TANNWALD A DRAMA JOHN S. HITTELL, Author of "The Resources of CaUfornia," " A Brief History of Culture," Etc. San Francisco: Alta California Print, 529 California Street, 1878. I TANNWALD JOHN S. HITTELL, Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1877, by John S. Hittell, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. San Francisco: Alta California Print, 529 California Street, JS78. // n TMP96-0 Jb^2 T^NN^^^ A.L13 . PBSFACB, Why is it that no play foundacl upon Goeths'a " Faust " has had any notable success savs such as could be given to it by fine music or scenic effects ? The story of Margaret is one of the most tragic ever written ; Mephistopheles is a brilliant character ; the dialogue is remarkably eloquent, witty and poetical ; the piece, though not prepare:! for the etage by the author, is dramatic in its form, and seems to furnish almost unequalled material for playwrights ; and jet, Ef ter a hundred have tried it, the successful one is Btill to be found. Not having examined their com- positions, I shall not undertake to criticise them, but so fdr as I know anything of them, all give prominence to Mephistopheles, the supernatural and the scenic effects, and I have made another attempt, excluding everything but the human characters and natural influeuces, develop- ing some personages which are mentioned in the original, and adding others. Out of two dozen scenes, three-fourths are entirely my own. I do not publish "Tannwald" without at least partly appreciating its defects. I should have been glad to reduce the number of characters, and to give brilliancy and eloquence to ihe dialogue if I knew how. The translation of Margaret's song, "The King of Thule," is taken from an anonymous writer. H. Country — Austria. Time — In the Rsign of Charles V. Chakactees -Heney Fau3T, Professor in Vienna ; John Slack, his friend, and Cousin of Baroness - Both ; Mr. Albsbt, Faust's servant ; Count DiOK ; Msjor HoHENrHAL ; Captain Lovenstein ; Mr. Helfenstein, a barber ; Mabgabet Haktz, a village girl ; Mrs. Hartz, her mother ; Baeba- BA Makes, Margaret'^ cousin ; Mrs. Marks, Bar- bara's mother ; Mrs. Martha Sweelin, Mar- garet's cousin ; Mrs. Kline ; Mrs. Pbinz ; Miss Behs ; Miss Qbees ; Lina, Miss Bihr's servant ; Valentine, Margaret's brother ; Baron Rittee- STiHL ; Major Mxee ; Commissary Wetzel ; Sol- dierp. ; Paymaster Fdhb ; Lteut. Oaemony ; An- THiNY SwEBLiN, Ritterstahl's servant; Soldiers and Peasantti ; Baroness Roih, Lady of Tann- wald Castle. Act I. SCENE I— Room in Tannwald Castle. Baroness Roxa, Mr. Sl\ck, Count Dick, Captain Love "OSTEIN, M^jor HoHEsra.^L, AtiSSiir, Helf- EN3TEIN, and Oihers. Bakonbss — Cousin Slack, I fear that your friends- acoustomed as they are t) court life, will .ind it dull in Tannwald. Slack— These gentlemen are fond of the chase, and there is no better place for game than the moun- tains back of the Oa^tle. Xhs Baron bag already gone ^ith us to the stables and assigned oar horses to us. BAaoNES.o — What will become of Prof. Faust? Slack - Me can follow us in charge of a game- keeper, until he learns to ride. Then he can amuse himself fishing, and occasionally we will go down to the village and see itj attractions. BAE0KE9s_It has none. Slack _0, cousin, a lady is not supposed to know ail that attracts gentlemen. When I was here last Summer, I spent many hours there. Two dozen vil- lage oeauties want the attentions of men from the court. Baud NESS — They are poor people; we never asso- ciate with them. Slack — The young men can drink and sing ; the girls can dance and flirt. Count Dick_You are the man for us, Mr. Slack. Take ns among them. Baroness —If jou wish, I will sometimes Invite them to the Castle. Count Ciok -That would be still beltsr. Please do ; wa cmnoi) ride after the hounds every day. Slags — Tuey will be delighted to come, and we will have all the fun we want. BABONESS—Thea, in a couple of weeks, we will have a ball here. In the meantime, I wish you all to enjoy yourselves, and if anything is necessary to your comfort, tall me or the Baron or my cousin Slack, and it will be attended to. [Exit Baroness.'] Count Dick [TiJ Slack ] — As you have met these village girls, you must tell us about them. Slack _I have met only a few of them, but vil- lage girls are all alike ; they will drop their coun- try lovers as soon as they can have the attention ol men from the Court. I suppose you all know how to make love, and if you do, have only to take your choice ; you must not spare compliments, presents, promises or entreaties. That is a philoaopiiy that perhaps Prof. Faust could never learn. Albert I don't know about that. He says he is tired of his books. Slack — The more the merrier. All should join in, servants as well as masters. The servants are equal in rank to the villagers. But wa should observe the rule that there ia to be no competition. If one of oar narty shows a preference for a girl, the others should bestow their attentions elsewhere. Count Dick— Yon have already selettid the belle of the village, then? Slack —The rule U good on its merits as you will agree after a little experlenoe. There are enough pretty girls for all the gentlemen of the party. The servants must permit me to select Che ladles to whom they can pay attention so as to avoid any clashing. Ooxjs-c DioK -Yoa evidently understand this thing. Sjjlok -Tea, I bave seen It before- OoOiiT DioK— We trust everything to yonr msnage- ment. SCENE II — Mrs. Habtz's Honge. Mrs. Habiz, aod Mrs. Mabes. Mbs. JIabes— Have yoa beard of tbe visitors from VleDoa. Wbs. Habtz— No. Mbs. Mabks —About a dczen gentlemen bave come to spend a montb or two atTannwald. Mas, Habtz —Wbat kind of people are thej ? Mbs. MiEKS-Tbey belong to tbe Court and stop at tbe castle. One of tbem is Mr. Slack, tbocoueia of tbe Baroness ; he was at tbe castle last Sumnaer for a wbile. Kr3. Haetz— l3 he tbo young fellow that was at- tentive to Barbara? Mbs. Maeks - Tbe same one. And then there is the Baron's boy, the Page of tbe Archduchess. They watt to g' t him transferred to the service of the Empress, and are trying to make friends for bim. And some of these people have icfinence. There's a Professor, and a Count, and jeversl offi- cers from tbe Army. Mbs. Haetz -Weil, I suppose they will net notice the villagers ? Me3. MARKS_Oh, yes they will. The Baroness met Barbara out walking, and was very civil to her, and invited her to the castle and told her to bring her friends along. Mas. Haetz— It ia tbe first time that she ever epoke politely to anybody that did not belong to tbe Couitor the Nobility. You will not let Barbara go ? Mrs. Mabks — Ceitainly I will. Mk3. Hartz As soon as tbe visitors leave, tbe Baron and Baronses will be the same as before. Mrs. Maeks _I don't care for that. Mbs. Haeiz — I would. There is no good from trying to associate with people so much above you, Mbs. Masks— Barbara lived in the castle at Lin- dengau for a while, and she knows as much and has as good manners as these Court people, and she is just as good as they are, if she is poor. So long as ttie Baroness seeks her company, I shan't objsct. The Baroness «poke to Barbara of Margaret and wanted her to come, too. Mbs. Habtz _I do not like tbe idea of girls so young going to balls. Mbs. Marks — We went when we were young. Mbs. Har]Z— I have not forgotten; but that's where I learned the danger. Mrs. Mabk3 — Margaret must get accustomed to society. Mbs. Haetz— She sees enough of society now. She visits yonr house and Mrs. Swerlin's and goes to church every Sunday. Mbs. Mabks — Let her become acquainted with the ladies and gentlemen of the Court. Let her sea how the Court ladies act and dress. Mb3, Haetz— Margaret is a poor girl and would be made miserable by the insolence and Que dresses and jewelry of tbe Court ladies. Mas. Maeks— She would make them miserable with her fine face. MBi. Haetz -I want her to be contented with her bumble station in life. Mb?. Marks- Tou may make her discontented by your strictness. Will you not let Margaret go, then? Mas. Habtz — I do not like t3 let two such young girls go witbout any older person to look after them. [A Icnock at the door.] Mbs, Habtz -.Come ia. Unter Mrs. Swerlin. Mas. MAEK3— We were talking about tbe ball. Mbj. Swbblin— The Baroness caoae to see me, though she never spoke to me before and invited me to come and bring Margaret. Mb"?. Habtz— Do you intend to go? Mas. SwEELiN — The Baroness was very urgent, and I promised to come if I could get either Margaret or Barbara to come with me. Mrs. Habtz _l suppose I will have to let Margaret go if you will keep constant charge of her and Barbara. Mbs. Sterlin-I will. Mbs. Habtz —Have you beard of your husband lately. Me3, 8wERi,iN_Not since he was wounded in the ba tie near Pariua, six months ago. Mrs. HABiz—Will it look well for yon to go to & ball? Mrs. SwEBLiN— I can't stay away for that. It will be bad enough to sSiut myself up when I know that he Is dead ; he has been wounded several times before, acd always got well. He never sends any word to me, and when I hear from him it is only by accident. Ttie wives of other soldiers often get letters. If Attiony intends to Ije a soldier all his life, and act this way, it don't matter much to mo whether he is alive or dead. SCENE III- Street in Tannwald. Sunday, near the church doors. Slack, Faust, afterward MAaaAEEi and Mrs. SWBBLIN. Fafst — Your friends in Tannwald are very kind to me. Slack — They do not often see people from Vienna. They have great respect for you. They Qlmost tremble when they talk to you. A famous Professor is something godlike, in their opinion. Faust —1 remember well what an awe I had of the Professors when I first entered college. I never looked at one without seeing a halo of glory aboub big head, in my imagination. A Professor; a man that had written a book ; I considered myself as a mure worm by his side. Evan the senior students shared something of t'ae almost divine majesty, as it appeared in my mind. The better I knew them, tho less I revered them, and when 1 became a Pro- fessor, I could not but laugh at the awe of the young stuients, who, however impudent among their asso- ciates, are terrified when I look at them sternly. Slack _I think it is a wise rale of the University that the Professors must not put themselves on a level w;tt» tbe common people. Faust -I do not ; but I am not a Professor here. I came here for enjoyment, and want to drop dignity. I have made a fool of myself Dy ependina all my Ufa among booka. I hope to see more of jovial company hereafter, tLACK— You will be welcome everywhere. Faust - A succession of peculiar accidents haa made a recluse of me since my childhood. Si.iCK —You have a reputation for sanctity as well as for learning. FAUiT— It is the sanctity imagined by ignorance and folly. I supposed that the only enjoyment of life was in baoks. I know all that thei-e is in tbem, and tiat much in them is false. They pratand to give man the truth, and tie him up in a net of lies. I am tired of metaphjsios, tired of seclusion, tired of celibicy. Slack - Of celibicy I You know t^at the grsE* Professors are sometimes made Cardinals ; and whea they talked of giving you the title of Eminence, it eld not displease yon. Fatjst— No. It did not ; bnt it wos only talk, and I do not feel like waiting. I almost donbt If I would accept a Cardinal's tiat to-day. Slack — The talk was very serions. I Iieard the Archduke Otinrlea Bay the Emperor wanted fie icfl'i- enoe which your learning and eloquence would exer- oiae at liome. Faost— And how much happier would I be for that? I would like the power of a OiTdinal at Vienna ; but at Borne, unless there were a good pros- pect to be Pope, I would not give a Bg for it. Be- sides, I have no faith. I should have a better t'me living on the estate of my ftt ler, the other side of younder mountain, with a wife and children. I am not lit to live the life of a mock any locger. Look at that girl— ,1 would like such a young woman for a Wife. [Enter Margaret ani Mrs Siverlin.] Slack — I can make you acquaitt'd with her. FAVax— She is beautiful, and carries herself well. Slack- She is the pr;de of the town. She has a brave heart, and is an excellent housekeeper and nurse. When the plague was here, two years ago, though she was very young, she faced the danger everywhere, and saved several lives and mitigated much suffering. Besides, she has a good wit of her own, Faust — I would like such a woman for a wife. Black — You can make love to her, at any rate. [Margaret's fianikerchief drops ; Faust picks it up and gives it to her ] FaUjT — Permit me. MARsaRST — Thank you for the trouble. Faust — The trouble is most welcome that gives me an excuse for speaking to you. [She looks at him; their eyes meet; he bows ; she Muthes and looks down, and she and Mrs. iSwerlm pass on j Faust.— T would like to know whether she dropped her handkerchief purposely. Slack No ; I was observing them from the mo. ment when they cama out of ttie church. Tbey did not see U3. Margaret is too modest to do anything to attract the advance of a sSranger, She is simple, hearted. I do not know her, but I know of her. Faust — Simple. 'aearted or not, she is lovely. You must make me acquainted with her, and maaage so that I can keep up the acquaintance. Slack — Good ; you will meet her at the ball. FAUiT — it the ball? That's a long ways off. Can't yon arrange it sooner ? Black [aside J — ®li, ho I he'll jump in'o the trao. I will try. [ Exit Faust.] Slack _I know from what Birbava hts told ma that Mrs. Hartz would never let him come to the house. Mrs. Siverlla'a is the place wherd ttiey must meet ; but how to manage Mrs. 8 werliii, so that she Will consent, la a queaiion ? I ha^e is. I will re- port fie deat'i of her husband, git Alhort tj prom- ise to marry her, and she will do anything t> please Albert's master. 1 Enter Albert \ Slack— Did I not hear yon siy that when you were at Ritterstihl's cimp, a'tirtbe Buttle of Padua, yoa saw a Mr. Siverlln amoag cha wounded ? Albert— Yos, sir. Slack —Did you know the man ? Albebi— No, sir. Slaok— Do you know tola Oral; nama or where he aame from ? Albert— No, sir. Sl^ok - Of what company he was in ? ALBERT — Nor that either. I saw him only once, and would not have remembered him if Ritteretahl had not said he had seen a man that recovered from a wound just like that. It was a large spear wound In the right breast. Slvck — Th;\t was as mush as to eay that there was little chance for Swerlin to live? Albbrt— I so Jinderstood 1*. Slack— Well, he must havabaen the husband of a Mrs. Swerlin that lives here. She can be of much servica to Professor Faust, and I need your assist- ance with her. The professor is in love with her cou3in, Miss Hartz, and wants to meet her at Mrs. Swerlin's House. Now, to get her to be favorable, I am going to tell her that her husband is dead, and that you and I both saw him die. And then I want you to make love tj ner, and, if necessary, promise to marry her. Bat you need net keep the promise unless you want to. Does that suit you? Albert— Yes, if you say so. Slack— It will be the better for both of us. SCENE IV— Mrs. Swerlin's House. Margaret, Mrs. Sw£BLiN and Slack. Margaret — Oh, Mrs. Swerlin 1 Mrs. Swerlis — What's the matter? Margaret- A servant man came to the house this morning, and brought me this box. He said it was a present for Margaret Bartz. Just eee what ele> gant jewelry. Mrs, Swerlin — That's ever so nice. Who senfe it ? It is fit for a Princess. Margaret — The man went away as soon as he gave it to me, and I did not think to ask any ques- tions. Mrs, Swerlin — Did you know the man ? Margaret- I never saw him before. Mrs. Swerlin— Then Professor Faust sant it. Margaret — Why should a great man care for such a poor girl as I am ? Mrs. Swerlin —Because he is a mas. Margaret — He has a majesticlook. Mrs. Swerlin- The first thing that a pretty girl has to learn ia that her face puts her on a level witb the highest rank. Margaret— I can see it in Professor Faust's face that lie is an honorable man. Mrs. Sweslin- You talk as if you knew all about men. The more you learn, the less you know. They av,^ as bad as women, and you can not say anything worse of them. But let ns look at these things. It ia a complete set — necklace, bracelet, breasipin, earrings, and finger-rings. The ladies at Oourt do not wear richer jewelry tlian that. MARa.4RET -But alas ! what good will they dome? I dare not wear them. I am afraid to let mother know I have them. She says jewels are the Devil's uniform. 