St Margarets Academy - Dayseye Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 27 text:

S T . M A R G A R E T S AC A I) E M V M n n c .1 ]i o I i s , M i n n (Exit Herb.) (Pat. seats herself on davenport.) Pat.: I wish my own mother were here to advise me, now. (Sees scrap of paper.) What’s this? (Picks it up and reads.) Herbert must have dropped this. H’m, I wonder who this Alice is? Oh, well, it’s none of my affair. I’ll give it to him the next time he comes. (Puts paper in dress. Walksto table, turns out light. Sits on davenport.) Pat.: (Sleepily) I wish I knew what to say to him. (Head nods, and she is almost asleep.) (Young man is seen fumbling his way in thru door at R. Turns on light and as he does so Pat. awakens, but remains motionless. V. M. approaches mantelpiece, looks at picture.) Y. M.: (To picture) Dear little mother, I must see you. (At sound of voice, Pat. jumps up and looks over back of davenport.) Pat.: Who are you? Y.M.: (Very much surprised) Who are you? Pat.: What are you doing here? Y. M.: Well, what are you doing here? Pat.: I live here. Y. M.: You live here—but I don’t understand—Isn’t this Mr. Goodwin’s home ? Pat.: Yes, but still I don’t understand what you are doing here. Y. M.: 1 came to see Mother. (Pat. looks at him closely.) Pat.: Where have I seen you before? (Breaks off-—runs over to album. Ixx)ks at a picture in album then at Y. M.) Aren’t you—You are—I believe you are,—aren’t you ? Y. M.: (Slightly dazed) Who? Pat.: J ack Good win. Y. M.: Yes—anti you? Pat.: Why, I’m Patricia Lambert; Mr. Goodwin is my guardian. But you, why don’t you live here? Jack: Haven’t you ever heard the story of my disgrace? Pat.: Why, no. I never knew before tonight that there was such a person as Jack Goodwin. Please tell me about yourself. Jack: But are you sure that you would like to hear? Pat.: Certainly. (Seats herselfon davenport.) Jack: (Walking back and forth) It is a little over three years now that it all happened. As I was going through town tonight an overwhelming desire to see Mother came over me, so I came home, and now that I am here—if I could only stav—

Page 26 text:

M A K (; A K K T ' S A C A I) K M V :: Minneapolis, Minn. Both: (Rather coolly) Good evening. (Herb, helps Patricia on with cloak.) Her .: 1 hope I haven’t kept you waiting long. Pat.: (Laughingly) Oh, no longer than usual. Mrs. G.: Goodby, dear. Pat.: Goodby. (Exit Pat. and Herb.) (Mr. G. enters.) Mr. G.: Where are they going? Mrs. G.: They’re going riding. (Mr. G. rubs his hands with an air of satisfaction.) Mr. G.: Ah, they’re getting along nicely, I see. Mrs. G.: Somehow, John, I don’t quite trust Herbert. Mr. G.: Why, what’s the matter with him ? He has a fine position, good repu- tation, anil is as handsome as he can be. What more could you want? Mrs. G.: I know, but he is so different from our dear son. Mr. G.: Yes,our DEAR son. Would you compare Herbert with an embezzler? 1 lerbert is a l oy after my own heart. Mrs. G.: Yes, and 1 fear after Patricia’s, too. Mr. G.: (Walking up and down) To think that a son of mine should turn out to be a thief. Mrs. G.: Hut father, he is innocent. He was never proved guilty, and a man is always innocent until proved guilty. Mr. G.: Well, he never attempted to prove himself innocent,—but ran off' like a despicable coward! Now Herbert came to the front like a man and explained the whole thing. He was the one who showed us where the guilt lay. Mrs. G.: (With a sigh) Well, well father. Never mind, now. We’ve gone over this a thousand times. Let’s not dispute, any more. Come into the music room, dear, and try the new records. (Exit Mr. G. still sputtering.) Scene II (Enter I lerb. and Pat. talking as they enter.) Her .: (Tenderly) Won’t you say ‘‘yes’’—now? Pat.: (With troubled air) Please give me until tomorrow to decide! Her .: (Placing a little box on the table) I will leave this here and if you decide tonight, phone me. Pat.: All right. (I lerb., on drawing gloves from pocket pulls out a scrap of paper which falls unnoticed to the floor.) Her .: Good night, dear. Pat.: Good night, Mr. Sydney.

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ST. M A R G A R E T ’ S A C A I) E M Y :: Minneapolis, M inn. You see, although innocent, I was accused of------stealing some bonds from my father’s bank. Pal.: But couldn’t you have explained the circumstances which made you appear guilty? Jack: Yes, but for a promise I once made, and because of my father’s anger I absolutely refused to say anything, and ran off and enlisted, thinking the war would put an end to me. And now no one would believe me if I did try to explain. Pat.: I would. (Mr. (j. appears in door, starts to enter, stops and listens.) Jack: (Looks at Pat. gratefully) I am very glad, but (shakes head) I am afraid others would not be as ready to believe my story as you are. Pal.: Please tell me about it anyhow. (Jack seats himself near Pat. and remains silent for a few seconds.) Jack: During my senior year at college, because of a joke played on me by one of my companions, I was accused by the faculty of gambling. I was about to be expelled, when by the intercession of my chum, 1 lerbert Sydney— Pat.: (In surprise) Herbert Sydney? Jack: Yes, do you know him? Pat.: Yes, but please go on. I am very much interested. Jack: As I was saying, by the intercession of my chum, Herbert Sydney, my name was cleared. 1 was so grateful for his act that 1 rashly promised that if he ever needed my assistance in any way he could call on me. After leaving college Herbert and I worked together in Dad’s bank. We were good pals. When the bonds were taken the suspicion must fall on either Herbert or me and he took advantage of my rash promise and shifted the suspicion on to me,—when, as a matter of fact, he was the one who took the bonds. Pat.: (Starting up) Do you mean to tell me that Herl ert Sydney is a thief? Jack: (Putting head on hands) 1 knew you wouldn’t believe me. Pat.: Oh! But I do, and perhaps I can help you. (Draws note from dress.) (Hands it to him.) I found this note on the floor after Herbert had gone home. 1 read it, but diil not understand it then. I kept it, intending to give it to him the next time he came. (Jack reads it and becomes excited.) Jack: This helps clear me of suspicion. (Knter Mr. (».) Path.: If there is any evidence that could possibly clear you, 1 should like to see it. (Jacks whirls on him in surprise and anger—steps back proudly.) Jack: I fear, Sir, that any evidence I might offer would not be accepted by you. Pat.: Please let your father see the paper. (Jack looks at Pat. and then at father.)