^- .j'x '-m^.' . **^ -^^ '-yws ..<.^^x -.UK- . ^ ?a:" V .<**' /^1^\ ^•%-..**\-:^^fi);"/\ ./" •' '^i- 'j-i- oV.--..*o, /'..^-t.-v /.-^l-A •* THE KING'S PALACE fXS> Written by J J ANNA LOUISE STRONG Author of '^- .. The Song of the City," etc. Illustrated by MARGARET JOSENHANS t-'^ftSJi Copyright 1908 by Oak Leaves Company I \ Oak Leaves Company Oak Park, Illinois LlBRftfiY of CONGRESS Two Copies Received DEC 26 1903 Copynttiit tntry ULftSS CV- XXc. No, 7.X.4 '^ 4 « COPY o. Dedicated To My Grandmother I Hi THE KING'S PALACE THE KING'S PALACE \ SCENE ONE (Mrs. Raymond's sitting-room; Mrs. Ray- mond is seated at a table pouring coffee; Mr. Gardiner lounges near by, comfortably smok- ing; Philip Darrell is rising to go. A sunset is visible through the western windows.) MRS. RAYMOND You are going, are you? Elise will be down in a moment. „v PHILIP (awkwardly and nervously) Yes — well — if you would be so good. I did want to see Elise for a moment, (He sits down nervously on the edge of a chair. Mrs. Raymond speaks with an obvious attempt to put him at his ease.) MRS. RAYMOND Elise will be very sorry not to have you at her — little party. .'^ " THE KING'S PALACE -.^ /^ GARDINER It must be a pleasure to be missed by Miss Raymond, a pleasure only to be balanced by the unhappiness of not attending her first affair. MRS. RAYMOND Oh, Philip will come to all the others. They are old friends, childhood playmates. GARDINER Ah, a favored friend ! Hov^ fortunate ! PHILIP I have to go west — on business. Oh — (He rises as Elise enters.) ELISE How are you, Phil? Good afternoon, Mr. Gardiner. (Philip sinks back into his seat) GARDINER We were hoping for a glimpse of you, in spite of the preparations for your festivities. (Elise smiles rather vaguely, then she catches sight of the sunset.) THE KING'S PALACE ELISE Oh! (She goes to the window and sits "^ down where she can see the sunset without ,;? too much impoHteness to the guests. Philip i rises hesitatingly and goes to sit by her. Gardiner chats with Mrs. Raymond.) ELISE Look at that gold! And that— oh, that wonderful dark, dark — is it purple or almost a green? i^ :^ PHILIP (in a matter of fact tone) Yes, it's a lovely sunset. ELISE (disappointedly) Oh! PHILIP (miserably) Now, I have displeased you. I v/ish — oh, hcv/ do you expect me to think of sunsets? ELISE But see the clouds! Those high, shining banks with the black between. It's like a gateway to a King's Palace. -'^' THE KING'S PALACE MRS. RAYMOND (turning) Are you two off on that silly old game again? ELISE \ \ ] No, Mother. j PHILIP What game? (Gardiner begins to look in- terested.) MRS. RAYMOND The King's Palace. ELISE I merely said that the sunset , looked like a gateway, a palace gateway. GARDINER (feeling his way) And of course every palace is a king's palace? ELISE (surprise4 ancf' pleased) Why, yes. GARDINER And every palace gateway is an opening into — into — THE KING'S PALACE / ELISE Oh, did you ever play it? MRS. RAYMOND You funny child ! Of course not. ^ ^ .^^ <^ GARDINER V-*^. ^^ I have played at many things. MRS. RAYMOND (laughingly to Gardiner) And always. Did you ever do anything else? GARDINER Why should I? I get all I want without. MRS. RAYMOND \ Always? % GARDINER Provided the others are serious. . MRS. RAYMOND \ Poor others! ^.a GARDINER IM Oh! no! Why? 1^ PHILIP (to Elise)\ Elise, I want to see you before I go. THE KING'S PALACE j /^ ELISE How serious you are. You'll see me often enough. You always have and I suppose you always will, from this time forth and even — GARDINER (catching the last words) Lucky young man! Forevermore is a long time, and under the circumstances a most pleasant one. And how often am I to see you, Miss Raymond? ELISE (embarrassed) I don't know. I suppose it depends. GARDINER On you. ELISE Oh! GARDINER Am I to have a dance at the great event? Or were they all promised years and years ago? ELISE Of course you may ; I should be — very much honored. (Then as Gardiner scrutinizes