4nd then I never go anywhere except to- church, and thsf would not do there. Mrs. Swerlin— Well, coma to my house and pufe them on here as much as you please. [Sojrte om knocks.'^ Margaret— (3-ood heavens 1 What if that ia my mother? Mrs. Swerlin [peeping through the eurlain] — No it is a strangd gentleman ; that friend of Professor Fiust. [.4Zo«d] Come in, [Esit Margiret, Enter Mr. Slack. ] Slack -Does Mrs. Swerlin live here? Mrs. Swerlin — Yes, sir. Slack — I have a tuessage for yon ; I wish it were not so sad. I come to tell you of the death of your husband, Anthony Swerlin, Mrs. Swerlin— My dear Anthony dead I Oh, I shall faint. [She siti down andweeps.'^ Slack — Three months ago I was present at bit deathbed in Padna. Mas. Sw£BLiN — Are yoa certain that it was my liusband ? Slack — Anthony Swerlin, husband of Martha SwerliQ of Tannwald. Mb^. Sweblin — The same I the same t Oh, my An- thony ! 1 shall never get over the shock ! Slack — He was buried with the honors that be- came a brava soldier. Mb3. swEiiLiN — What token of his affection did he eena me ? Slack. — Nothing, save a request that you would liave 300 masses said for his eoul. Mrs. gwEELiN — Not even a breastpin or a bracelet ? Why, every soldier eaves some trinket as a keepsake for his sweetheart, even If he has to beg his way home. Slack — Madam, he bitterly lamented his misfor- tnnes. Mbs. Sweblin — ilas ! How unlucky some men tre, I win, indeed, say many a requiem for his soul Slaoe — Before he died he repented for all his sins and received absolution. Ha was sorry that he had deserted his wife and bis trade, and that ha could not see you to beg your forgiveness. Mbs. Sweblin [weeping] —Poor fellow. I have locg forgiven him. Slack— But then he said jou were more to blame than h». Mrs. SwaRLiN--Oh, the liar. Couldn't he tell the truth even on the eiJge of ttie grave ? Black — I am sure he slandered yoa. He said you were gadding about all day long, equandericg every cent you could lay jour hands on, and scolding when you came home at night. Mbs. Sweblin — A scamp, to tell such falsehoods about a faitbfui wife. Slack- After all, beseemed to think kindly of you, for he spoke of having at one battle taken a good Share of booty which he laid by for you. Mbs. SwBELiN— How? Where? Did he bury the money ? Slack -The Lord knows. He did not stick to his VirtuouB resolutlonfi. VPhile he was having a jolly time In Naples, after a hard campaign, he fell in with a handsome young lady who did him many favors, of Which he thought of every day till he died. Mrs. Swebun— Oh, the villain ! How he could forget Ms poor wife in that waj ? Nothing conid stop his shameless life. Slack -Alas, he is dead. But mourning will bs- ■eoma you. I should not wonder if you had another husband within a year. Mas. SwEELttj- On, Lord ! Anthony was a good goul, after all. I might hunt a long time without finding another lllro him. Everybody had to bs merry when he was about. Bat. then he would get drunk and gamble, idle away his time, go in debt and run after strange women. Slack — The best fish are not all caught. I wish I were settled down ad had a wife as good aa you are. Mrs. SwERLiM Oh ! you're jokiDg. Slack [asiciej -She would marry tho devil him- self. [Aloud ] Permit me (o take my leave. Mrs. pweblist — One moment ; have you aiiy cer- tlScate of my liusb.Tnd's death ? Slack No ; but Mr. Albert, who is also stopping at the castJp, was with me when your husband died ; and he and I together will make an aifi Javit of the deatii. Mrs. SwEBLis-Then you are one of t'le party at the csstle. I thought so when you came in. Ire- member seeing you with Prof. Faust last Sunday in front of the church. The Baroness has invited me 'to the ball, and I am ever eo anxious to go, for I Esver met courtiers, and I have been told that they make themselves so agreeable to ladies. I hope yoa will come to see me again. I don't like to stay away from the ball, though people will talk. I wish I had not heard of his death till after the ball was over. Slack— I beg you, do not think of staying away. We are all bachelors in our party, and if ihe ladies avoid us, we shall soon be tired of Tannwald, lou n?ed not tall, and I will keep it to myself till after the ball, and then tell you as something new in the presence of some of your friends, Mrs. Sweblin — Thank you ; that will do nioely« SCENE V — Ball at the castle ; promenaders in couples ; Mabgabet, Barbara, Mrs. Sweblin, Mrs. Kline, Mrs. Fbinz, Miss Behb and Miss Obeen sitting down ; some gentlemen standing up on the other side of the room ; Mr. Slack brings up Prof. Faust to Miss Hsbiz, introduces him, and they walk off arm-in-arm ; Mr. Slack introduces a walking gentleman to Mrs. Pbinz, and they promenade ; Mr. Slack brings Albert up to Bab- BiEA, introduces him and says [aside to her] : Mr. Slack — I will leave you in charge of Mr. Albeet till I have leisure to come for you [Albert and Barbara promenade.'^ Mr. Slack [to Selfcnstein]~I will introduce you to Miss Eehe, the lady in red, and I hope you will make yourself as agreeable to her as possible. Helfensxein' — Oh, Lord ! Mr. Slack, she's a fright. I expected there would be something beltar for me. Slack — It's the best I can do. Don't be afraid — she's a woman. Helfenstein — Well, if I must, I must. Slack — Slie has money, Helfenstein — That is a different affair. Much of it ? Slack — Yss, she's rich and want j a husband. Helfenstein — .She is handsome now. Do you think she would take me? Slack — Glad to get you, if you manage it right, Helfenstein — That suits me exactly. I am tired of the razor. Recommend me, and tell me what I must do Slack — She teaches the village school, and is vain of her learning, though she does not know anything. Attack her on the weak side. Uompliment her on her literary altiinments. You picked up enough Latin while you were barber at the University to impose on her. Helfenstein — Will it do to say, "hie, haec, hoe? Quo usfue tandem abuiere Catalinoi, nostra patientia f" Slack — That's it 1 Use a few such phrases oooa- sioaally, and don't answer any questioas about the grammar ; though she knows precious little of it. Helfenstein — I have not been a barber among the studeot! for nothing. Slack — Da not say anything about your business, and make as much progress in your suit to-ni;^ht as you can. She is ia an excelleai humor with the honor done her by inviting hpr lo the Oastle, and it will be much easier for you to get a position now than some other time, when she has had leisure for consideration, and flnds out that you are only a barber. After she has committed herself, she will find It. hard to draw bick. Helfenstein — I will do my best Slack [t iking up H'.lf^.niiein to Miss Bthr.\ — Miss Bal-ir. lot me introduce Mr. Helfenstein, a" dlstin. gnished gaQtleman of rhe Oourt. ^She rises and makes a ridiaulnus eourti-fy and grimace ] Helfen TEiN [bowing with ahaughtg and distant oirj — Shall I have the pleasure of your company for tho, promenade ? Mv-B BEii'B [takivff his aj-m] T nsTer expeoed to enjoy eneU au bonor. 8I1AOK oEfara hi-; arm to Me3. Swerlin and prome- nades. Mes. Klinis and JVliis Gbben lelt sitting alone, look at each other. Miss Gbeen — ^hat has become of all the gentle- wen ? Me3. Kline — Mr. Slack is the manager of the party, and he .ividently does not inlecct to provide OS with partners. Mis3 Gbeen — T told you so, but you would insist on coming. Mb3 Kline — You ware much more anxious to oomH than I was. Miss Gbeen — -No auoh tUing. These people are so mightily stuck up that they are not lit {or polite company. I told you so. I will never come to another party at this Castle. [Be^fims'ein and 3Iiss Belir come forward. 1 Helfenstein — The fame of your literary acoom- pUshmtnts reached me at Vienna, Miss liehr, and the desire of makintt jour aequiiintaiQce was one o.f my naoliveg for acceptiug the invitation of Baron Eott to viBit his delightful castle. Mi-s Behe — I did cot suppose the people at Court thought so much of learning. But perhaps you are a distinguishpd scholar yourself ? HELFENt-TEiN— I have been too busy with the active duties of Court life to give such time to bookfi as I ■wished, and I envy those who, hke yourself, can live contitJusHy in a high intellectual atmosphere. Still, I congratulate mvgelf that by Universiiy train- ing and association with learned men, I am not un- able t) appreciate the chiirms of your conversation. M1S8 Behs- Perhaps you can give me some light on a matter that has a deep interest for me? I have been unable to find in any Litin Gcammar a satis- factory rule for the formation of the third person p'ural of the compound pluperfect tense, in the in- dicative mood, active voice. Helpensteis — Thatis a complex question that will requirw more time than we can give it this evening. It would be a pleasant task to me, at some good op- portunity, to go through the conjugation of the verb amo with you. Miss Brbe— Dtar Mr. Helfenstein, I fear that you ore like ot'aer courtiers, if what I have heard is true. Would it net be better to take up the noun matri tnetiia first? Helfen.stein— With all my heart. Miss Behis Ah ! Mr. Helfenstein. Belfenstein — Ah! Miss Behr. [Faust aid Mar- garet, (oir.eforivnrd ] MARGAKEr— I feet it well that you condescend to trett me so only because you are polite to every- body. My poor conversation can not interest a great man like you. FADST_One word, one look from you interests me more than all the wisdom of the world. \He kisses htr /iared.] Mabgabet— How can you ? My hand is so rouah. I have til work hard. Mothfr ia very strict. [ They pass lo ilie rear ; Mr. Slack and Mrs. Swtrlin come J or- viard I Mra ^WERLiH - And you travel much 7 i?LAOK - My lousiness has required it, but I have seen in many places where I could have spent my life h*ppi)y. Mrs. Swerlin The years go swiftly by, and at last a tlma comes whsn men grow old and they are miserable if they have to live alon'i. Slack I often thought of that with spprehension. Blrs. Sweelin— I advise you to get married before it is too late, f They pass to the rear; Helfenstein and Miss Behr comeforuard 1 HELFENtTtiN — Adora'ule Misa Behb I can not ex- plain the firaiiUcation I experience ia jour sympa- thetic conversation. Miss Behb _I have always had an intuition that I should some day meet a congenial spirit like your self. Helfenbtein --At the first sight of thofe delicate features, of that graceful form, of this tasteful dress, I was enraptured. Miss Behb... Ah, Mr. Helfenstein. your compliments would completely abash me if I did not think they were j'lst. It is one of t.ie great disadvantages of villaee life that there is no appreciation for genuine merit. People of refiufd tnwte are treated with neglect. [ T/.ey pass lo the rear; Fanst and Margaret come to tkejront Maegaeet. — Yss, out of sight, out of mind. Yon will soon forget me in the company of fashionable women more attractive than I am. Faust. _ Beet one, bi-lieve me that fashion is noth- inf-i but assumption and vanity. Mabgabet.- Jiow? Faust — .Oh thft gimplicity and innocence never underetaiid the.r owh value ; that humility and puvity, the highest gifts of gfiaer :U8 nature — Margaret (inHrruphny) — If you will think but a moment of me, I shall have time enough to think of you Faust — T supoosa you are often alone. Mabg.vbet — Yes, our house is small, but there is much v;ork in it. We have no servant, and I must cook, sweep, dust, sew, darn, and run early and late. We might live more at our ease, but mother is se- vere. My life is quiet. My- brotdf-T is in the army, and mr? little Bister is dead. She gave me no ecd of trouble, but I loved her dearly. Fau t — She was an angel, if like you. Margaret —1 nursed her and eho loved me. Mother was sick after baby was born and I had to take charge of her and feed her with milk and sugar, and so she became mine. In my arms, she at©, slept, played, grew, and learned to snaile. Faust You have surely felt the purest happiness. MabgiEet -And many weary hours, too. Her cradle stood by my bedside, and if she moved, I awoke. I had to feed her and take her into bed with me or carry her up and down the room. Then at daybreak I bad to go to the washtub, ruu to market, stand over the fire, and always the same round of toil, day after day. You can well believe fiat some- times I was sick of life, but then I always had a good appftite and could sleep well. [Tlieypassto thcrar; Siack and Mrs Swerlin come foritard ] Mm. SwBBLiu — The poor women are at a disad- vantage. It's hard work to catch a good husband now-a-diys. Slack -One like you could make me think dlflerently. Mb I. fcwEBLiN—Have you not some thought of getting married ? Slack I'he proverb says, " A faithful wife and your own fireside are worth more than gold and jewels." Mrs. Sweblin— But have you not often felt the waLt of a home ? Slack — .lam always glad when t >ld to make my. self at home. Mrs. SwERLit" — I meant to ask whether you do not feel like paying st-rious attentiou to some lady. !?LACK T would never treat love as a joke. Mks. cweelis — O, you will not uatlerstand me. Slack — I will not pretend any more to misuade 8t»nd you. My offectione are elBewhtre engaged, but Mr AlbTt, wbo is now promenading w t'l Miss Birbara. wants a wife, and would make a good bus. band. He is Fcnoiojed in the Dnivarsity, under Prof. Faust, and If yoa c%n catcb him, you en be surrounded by Gouri people, and have a jolly time every day. Mes. Swehlin — "Do you think be would like itie ? Slack — I clo ; and I am certain he wonld. If Pro- fesflOT f auet sliould take a notion to Miss Hartz, as I Bupoose ho has ; and I would be glad it you will make opportunities tor Professor Farst to meet Miss Hartz. You will, will you not ? Mas. SwEBLiN — Yes, if it will please you \ Aside ] Anytbics t^ Bf>t. nway from T^nnwali. I The/ pass to the rear; He'fen&Uii and Miss Belir come forward.] Hklfenstein — You were born for a more exalted station than you occupy here. Mns Behp — My in'uitioas have told roe thit I should not, always be tied down to the drudgery of a villaRe school. Belfenstkin — T perceive that yon h.ive many in. tuitions. So have I, I have an intuition that you would ornament the Court. In the gpacious castle where I make my home there is need of an intel- lectual ladv to give tone to society. Mis3 Behb — \h, Mr Helfpnstein 1 [Tkeypassto the rear; Faust a'td Margaret comeforivard. ] FaU;.! — You little angel, you recognized me as soon as 1 came in to the garden. MargsiRet — Did you not see it ? I could not look yon in the face. Faust — .