Schuster School - Proscenium Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

Page 49 text:

THE. PAINTER Yes all, if but once more you will seem mine In spirit as in flesh. You used to be F- 01' was it all a dream? Had you a soul That somehow died when I essayed to grasp Thy beauty which escaped me, leaving naught But thy fair body? Has the rose I pressed Close to my hungry heart faded and diecl, StiHed With tenderness? Has thy soul fled, Or was it ever there? My little dream! Those days are gone: I thought you had a soul. PALMYRE I do not understand your talk of souls. I know I love you as I always have, And ever Will. My cousin is my kin, In trouble and in need. Your jealousy Has wrought strange fancies in your mind, and -e Well? Will you give me the sum? A thousand Iire. THE PAINTER And if I should refuse? PALMYRE IIII sell my ring. THE. PAINTER The topaz? PALMYRE No. That was sold long ago. No, I shall sell this one. ,Tis all I have. THE PAINTER The diamond I gave you at the birth Of our one Child. No, no, Palmyre, not that! PALMYRE. IDclermfnedI Then you must give to me the thousand lire. THE. PAINTER I cannot. But tomorrowe PALMYRE Will be too Iate. No. Tonight he either pays -- or dies. Oh! don,t you understand? It means his life! Now - will you let me sell the little ring, Or give me what he needs e the thousand lire? Page forty-scven

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IIPALMYRE enters. She is a beautiful woman. still quite young. Her eyes are rest- les as from a vague discontentj PALMYRE iDisappoinledJ Nlusing aloud again to naught but wind! i thought, when I heard your voice, someone haci come, My cousin, perhaps, returned. THE PAINTER What does he want? More money? PALMYRE, He has been unfortunate. THE PAINTER Unfortunate! Call him unfortunate! Yet he has held this little hand that mine Now closes round, and never is denied The beauty of that smile I used to know And thought to keep as mine forever. Well, if you Find pleasure in his company More than in mine, what matter. You were pleased When i could help your cousin With the gold Your portrait brought me. PALMYRE iExamining the painting impatientlyj This one not yet done! i thought to have a thousand lire more For him tonight. You cannot give it to me? THE PAINTER A thousand lire! PALMYRE Yes. You promised me i should have half the price of the Sunset here. i told him to return this evening. He'll come anon. I pray you, give it me. THE. PAINTER He comes again tonight? Have you forgot You promised me this one night to ourselves? Bear with me this once, and you shall see How well I'll work'for you. Tomorrow's sale Should bring thrice doubled the amount you ask. 1'11 pay your cousin's debts e- all of them. PALMYRE All! Page forty-six

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THE PAINTER LDeliberatelyswalch-ing the effect on henl No. PALMYRE IWI'UJ angry determinationj Then I shaII disobey. Lyle starts 10 gal THE PAINTER ICommands.I PaImyre. I556 stopsi Palmyre, you are my wife. Do you recall The day 1 brought you here? I held you thus, Thus - as I hold you now s close to my breast, And in the glowing splendor of your eyes There seemed to shine the answer to the call My heart sent out to yours. I have not changed. My love for you is constant as that star Which shines each evening over the lagoon. Either you never loved me, or that low: s From too great Cherishing, perhaps - has died. Tell me. To know you never cared for me Will hurt me Iess than feeling I have lost Through some unwitting cause, what once was mine. PALMYRE Oh, let me go! You hurt me, let me go! THE PAINTER Nay, do not struggle. Fear is in your eyes. I do not judge you. Yet you fear to stay A shadowy twilight through alone with me -- With me s who love you, Palmyre. PALMYRE Yes, I fear I I fear for him. He dies at dawn. O God! 0 let me pay! You do not understand - This ring wiII save him. It is but a stone, What is its worth compared to a mans life? THE. PAINTER I see, I see. PALMYRE You do not understand! THE PAINTER Yes, too well. The gallant gambler wins! Yes, I have known before, yet tried to blind My eyes. I was a coward. Truth is truth. Give me that ring and give him this to sell. EH6 gives her a ring from his fingerl 'TwiIl bring a greater sum. This little stone Was for the child. I will not have it sold. ' Page forty-eight