her with an amused smile, she proceeds with some THE KING'S PALACE embarrassment.) Years and years ago? How funny! One doesn't — GARDINER Knowing your mother, I do not think your first birthday would have been too soon to have engaged the dance. MRS. RAYMOND (smiling acknowledgement) You improve daily. GARDINER (to Elise) But how about the King's Palace? ELISE Oh, that was a game I used to play. MRS. RAYMOND A very childish game. GARDINER With Philip? PHILIP Yes. ELISE Somretimes. II THE KING'S PALACE PHILIP (with a sudden fierceness) Whom else? ELISE h, you weren't always in it, Philip. Some- times I was quite, quite alone. GARDINER In the palace? ELISE \ No, in playing. It was never lonely in the palace. GARDINER Of course not. Palaces are always all that one desires. ELISE (with interest) How do you know? Do you own one, too? GARDINER (with a smile) Ah, that would be telling. PHILIP (pleading) But it was best when we played together, wasn't it? 12 THE KING'S PALACE ELISE (weighing the matter) In some ways. And in some ways it was nicer alone. GARDINER \ \ Didn't Philip play well? You should try me. I am very good at playing. ELISE Oh, Philip was very, very obliging. — But I don't think he always saw much sense in the game. ^^ ^j$^ MRS. RAYMOND (apologetically) Philip was older than you, my dear, and much more sensible. ELISE .-.aiB^''^*''****^ ~^' ' It began with fairy-tales, I think. And with dadda's music. MRS. RAYMOND - /^ Elise is so imaginative. She used to make me read fairy-tales by the hour. ELISE Poor mamma. I know you hated them. 13 THE KING'S PALACE MRS. RAYMOND (with a virtuous air of motherly sacrifice) She gets it from poor dear Henry, GARDINER Oh, I intended to ask you. How is Mr. Ray- mond's new departure coming on? A sym- phony, wasn't it? MRS. RAYMOND Quite well, musically, that is. He gets long letters of compliments, and from really good people. But financially — Oh, imagination is interesting, but not paying. If it weren't that I have some money of my own — (She sighs.) GARDINER (to Elise) And to continue — ELISE Oh, the King's Palace. There isn't much more to tell. It was simply a wonderful place, where everything happened exactly right. GARDINER As one wished? Or as one thought one ought to wish? 14 THE KING'S PALACE ELISE (with pleased surprise) "t Both. For in the King's Palace one always wishes the things one ought. GARDINER Of course ! How stupid of me ! ELISE And the people you love always love you. GARDINER But for that you would not need the palace. ELISE (smiling but a little impatient) I am talking in general. In the world outside — oh, sometimes I think love doesn't go right more than once in a thousand times. You adore one person and that person adores another, and that one still another, and so it goes. Perhaps it's because it's hard to have very much respect, still less adoration, for the opinion of a person who thinks too highly of you. GARDINER How wise we are ! ^^M^;^^*'***-^^.. 15 THE KING'S PALACE MRS. RAYMOND Why, Elise, dear, what dreadful ideas you have! -y •) ELISE (to Gardiner) Now you are laughing at me. /' GARDINER ^ I ! Never ! ELISE (conclusively, with a touch of defiance) So every time things didn't go right — in the world outside, I mean — I played King's Palace. GARDINER How charming! ELISE (seriously) Yes, it vvas very lovely. _ -^' ^-f PHILIP (who has been trying for some time to get in a word) I suppose — if I am to take the night train — (He rises and looks miserably at Elise.) GARDINER (to Mrs. Raymond) And really, I have imposed quite too long i6 THE KING'S PALACE upon your patience. But — the temptation! There are some people one dislikes to leave, even at the risk of boring them. MRS. RAYMOND ^ Better and better! As if I didn't know the real attraction. ^^^^ / GARDINER The two attractions. (To £lise) I have a dance, then, tomorrow night. (Elise nods.) Good afternoon. (Exit Gardiner) MRS. RAYMOND (to Philip, who still stands und-et^rmined) Don't