\nd you forgave my boldness? MiRGATiBT — There was nothing t3 forgive. Faust — Daar girl. M&BGARET — Iieave me a moment. [She plucks a rose, anl commences to pull off the petals, ons by one, •murimLri'g ] Fau marry anl live in tbe country. Who corjld have forsseen sucb a whim? You want him to be a Oar- dinal as well as I do, and the Arobduke old me him- ■&lf that the Emperor in'ends to recoxm^nd Fau^it for the first vacancy among tbe German Oardinals. Bsveral of tbem are vary old and may be expected to drop off any day. When he gets ft red bat, I shall be bis Secretary and you will be bis Steward, and wo will both be rich. You will a^S'St me to defeat him? .'lbeet — Certainly. Our interests are the same. Slace — I will give you a letter to the Saoretary of tbe Council explniTiing that Frfuat do s not want to be released, biit wishes to have something that ho can show as an excuse for not msrryng. I hav« paid the PecTf'tary for othf-r work, and he will help me now in this. Even if we knew that Faijst never would be Cardinal, it would be our policy to keep him a Professor, for I wint to bean cfQ'erof tbo University by bis inflnencfl ; and if he lives in the country, yon cannot follow him there. Albert — I will do my be-t. Slack — .Find out what tbe answer is before yots leave ; do not make any great haste to return in any caee. If the Council grant bis rf q4»s6, briui the letter to nae first, so that I can ooni*idtr wbaf should be done. S-e Mrs Swerlin before starting, anri If-ave her wstb tbe fullest confidence ih^t jou will marry ber. Then I can maoage ber rturing your atisi nee. Faust liJ crazy. After spending 'be b3.>(t ve-irs of hla life to make a reputation as a scholar and saint, and when about to reap the great r?ward reserved for tbe few who succeed in such amhi^lon, then to Rnid^n- ly throw away all bia past, abandon his learning, the University, the Oharcb, the Court, his celebrity, and all for a girl withouteduoa'ioo, without wealth, without friends. The like wis never heard of before, except among lovesick men. And suoi a liimo of ice as he weA to seem, it is only nuother proof of the old 6t)r7 that every man will BicriSie evory- tbing for a :yom m. wbfin the ri^ht one g-ts hold of him. But this f-?ver for mitrimony is like a at — it will not last long. SCENE ir — Mrs. Klins'e hou'e. iVIrs, Kline and Mi.ss (jBSEN. Enter Mrs. Swkrlis and Miss Behb Mri. S^vEBLitT — Wasn't it a glorions ball ? Mus Behr — Nevar enjoyfd myself so much. Miss Green — llegant suppT. Mi9S Bbhk — Ptie people had i^ucb grind mannera. KlR^i. Klin' — i53oeci»lly Mr Helienstein. Ml?? Behr — .'Veil, sioca you r=imiot me of it, especially M'-. aelfeat)iu Yiu causae ia alibis movements, and heir it in every sentence, that he ia a man of avis o^r&t c itituitioas a^ well a? of aris- tooratio association? frotn bis earliest cbil-ihood. ly.m. Klink — O'l. yes, be is an aristo^rvt t> tbe bickboao Tni^ ia the wiv be did if. \ Sk'. i ni' ates He'fi»H in's manner, addressing herself lo Mhs Gresw, J The fauaeof yoai literary acoocnplislimflaoa his mada m^ anxi m? for yonr ^i-^quiintance. • Or'iis Gr5;en [imia'ini MiiS B'lli'-] — .Perhaps yoa are a diatia^aishe') scb ilar v'>nrseif. Mrj. Ki..i>«e [imi'ainj Miss Orecn\ — t cannot ex- plain the gratihcatloa I feal iu your syaipatbetio coDVPrsitioa. Mlh Grben T always bad an intuition that I should some day meat a, congenial spirit like your- self. Mb?, Kline —You were born for a mora exaltei station th in you occnpy bare. Miss Grseh My intuitions have told mi so. Mrs. Klise— I envy those wbo, like your elf, live contiuuillv in a biyb iotellecluai at no^phere. Miss Green— How do you form the coLiroimded imperfeoS tense of tbe vindictive mo)d of the soreimins voice ? 1V5E3 Sline- We'll go through tbe whole conjunc- tion of a wordy amonr. Miss Green - As soon as we have committed mat- rimonia at heart. Mas. Kline- -A^i, Miss Behr. Miss (Jeeen -Ah, Mr, Heifeostein. [Mrs, Kline laughs liia'H y, and Miss Green also ] Miss Bjhu—I am too bappy to be worried by your teasiug. Mhs. Kline— Is not that a new d.-ees, Miss Bebr ? Miss Behb -Yes, the Baroness invited me to the caetle, and lo I got Koms tbing fxtra. Mrs. Kline— I'ou Irok much stouter in it. Is thf-re not too ainch paddiug, and are not ttte colors ratbtr ga\ ? Miss Behe — These are tne fashions at Vienna. I asked Mr. Ht-Jtmistein. Mrs, Kline — He knows mora about the fashions iu bair thin in dreiss. Miss Behp — "^ hat do you mea-n ? Mrs Kj-Ish — How should a Darber hnow anything about ladies' dress ? Miss Eehu — I do not understand why you ask such a quoblion. A court gentleman who is with couit laQiea every day, must, of course observe their dress. Mrs. Klinf — Do you suppose Mr. Helfenstein is a gentleman of the court ? He is nothing but a barber. Miss Eehe — If you want to say Bomething that will hurt Ltiy icslings, you should invent something that people will believe when you lirst eay it. Don't be foolish in jour spite. I was sorry to see that jou were left without any attention at the ball, but several gentlemen who were expected failed to ap- pear, acd it was supposed that some of the ladies Invited would not come ; but they all did, and so there were not enough gentleiuen to go round. Mrs Kline — That has nothing to do with .Mr. Helfenstein 's occupation. Miss .Behe — When a couple of ladies sit thron^h a long ball as waH flowers, they have time to think up many remarks that will sting their mora fortu- nate friends. Mrs. Eltne — ifter looking on at that ball, I saw that there was ouiy one man there who,se attention I ■would want, and that was Profe.ssor Faust. I do belieTO that he is in love in earnest with Margaret Hartz. All the others acted like snobs. The coun- try boys have not the manners, but they have more true politeness. They may be awkward, but they are never insolent. MiiS Behb — trive me the courtiers. Mrs, KuNf — The barbers, you mean. Mi-8 BiiHP — Vhfct fib will not seek. iMr. Slack told me Mr. Helfenstein has a high place at Court. Mrj KLiNE—What does l:e do? Miss Beh« — [do nit know. He told me himself that h-i has a large castle. Just as if I woald look at a barber. Mas. Kline — You might be lucky to catch an honest barber ; but that Helfenstein is a humbug. I saw Count Dick, Captain Lovenstein, and Major Hobenthal laughing at him. Mi85 Behr — Do not tease me so, Mrs. Kline. You ware marrie i once and you ought not to be so jealous because I. am to have the same happiness at last. Mrs. KuNE—Jh, ho 1 engaged, is it ? That's fast work. 8 -hool marms must be scarce in Vienna. Miss Gbeen— Or barbers plenty ! Mrs. Kline— Well, I would be ashamed to teli that I had jumped at a fellow and caught him the first time I ever saw him. Miss Behb- I did not jump. He begged ever so hard bef>>re I consented to marry him. Mrs Kline -And what more? Mi-8 BiHa -Nothing more. Mrs. Kline- Oh, yes, there was. I got interested and I watched yon when yon went to tbe arbor. Miss 1 ehp — Oh. you wretch, shut up. Mws. Edni" — Ii's too good : I mnft tel). Mifs BEEE—You'il tell, will yru ? I She rtns at Jfrs Klain Lov- (r\sl< in and Major Hnhentlal ccme. in bit are tot c6- s>vn blx d ; Tlien, win t omb liu' h mil. the h.Jlowed Chalice ca t Into the H wi. Drooped his Id eyss. wan and winking, As the/ marked It in vhi main, FaUlns;— sp a bins— tint, sr- inking— Never drsiik he dr ;> ?, al -i. [Margaret, seeiig Faist cvni tq l.iiis behind the dotr and peeps through tks craa'c. Faxit enters and looks for her. 1 Faust — Thoasht I saw ber come in here. [He turns to go out, when she spring: ou>. with a "Boo I" .Faust — Oh, vou rogue I [Ht Catdies her and kisses her ; she kisses him in reium.] MAEaaRST — Oh, Henry ! how I love you I But tell me one thing. Faust — Everything. Margabet -Are yon religions? Tou are a good man, bat I think yon do not go to cburch. FaUcT — Leave tbat, my child. You know I love you, and would give my life for my love. MABGARET—Tliat 18 Bct enough ; you mmt bave religion. Faitst -MuBt I ? Mabgabet — ilas ! if I had only infiuenoe ova? you. And .vou do not respect ths sacrampnts ? Faust — Indeed I do. Masgabst — But not with love. Do you believe in Goa ? Faust — "My dear, who can say, •• I believe in God ?" Ask priest or philosopher, and the answer is like mockery. Mabgabet — Then you do not believe in Him ? Faust — Mistake me not, you angel. Who dares name Him ? And who can say, " I believe in Him ?" Wtio that feels dare say, •■ I have no God ?" The Ali- embracer, the Al! sustainer, does not He surround you, me, Himself ? Is not fhe heaven arched over us? Is not the earth firm beneath vis? Do we ni.t see each other, eye to eye, and does not all esistence rise to your head and heart, and float in infinite majosty before you ? L-Jt your heart, big as it is, be full of the great idea, and when you are perfectly happy in the thought, name it what yon wit) — good, heart, love, God. I have no name for it. The feel- ing is all in all ; the name is but noise and smoUe, Clouding celestial glory. MiEGAUET. — That is all right and good ; the priest Bays it, too, only in other words. Faujt — \11 men say it, each in his own way ; why not I in mine ? Mabgabet. — But you are not a Christian. Faust — X am a Christian enough to love you with all my soul. Margaret — Indeed, I believe yon ; and every day I love you more and more ; and I think more of my- self because you love me. SCENE IV — Miss Behb's house. Miss Behb and Mr. Slack. Miss BEHB_Mr. Slack, I have sent for you to tell you how I have been abused, and to get your counsel. Mrs. Kline has insulted me. She called me a liar. Slack — T wuuld have her arrested. Miss Behr — \nd she did mu«h worse than that. She atticked me in her own house, tsra my clothes, and pulled my hair. SLACK [a tie] — There was not much to puU. Miss Bkhb — ind she isaid Mr. Helfenstein is a toarber. Slack — How many more crimes has she com- mitted? Mils Behb — "Vlore than anybody knows. Tell me, please, Mr. Ueifenstein's position at court. Slack — Would it not be better tiat you sboulcl enquire of him ? Miss Behb — I do not like to. I am engaged to him ; and it would look like distrust. You t^ld me Sie is a distinguished gentleman of the court. Slack — So he is. Miss Behb — Ts ho a nobleman ? Slack — No. Misa Behk — What high olnce does he hold ? Slack — N lae. Mias Behb — What ia the name of his castle? Sl«cb — 39 una none. Miss Behr — Did he inherit a large estate? Slack — mo. Miss Behb — Where does he live in Vienna f PLiCK -In Count Dick's castle, Misi Bebb— And how does he live? Slack— He is an ait'st in hair. Miss Behb— What do you mean? Slack— He dresses the heads o( Count Dick,' hlB family and guests. Miss Behb — What is the difference between him and a barber? Slack -I fear it is very slight. Mias Behb — You do not mean to say that I am en- gage^:! to be married to a common, barber, and that that odious Mrs Kline told the truth about him? I will never speak to him again. I will sua him for false pretences. To take advantage of my unsus- pecting innocence in that way 1 Slack — He will do it some ether way the next time. Miss Behb — Oh, yes ; mock me. You have served me a mean i;riek. I will sue you all for conspiracy to entrap roe. Slack You were a party to the conspiracy. Miss Behb _I sant for you, expecting kindness and sympaihy I thought you were my friend. Slack —I am not your enemy. Was it wrong in me to try to find a husband for you? IMIS3 Behr - But a barber ! Slack— I would have given you,,a noble if I could. You might make a worse match than Halfenstein, He has imposing manners. Miss Behb — I must confess that I like his man- nera. Slack — And he is not ijnorant. Miss Behr— He talked Latin to me. Slack Eu can tarn a oompliment neatly. Mi s Bebb — .1 thought so while I listened to him. Slack— H^ has many friends at Court. Mi 8 Behb You plead for him as if hs h^d. Slack -de is a handsome fellow. [3Ii;s Behr draws a (cng iigk. 1 Slack — I'nen ho is young, and youth has some value in ma'rimony — more there, perhaps, than any where else. Miss Behb — That's so ; but to engage myself to a common baroar, when I supposed I was going to marry a noble 1 Black — Your own oversight. Did he say he was not a barber ? Miss Behb No. Slack — Did he say ha was a noble ? Miss Behb — Ko ; bat he spoae of his cistla. Slack — 'jove made you misunderstand him. He meant Count Dick's castle. Miss Benn — Ha said an intellectual lady is needed in the castle where he makes his home, to give tone to society. Slack — That's t'ue. Count Dick needs a wife to take charge of his castle, and, perhaps, the wife of Count Dick's barber could fill the place till Count Dick marries. Miss Behei — \b, well ; I have always had a preju- dice againnt barbers, since one deceived me many yeirs ago ; but I will make another expsviment and try this one I will find out what barbars are made of. I can't help loving Helfenstsin. He speaks Latin with such a pure accbni. ; and he tarns up his eyes so beautifully ; and ha has such a sigh and such a moudtache. Oh, youthful love, thou art irre- sistible. SOSNE V nourt Room — ludgp — \ftt*rward Mieb Behb, Mbs. Kline, and others, JuDOE— Clerk, how's the docket to day? Clehk — Only one case. Judge — Good. I want to go out hunting with some friends. I suppose we can despatch it in an hour. Who are the pa' ties ? Olebk — Behr vs. Kline. JtrsoE — I do net remember hearing the camee of any soch persons in tbe parieh, CiiEBK — Tou hnow them well. They are Mies Behr and Mrs. Eline. JuDGF — Good Lord I A woman's case? It maJ take a week. I ordered you not to let the women bring any Buits here. To administer juKtice be- tween women, to their eatififaction, requires more then human wisdom. Cleek— I could not avoid receiving this caee. MiBs Behr would not be denied or put cff. Bhe eaid she hnew the courtiers at the castle. If I would not hear her cnmplaint she would have yon removed. Ton inow how the Judge in tke next parieh wss served for offending a courtier. I would not take aoy chHucee of thtt kind. Judge— WeJl, it can net be helped now. Throw open the doors and lot us get through with It as soon as possible. Let me see the papers in the case. [Clerk ppcns the doors and crowd rush in ] Offjcer— Order ID the Court. Judge [to Mrs. Klin'.'\ —Madam, what is your Dame ? Mrs. Kline -You know my name as well as I do. It's Maria Sophia Keziah K.ire. J¥D6E — Yon are charged with slandering — Mbs. Kline [inteirupting'^ — Judge, upon my word — Judge [inti iruptin g'\ — Viait, Madam, till I have explained (be charge. Mas Klink — I do not wait to hear it, Judge ; tiiere'9 not a word of truth in it. JUDGE — Madsm, you must not Interrupt _ Mks. Kline [inttiTuptirg'^—I didn t mean to inter, rupt you, <,'n3go ; what's tbe use of telling me what I do not wai t to know ? The last time you took tea at my house, yon said te me you did not believe a word that Miss Behr — Judge [int rrupting] — Silence, You must not interrupt me. Mrs. KLisE—Well, if you do not want me to inter- rupt you, why do you interrupt me ? JuDGs — Midam, you are charged with slandering and beating — Mrs. Kline — It's a lie, Judge ; it's all a lie. Any body thit knows Misa Behr's reputation in this towr — MisB Behr — Don't you B»y anything against my reputation, you audacious woman. Judge — Silence, both of you. MB3. iiLiNE — Do you expeit me to sit still while Bhe calls me a woman? Miss Behb — Nobody shall say anything against my reputation. I won't submit to it. JUDOF — Silence, both of you, or I ■will send you to jail lor contempt of Court. t4ot a word from either of you till I have stated the charge. Mrs. Kline, you are accused of slandering and beating Miss Bsbr on the 20th of last month ; are you guilty or not guilty ? Mr3. Kline — 3ho Is the guilty one, Judge ; you told me youroelf she couldn't keep friends with any woman more than two weeks at a time ; and thee — Judge [interrupling] — Answer my question. Are you guilty or not guilty ? Mrs. Elinf — 3he came into my house, and be- cause I said her beau was a barber, she jumped at me and scratcbed me. Miss Behe — T wished I had scratched your eyes oat. I will the next time. Mrs. Kline — So you won't, either. The next time I will whip you worse tnan I did that time. Judge — Silence, both of you. Mrs. Kline, an- swer mj qaeation. Are you guilty ot jxot guilty? Mns. Elinf — I commenced to tell yon and you would not let me. Judgf — Madam, listen to me. It is net jour place now to tell me any story, but simply to con- less that jou Bre guiltv — Mrs. Kline [inkrrupting] — I won't do any such thing. Why, Tannwald wouldn't be big enough to hold tha» — Miss Behr [interruptwgl—VoB't you call me any more namep, or^ Judge [inierrupiing'^. — Silence, silence, both of you, or 1 will send you both to jail for a month. Miss Bthr, you must feetp still for a few minutes, till I eet the accused to plead guilty or not guilty, and tlien I will listen to your evidence. If she could only keep her mouth fhut till I can finish a sentence cr two, it would go much smoother. Miss BEHP—ttive )t lo her, Judge. Send her to prison for talking too much. That's the best place lor her. Mrs. Kline — You're a nice one to give such ad- vice. JuDGF — Ladies, have you ettered into a conspi- racy to arive me cr; zy ? Miss Behr [aside] — It's not far tj drive with most men. Mrs, Kline — Judge, explain to me what I ought to do or say. Judge [aside] — Just as if it was or any use to try to explain anything to a woman. [ To Mrs. Kliue] Jou know the noeaniDg of the wora "guilty?" Mrs. Klint — Yes, sir. Judge — You know, also, the meaning of the words " not guilty ?