Holbrook High School - Echo Yearbook (Holbrook, MA)

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THE ECHO 11 had always known and respected the man. She knew and so did many others that he was not guilty, but an honest man whose fortune would some day go to the child she loved. But the hardest blow came when one morning she went to the nursery, and the child was gone. Nina (alarmed) : Gone? Who took him? Mother, this is terrible. Has he ever been found? Mary: No one knows. And we could be of no assistance, because she would not tell us the name. That is why I have always done what would please Martha, and dear, it has often been as hard for me as it has for you. Nina: Poor Martha! It’s the first time in my life that Eve ever sym- pathized with her. Wouldn’t it be just fine if we could find the child and bring him back to her? Mary: Yes; but I’m sure if he is still alive, he is no longer a child. That was years ago. He would be a young man now, and by right of heritage, a wealthy man. Nina : Has Aunt Martha any pa- pers that might be of some help, were the child found? Mary: She has some papers locked up in her room, but she has never shown me any. Nina: Poor Martha; Pm afraid that’s one thing she’ll never “dis- tinctly find in her book”. (Curtain.) ACT III. Scene : Same, two weeks later. (Nina sitting in a chair, a book in her lap.) Nina: Oh dear, what can I do? There’s Russel patiently waiting for an answer, and who knows when I’ll ever see him again? But poor Mar- tha. Funny how misfortune will af- fect different people . It’s the strang- est thing I’ve ever heard. Just think, fifteen years ago! Who could have taken the child, and I wonder if he’s still alive, ignorant of the fact that he is rich. (Picks up book and starts to read. Telephone rings. She an- swers it. Nina : Hello, — yes — no, I’m sorry but Martha is out, any — hello — (hangs up receiver) gone I guess; well, it couldn’t have been very important if they hung up so soon. (Sits down again, starts to read, deeply interested. Door bell rings.) Now, who’s coming? It must be Martha coming back after her book, and can’t get in. I sup- pose I’d better answer it, anyway. (Exit.) (Re-enter Nina with Russel Col- bey. Nina acts nervous, and not very pleased and congenial.) Russel : Why, Nina ! What is the trouble? What has happened? Aren’t you glad to see me? Nina : I never asked you to come, did I? Russel: Didn’t you want me? I thought that you did. Is that why you never wrote me? “Silence gives consent,” you know. Nina: Oh! Oh! Dear! I can’t explain now. At least, you could have said when you were coming. Russel : You never required that before. I’ll go right back if you wish. Nina: No, no, don’t go yet, I do want you — only — well, anyway, you must meet my mother. (Exit.) Russel : What on earth is the trouble? If it’s her mother that ob- jects to me, merely because I haven’t their opulence, I’d better go before she comes. (Enter Martha while Nina is out. She is greatly disturbed at seeing a man. Places hands on hips and clears throat to attract his atten- tion.) Russel (turning) : How-do-you- do? Martha (contemptuously) : How- do (stops short and stares at him) . Russel (asidje) : Another queei 4 character. What kind of place have I come to? If that’s Nina’s mother,