go yet. You must have time enough before the train, unless you have other engage- ments? PHILIP Well, perhaps — ('He sits down.) MRS. RAYMOND ' I am sorry about tomorrow night. PHILIP So am I. 17 THE KING'S PALACE MRS. RAYMOND Especially since the labor of preparation will deprive me of your company now. (Philip starts to rise. She waves him back.) Oh, Elise will take care of you, won't you? ELISE Of course. MRS. RAYMOND Then allow me to wish you a pleasant jour- ney and a quick return. (She gives him her hand. Exit) (Elise wanders slowly around the table and then goes over to the window.) ELISE The sunset is faded and the golden gateway — is closed. PHILIP Elise? ELISE Yes? (She walks across the room and stops to fuss with the cups.) PHILIP Elise? { i8 THE KING'S PALACE ELISE (with a little impatience) Well? (Suddenly she catches sight of his eyes gazing intently at her and starts.) Oh! (She begins to talk rapidly and nervously, fighting against expression on his part.) Why, I am very sorry you are going west, Philip, very sorry. What business did you say? But never mind, I am sure you wouldn't go unless it was important. The west is a lovely place. I should like to go west some time. PHILIP (interrupting) Elise, did you mean what you said just now? ELISE (still rapidly) I suppose so. But I said so many things. Don't you think Mr. Gardiner is an interesting man? I think he's a little bit like father. And then he imderstands everything so well, about palaces, I mean. PHILIP (doggedly) I mean what you said about love, in the world outside, and its not coming right but once in a thousand times. ' > 19 THE KING'S PALACE ELISE (slowly) Well, I suppose that's true, usually. (Again she catches sight of his face and hurries on.) Of course I don't know that it's mathematically correct. I was never any good at mathematics. Perhaps (seeking relief in flippancy) ten thousand would be nearer. What do you think? ^*"' PHILIP ■'^^ I hope not. Now — now — I love you, Elise. (despairingly) You love me, don't you? ^'^^ge ELISE Don't, don't, I*hilip. Oh dear, oh dear, I'm so sorry. "-' *^ PHILIP "" 4^ coming irresolutely nearer after a pause) ^Don't be sorry, Elise. It's not your fault. \\\^ ELISE //^ Oh, Philip, I like you ever so much, you know. PHILIP I know. And you have never — you have never given me any reason to — It's not your fault. THE KING'S PALACE Elise. You have always done everything you should. ELISE ' Thank you, Philip. PHILIP But, you see, I couldn't help hoping, and I can't help it now. y ELISE Don't hope, Philip. It's no use. Never. PHILIP I know I'm not nearly good enough, Elise. I always knew that. ELISE Oh, hush, you are very good, Philip. PHILIP I know I don't understand things — about palaces. And I can't talk the way Gardiner does. But, Elise, I really think I feel the things he says as much as he does. Perhaps even more. Now tonight when you talked of the gold and the purple-green and all I could say was "It's a lovely sunset," I know you were lilip. \ I THE KING'S PALACE disappointed, Elise. And all the time I thought — oh, what does it matter what I thought? ELISE Don't hope, Philip. It's no use. Never. PHILIP I would try to play, you know I would. ELISE ^ would always be obliging, Philip. 1%!^ PHILIP Well, and shall I tell you what I thought? That you belonged in the sunset, and that I did not know how to go there. And meantime the world was turning, turning, and would shut the sunset out of my sight so soon. (A pause.) i PHILIP I think I had better go now. p|^ ELISE I'Wi— I'm so very sorry (Then as he still sits there in utter dejection she bends over him with a semi-maternal sympathy.) If you want 22 THE KING'S PALACE i — ^would you like — just this once, to kiss me good-bye? PHILIP (seizing her hands) -^., Oh, EHse (she shrinks back involuntarily. He looks at her steadily for a moment) Thank you. No. Good-bye. (Exit quickly.) ELISE (sinking into a seat near the table) Oh, Philip, Philip, why