■' Mrs. Kline — Yes, sir. Jddgf — 4.11 tiiat I want just now is thtt, when I question you, you shall either say •• guilty " or •• not guilty," and nothing else. Mr3. Kline — But, Judge, I am not guilty. Judge — That is pxactly what I have been trying my best tor the last half-hour to gee jou to say. Mrs Klin.'! — Well, I must say that lawyers and Judges nave mighty queer ways of getting at things. Judge — It is your duty now to keep still, till tbe witnesses for the prosecution have been heard. After they have been heard, then you can tell your side. Mrs. Kline — But, Judge, you do not intend to lis- ten to her ? [Poiiiiing at Miss Behr.} Miss Behr — Don't you.' point your ugly finger at me. Mrs Kline — .Why, Judge, you told me yourself, she was tbe biggest liar in town. Judge — Good God, madam, can't you hold your tongue for one minute ? I Bball certainly have to send -you to prison, if you do not allow me to take tbe testimony of Miss Behr. Miss Behr — Well, Judge, you see, this is an old Btory. Judge \ interrupting] — Silence, madam, till you have been sworn. MiBS Behr_-I swore enough to myself when that, woman was making insinuations against my reputa- tion. Judge — Do you swear that you will tell the whole trutti and nothing but the truth ? Misa Behr — You question me just as if youdoubt> ed my veracity. Judge — Miss Behr, you are old enough to know Miss Bbhb i interrupting]— ^o, I am not old euougll to know that you have any right to insult me by in- sinuating that I leave out or add something to tbe truth and by making allusions t? my age. Of course I am not very young, but I am not as old as you are, for when I was a little girl you were running after 10 ■^ho 8q,uint-eTea, red-haired dress-maker, that after- ward became the mother of fits clerk of yours. Jddge Silence 1 Wiiness ! Miss BKHB—Tbat's not my name. I am Mies Belir. J0DGE You are a witness here, and I give you faij •notice that if you do not 6t >p your insolent language to the Court, I will punish you severely. You must 4ako the oath. Miss Behb — I'll be Judge Stop. Answer my questioa. Do you flwear that you will tell the whole trtt i and nothing but the truth? Miss Behb Yes. sir ; and if 1 must swear, I am ready now to take the vfickedett oaths, just like you men, though it's a queer preparation for telling the truth. j0DGE_You have taken the only oath that is re- <^ulred. Miss Behr— I haven't taken any oath. J0DQE Did you not say yes to my question ■whether you would tell the whole truth and noth- ing but the truth? Mus Behe Well I never knew before that it was an oath to say yes. If that is profanity, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I have not been as pro- fane as some women that I know. [Here she looks at Mis. Kline J Mrs. Kline — Your face protected your virtue. Mi^s Behr — You had none to be protected. JUBGE iilenca I Stop the*e personal insults or I shall Bead you both lo jail. [ Tj Mi^sBehrj. Tell the •Oourt now when, where, ana under what circum- stances, the ofifenoes of which you have made com- plaint ware oommiltsd. Miss Behb Well, Judge, this is an old story. You see when Mrs. Kline and I were girlf — Judge Grood liord, we do not want to go bask so far as that. Mei. KLiNE—Only about forty years. Miss Bbhb — Eold your tongue, you viper. Judge Ofder. You women must not talk t > each other. Witness, tell us how the slander and beating were committed. Conline your testimony to the 30th of last month, the day on which it is allegtd She offence was committed. Mi '8 Behb Well, Judge, you cannot understand this thing unless I go back to the beginning. A.S I was telling you, when Mr^. Kline and I were girls — JUDGK Silence. I do hot want to hear anything of what happened to you when you were pirls. The village heard enough ol it a,t the time Tell me what Mrs Kline did on the 20 h of last month. MljS Behb If you had let ma go on, I would have been there by tiis time. When Mrs. Kline and I were girls — JuDGS [inurruphng] — Silence. It is against the rules of evidence to permit the recital of irrelevant testimony. You must comedown to the time ia question. Miss Bebk Well, now. Judge, I wrote out my DVidence before 1 ca iie here, and I got it by heart, and I can't say any of it right unless I stait in at the begianing, and go straight through the way I learned It. Judge We do not want that kind of testimony. Where dia you meet Mrs. Kline on the 20ta of last month ? Miss Behb When Mrs. Kline and I were girls — Judge D n the time when you were girls, -and when you ara women, too. Miss Behb [lo Mrs. Kline., and thaHng fter fist a ker\ — Don't you insult me. JUDOB — Mrs. Elina ia not insulting you. Miss Behb — Yes, she Is, too ; and I won't eland U. Judge — What is she doing ? Miss Behb — lost look at bar; she is laughing at oae. Judge — Oh no ; she Is laughing at the manner in which justice is administered in this Oaurt. Miss Behb — Look at her, Judge, she is making faces at me. Judge It is not necessary for yon tD look at her . Miss Behr How will I know what she is doing Y There goes her nose again. It's more than a human being can stand. That's the way she acted the day I went to her house. Judge — That was on the 20th of last month ? Miss Behb — Yes, sir. Judge — A.nd what did you say to her then ? Miss Behb. -I did not say anything, bat I did something. ^ODGE And what did you do ? Miss Behb- Shall I show you ? Judge— Yes. Miss Behb Well, this is what I did. [Croiijr up to Mrs. Kline, catching her by the back cf her collar and povniiing her ] ,IUDGE--8top that. [ Mrs. Kline defends herself. Each gets the other by the hair and they pull each other forward and back ] Judge uihcers, stop that ii ^ht and arrest the parties. [ The crowd get between the combatants and the officers so that the lalt'.r can not do anye garden with Prof. Fau!U!jg are under the Influence of the old. When my mother told mo how the coortierB mislead poor young girls, and how it is the cnstom of the men that want to marry to go first to the par- ents, I had to believe her. It surely cannot be a great mistake for a girl to be guided by her mother in such matters. Faust — I must go with you to see your mother. Mabgabet -No. She is a headstrong, passionate woman ; she would shut the door in your face and make my life miserable. Fauh — Can I not go to your brother and explain to him? Mabgabet— No ; he's off in the -war, Kaust — Have you no friend to whom I can go ? Mabgabet — My mother would be very angry if she knew that you had spoken to my Aunt Marks or to my Cousin, Mrs. Swerlin, and those are my only rel- atives ; she bates them both. Faust— Am I to understand that you will never love me afiain? Mabgabet . I fear that I shall never cease to love you. Faust— Why fear ? Mabgabet- Is it not enough to make fear to have a good mother on one side and an unconquerable love on the other ? Faust — Is it unconquerable? Makgaret — The longer I listen the stronger it becomes. I cannot doubt you when I hear your voice. If you are a deceiver, then deception is nec- essary to my happiness. The pSeasures which I have enjoyed in your company are far higher than any I ever enjoyed or had any conception of before The sua has been brighter, the sky clearer, the breezs mora grateful, my heart beats more freely, my eouI has felt a stimulus be- fore unknown, and I seem to h~ in harmony with the landscape, with all the people that I see, and with myself ; and since I was forbidden to see you, all has become black, and I have been supremely unhappy. Fau t —Tell me what I can do to prove my sincer- ity. Any promise, any condition, any security that res- son caa demand that I will give. If all men are dishon- est, you should go into a nunnery ; if some are honest, then I am. Why trust your happiness to any man, if not to lae ? I am not less fitted to love and to be happy in my love than yoa are, and you are as necessary to me tor the pleasures of my life as yoa said I was t3 you. Mabgabet— I still say so; I still think so. I shall never be happy without you. As for security, I can think of none, and I ask none. I will believe and trust you, no muter what they say against you. Faust — When shiU we meet again ? Mabgabet— I cannot see jou at the house ; I never go out except to church, and then usually with one of the nelgat>or girls, and even if I were alone. It would nut do to be seen speaking to you, for mother might hear of it, Fau t — W>iy put me off ; I stay here for your sake only. I wish I could visit yoa ia the evening. MABGABET_It Cannot be. Faust — Does not your mother, like most of the old village folk, take a glass of beer every evening. Mabgabet -Yes. Faust — .1 will give you something to put in her beer, and make her sleep like a block. Mabgabet — I would be afraid. Faust — It would make her healthier and stronger than she is now. Mabgabet — And do her no harm ? Faust -Not the least, MABGABET—ghe complains now that sleeplessniss causes her much disccmfort. 13 Fatjst — This wonld cure ber. Will you try it ? Maboabet — Perhaps. Faust — I will leave a litUe bnt'-Ie under the door- step ibts evening. Be careful to give her just three drops at a time ; never a drop more or less. In two hours she will be asleep, and for eight hours you may shake her and scream in her ears as much as you please without disturbing her rest. When she is iu bed you can put the candle near the window and open the blind a little as a signal to me. Makgaeet — O, Henry, I fear that I love you too much. Faust — I will deserve it all. Ton shall share my fortunes, and I will share yours. Mabgabet— Yon must leave me now. I must hasten home. Ksmember the promise. Faust — I will be true to it, no matter what the cost. This is the first time since I declared my love that I must leave you without a kiss. JVfABGABET - And I hope the last. Faust -And shall I see the signal soon ? Mabgabet - Soon. Faust— I shall wait Impatiently till then, [exit Faust ] Mabgabet [Zoofcinfl' after Ziirn] —Mother was right when she said a man could persuade a woman to anything. But how easy it irt to be persuaded by such a man as Henry. Wtaat have I promised him ? to drug my mother, to admit him into my room at night ! I broke my promise to my mother that I would not speak witlj him ; shall I beep my promise to him? Duty seemed to point ytstt-rday in ona direction, and to day It points just the other way. Which shall I take? My juSferaent hesitates; but love insists upon being my guide, and him I shall follow. SCENE III — Door of Mrs. Habtz's house. Maega BET and Miss Gbeen. Miss Gbeen — Have you heard about your cousin Barbara ? Mabgab^t — Not a word. What's the matter ? Miss Qkeen— A fearful scandal. She has run off. Mabgabst — Impossible ; she was one of the nicest girls in town. Miss Qbeen — No mistake about it. I met a man that saw her in Vienna. Mabgaret — In Vienna? How did she get there? Miss Gbeen John Slack took her there. Mabgabet — Why did they run away ? She was en- gaged to marry him, and her mother consented. MiBS Gbeen — He did not "mean it. He took her one evening to a dance, gave her some strong wine, carried her to his room, as he supposed, and when some travellers went to theroom there was a quarrel, and all the hotel people found the two loves-s there together. He told her that he would marry her in Vienna, started with her next morning, and left her as soon as he got (here. Mabgabet — Poor thing. Miss Gbeen -Well, she's your cousin, and you may pi'y her, but I don't. She was mightily stuck up because she was pretty and had more sch -01102 than the rest of us. She was always as saucy as she conld be, and she used to sneer at the girls that had no teaux, end there is nothing that hurts more thun that. While our mothers made u« stay at home in the evenings spinning, she was off alone with her lover ; but at last she got alone with him once too often. Mabgabet — He will marry her, surely. Miss UBEEN—a,fter she has been disgraced? He Is not such a fool. MABGABET.—She has no disgrace save what he has brought on her. Miss Obeek — That was ber lookout. Mabgabet — Yon think he is a mean fellow. Mies Gbeen — No I don't. It she granted bim too many privileges that was her loss. She might do with some other man jutt what she did with bim. Ha is rich and young and good looking, and can get a wife that knows how to take care of herself. Mabgabet — He will never deserve one halt so good as she is. Mi9s Gbeen After she was engaged, she said she would not marry a country fellow. She wanted a city gentleman, or none at all. She might have known better than trust one of those Vienna chaps. They think that a country girl is not good enough for a wife, but they are always ready to fool around with one for p. few weeks while they are out rusti- cating. Barbara has learned her lesson on that point, and it is a pity that she did not get it sooner so that some other girls might have had the benefit of it in time to avoid a similar mistake. [ Exit Miss Green. Mabgabet — Insult InsuH. Something of this kind every day. Can it be possible that Henry Is as base as John Slack? He surely might have saved me from the disgrace, into which 1 have fallen. How do I know that be has asked for his release or that be would marry me if he got -it? But no, I can not doubt him ; if he were false there would bo no truth in mankind. Poor Barbara. How I could scold once if a girl made a slip. I could not find words bad enough, and now I am myself guilty and I can hardly see the sin. O Margaret, you are much changed since the time when a few months ago, you used to carry flowers every morning to the shrine of the Virgin Mary and say a little prayer, half child's play, half God in your heart. Poor girl, you need pity as well as Barbara. Your cousin ruined, yourself the subject of merciless soandal and ia danger of becoming an outcast, and all witbin a few months. Where will this end? Oh, that I could again have the quiet that I enjoyed before the arrival of the party from Vienna ; I would willingly sur- render my love and all its pleasures for a restora. tion of my innocence and peace of mind. If I were a man I could wipe out all the past by a sincere penitence. But there is no reward for the repent- ance of a woman. And still the world curses her because she does not reform after she has made a misstep. SCENE IV Night. On the Bridge in the City. Babbaba ; afterward, Slack. Babbaba — There is nothing left but death. I thought that the cUy must offer me a home, but when I looked at the people with whom I wonld have to associate, I t-aw new horrors. The flight from Tannwald was bad enough, but the welcome here was a thousand times worse. There is