, if, as you seem to think, we are alike. People are said to like their op- posites, you know. WILLETTS Cbrighteningl. Do you think that? MISS W. Cwith her eyes on the distance where Rodney is taking leave of Miss Bowenl. Oh there must be something in it. WILLETTS. Because if you do, there may be some hope for me. MISS W. tin the double consciousness that she is within a step of home and that Rodney is approachingy. t'While there's life, there's hope they say. CAdds hastily with some consternation at the ex- pression of his facej I am afraid you have forgotten Mr. Rodney's warning, Mr. Willetts. ' ' WILLETTS. No, no I haven't. If I could forget Ishould have asked you long ago to let me go with you to the con- 1 MISS WOOLSON fasidej. The fates forfend! tAloud, in a tone of painj Oh! tshe deliberately steps off the sidewalk and lets her- self carefully downl Oh! LRodney is seen to hasten his stepsj VVILLETTS Qin great trepidationl. Oh Miss Woolson-Gladys, what has happened? What can I do? tHe spins around helplessly.j MISS W. Oh don't be frightened, Mr. Willetts. It is nothing, a little sprain perhaps. I shall be allright in a moment. QAttempts to rise as Rodney passes stiftly with lifted haty. Oh-h! CShe sinks down again with a cry of pain.! Rodney pauses irresolutely, then turns and comes back. RODNEY Ccurtlyl. Good evening, Willetts. What is it? What has happened? WILLETTS tdancing about distractedlyp. Oh Miss Woolson has sprained the sidewalk-she stepped oft her ankle--and she's dread- fully hurt and I don't know how to get her home. You see she cantt get up and I-the tries to raise her by pulling at her arm.j MISS W. Oh! tas if in great pain.J RODNEY Ccontemptuously brushing Willetts asidej. By your leave. tl-Ie stoops and picks her up in his arms. J MISS WOOLSON Cin dismayp. Oh Mr. Rodney! tShe clasps him about the neck. J WILLETTS ffranticallyj. Ah-Oh-Cantt I help--I-isn't there something- ..24..

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I I There, it is over now. You mustn't trouble to wait any longer, Mr. Rodney. You have done so much already. RODNEY. Don't say trouble again. I forbid it. iQAdds more seriouslyj I hate to leave you suffering. ' MISS W. It is very kind of you, but l shall get on. RODNEY lzstill solicitousj. You won't attempt to walk on it, promise me, Glad-er-Miss Woolson. The consequences might be serious, you know. . MISS W. fsmiling a little sadly without appearing to notice the slipj. I promise that I'll not do myself any injury. LAfter Va pause as if in after-thoughtj I can call some one, you know. RODNEY Lwith great reluctancej. I suppose, then, I must con- sider myself dismissed, and go. I Q MISS W. Cholding out her hand in farewell, quotesj. Don't use that word, lforbid it. I can't thank you enough, Mr. Rodney. fLooks up at him with dangerous gratitudej RODNEY fwith an effort at carelessness, though still holding the handj. Itll run in in the morning if you will let me, may I? MISS W. Izdemurelyj. It would be very kind of you, I am sure. Roouev Iimore cheerfully, but with a lingering notej. Then, good night MISS W fwith great sweetnessj Good ni ht M1 Rodnev U-Ie goes out slowly j MISS W Lsmks back Ill her chfur with a little dreamy smile After a moment she rouses herself, and snatching up a hand mirror from the table regards herself complacently, remarking in a musing tone at the same timej I don't more than half believe he'll take Nellie Bowen to the concert after all. SCENE V. Miss WooIson's boudoir-The curtain rising discovers her moving hastily up and down and wringing her hands. A MISS WOOLSON. I-Ie will be here soon and I must tell him that I deceived him, even though he despises me for it I must tell him Qtragicallyb-It is right 3 it is just-tAdds in a more practical tonej besides he's so clever, he'd find out if I didn't tell-fthe bell ringsl Oh, there he is Qseats herself hurriedlyy--I'll work up to the con- fession-I won't tell him right off at Hrst. MAID. Mr. Rodney, ma'am. MISS W. Show him up, Geraldine. fAlonej Since I'm in the wrong there is nothing for me to do but brow-beat him. It is the only way I can ever keep my self-respect. RODNEY Lat the doorj. Ah, good morning Miss Woolson. I feared you might repent of your promise to let me in. No fhas- tening forward to prevent her from risingj, don't attempt to stand. Uelis manner is still solicitous 1 MISS W fdistantly but giving him her handj You are a brave side? . ' ' . 'g , '. ,. A. ' , g-' ' - ' , - . V man, Rodney, to dare the Inferno. Did you leave hope out'- -26e-- '