Ig'?^ /r^fc ODDS WITH THE ENEMY ' ^'^ gin g^mat^wtj Jmma. IN FIVE A CTS, BY / T. S. DENISON PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, DE KALB, ILLINOIS. PRICE, 20 CENTS. CHICAGO: j Steam Press of Cushing, Thomas & Co., 150 and 152 Clark Street, j 1S76. I I ODDS WITH THE ENEMY lilt gimatei«i Jrama. IN FIVE A CTS. T. SV DENISON PUBLISHED BY THK AUTHOR, DE KALB, H.LINOIS. CHICAGO : Stk.am Fkes3 of Gushing, Thomas it Co., 150 and 152 Clauk Strhkt, 1S76. Copyright 1S76, by T. S. Dknjson. CHARACTERS. Mrs. Linton, a widow in good circumstances Oscar Linton, her son, . . . - Alice Linton, her daughter, Harry List, - - - . - Lanty Nixon, grocer's clerk. Squire Simon Carter, a man of wealth, -- ^ ( his nephew, adopted son Nathan Carter, j J^^^l Linton, Betsey Bluff, Mrs. L's servant, - J. McClure Hopkinson, dry goods clerk, - Tabbs, colored servant of the Lintons, Phcebe Day, Squire's servant, COSTUMES. Any ordinary clothing suited to the station of the wearer. Soldiers in uniform. A soldier's coat will answer if complete uniform cannot be had. EXPLANATIONS. R, means right for the actor as he faces the audience; L, left; C, center. Three years intervene between acts III and IV; about one month between IV and V. ODDS VV^ITH THE ENEMY. ACT I. Scene Mrs. Linton'*s Parlor. Room elegantly furnished, giv- ing evidences of -wealth and refinement. Pictures on the -walls. Evening. Nathan. I can hardly believe it! What presumption in her to treat in this way, one brought up under the same roof, her equal in every respect, and a little better than she is just at pre- sent. But her aristocratic notions which she airs so conspicuous- ly, will soon be humbled, or I'm no judge. Well there is no use Iretting and fuming, Nathe Carter. Bide your time and it will all come out right. Humph! I can't help laughing at that girl's high-minded notions. Does'ent she know that her prospects are materially changed since her father's death. She forgets that her father was a spendthrift. A large part of the property which she proudly imagines to be hers, will soon be the property of Simon Carter. Then may be his nephew will not be such a bad catch after all. She is not aware of that yet. How could she know it.? I forgot that only two persons know all about that trifling circu- mstance yet. But she soon will know it, and may be that will cause her to change her opinion on certain subjects. Confound it! I would like to choke that young List when he comes hanging around Alice with his spoony talk. Hist! I hear them coming now. I can't face them after my discomfiture. I'd like to know how, they do get along together. I'll employ a little stratagem to find out. {Creeps behind lounge, R.) Enter Harry and Alice L. Alice. Take a seat Harry. Take this arm-chair. Harry. This will do as well. That is yours. Alice. You need not refuse it Harry. You must take it. You know you are partial to that chair. Harry. Yes, I am partial to that chair because it is yours. {Takes arm-chair R. of table, Alice L.) Nathan. {Aside.) I wonder if he will like her as well when she does'ent own any fine chairs? 4 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. Alice. Harry, none of your nonsense. How careless I am! I have not taken mother' the evening paper yet. Excuse me Harry till I take it to her. She will be anxious to hear the news. Harry. Certainly. {Exit Alice R.) There it is! Always the same. Whenever 1 hint my love for her, she changes the subject so adroitly I have not courage to renew it. Yet I have the best of reasons for believing that she cares more for me than her careless manner would indic'ate. But with what charming indif- erence she meets every reference to the one subject nearest my heart. To be refused by her would be a sort of pleasure, could one but ask again. Nathan. (As\de ) Precious little pleasure I found in it. Harry. Ask again! How bold 1 am of a sudden, when I have not courage to ask the lirst time. I dare not contemplate the possibility of a refusal. Perhaps after all she cares nothing for me, as her thoughtless raillery would seem to indicate. Alas! that is what T fear. Would that I could read her thoughts toward me. Humph! may be she does'ent think of me at all. Verily the hardest thing in this world is to read the intent in the word or act. Enter Alice R. Alice. Pve kept you waiting longer than I intended, Harry. But then you like that chair and this room so well, that I pre- sume you have not missed me much. Harry. Indeed I have. \o\x do not know how much I al- ways miss you, Alice, and how lonely I feel when Alice. VVhen you are alone. Ha, ha, what an idea that you should feel lonely when alone. Harry. Alice, if you would only listen to me Alice. Now Mr. Philosopher, if you intend delivering a lecture, please remember that the occasion is somewhat inappropriate, and the audience not sulHcient to develop any latent powers of speech making which you may possess. {A pause.) What ails you to night anyhow, Harry.? You are not usually so particular about the subject of conversation. Harry, you are actually cross. Harry. Sometimes one does not wish to talk on every sub- ject. Alice. Quite true, Harry. Let's lalk about the war; we must all be interested in that whether we will or not. Did you know nearlv all the boys in the village have enlisted under Capf. Wilson.