only one escape. Here it is before me ! I feared tlaat the look of the water would appal me. but it does not. It has, rather, a fascination. I had not the wisdom to live successfully, but I have at least the courage to die. It will soon be over. Life has been a failure, but it shall not be a long torture. My mind is set upon that. I feel no sense of filtering. People will say that I was insane. It is their privilege. I think the girl that would live the only life that is open to me would be a miserable coward, a tyrant to herself and a discredit to her sex. The time will come when the world will see it as I do. I have read that when a Hindoo dies, his body is burned and bis widow must jump into the flames and perish with him. She is applaudecl When she cheerfully makes the saoriflce of he; 14 life rattaer tban live In the hell which the bigots have prepared for thoae who refnse to sahmit to their superstition. We have diffarent social superstitions but they are just as narrow in their principles and as cruel in their resnltB. My suicide is the best protest I can make against the discord between human nature on one side, and the unluat conventionalities that oppress it ou the other, and if people do not understand the motive or reason of what I do I cannot help it. It may be necessary t) save society, but it is not necessary to throw the whole responHibility of saving it on the girls. We are told that love is our only career in life ; we are accustomed from early childhood to hear affecton and its incidents epoben of and treated by older women as t^ie chief feature of their existence and as the chief topic of interest ; so soon as we are out of our childhood, we are fenced ofif against the men and at the same time constantly b-set by them ; we are taught to make it our main business to dress for them and to adapt oar conduct to their tastes. Life l8 to be nothing but a torture for us unless we can pleastt hem. In our youth, innocence, inexperience and helplessness, we are pitted against ebeir maturity, their wiokodnsss, tbeir wits trained in the struggle of business, their elcquence trained in tha schools and in wide social Intercourse. They come to ns clothed in wealth and power and honor and all the irresistible influences that surround ripe and successful manhood. Yet if we, with all our art- lessness, believe a word too mu3h oi yield a day too soon, all the blame falls upon us and none upon them ; and the punishment instead of being slight and bearing some reasonable proportion to the of- fence, is made life-long in its duration and almost infinite in its severity. Peath is a small protest against such an injustice. Why this fearful discord in human life? Natare tells us that woman was born to be the priestasa of love. These rounded outlines, ttiis full bosom, this white and tender complexion, taese soft muscles, these small and delicate hands are not made for the harsber struggles that must ba mot by the broad shoulders, the strong arms and the rugged form of the man. The sout of the woman, like her body, demands love as ^he first condition of tha ful- filment of her destiny. Her sensitive nerves aud her timorous disposition demand the constant sup- port of man's steady courage. Her fir^t impulse when she awakens to the full cousciousuesii of her womanhood is to adopt an ideal of a hero and then confer it on some man, whom she raises into her idol. This impulse is irresistible even when she is conscious of her incapacity to comprehend the secret and complicated motives that govern the ac tion of the man and of her iuabiiity to form a ju^t opinion of his charactjr. Her training strfngthaus the tendencies of nature. She is reared in secIusioQ, taught that she has but one resource and one des tiny, and that all her happiness is to come to her through one man, upon whom she is to bo de- pendent. Nature fits her for love and makes love the snpreme law of her being ; society littaohes incon- sietsnt and inharmonious conditions, which are often not understood rntil they have been violated. Nature tells us that lova is tie highest of all gancti- fications, and in our unprotected and uuinstrncted youth, hides from us the hard laws that punish with unrelenting and more than draconic severity, offenoee that, jadged in the Oourt of reason and mercy, are, at the worst, but weaknesses of judg- ment and sacrifices of self. And because I am a woman ; because I have loved in obedience to nature ; because for one moment I forgot those social laws, so hard to learn, so impos- sible to comprehend, so hateful to those who have incurred their penalties, and set so irresistible ; because of this, I am threatened with all the punish- ment within the reach of the social Inquisition — the scornful look, the scandalous lip. dally insult, perpetual exclusion from all respectable company and from every happy association an infamy that shall blast the life of myself, my relatives, my friends, and my children. All the crusl results of the discord between nature and society must be borne by woman and by woman alone. For the man there is no penalty. He who solicits, urges and controls the woman ; he who always insists upon exercising authority over her ; he who, by his relation to her, is usually her master ; he to whom she must entrust her happiness ; he who de- liberates and foresees, while siie do?,s not ; he who plots to abuse the conQdenca whicb he encourages her to place in him ; he who could repair the damage, in which he is equally a party and for which he is mainly responsible, and does not ; he who, after sending one woman to a fats worse than deatn, instead of ropoDting, boasts of his success and makes it bis ambition and his business to treat others in the same way — for him there is no punish- ment. My djing curse upon such a social organization, and upon Jo.^.n Slack, who represents it [Enter Slack.] Slack -Halloo I Yon here? [Barbara turns avjay.\ Slack [calehinif her dress] — Dju't pretend you don't know me. Babbaea — Oh, John I Is that you ? Slack — How's business. Bakbabj — Wbat? I do not understand. Slack— Don't play virtue with me. Yonder is a man. Bakbaba — Your words toitare me. Slack — ire you not here to find a friend? Barbabj— Eow cin you insult me so? Is it not enough tnat you have disgraced me ? Slack — I have shown you how to have a much jollier life than any of your old friends. They live in pitiful huts, with no company but half a dozen equalling brats and a stupid, coarse husband. Its nothing but drudge and dirt. I have given you the chance to live in the city, with leisure and luxury, and select your own company. Baebaba — I have seen what you call luxury, and I have come here to die in preference. I have left letters telling my story and yours, and when tQey take my body from the river tD-raorrow they will know that you were the cause of my death. Slack — Do you suppose anybody will believe a woman living as you do ? Babbaba — As I do? You think, then, that I have become public; but I have been spared. Those wretchtd women have pitied and protected me. You are the only man that can prove my dishonor, and everybody will believe the woman that seals her word with her blood. I have written out a full and careful account of your villainy, and it may scare away other scoundrels like you and save other girls like me. My disgrace ends now; yours shall last as lontj; as you are too cowardly to die. Slack — You cannot frigbten me. Babbaea — I do not want to. Slack — I mean that you cannot deceive me with your threats. Babbaea — You deceive yourself if you think 1, 15 bave Qot written, or that I will not die to-.nlgbt. BiiAOK — You eeeoQ to be in a fit of fury, but I will, at any rule, stop the dying and give you over to the police, 80 tbat you can repent in thi cilaboose. [Attempts to seize her. ] Babb&ba [springing hack and drawing a dagger'^ — Must it be murder an well as suicide? Slack— You would n )t kill me ? BABBiBA — Consider youraelf lucky that yon are alive — tnat is, if a scoundrel can have any luck in living. I bought this daggor tbree days asrrying ma. If I were penned up with you, your life would not be safe for a day. [Hi moves toward her and makes a motional if to gratp her right hand. She observes him, and draws back as if in strike ] Slack — I see that I may as well leave you. Babbaba [ca'ching hint ivi'A her left hand arid raising the dajger ready to strike.] — No 1 You stay here. Down on your knees ; quick auou: it. Djwnon your other knee ; take off your hat ; put your hands together. Hold them Mp hit^her. Now repeat : • < By the Sacred Cross, by the flesh and blood of the Savior, by the Holy Trinity, I swear never again to plot against, never again to deceive, never to again abuse, never again to wrong, never again to betray a woman." [He repeats, clause by clause, after her.] Mow you stay there. Do not move, if you do not; want to feel tbe whole length of this steel. If you budge I will be upon you in an instant, filind, yon, do not call for any one to rescue me. It would ba of no nse, my dress is loaded with lead and there is no boatman near. If I were saved I would kill you. You shall be the wltne?8 as well as the cauae of my death. Now hold steady while I step on your shoulder. [She mounts the parapet of the bridge and tprings into ike rioer. He rises and looks over the para- pet.] Slack- She floats, she looks at me as if she were cursing me, she holds up her dagger, she sinks, she is gone. Perhaps she will rise again, no she does not. It is al! ovHr. I made a great mistake when I selected her for a victim. Who would have thought that such ai mild and quiet girl as she was when I first knew her would turn int J such a fury 1 Well, I ehall never see htir agiiin. That's ooe satisfaction, [He looks up and sees her spirit in the clouds dressed in white cursing hirn, he falls on his knees ] Wercy Barbara, have mercy. Act IV. SCENE I — The street. Albebt, aiterward Faust- Albebt — Yonder comes our Faust. I wonder whether his love has not cooled off by this time» I ataid away long enough lo let his fever eyhanst itself. Ihopehewill not be delighted at having a refusal. A Oardinftl's hat would not displease him after all. May be I shall be rewarded for bribing the Secretary of the Council to write a refusal. Here he comes, [Enter Faust. He takes both of Al- berts hands.] FkusT- -Welcome back to Tannwald. You have a favorable answer for me, of course ? [Albert takes out a paper and gives it to Faust ] Albebt — I'liat is the Secretary's letter, Fau-t [while opening the letter] -You staid much longer thaa you promised, | He reads and then iays] But what is this? Accursed luck I The Council re- fuse. 8uoh a thing is unheard of. [ Walking up and down ] Good Beavena ! What is to be done? I wi 1 never desert Margaret. I must go to seethe Em- peror in person ; he will not deny me. Albert, I hava done you some favors, and will do more for you, if you will do one for me. Albbbt— Certainly. What is it 1 Faust — I have heard that you are engaged to Mrs, Sweriin ? Albebt — It's true Faust — Then I wish that you would marry h: r soon. I know this is asking much of you, but I am indebted to her for the opportunities of meeting Mart^aret, and if I am to keep on going there, it would iook better for both women that Mrs. Swer- iin should b-i married. Beside, I would prefer when I go away from here to know that Margaret will be under some better protection than that of a woman. You shall lose nothing by it. Let the wedding come ofl' as soon as possible. Margaret has a brother and several cousins in the Army and I do not know how they might treat her in my sb- Benoe, if she had no man to defend her. When you are her cousin you can taka her part, and when I become your cousin by marriage I will bs a bettar friend to you than ever before. I shall give some money to Mrs. Sweriin and tell her what I have told you Albebt — Agreed. SC'iNE II — Miss Behe 8 Hons,'- — Lina witha Broom. Afterward, Helfenstein and Miss Behb knock al tUB Door. LiNA [ansiv(ring\—.Gomfi in. Helfensiein [entering] -Is Miss Behr at home ? Lima— No, sir ; but sue will bs here soon. Will yon sit down and wait for her ? HELFBNsTEiff If you Will entertain me. Ills A. [decidedly] .No sir. [Be chucks her under the chin,'^ 16 tiisi. [glaring at him] — If you oan't behave you Kunat go. M.J mistress may not be here for a long time. Helfenstein — You look pretty 'When you soowl. LiNA — You would look much better if you would act like a gentleman. HsLFKNaTEiN— Do you Want a gentleman to be afraid of a pretty girl ? Lima — He can avoid insulting her without being baehful. HKLFEN3TBIN— Ton are as witty aa yon are pifetty. I did not mean to offend you. Tou will let me stay, will you not? LiNA I suppose I have no right to order away visitors who come to see my mistress, Helfshstein — Is Mies Behr good to you ? LiNA — She is very etriot. Helfemstein — Would you not like to live in a cas- tle at Vienna ? LIHA [asi(ie] — This is a rogue ; I will see what he meaoB. [To Helfenstein] Ever so much ; but I am poor and cou'd not get another place if went away from here without a recommendation. Helfenstein — I am a fortune-teller ; let me see your hand. [Ske holds oat her hand. Miss Behr petps in at the winilow.] Helfenstein I tatin^ ii] — Yes, here are the lines of fortune and fashion. You will spend much of yonr life at the Court. LiNA — Will that come true? Helfenstein— Just as certain aa that men admire a bright face and enjoy ready wit. Here is a line that says you will marry a man witti a big blonde moustache. Miss Behb [asid«] —Giving away my property. LiNA [looking al him] — You have a blonde mous- tache. Helfenstein | stroking his moustache] —Do you think it is ugly? LiNA— No, sir. Helfenstein— Would you be aatiefled to have Buch a one near yon occaeionally ? Mias Behb | asic2ej- Where's the woman that would not? LiNA Yes, if its owner bad a right to be there. Helfenstein— And then yon could be kind to him? Miss Behb [aside] — I'll be kind to both of yon. LiNA It is ^uot in my heart to be cruel to any man. Helfenstein — Let us see. | Catches her and at- tempts to Jiiss her. ] IjINa [resisting] -Let me go. Helfenstein ikissiig her] -Yon will not drive me out now. [Miss Behr shaking her fist at them] LiNA— No, but don't you think you deserve to be driven out? Helfenstein — What would become of the men in cold weather? Miss Behb [aside] —Let 'em freeze. LiNA— Poor fellows 1 we must take pity on them. Helfenstein -I am engaged to marry your mis- tress, but I would rather take the maid. Miss Behb [asii«j — Oh ! you wretch. Lima — Miss Behr thinks she is good enough for anybody. Helfenstein— Do you think so, too? LiNA I don't always tell my thoughts. MiBS Behb [asii«] — Told too many already. Helfenstein — Is your mistresn rich? Lima —Yes ; she has more money than any other woman in Tannwald. Helfenstein — How sad for rich people, that aSeo- tlon will not always follow money. Mias Behb [aside] — Now he talks just like a bav> ber. LiNA — It would be unfair to let them have all the money and all the atJection, too. There would be notalng left for other people. Miss Behb [aside] -She is as bad as he is. Hblfenspeis — 1 am afraid that if you are about the house, alter I am married, I can never kiss her without thinking of you. LiNA — Oh 1 you naughty man. Helfenstein— You know as well as I do that you are pretty. LiNA— I think I am passable. Helfensteict — You do not need to be told that a man naturally prefers a young, lively and ' pretty girl to aa old, ug'y and nonsensical woman. MiS! Behs [atiie] — That's me. LiN^ — I hOi afraid that is so even when he is married to the old woman. Miss Behb [aside] — G-irls now have no moral principles. Helfenstein — ^ore then than ever ; and you would not be astonished at me if I did love you a little after being married to your mistress? Miss Behb [aside] — Was there ever a man that could be tru6t:!d 1 LiNA — I have been told that a young husband witti an Old wife always makes love to other women. Helfenstein — \nd you will permit ma to love you ? LiNA — Perhaps. Miss Behb [aside] — Why don't she say "yes" while she id about ic. Helfenstein— The more I look at you, the prettier you appear. ' LiNA —AH the men know how to flatter. HELFEN^TEIN — Such a face aa yours ia a provoca- tion tj praise. The truth itself may sound like flattery. Miss Behb [a-iie] — The women are all fools. LiNA — The t;irl8 like it whether it is true or not, Helfenstein — ind it is true that you are pretty, whether you liKa to hear is or nou. Since you per- mit it, I am going to make love to you. LiNA— And will you swear never to desert me? Helfenstein —By my salvation ; [He sils down pulls her en Id I kme anikiaes her,] aud you couid love me after I marry your mistreisa? LiNA — That nepd not tt md ia the way. Miss Behr [aside] — Qh ! fury ! Helfenstein —I'btn I'll tell you what we will do ; as soon us I can get hold of her money we will go off to Vienna and have a good time. Miss Behr goes to the dorr, steps in softly, locks fit, come.s forward, and, catcHng the broom, tays : That may be a long time. Uh, you perfldous wretch, [shaking the broom at Helfi-nstdi ] aud oh, you nasty minx, [shaking the broom at Li-^a ] do you take up with a VKgabond of a man at the urtt minnte ? Helfenstein — 'ihe's not any slower than her mis- tress. Mi-B Behe — Out of my house, both of yon. [She rushes at Bel/enstein vii'h ihe hroom.] Helfenstein [trying to get out of the front door] — D — n it, its locked. X.INA [on her knees]~.Oh pardon, mistress, pardon ; I did it to expose his villiany. Miss Behb -I'll pardon you as Boon as I kill this villain of a barber. You have exposed yourself. Helfen.