did you? You were so nice and I liked you so much. (She fusses with the coffee cups and looks into the pitcher.) The coffee's all gone and the cakes, too. There isn't anything left but some of Mr. Gardiner's old ashes. (She brushes them nervously to the floor. Enter Mr. Raymond. Elise throws herself into his arms.) Dadda! MR. RAYMOND (holding her off at arms' length and looking at her afifectionately) Baby, baby, you surprise me. I thought I was to have a young lady daughter tomorrow night? ELISE But it isn't tomorrow night yet. 23 i THE KING'S PALACE MR. RAYMOND No, too bad, isn't it? Still another day before we are quite grown up. - "^ ELISE \ N, Oh, you don't know, dadda, you don't know how grown up I am. I don't like it to be grown * up. "^ MR. RAYMOND What's worrying the baby now? Can't it get the moon? ELISE Father! (Mr. Raymond looks at her seri- ously.) ^ " I 1^ MR. RAYMOND ^^' Oh, it isn't dadda any more. Well, Elsie? ^^^ ELISE Oh, dadda — (she stops) no! Why, why — I've a conundrum for you. ' ' MR. RAYMOND Yes? ELISE Some of the girls were discussing it the other day. 24 THE KING'S PALACE MR. RAYMOND Ah, purely impersonal problem? ELISE Of course. ,/ Oh! MR. RAYMOND .^1 ELISE (gaily) Which would you choose, a man who was good but not interesting, or a man who was interesting but not — well, not good? MR. RAYMOND Impossible conditions, my dear ! A man who was good couldn't help being interesting — as a specimen. Rare extinct genus and all that sort of thing. ELISE \ Don't be funny, i mean it. MR. RAYMOND Choose? For what? Matrimony? ELISE Of course. 25 THE KING'S PALACE MR. RAYMOND Neither, my dear. I'd choose the lake, or a pistol, or carbolic acid at a pinch. i ELISE But if you married a man who was good but not interesting, you would want to kill him in a week, wouldn't you, dadda? 1 MR. RAYMOND ""'^ I ! Far be it from me, baby. And besides, I wouldn't marry a man. ^1^ ELISE Do be sensible. A girl would. [| MR. RAYMOND /WHat? Marry him? I ]if;i!jl i ELISE No, Want to kill him. MR. RAYMOND But if you married a man who was interest- ing but not good, he might kill you instead. ELISE (with a mock-virtuous air) I would rather be killed than be a murderess. 26 THE KING'S PALACE MR. RAYMOND That's because you are good. ELISE And not interesting. MR. RAYMOND | W-' Oh, some people are both. And when they\ happen to be pretty as well — ^you just wait till *\ tomorrow night. ELISE Will it be very beautiful, like a dream come true? MR. RAYMOND No, like an awakening. I think — I hope you will like it. (Elise goes to the window and looks out then turns suddenly.) ELISE Father, is it wicked of me to feel so ex- cited and happy? MR. RAYMOND Wicked? Why? 27 THE KING'S PALACE A ELISE (seriously) Because I think it is. MR. RAYMOND What's the matter, Elise? ELISE Because just five^minutes ago I felt very miserable. j ^1 MR. RAYMOND Well? ; ELISE And tonight, when I think things over, I am sure, (with determination) quite sure, that I shall feel miserable again. I ought to feel miserable, but I don't. Only excited. MR. RAYMOND (quickly) \ Who's been here? Gardiner? ELISE And Philip. MR. RAYMOND Oh, Philip's not exciting. Why, Elsie, what's the matter? 28 THE KING'S PALACE ELISE (dropping her head on his shoulder) Nothing. MR. RAYMOND (patting her head) There, there, Elsie. (He holds her face away from him and looks at her questioningly. She nods.) Poor baby. It was too sudden, baby. I thought it would come tomorrow night — the awakening. (She releases herself slowly.) So you have grown up (she nods) ; you have left your dolls, (she nods) your palaces — ELISE Have I? Oh, must I? MR. RAYMOND Haven't you, haven't y. 45 V \ THE KING'S PALACE MRS. RAYMOND You will be all right in the morning. Come. ELISE I don't want to be alone just now. Please. Just for a little while. MRS. RAYMOND (impatiently) What do you want? ELISE Please be good, mother. Now sit here. ( She puts a cushion on a low chair, makes her mother sit