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10 THE ECHO all the time. I’ve been out. Martha: Out? Mary, — why, — will you allow that? What will the neighbors think — going out before nine o’clock? (Opens book.) And it distinctly says, somewhere, — here, that slang expressions as “pep” are not in good form. Nina (aside) : Now I’ve started something. Aunt Martha could change a spring morning to a thun- derstorm. (Curtain) . ACT II. Scene : Same. Time: Afternoon of same day. (Mary sitting in the chair. Nina enters, high spirited as usual, carry- ing the letter. She sits on the arm of the chair) . Nina: Is Aunt Martha around now? Mary: No, dear. And now you can tell me all about the letter dear. Martha has just gone out. (Nina starts to open letter when Martha unexpectedly comes in. She pushes the letter down, appearing to be frightened) . Mary: Haven’t you gone yet, Martha? Martha (excitedly) : Yes, no, — have you seen my book? I most for- got it. Oh, here it is; well, I’m off again. Good-bye. (Exit.) Nina : Land sakes ! Her book ; she couldn’t live without it. Where’d I put the letter? Mary: Now go on, dear, who is the letter from? Russel? Nina: Yes, and just think he’s coming ” Mary: Coming ? Why, Nina, dear, how dared you? Nina: But I thought you wanted to meet him. Mary: Yes, dear, I do, and I cer- tainly would have met him long ago if it had been possible for me to get out. As it is, you see — well — and besides, it’s Martha. Nina : Bother, yes ! Aunt Mar- tha, of course. I suppose I couldn’t die without first asking Martha if I might. Mary : It is a bit trying, but we’ll have to take life as it comes. Nina: In my opinion Aunt Mar- tha is making it go instead of come. Mary: Let’s say nothing more of Martha. It is hard, I’ll admit; but her life has been a trial. Now, about Russel. When did you say he was coming? Did you write to him? Nina: Of course I wrote to him. Goodness, been here two weeks now, and he’d surely want to know where I was. He doesn’t state when he’s coming. He just says soon. Mary: But Nina, never, never, can you let him come when Martha is around; she would never allow it. You know you never could mention any boy’s name when she was nigh. Nina: Mother, what, — oh! What can I do? It would be rude to tell him not to come now. Mary: I don’t know; we’ll just trust to fate. He won’t come any- way until you write him, will he? Nina: No, I suppose not. But I do want to see him and I was so hap- py this morning . Say, mother, what is the trouble with Martha any- way? Was she disappointed in love or something? Mary: Martha in love? She might have been, but there never was any serious infatuation on her part. It’s a strange and sad tale about poor Martha. She always was and always will be, an elder sister to me. Years ago, Martha was a nurse for a little boy, and how she did love that child ! She cared for it as her own. The child’s father was a wealthy and honest banker. Martha took the place of mother when his young mother died. She never told us much about it afterwards. We have never even been able to find out the name. From what we have been able to gather, the boy’s father was falsely accused of being connected with a bank rob- bery. It hurt Martha much ; she

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12 THE ECHO I take the next train back to New York. (To Martha) Pardon me, are you Mrs. Bates? Martha: No, sir; I am not. I am Mrs. Bates’ sister (still staring.) And what is your business here? Russell: Just a little business with Miss Bates. Martha (quite nervously) : Is your name Colbey? Russel: It is, madam. So you have heard of me before? Martha: Heard of you? Was your father the Hon. Russel Colbey, and you the Junior Colbey? Russel (sadly) : I believe I carry my father’s name, but of him I know very little. He died when I was young. What knowledge have you of the Senior Colbey? Martha: Just fifteen years ago, I worked for him. I was the nurse for his son. You are the exact like- ness of your father, and I hope you are like him, and always will be. Russel (excitedly) : Like him! You! I’ve always been brought up to learn that my father was a scoundrel. And me like him. (Enter Nina and Mrs. Bates, walking very slowly and steadily. Martha goes over to help her.) Martha: Be careful, Mary. (Nina is very much alarmed at seeing Mar- tha here with Russel, but notices that she does not seem cross). Nina: Russel, let me present my mother and aunt ” Russel: I believe, Nina, that your aunt and I have made our acquaint- ance before. Martha (overjoyed) : Mary, this is Russel Colbey, Jr., Pm sure, and he is the very likeness of his father. Mary: But Martha, do I know Mr. Colbey? Martha: No; I don’t think you do, but do you remember the boy whose nurse I was fifteen years ago? Mary and Nina: Is Russel the child? Martha : Yes, and oh, this is the happiest day of my life. Let me go up and get those papers of proof. The boy deserves the rightful share of his father’s fortune. Russel: Wasn’t my father bad, then? Martha: Bad? Certainly not! And I for one have proofs of that. (Rushes out of room before she is through.) Nina: Russel, I am so glad you came. I’ll explain some other time for my former coolness. Russel (quite disturbed) : This is too much, I don’t understand it. (En- ter Martha with papers.) Nina: Why didn’t you show these papers before, Aunt Martha? Martha : I knew I’d find the child. For the last fifteen years I’ve lived in hope of some day finding the child I loved. Mary and Nina : And you have found him. Russel : And life isn’t so bad af- ter all. Martha : Come, Mary, let me help you out. (Picks up book.) I dis- tinctly remember reading that love is quickened when left alone, and Russel deserves the love of someone else now. End. Miss M. (the day after the vocab- ulary test) : “Mr. Inglis wrote two of these tests, but he died when he was making his third one.” Senior: “I don’t blame him. I should think he would have.” Some teachers just love to open the windows on cold days. We of course think that is terrible but we must realize that too much hot air is not very good for us.