-tein — That's not the way you tilked to me at the ball. Mis8 Behb— Oh, you scamp, to remind me of that dream of happiness. And you are the master that was going to teach me to conjugate the verb amo. 17 HBi.>'ENSiKjN_&.ncl yon are tbe lady that had for- gotten the rule for formiDg the third person plural of tae compound pluperfect tense ? Miss Bbhb-,Do you mook my misery ? Oh, that I oould punish you as you deserve. Lisa \ jumps up, rum iito the other room and comes baok with a red hot poJcer^—het'a give him a lesson. I put this in the fire for another purpose, but it Will come into play now. You will iasult my mis- tress, will you ? You come here to abuse the confi- dence of every woman in the village, did you? I was only pretending to like you, to see what yonr Intentions were. [Afler every sentence she gives him a punish with the poker, at which he winces 1 Will you ever pretend to be a gentleman again ? HELrENBTSiM— Never. LiNA—Never come to Tannwald again ? [Punching Aim.] Helfenbteiet —Never. Lima— Ever say a word to the disoradit of Miss Behr? Helfenstein —Never. LiNA.— Now, get out through that window as fast as you know how. [ParKhing him. Hi jumps out, the punching him as he goes. J IgMiss Bkhb — You are a good girl. You shall al- ways live with me, and be my heir. Well, it's all over. I will not marry a barber. Oh, what a hor- rid Bet the men are. I'll never look at anctier. [She sinks in a swoon. '^ Hklb'ehstkin [looking in at the window^— Tbe old fool has fainted oecause she has lost her last chance for a husband. LiNA — Iieave Tannwald to-day. To-morrow ev- erybody in town will know the story of the amorous barber and the hot poker. HGLi'ENsxGit; — D— n the girl, she baa got tbe best of one man. 80ENE III. —Mrs. Pbinz's house. Mrs. Pbinz, Mrs. SWERLiN. Afterward Misses Behb and Gbeen', and Mr. Albebi. Mbs^ Pbinz — I have discovered a secret. Mr. Al- bert is having a wedding-ring made at the wiit^h- maber's shop. Mas. SWEBLIN — 4.re you certain ? Mas Pbinz — Yes ; no miatake. I overheard him speaking to the watchmaker about it. You may as well own up. Mas. awEBLiN — Will you promise never to tell? Mas. Pbinz —I will never breathe a syllable. Mbs. bWEBLitr—tJpon your word ? Mbs. Pbinz — Upon my honor. Mbs. Sweblin — Then I will tell you ; that ring is for me. Mbs. Pbinz — When are you to be married ? Mbs. Sweblin -Thursday of next week. You Bhall have an invitation to the wedding. I know the soul of my poor dear Anthony would be unhappy in Heaven, if he knew I was living a lonely life, with nobody to care for me. Good-bye ; I see Mr. Albert yonder. Mas. Pbinz— I congratulate you ; Mr. Albert is each a nice man. Good-bye. [Exit Mrs. Siverlin ] Mas. Pbinz — Plague take her I all the widows are getting married save me, and I am just as yonng and good looking as any of tnem. It won't do for me to be left alone. I must break up this match. There are enough old stories about her to rake up. Her poor, dear Anthony 1 it is only for his sake that she ia going to get married. She might know that people wonld only laugh &t puch nonsense. [Hater Mioses Behr and Green.] Mbs. Pbinz— Do you know that Mr. Albert ia go- ing to marry Mrs. Swerlin ? Miss Behih— He cannot be euoh a fool. Mbs. Pbinz— She told me so herself. Mus GasEN — If all the stories are true, they ought to havd bsBn married long ago. Miss Behr— Ha might have done better. Mm. Pbinz— (Jould he have done worse? Miss Green She has been a grass widow eight years, and she hus hiited with all the fast men about town. Miss Behb— And when they would not run after her she would riiu after thsm. Mbs. Prinz _8he spends mora money than she earns with her needle, and that is all she has to live on. Miss BEHB—S'ie has bean flush ever since the Vienna party has been here Those baohelora make the cash fly, Mi83 Green — They say she drinks. Miss Behb — Everybody knows that she is a terri- rible scold. That's what drove her flrat huabmd to his ruin. Mas Pbinz —She will spend her last cent for a bright ribbon. Mi33 Green —And she will not be particular where she gets it. Miss Behr .-She ia not a day under forty. Mrs. Trinz— But, then, I suppose that she is just as good as he is. Miss Green — If he could have got a wife where he was known, ha would nevar marry her. Miss Behr— He has nothing but the coat on his back. [Enter Albert ] Mas. Prinz _I congratulate you on your approach- ing marriage. ALBERT — Mrs. Swerlin told me that she let you know it und?r strict promise of secresy. Mas. Pbinz —The news made me so happy that I could not beap it to myself. Thss!! ladies are your best friends, and I know you would tell them. I made them promise Hecresy. Miss Behk [aside] How she lies I Albert [aside] -Tine secresy; two old maidis and a widow I Miss Green— I felicitate you on getting such a charming wife. She has not an enemy in town. albert — Thank you. I am glad to hear .vou speak so liindly of her. [Exit Albert.] Miss Behr [to Mrs. Kbne.] — The news made you so happy ! rhai'd good. You wouldn't have liked to get him yourself ? O, No I [Lavghs] Miss OBEEN_-\it>r talking as you did bHnina her back, I would not pretend to be such a friend of hers. Mrs. Pbinz —You were both of you worse than I was. You tuought you mignt get him away from her yet. I( I was a driedup, old maid, I would not make suiih a fool of myself. Mi-8 Green — You are just as bad as I am. You are as flit as a board. Mi*s Shanks, your drees- maker, told me about every pad there is on your bones. You needn't pat on any of your air.^ with me. If sou do, I will let out souiething tbat you would not like other people to hear, about Mr. Marks. MPS. Prinz — Well, there, my dear ; we have quar- relled enougu. Ijet's be friends again. Miss Gbeen — No, thank you ; I knew I could shut you up. By-bye ; I hope you will fce In a better humor when we meet the next time. [Miss Green and Miss Behr flaunt out, after making very low bows.] 80ENE IV — Ura. Hartz's house. Evening — candle li»iht Mrs. Hariz and JVIarQabbi. Mrs. Habtz — .Margaret, you have been crying. MAsaABEi — I am unhappy. 18 Mbs. Habtz-^Tou have been sickly of late, and before you were so healthy. Maegaeet — I shall never be so strong as I was. Mrs. Hartz — You will soon get over that notion. People do not die of disappointment at your age. When jou get to be as old as I am you will have worries and trials of which you have no idea now. iilABGARET — I hooe X Will never have any worse then those that I have now. Mrs. Haetz —Girlish nonsense. Give me a glass of beer ? Maegaket \pniiring ovta glass of betr Jrom apifcher at the cupboard and aiding something from a vial — aHde\ _ Oh 1 what a mistake ! I've jiut in ten times too much. I must hide this glass. ^Fulting it in a cor- ner. Aloud] — Mother, I mu^t go to the cellar for some beir \ S/ie leaoes the room.^ Mrs. Haetz — There was some beer here before supper, ana I know she did not drink it. [Going to the cupboard and hunting round. | Y^^s, uere it, is. [Finds the g' ass tha Ma-garet has hidden, and drinks it. ] JPoor giri ! Mhe grieves i^bout mat man. When Val- entice nets home, we must fee more company. MAKGAEtT [returnivg, pours out a gla's at the cup- board, puts in a feu) drops Jrom tae vial'\ — This is cool. Mrs. Haetz [taking a sip'\ — I am thirsty this even- ing. Valentine wiil be here within a few weekt ; what Nhall we do to make it pleasant for him ? Maegabet — Some of his fellow soldiers will have to cottjo home with him, and I suppose he will want to spend h\» t'me with them. Me9 Haetz — You wanted him with you all through bis lat-t furlough. Makgabet — Yes, and he complained that I bothered hiui. Mes Haetz -You know that he was only joking. He was proiid to be bothered by you. Maegabet — I do not feel as if I wanted to run about with liui »« 1 did last year. Mb5. H etz— You are much changed. I feel sick and 1 am very <'iri.w8y. Margabet — Way do you not drink your beer ? Mbs Uaktz I tljought I could drink a second glass, but I ao not like the taste of the beer this evenir g. Maegaket — The second glass ! You have hardly tasttd the Qrut glass to-day. Meii. Hartz —I lad. a glass before this one. Mabgabet — You must have forgotien ; this is all you have ha(?. Mbs. Haetz — No there was a glass in the oupboird that jGU overloolied ; I drank that. Maegaeet [aoing to the cupboard, finding the empty glais and holding it tip]— You did not drink what wag in (his glKSi^. Mes. Haetz —Certainly, why not? Mabgabet — Good Heavens, mother, there was poison ill it. Mbs. Habiz —Poison ? How? Why? MAEG.ii.ET — Pardon, mother, oh pardon me, [fall- ing on h(r knees] I meant to pour a few drops in your beer to make you sleep, and poured out too much by mistake. I hope it will not hurt you. Mes Habtz Not hurt ma. I feel it already ; I am very sick. MAE3AEET — Perhaps there was not enough to hurt you. Do you know any remedy ? Mrs. Haeiz— Is that what has made me so drowsy of late and sleep so long? Have you given it to me before ? Maegaret [wringing her hands] — Yes, yes. Mb3. Haetz -Bring me some salt and water ^aick. Perhaps that will help me. [Margaret riset and brings ihem. \ Mrs. Hartz mites (hem and drinks.'] Mbs. nABTZ™,How dizzy I am. Why did you want me to sleep ? Mabgaeet -Henry comes to see me at night. Mes. Haetz— Oomes to see you at night? In this house ? O, you abandoned girl I If I were not so sick I would drive you into the street at once. Is that the reward for all my trouble with you? You dis- grace jour.self and me, too. You poison me to get a chafice to ruin yourself. Do jou suppose I would keep such a girl in my house ? How long has this been going en ? [Looks at her.] And that is the ex. planiition of your sickness ? I have been blind. Maegabet — ! mother dear, spare me. [She cries] Mbs. Habtz- Spare you? Why did you not spare me? What will become of your brother ? This is the deKtruction of an old and honorable family. I be- lieved you when you promised you would not speak to him again. Maeg,\eet- I believed myself, bat I met him aa I was comii'g from church, and my Brm resolution gave way before his pleading. Mbs. Habtz - 1 would rather have the vilest beg- gar woman of the street in my house. People would not blame me for her mlsaonluct, but they will for yours. Where did you get the poison ? Maegabet He gave it to me. Mes. Habtz — O, the scoundrel I If I die, he is your accomplice in this murder. A nice pair of you 1 Mabgaeet — I have had enough of this misera'jle life. There is more here than you drank ; let ma die with you. [Gets the vial, uncorks it, raises it to h(r lips, but Mrs. Harlz, rising, quickly grasps it, dashes il down on the floor, and sinks back in her chair.] Mbs. Habtz -How sick I am ; I tim dying. Maegabet . Let me run for the doctor ? Mrs. Habtz — ^o, it's too far. I should be gone before you could retui-n. The least you can do now is to stay with me. It will all be over in a few minutes. Mabgaeet — What shall I do without jou? Mes. Haetz — You do not want me. After I am dead you need not poison anybody else, unless it is your brother Valentine. He will soon be home from the war, and then he will be in your way. Get rid of him, and you and Martha can be as wicked as you please. Mabgaeet -You know I did not mean to harm you, mother ; I always loved yon. Mes. Haetz— Yes; you loved me till you met that villain Fau3t. O, the agony I Go for the doctor, quick. Give me some water. Anything to cool this burning. [ Marga^tt gives htr some water. She tries to drink but cannot, and spits it out.] I cannot drink. Open the window ; let me have some fresh air. [Margaret opens the window 1 Call Father Boyer to give me the latt unction. No; it's too late. You send me off with all my fins upon my head. O, what paiD ! [A knock is heard at the door.] MABGiBET [a.siie] — Good heavens ! it is Henry What shall I do? [ The knock is repeated.] Mes. Hab7Z — Wuo's there? [Maga^et opens the door. Margartt hesitates Faust looks in ; sees Mrs, Hartz. and draws back.'] Couie in. Faust — I have long wanted your consent to marry sour daughter. Mbs. Habtz— This is not ttie happiest occasion to ask it. Faust— It is my first opportunity, I begged Mar- garet months ago to let me call on you, and she told me you had strictly forbidden me to enter your house. 19 Mb3. HABiZ'-A.iid my daughter's condnot proves how you have compUed with my wishes. Faust— I hope t'jflt the blesGing of the Priest will soon cure all our troubles. Mas. tiABiz — After you have murdered ma. Fauit— 1 ao not ui;derBtaiid. BIB3. Habiz— I am dying, ahe hag Riven me an overctosa of your preecriptiou. [Fausl looks at Mar- garet J Margaret — It is true. By miatalie I poured out half the botUe into a glass of beer and while I was out of the room she drank it. I wanted to go for the doctor and ehe would not let me. Have you any remedy? Something sbould be done quickly. Fatjst — Let mo have some salt and water. Mes. Eartz- Too late. I have tried it. There is no help. I can not swallow anything. The worst of the pain is over. I feel the approach of death. My limbs are already benumbed ; the final chill will soon strike my heart. The assignation is net so happy as you expected. The stolen pleasures this time are bitter; you have come just ia tiuae to wit- ness the result of your wicked plotting ; but perhaps I should not coa'plaiu, since life would have been notbing but mlSfry for me after the ruin of my daughter. FaUbT- I will marry Margaret. She is not ruiued. I meant no harm. Mrs. Hab'xz -If you had, you could scarcely have done more. Do not try to cheat your own con- science. Whoever violates the law under pretencb of innocent motive is guilty of all the suffering that follows his act. Xou used the means aud you are responsible for the end. Before God, I accuse jou of muraer. Faust— Good Lord, madam, have some coosidera- tion for the future of your daughter. Pardon us our mistakes of judgment, and give ui4 your blessing, Mrs. Habtz— Kneel down before me. Join your hands. [ T/uy do so.'