down, then throws herself on the floor with her head against her mother's knees. She takes her mother's hands and places them on her forehead.) Now dear, you can do whatever you want, but don't speak to me, for I'm going to pretend. MRS. RAYMOND What are you going to pretend? /^% ' ELISE That you are my mother. My really, truly mother, the mother I had — in the King's Pal- ace. 46 THE KING'S PALACE MRS. RAYMOND That game! But you are too old for tfiat now. ^ v-v /if ELISE J^ ^ Let me. Just for a little while. / '^" (A pause. Mrs. Raymond looks uneasily^ toward the other rooms of the house.) ^ \ ir^ MRS. RAYMOND I am needed. I'll be back soon. (Elxit.) ELISE (After a pause, raising her head drearily.) I wonder if the chair would do. (She pulls the cushion to the chair edge, and leans her cheek against it. After a moment she raises herself and begins to speak dreamily, straight in front of her, growing more and more ani- mated.) Oh, mother dear, oh mother dear, is it true, is it true? Be good to me, mother dear. I don't know — I don't know anything at' all. If you would only tell me so that I could be sure. (She drops back, then rises suddenly.) Oh, where are you? where are you? it is all so 47 THE KING'S PALACE far away tonight. Oh, you have left me alone. You don't care. (She rises, saying slowly:) "Oh, one to the King's high throne might win, Worthily rule in the palace halls. But never dream that he dwelt therein. And one would play with the coronals, Cdtint them all in a night and a day — Heigho, heigho, and away, away." The first is true, so true. I wonder about the second. The second— oh! (She stops with a long shudder of recollection, throws herself into a chair by the table and hides her face. At last she rises, goes wearily to the window, and looks out.) ^ ■^. *""^^^, Orion, and Sirius, and— oh, there are the Pleiades! And what a dear little cloud! (A pause, then passionately.) You, you beautiful, you wonderful, you! (Slowly and passionately she throws a kiss out of the window.) I love you, you. (She drops into a low chair beside the window, still gazing out. At last she lays her arm on the sill and drops her head on her arm. A long pause. Enter Mr. Raymond.) 48 THE KING'S PALACE "Orion and Sirius, and — oh, there are the Pleiades!" 49 THE KING'S PALACE MR. RAYMOND Well, baby! (Elise starts and rises.) Sleepy? Did you have a good time? ELISE (glancing at the chair by the window) I have had — a beautiful time. MR. RAYMOND (teasingly) I saw you go out on the porch with Gardiner. ELISE Yes? MR. RAYMOND Well? ^^.,«^ ELISE^ It was a beautiful night. MR. RAYMOND And Gardiner knows how to make the most of a beautiful night, eh? ELISE (shrinking) Don't, father. MR. RAYMOND (Kissing her forehead suddenly.) Forgive me, dear. But you like him? 50 THE KING'S PALACE ELISE u No. 1 i MR. RAYMOND /i Oh! (A pause.) U ; mj ELISE ' ^^ Father, he's the most fascinating man I ever met. [^ MR. RAYMOND J; Ah, so? ELISE But I don't like him. He — he spoils my world. MR. RAYMOND Elise, dear, I think I am rather glad. You prefer Philip, then? ELISE Father, if I had to be married tomorrow, I'd take Philip. But— I MR. RAYMOND J] Well? , J \\ ELISE (gaily/' ^ I don't have to be married tomorrow. 51 THE KING'S PALACE MR. RAYMOND But sometime? ELISE No, never. MR. RAYMOND (lightly) He's an estimable young man. J«^ ELISE * Father, he is good. He is very, very good. He is kind, and generous, and he has rever- ence. Oh, I almost think that the one thing needful, the one thing that is best, is reverence. For yourself, you know, and for other people, and for everything you hold beautiful and good, yes, and for everything anyone holds beautiful and good, — because it is sacred to someone. But, but — (She hums lightly.) "Oh, one to the king's high throne might win, Worthily rule in the palace halls, And never dream that he dwelt therein." He would never know, father. MR. RAYMOND About what? 52 THE KING'S PALACE ELISE Oh, about everything. MR. RAYMOND I see. He has reverence without understand- ing, while Gardiner understands (Elise nods.) and does not reverence. Ji ELISE ^j Does one understand, really, truly, without reverence? MR. RAYMOND Some people would say one doesn't under- stand with it. There, there, baby, I didn't mean it that way. I think, I rather think you may be right. And yet Gardiner spoils Philip for you (Elsie starts and acquiesces.) even as Philip spoils Gardiner. And neither of them would do for the King's Palace. ELISE Father! \ MR. RAYMOND Oh, baby, baby, do you think I've never been there — in the King's Palace? 53 THE KING'S PALACE ELISE I didn't know. I always thought — Have you? ^ , ^^V^ MR. RAYMOND P We are most of us there some time. Most of us, not all. ELISE And isn't it beautiful? „ , , MR. RAYMOND W It was heaven. \ 1% ELISE Oh, why did you ever come away? iy%M\ \ ^^' RAYMOND Once upon a time — once upon a time, — when the prince had wandered a long way from the palace, he met a beautiful maiden. ||/ ELISE (breathlessly) Yes, mother — go on". jjv MR. RAYMOND And she would not believe what he told her about the palace and she didn't much care for palaces anyway, and so — 54 THE KING'S ELISE (sadly) And so he had to stay away? MR. RAYMOND (lightly) And so he never wanted to come back to the palace again. ELISE (incredulously) He never wanted to? MR. RAYMOND At any rate he never came. (A pause.) MR. RAYMOND \ Well, are you going to come out of the pal ace, Elise? ELISE Is it nicer outside? MR. RAYMOND Of course — that is, it's much more comfort- able. At least — oh, at any rate one succeeds better. Your mother now, she's a success. And I — well, I don't suppose most people think I am. The little time I lived in the palace — it spoiled me for other things. 55 THE K I NO'S PALACE ELISE But that had stayed was because you left. Suppose you i MR. RAYMOND I don't needed — know, dear. But I should have ? Ti/ri ELISE J What? ' 3 ID A VTV/r/- A different world. *^ ^,^ ELISE Oh, but the world js different in the King's Palace. MR. RAYMOND (wearily) ^ Is it, dear? I had almost forgotten. ELISE You worry me a little. I wish I knew. (She moves irresolutely to' the window.) Oh, the stars know everything. MR. RAYMOND In the King's Palace. (Enter Mrs. Ray- mond.) 56 l7 THE KING'S PALACE MRS. RAYMOND (without seeing Elise) Well, it's over. Went off rather well, don't you think? MR. RAYMOND A most unusual evening. MRS. RAYMOND What do you suppose Gardiner means? I must speak to — (Mr. Raymond indicates Elise with a warning glance.) Elise! You here! I thought you had gone to bed. "^ (Elise comes forward with a light step.) ELISE I am going, mother. MR. RAYMOND And Elise, — Mr. Gardiner, you know — it's all right this time, but you really shouldn't again — at the beginning of your season, too. ELISE I do not think I care to see Mr. Gardiner again. MRS. RAYMOND Oh, I do not mean it that way. Just be — 57 THE KING'S PALACE well, there are plenty of other people, you know. Don't let him monopolize you. Not but what he's an interesting young man. rl^^'^S ELISE I do not think I care to see Mr. Gardiner again. MRS. RAYMOND iJWhat's got into you now? Is it Philip? ^ ELISE [o, mother. MRS. RAYMOND .What do you expect to do then? "'«^ ELISE I am going back (with a radiant glance at her father) to the King's Palace. MRS. RAYMOND (contemptuously) The King's Palace? Oh, you mean your dolls. ELISE (stops, struck by the word) Dolls, do I? (She lets her hands fall with a despairing gesture.) Oh, I don't know. But I 58 THE KING'S PALACE am going, I am going, whether I know or not. (Exit. As she passes the window she sways toward it lightly, draws a deep breath, looking up at the stars, smiles, and goes out.) , THE END. -.^ 59 yiu8 i v" .j:^'* «\ -VP9- .0' * '^O^ s-^ / 0^ " *>d2^** "^. .-^'^ »tki:.. ^.^ >i^' >^ >' »:^;? .V ^^^r --. <^ -'^- ^'^:^^'"- ./V^iX /.c^*.^ '^o' .^^ 'bV i?"^^. \^<^m^- ^<^^^ ft *^ . « • o - *^■^. < > - • • • . ^-v <"^ 'vP«i'