^ Mrs. Haetz —Margaret, I reared you with all ihe care and love that a mother could give to a daughter. You had at home every kiadnessi and comfort within reach of my means and your station in life. You came from a respectable family, had well-behaved companions and good religious train- ing. Notwitastanding all that, yon gave yourself up almost at the first sigbt to a strange villain. il'iARGARET — O, mother ! aiES. Habiz _A.nd you, Professor Faust, a learned and famous mau, accustomed t) Oouvt life, familiar with the arts of fasuionable society and with the weaknesses of woman's natu:e -regarding success in deceiving her as a source of pleasure, and finding in my confldiag Margnret a victim over whom you could triumpii — have now reached the culmination of your ambition in Taniiwald. Slie is ruiued be- yond redeaaptton for this life. You have not now, and never had, any intention to marry her, and with my last words — when 1 iesl tie hand of deatin about to stop the pulsations of my heart- I give you butti my dying crrse — I repeat it, my dying curse. It shall follow yoa through thi^ world and the next. [Ske falls ia-.k aaid dies.] Act V. SOENE I — Mbi. Sweelin's Bouse Faubt and Mab- GABET (in black) . Margaret— O, Henry 1 what will you say to Mar- garet now ? Fau?t That I love her more than ever. Magaebet— I cannot help thinking of mother's death. Faust.-Tou must not grieve about that. When we are married you will be happy. You must dis- miss unpleasant thougbts from your mind. Maboabet — ft Is fearful to think I murdered her. FaUjT — You must not call that murder. There is no murder wttfiout a wicked iatc-ntion. You loved her an'l meaat her no har-oi. Margaret —Indeed I loved her. Faust It was an accident ; you must m t ihint of it or tell of it. Tiiink only of the h iypiaess tUat must be curs as soon as we are married. Mabgabet Mi^tisr's death was terrible, and she cursed you. Fausi— Sbe did not know how honestly I love you. VfABGABET— I cannot fix my mind upon our love. Whenever I am alone, I am haunted by spectres that torture me. FAUi^T— Yju do not doubt my fidelity ? Mabgabet— No; but my mother's curse rings in my earr,. I feel that I have exposed myself to «reat danger, and I am oppresi^ed by a vague fear that I am to undergo cruel suffering. I am about to be- come a mother, and I am not yet a wife. I wi'liugly braved scandal for your sake, but the death of my mother, my brother's cruelty, the delay in our marriage, my exclusion from society, the insults to which I am nubjeoted whenever I go into the streets, and the anxiety which I see in your face at times when you do not know that I am observing you, have destroyed my pence of mind. Have you any secret cause of worry ? Faust — Nothing but t le delay ia our marriage. I waited Jong for a reply to my petition for I-,ave to marry, and at laat I have received an answer, but it is a retusal. Margaret -A refusal. Tnen you will desert lae? FAUaT — Mover, by all th'it ii sacred. I suspect some trickery or mistake, and 1 mu-t see tae Em- peror himself. He cannot refuse me. (Waegabet - Then you will 1 ava mj? Faust — Oaly for a few weeks, soou to return, and never lo leave you again. Margaret — Uenry, when you talSi so I must be happy. Faust -Albert wants to serenade Mrs. Sverlin to- night, and I maf come with hioi. Mabgabet — I will peep out to see you. SOENE ir — street before Mes. Sweblin's door. Vanentise, afterward Albsbt, t'AU-T, i! abgaret, Mb9, 8WEELIN, and others. Valentine — There was a time when it was a pleas- ure for me to sit at our mess-table ia the t- vaniogs and hear the fellows bragging of their fuvoritss among the girls, and I would listen to it all and stroke my beurd with satisfaction, and after they had done I would take my fu!l glass and say, " Evary. body to his taste, but is t lere another in the whole country like my sister Margaret?" Tiiey would cry, " He ia right ; she is the ornament of the whole sex" And ttien the braggrirtti wsro dumb And now ? 0,1 could teir my heart out. iivery rascal turns up his nose and cats me with insulting hints. And yet I can not give them tco lie. I must iret at evf^ry acaidealal word. Here comes STrueaody. If it be he, I will kill him on t lespot. [ Ent'r Aiburt and Faust, the forma- strumming on a guitar, as if about to play 1 Valentine L t a see whetber you can play on this inf.trumeut. [Draws his sword a'ld atajJis Albert. Albert and Faust draw ] l''AUtiT \to Abed^ — I will narry. Yoa disarm him. [ They make seoera' passes, Valeviine evidtntiy furious, Albtrt runs him though. ] 20 Valeniine — Murder 1 Mnrfler I Faust [aiig'ily to ^{6«rnQe, qnic'S, or we shall be cauiht. I hear the watch. f 'I'hey leave. People come running, Margaret and Mrs, ISuierlin among than ] Me3. SwEBLiN — Here is one dead man. Valentine — Not dead jet. M^BGABET V?ho is it ? VALENTINE —Your mother's son. Mabgaret — O, Gol I What agony I Valentine — I'm djing, that's all. Oome here, you women, aod stop your crying. I have a word tosiytojoa. ['I'hfystepn'arer.] miirgaret, you are too young 7' t to have muca sense ; .vou have not managed well ; I have a little secret to tell you ; you are a harlot. Margaret Good Lord, brother, how can you sppak 80 ? Valentine- You have no right to call on the Lord. It'fi too late now; wbat'a don« can't be mended. You begin with one ; then others come, and soon the whole town hiis ynu. rthacce is born in the dark, and hides under the veil of night at first, bu' toon ventures out into the daylight. The more hateful it is, the more public it becomes. I already see the time when all your old friends will Shun you as they would a smail-pox corpse. You will end your days in rags and Ulth in a dark corcer, among beggars and thieves, and if God forgives you in Heaven, it will ba more tlian man will do on Mrs. SwEHLiN — You wretch, flow can you take eartli. advantage of such a time to tortare your unfortunate Bister? Everybody knows that that ecar on your face was got in a drunken Gght at that infamous house near the mil!. Leave others alone. Oora- mend your soul to your Savior and repent your wicKednesp, Valentine — You shameless bawd. If it had not been for the assignatioaa made in your garden, all would hive been well to-day. If I only had strength enough to run my sword through your ribs, I would more than atona for all my sios. [Lung s furiously at h(r with his sword 1 Mabgabet— Valentine ! Oh, Valentine 1 Valentine — Stop your tears. When you loot your honor, you gave ma a wound more painful than this one from the BV?ord of your (seducor. [He dies ] 80ESE III- In the Eoad— T*o Peasants, then Baron Riitekstahl, Staff and Followers. Including Akthonx Swerlin, and finally Albert and Mrs. SwERLiN and Wedding Crain —Music in Distance. First Peasant — They have a nice day for the wedding. There ttiey como. Second Peasant— A'ld joDder, on the other side, comes the regiment that left here eight years ago lor the wars. These fellows with fine toggery lauHt be tbe Colonel and his staff [Enter Baron RiltersiaU, staff and followers, includ ng Mr. Suierlin ] Kiitekstahl [to Pta'ant] — What does yonder music mean ? First Peisant — There has osen a wedding. Mr. Albert and Mrs. vSwerlin have been married. Me. Swerlin — What Mrs. Swerlin? Peasant— Tlae widow of Anthony Swerlin that went ag a tolditr in Ritterstahl's rfgiment. Mb. Swerlin [to Rittersta'dj — My wife, by all that's holy. [toPeasa7it\ What became of her first basband ? Peasant — Mr. Albert, the gentleman that married he, brought news of his death in ttie warn. Mb. Sweblin— Is this Mr. Albert rich 7 Peasant--No ; but I gmss it was the best she could do. [Exeunt Peasants. '^ Mb Sweblin --Baron, do you like fun ? And If you will assist me we'll have a jolly bit of it. I know how to do it ; I saw something like it once before. Baron --Oertainly, Anthony, what is it ? Mb Swerlin - Let me put on some old rags and claim my wife's hand when she cornea up, and see how she will act. Then, H you say so, I will put on your clo^k and hat, and pretend to ba command- er of this regiment, and order everybody about, and s^e how 8he t eats me then. Baeon — But won't that disturb your domestic fe- licity ? Mr. Swerlin — Beg pardon for the profanity. Baron; but a btt er name would be, domestic hell. I would not live with her for the revenue of a Prince. She never left me in quiet for a day. I would rattier cbarge the Swiss spears than sit still under the lash of ntoa contrary orders, you are t > obey Anthony Swerlin with the same forms of respect that you pay to me. Gall hitn Baron Swerlin. and do everything to make people think him commander of this regiment. Mb. Swerlin — Oome, Hans, let me have your hat and cloak [Hans, in a beggerly dress, comes forward and hesitates \ Don't be afraid; I will give them back to you. [Taking the hat and holdivg it up \ I believe in ventilation. This suits me. Who's your hatter? When I get rich, I intend to wear a bat like this every day. There is nobody in this regl. ment that pays more regard than you do to one- half of the precept that you must keep your head cool and your feet warm. JXow, the cloak. [ Taking it and holding it up.] The fellow that cut this cloak was a genius, ttiouga something of the original ef- fect has been injured by the envlovs tooth of time. This suits my new dignity. [Parading round in it} Win I do for the command of the regiment? Baron Bitterstaht is a good fellow ; but he can never learn to put on the grand airs of a military commander. If I only had time 1 would give him a lesson. But here they come. Remember that I am to be a beggar until I taEe the Baron's cloak and then you must treat me as you would a Oommander- in Chief. Do not spare ceremony. I want to feel, if only for a few minutes, how it is to be approached with awe and trembling. Lieutenant Oirmony, go off to a distance, address a note to B.iroa Swerlin pur- porting to come from General Martenstein.and bring it to me when you see mo wearing the hat and cloak of Baron Ritteratahl, and when I give you the sig- nal. Lieut. Oarmony — Yes, sir. [Goes cff.] [Enter Mr. Albert, Mrs SioerKn on his arm and others, Mr, Swtrlin advances to Mrs. Stutrlin,.! Mr. Swerlin — My dear Martha, I am back at last from the wars. Mes. Sweeliu — Fellow, I don't know you. Mb Sweelin -I am your loving husband Anthony Swerlin. Mrs. Swerlin — This is my husband, sir. You're an impo^iier. My first husband died in Padua a year ago. I can prove it. I have the affidavits In my house. Mb. Sweblin — Can't you believe your own eyes 7 Don't you recognize this scar that yoa made pa my 21 forehead with a brooinsticli tie morning after we were married. Mbs. Bweblin -You lie; I didn't. 1 ou were druiih and fell cut of bed aod out jourself. Ihat is, id's first husband did. But you are not the man and you don't look a bit like him. Mb. SwEBLiN — These gentlemen all know me ae Anthony Swerliu. Mb9. Sweklin — I don t care. 1 never saw you bet fore, and I don't want to see you again. Mb Swerlin — Madam, perhap'j yon will reccgnizs me when I throw off this btggarly dress and put on that which belongs to my rank. Pardon me for the trick that I have been playing. Tie fortune of war turned in my favor. I won promotion on the battle- field'. I am rich, and commander of thin regimen- in place of KitterBtabl, now a General, j To the man from whom he lock Ihe big jai-'s ha', and cJoafc] Here, lellow, take tbese ragH. [ jf'o strcanl who has Rittir stahl's hat and cloak'^ Give me my own cloak, eword and hat. [Pats them onj. Now I feel liSe mjself again. [Drawing back]. Madam, if ihat gentleman l8 jour hu-^band, I have nothing farther to say to you. I 'I'o Major Mayer '^. Msjor, there is a large open common wesi of the town ; Uy off a place there for the camp. Make every neceeisary arrangement for staying here a week. Ma JOB Mates — .Yes. frir. [ He goes offY M&i. SwEKLis [Uaving Albtrt\—M.^ atar Anthony, I begin to recognize you now. Mb, Sweblin [to Mr. Wetzel] — Commissary, see that the men have an abundant oapply of fresh pro- visions, and provide a keg of wine lor each company every day. Me. Wetzel — I will see to it. Out ideb — Hurrah for Baron Swerlin 1 Mb. SviEBLiN mience tbere. You act as if yon bad never been properly fed before. KiTrLE-THAL — V — n the fellow's impudence. That is a hit at me. | Aloud ] But, Baroc — Me, Sweblin — No objections. We will talk over the expense this evening, Mb8 Sweblin [rusMvg up] — Oh, my beloved An- thony 1 Mb. Bweelin [pushing her ftacTcj — Wait, Madam, till I have given my oriers. [Litut, Carmcny comes up and gives a Utter. ] Lieut. CABivioifz — A letter from General Marten- 8^in for Baron Sw^rliu. Mb. Sweblin [operdng and reading the letter] — Beturn to General Martenatein, and tell bioa I will stay here a week. I should be glad to have him dine with me Thursday next, and in the evening we 'Will have a ball in his honor, if the good ladies of the town will favor us with their presence. Ladies cf Wkdding Pab-tt — Oh, how nice I Mbs. Sweblin [rushivg up ajain and throwing htr arms round his neck and kissing him] —Oh, Aatuony, I can't tell you how rejoiced I am at your return alive and well, I always knew you would be a great man if you only had a chance. Mb Sweblin — Paymaster f ohr, pay the men up when you get fixed in camp as far as the funds will go. I want the regiment to have a good time here. Mb Fohb — Yes, Baron. Mbs. Sweblin [to Albert]— yih&t do you mean by hanging round here? Mb. Sweblin— I thought you said he was your husband. Mb8. Sweblin — He deceived me. He swore yoa 'were dead, and he attanded yoar funeral. Ha ought to be arret tad for perjury. Mb. Sweblin— Did he swear that 7 Mrs. Sweblin - Yes ; I have the affidavit all signed and sealed by the villnin. Me Sweblin [to some ff muerstahl's suite] . Here, you fellows, tie ibis scowndrel to yonder nee, and give hion forty stripes, well laid on. [ They seise him and iiarl away wi'h him ] laixERjTAHL-Stop 1 i-'top 1 Thatwon'tdo He has nit violattd the military law. You would get me into trouble. Anthony, you have carried your joke far enough. Mudam, I am Baron Eitterslabl, commander of the regiment, and Anthony Swerlin is my servant. Anthony, jou can take off' yourtraj - pings and go aid countermand jour orders. Kb). t-WEBLiN - Oh, Anthony, how could you de. ceive me so ; but I will still be your wife. Me Sweblin — -Excuse me, miidam. I will reea list. I tjud more peace in the wars. Mbs SwiBLiN— My dear Albert, let us leave this unpleasaut scene. Albeex Pardon me, madamo, I am afraid your husband might turn up Buroa Swerlin again. Mbs. Sweblin — 'J, what shall I do for a tu-iband ? [Faints. | Miss Green (omes forward, IVis Gesen — l>idut 1 tell you so 1 SCENE IV Mbs. Sweblin's house; MAsaAEET with babe ; Mbs. Sweblin. Mes. Sweblin- -U is a pretiy babe. MAEQaBET — It does not look like a child of sin, Mb3 Sweblin — It is as pure as an angel. Mabqabst — ind is condemned to ai^g^ace here and to p^raition hereafter, Mbs Sweblin— Prof. Eaust will marry you and make it all right. Maegabb-t— I fear I shall never see him again, Mbs. bWEELiN He told Albert that he intended t) take you to Italy to live there. Maeoaeet — But how take me ? He dare not come back. Mbs. Swerlin— He can come in disguise. In yoar new home the people will know nothing of your past ; you can be hapijy there. Mabgaeet -Happy? Can be give me back my mother? Can he restore my brother to life? Can he prevent scandal irom following my daughter? Look 1 yonder is the spirit of my Ojusin Birbara. Mbs. Sweblin- There is nothing there ; it is only fancj . Mabgaret —Do you not gee het ? Mbs. Sae ilin- Whore ? Mabgaeet —There ; in this room. She holds out her arms to me. Birbara, pardon me tor heiicating to come to you ; It is only because Martha said yoa was not here. I love you as much as ever. [Mxrgaret goes to the oth r side of th". ream, operas her armi and clos^ s them in ihe embi ace of an imoginory person till she brings t'um. to her own body, and Ihea stirts in asionishnunt a', rot fiudi-g anything in her a^nis She looks around as if to see where she has gone, aid. seeing nothing looks up. She then catches at some thing a')ove with he hand, as if it were a fly, aid says, 1 havt- caught ner though she thougt t she had es- caped me. [She opens her hand cautious'y as if to see somethir,g like afly, ani aids] mo, 1 aia net cati n her. Well, shs tjis gone, [Looking at Mrs. Swer- lin, who stares at her J Mabgaeet— Do you think I am crazy ? Me J. sswiBLiN — No Why do you ask ? Maegaesi — Bo netimes I imagine that I am real happy, bu( that I am subject to crazy fiis, and then I have all kinds of horrid vialons. Did you know my mother ? MRi. Sweblin— Lcok at me, Margaret, I am your cousin Martha, 22 M/snGAEKT 'Marthi. Tes, Xhave hsard that name hafore. I draimed I had a brother Valwntinfi, and ha said shockiDS; things 'o Martha. £ dreamed that he was so good to m=j and go proud of me till tbe list time ha saw me. Me?. SwEBLiN [asUe] -Alas! Her wits have stfrely Mabojbet —And they Pay thera is anctber world wH'iir good people will be hippy. I mast wend tiiis little inuoceut there. I coald uon be so m( an as to thro-.v bor into fuab a cruol world as tbis. Mb3. ^WEBLIN aargaret, Margaret, do you not pe ' u)-^ ? MiBGABET Yes, I see yoa. I dreamed that I had a cousin, and that she looked lite you. Sae was a gi od eoul and kept herself and everybody about her in fiouble. Mrsi. Sweelis -That's not altogether crazy. MAR»AEEr_8he supposed this wi» a country Where «h8 could live lespaciablj, without t-ampling down other people. Poijr soul I she was tampied down herself. And now, I fancy I see her here, bog- King me to put my darling girl where she will be t ampled down in her turn. Mks. 8WEBLIN — Do not talk so, Margaret. MAEGiBET — .Ves, that is tie truth. I aia not criizy on that point. I apoSe w ti Henry about it, and he told me sn himself. He would n< t l^>ll a lie ; he never did. There was never a truer, nob'er man. He said that the world is full of shams, ahtim government, eham philosophy, sham pleasure, sham religion and sham virtue. The nobles imagine that their happioess depends upia beeping themaliit ide in serfdom ; tae rich men hate the idea of rai^iag the poor out of abject poverty ; the prieats are horrified at popular education, and morali^t^ of reputition tell us that there must be oomm(.>n women to pre- Herve the geaeral chastity. As if the misery of the many wore neonesary ti>T the hiDOiress of the i^iW. Huoh are tie horrible sho.ms t lac rule the world. Tiiey mean well ; t ley believe tneir own nonsense ; but I hey are fooUah. All men are brothers, and ihcy mujt share tlie eievatioa or degradat on of oaa another. They must all ri;-e to^tther, before the highest happiness of wiiich they are capible can ba reached. That i* what H-iory told me. He said miry sublime things. Sometimes I felt as if his conversation lifted me up into the skies. la the next world, there are no Bhiims, That is the place for soy lit le girl. Mrs. tiwEELiiv' She will get there in the proper time. MAEQ4EET — Yea; and I wlU sop tiat the proper ttUiC comes very soon. Mrs. 8WEBLIK — Yju do not mean to murder her ? Maegaeet — Thai's 3,1 ugly word ; bat worda do not scare me. No ; I will not murder. I will only iranspiaist a pure soul from a base to a higher sphere of existence. I oannos murdar the soul ; but I can release It from a debasing clod. It rs my duty to proside for the happiness of this angel, and it must be f^ojie —and it must be soon, yes. soon. Mrs. SwERLiN- Mjrgaret, look at me 1 Maegaeei — I see you. You are lite the figures in my dreams. Just as if you were not a ghoot. The ► plrits look real, and the bodies like wpe tres. Bomft rises I pinch myself to fee whfther I am awake ; bat then I see frightful vieioas. I will talk to you as if you were a real person. Mrs. SwEBliiN — Your unpleasant dreams will soon be gone. You will live in an orange grova in Italy, and tie sun will shine there every day, Maeqaeet— That will be delightful ; that is, if Htnry will be with me. Mrs. SwEEoiiT — Henry will nevar leave you any more. Maegaeet— I shall then be EatiaSed. Mbs. SwEBLiN— 8o you will go to your Henry in ItaV? ? Mabgabet — Yes ; I ava always ready to go with him, but I csiBnot take this darlins? along. Mrs S jyERLiN — Yes, Italy will be the place for her, too. Maegisst— No, not even Italy is good enough for her. I must send her to a Vjatier laud. Sut how? Poor thing. t3U me how. Shall I choke you? No, I cannot. A knife? No, horrid thought, away I Tha ditch? Yes, that is 1 10 plaoa. The water is cool and pleasant. I;.'s dirty, but it will not staia your eoul. Lst me go niw and finish it while I feel haop7 ] Ri ini ani going to the door'^. ^ MB=i. SwEiiLiP? — .-^.top Margaret, you shall not. Maegakst Shall not ? H)W, spoctrs, do you sup- pose you can stop me? I would beat down all tlie furie-i in hell. [S'izing a brui^h and striking Mrs. Smerlin, uho falls, she rushes out ] SCENE V— Night, in front of Miegaeet's prison. FaUsT, afterward-' ALBtET. Faust I have rtturi e i at the risk of my life to take Margai-et away troni this horrid town. I wonder whether Albert received lay letter rtiiueGtiDg him to meet me here to-night with counterfeit keys. Ha wrote me thet she was arrested for murdering her child — -ny child — and that was t le oiily notice I had of its birth. In her bitter ngony I was absent. It was her misfortune to love Faast. There cornea somebody. \Hewithdraws to one side ] Albert [entering | — This is a hopeless case. Who's J here ? Fau.t [cominy Jorwarl and shiking hands\ — Yoa are here on time. Albest — I do not like your rt turn to this unfor- tunare olace. Fau T — Unfortunate, indeed, it is. I fancy that every housetop is covered with grinning devils, ready to tortiie me. Albert — Why did you come? You can do no gocid. You could hardly escane from the police be. fore ; anS it was folly to run tae risk again lor the sake of seeing a crazy womm. FATJtT — Is fhe crazy now? Albebt — They say she is completely gone. Faust a^r troubles have been enough to drive anybody to the mad-house. ALBEBT—She thinks her baby is alive yet. She has made a doU out of an old poftiooa', hugs It, sings to it, cal's it her little Henrieita, laughs, then scolds it as the cause of all hsr misery, chokes it and tails it to die, says it is wicked, and not good enough t ) live among such pious people as there are in Tannwald. A.tter talsitig that way awhile, she tfjrowa it down and says it la dead, and bega the Jailor to bury it bury it ao deep that it can never burrow its way out to persecute her. She does not know her old friends, and the Jailor is mean enough to say that she is only playing crazy to escape pun- ishmeat. Faust —He is a wretch. Did ehe really kill her child ? ALBERT Oh yes. No mistake about that. 8he knociieu down Mra. Swerlin, who tried to prevent her. It is of no use for yoa to expect any satiefao- tion from talking with her. Faust I have come to take her away with me. Albebx — Take ber with you ? You may as well give up that Idea. You could not take away a sane 23 man without being caugbt, miiob less a cmzy one. Faust — I will try it. Albert —Failure is Inevitable. F^v-T —1 talse the chances. ALBEET— If you are caught, your life will pay the forfeit. Faust — The risk rloea not frighten me Iq the least. I proinisea Margaret that ehe should Phsra my fate, and a thouiacd deaths should not make me break my word. Albebt — 'Ate is sweet to every one, FausT— Not to me. Death for Margate t's sake has no terrors. My sina are so horrible, that they cry out for some atonement. I always thought I was good, and yet see what criiies are heaped on my bead. I dishonored and deserted ona of the best women that ever lived, and for the sake of dishonor- ing her with impuaity, I murdered her mother and her brother. I drove her crazy and am respoasibla for the death of tier child, which she drowned. Did tfie most cruel tyrant, the fleroest savage, the mos; ferocious outlaw, ever inflict such misery on his worst enemy as I did on the woman whom I loved more than lite itself ? What are breaking on the wheel, roasting over a slow fire, the worst tor- tares of the Inquisition, the reUnemsttj of supersti- tious or political hate. -what are they all compared to au agony of months like Margaret's? And lam the cause of all. A monster could not leave tfer in peace ; but fate shall not rob me of the satisfaction of being true to her. With her I will live or with her I will die. In my distress, I still have command over death, the mighty spirit who by a beck can sweep away all the scenes of misery. ¥<«, death is still my friend, my protsctor. The earti ia my loving mother, and she has promised me that when- ever I wish for perfect rest I have only to return to hor bosom. Q-ood mother, I may soon corns home. I have no fear of your embrace. Albebt -This ia no time for lamentation or phi- losophy. I have the counterfeit keys, and if you in- tend to use them to take Mirgaret out o° prison, you must be quick about it. Faust — -Uight. I am grateful for your assistance. I will go alone into the prison and you stay out^ide. Whatever becomes of me, take care of yourself. If you hear any noise, you must escape. SOSNE V[.— Prison. Faust, Marsaret, afterward ALBEBT. Faust unlocks the door. It opens with a harsh noise. Mabgabet trembles and crouches down. Faust enters. Fau^t — What a loathsome place ! Hiw damp the air, how foul the smell! How different from her cheerful chamber.-thd perfection of neatness and cleanness. This Is the punishment of loving too much. I wonder where she is. Hist, Margaret I She mu'it be asleep. Margaret I Margarpt, ! MA'RGAitBiT \ rising to her knees ani looking her hands in supplication \ — I'alie pity oa me. 1 am not ready to die. Faust— Do not make a noise. I have come to set you frpe. MABGiKET [rmre^f to her feet] — Oan't you let me live till morning ? It is hard enough to be hanged in tie daytime. Let me live a few hours more. I am too young to die. I was pretty, too, and that was my ruin. My love has deserted me, and left me tT snff'^r alone. Faujt [taking her arm) — Oome, Margaret. I am your loving Henry. I will save you. Margabet- T ju hurt my arm. Are you going to d,rag me to the scaffold ? Have you no mercy ? Whab barm did I ever do to you? Faust Hoavens 1 what mi.iery I Margaret— I know that you are going to kill me; but do not be in such a hurry. Give me my child again. Lot me suckle it once more ; only once. I held it in my arms all night, and then they came and took it away. They wanted to make me miser- able. It was Buch a dear little thing. And now tbey say I murdered it. I shall never be happy any more. Faust Margaret I Margaret, do come away. Maegabet — O ! if I must die, let me pray once more. I have forgotfen the prayers that my mother taught me. [Kneeling ] O, Jesus ! O, my Savior 1 (J, Thou Man ot Borrow I pardon the sins of the un- happiest woman that ever was born, and let me meer. my Henry and my baby in heaven I Amen. [Getting up \ I am ready to go with you now. Be quicii about it. I want to die while that prayer is fresh in my heart. Faust I am not the hangman ; I am your Henry. Mabgaret — That's his voice, Henry, my Henry. I have you at last ; I am free. All my suffering is gone. All my pain is past. I will be happy again. I will hang on your neck. I will eit on your knee. I will enjoy your sweet converse. You have oome to save me. Fau3t Yes, love ; let us go quick. Maegabet O, tell me that you are still my Henry. Where is all the agony of the prison? What do I care now for thair chaias? I remember the time when I first met you. How noble you loolted. I could not help loving you. [She kisses him.\ Faust— Let us escape iirst, and I will kiss you afterward. Margabet -You will not kiss me? Have yon for- gotten? You were not away so long. I am half afraid of yuu. If you don't love me any more tell the hangman to come. Faust -Indeed, I love you. Will you not oome with me? MiKGARST — 4re you not afraid to go with me ? Do you Know what I have done ? Fau t Yes, yes ; I love you more than ever. Maegabet I murdered my mother, I drowned my child, I disgraced my friends. You are too good to go with such a woman. What's this on youv hand? It's wet. Wipe it off It's blood. Good God, what have you done? Put up your sword, I beg you. Faust — Margaret, you wring my heart. Let us forget the past. Mak'3aeet_Y6S, we will forget the past. You must stiy here and bury me. 1 will tell you about my grave. You must see that it is made right ; at- tend to it to-morrow. Give my mother the best place ; put Valentine at her side and me a lit:le way off, with my baby at my right breass. Nobody else would libe to lie near me. We will meet again, but not in Martha's garden. Fau-t Qaicb, quick ; it will be too late to escape. Margabet— Don't hurry me ; the hangman will come soon enough. Faust — O. that I had never been born. [A shot is heard outside ] ALBERT [staggering in andf ailing]— QaicTs. I Lock the door ; the eolioe are here. Fau.st [locking the door] —Are you much hurt? Albebc— A few minutes will finish me. Before I die let me confess my only treachery to you. Slack gave me money to bribe the Sscretary of the Coun. cil for a refusal to your petition. But for that it would have been granted. We thought it was your interest as well as Qurs that you should be a Car- dinal, Forgive me. 24 S'AtliT- Tbfit little error of Judgment was the cause of all Mo.rgaret'8 suffering and mice. Poor fellow. I pardon you. Albert It's all over. \He falls hack and dies.] FAUsT_He'8 gone. Anctier death adaed to my long eccounS. Mabgabet Look, Henry look at f^e SDPctre of that (:camp Helfenstein. | He^femtein appears in the clouds as a spectre in a ronvid aress and diains. with a rope round his neck, lei by one devil and folio ned by another, with a trident marching down over rocks to a place of flames.] St^e Slack, who seduced Barbara. [Slack appears as a spectre, led by a devil and followed by another devil. \ Faust I eau not curse any but myself I pity them. \ Those spectres disappear. \ Mabgabet —See, here are other spectres. Who are they? Ttiey are so dim, I cannot recoeniza them. [Tlie spectre of Barbara dressed in white ap- pears, marching upward in the clouds to a bright castle in the sky. and beckoning to Margaret ] Tee, Barbara, I shall come, [ The spectre of Mrs. Hartz appears fol- lowing Barbara ] My motber ! my sainttd mother 1 Do you beckon me? Spe.tre nods | Do you forsive me ? [Spectre nods.] Do you still love me ? [Spectre nods ] Oh ! I am so hsopy 1 sh«tl come. [ Vhe spectre of Va'entine appears after the others.] Mabgabet _Mv brother Valentine. Do you bechon to me, too? [(Spectre nods] Have you forao't-'n your cruel words? [Spectre nods ] You still love me ? [Spectre nods ] I am coming. [An angel appears carrying a child.] Mabgabet— My darling Henrietta 1 i ook, Hfury; you never saw her. [Margaret falls on her knees ] My child ! my child ! do you want me, coo? Hho smiles ; she beckons t3 me, too 1 li6t us go, Henry, quicK ! Faust They did not beckon to me. They do not ■want me. ] 'Ihe spectres all stret h out their arrm. ] Mabgabet — Yes ; they want us both. \A noise is heard at the door The spectres difap.' pear The door is broken opm The police come in ] Faust There is no escape now but in death, and I shall not leave that to the vulgar execotioner. The miseries of poor Margarft and her wretched sedacer have at last come to an end. We shall find that peace in the grave and which we Poaght in vain on earth. [Draws his sword and kills Margaret J Dear Det-t"), protect me 1 \Kills himsef.] LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 103 643 2