-* Harry. Yes ; and I wish I could go too. Alice. Oh don't think of it Harry. I can't bear the idea of your going to the war. Harry. Why } Alice. Oh there would be no one to bring us the latest news and we should be so lonesome, mother and I. There would be no one to help us while away our leisure hours which grow more tedious every day. I was just wishing before you came that you ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 6 would drop in and spend the evening. Harry Here I am and you have your wish. Alice. You have not been here for a whole week. Is that the way for one old playmate to treat another.? Harry, I shall have to ask you to explain. Harry. ' You just said you wished to talk about the war. Alice. Not when you talk of enlisting. It's horrid. What ever made you think of going? Harry. I have several reasons. Alice. What are they pray.'' Harry, In the first place I think it is my duty to defend my country, and then father does not wish me to see you. For his sake it were better my visits here should cease. Alice. Harry you are always welcome here; mother likes to see you often. Then you know we have the claims of old ac- quaintance upon you. {Knocking) Who can that be.'* {Goes to door R.) Betsey, come in. Harry. (Aside.) 1 wonder if old acquaintanceship is my only claim here. Betsey. Good evening Mr. List. Harry. Good evening Betsey. Alice. Take a seat Betsey. Betsey. No thank you. I shall not intrude. Harry. No intrusion at all. Alice. Nonsense Betsey! I should think you would know better than to talk about intrusion, sit down. Harry likes to make himself at home. You know well enough he comes to see the whole household. Is'ent that so Harry.? Harry. Yes. Tabbs. {Enters ^^. aside) Am dat a factotum.? All de house holds. Dat eludes me for a fac. Harry. Sit down Betsey and we will have a social chat. {All take seatSy Betsey L.) Tabbs. {Aside.) Spect dat docs'entcludedis individual. (Aloud.) Miss Alice. Alice. Why when did you come in, Tabbs .^ Tabbs. Jes about three-quarters of a moment ago to the bes of my reelection. Massa Nixon's waitin aide dooh. (Betsey jump s up.) Alice. Lanty Nixon.? Show him in at once. Don't run away Betsey. Betsey. I shan't run away, but I'd like to know what he wants here this time of night. Nathan. (Aside.) Hang it who else is coming! I'm con- foundedly cramped. Alice. Oh he has come to deliver groceries perhaps. Betsey. Groceries indeed ! He has been here twice already to- day with groceries. Nathan. (Aside.) Devil take it! He'll stay all night. 6 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. Lanty enters L. ushered in by Tabbs. Lanty. Good evening to you all. Alice. \ Betsey. J- Good evening, Lantj- Harry. ) Alice. Take a seat Lanty. We are so glad you have come. Is there any news.'' Lanty. Yes a telegram — Tabbs. Miss Alice may I listen to the news.'' Alide. Yes, stay and hear it, Tabbs. (All seated but Tabbs.) Lanty. A telegram has just come stating that there has been another great battle and that the union army is routed with fear- ful slaughter. Alice. What dreadful news! and yet in our impatience we long to hear of battles and are disappointed if they do not occur almost daily. Who would have thought a few short years ago, that brothers would so soon deluge our country in blood. And then the bitter end, for when that time comes, the victor will only have bruised his weaker brother. Betsey. Yes, but an erring brother. God's justice is sure and the verdict of Heaven will be on the side of the right and against wrong and slavery. Harry. Nobly spoken Betsey. — "Truth crushed to earth will rise sigain ; The eternal years of God's are hers ; But error wounded writhes in pain, And dies among her worshippers." Tabbs. Yes, massa Harry ; Miss Betsey inlightened onto our minds in a very plain foridway; and poetry am a mighty good thing to pour goose ile onto de troubled waters of true love with. It's mighty nice to talk about de wardick of Heaven too. But I'd jes like to know when dat wardick is to be given in. Sposen de jury cant agree and de court journs over two or three times, what will become of all dese lighten combatifants den.? Gineral Jackson ! Dey 'ell all be done killed off before dey eber hear of de wardick. Alice, Have faith Tabbs. The Lord will fight the battles of the just. Harry. Faith has its sphere, but even the Lord can not fight battles without instruments to carry out his purposes. I feel to night that every one who is able to bear arms should take part and that I should be in the field fighting for my country. Alice. You Harry! Why how you talk! You know we can not spare you, and there are older hands enough. You are but a boy. Harry. Yes, I am a boy, but even boys can help defend their country. Tabbs. Massa Harry am right. His kind of faith would re- ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 7 move the mountains of Sodom and cast them into the sea ot Sa harry. Betsey. Mountains of Sodom ! Sea of Sahara! Tabbs, Sodom was a city of the plain, and Sahara is a great desert. Tabbs. Sodom a city of de plain ! If dat am a case, why did de Scripter ask Jacob to flee into de mountains, if dere were no mountains to fliee into? To save argufyin, Fse jes willin to admit dat Saharry am a desert. I meant de sea of Mediterraneum, and for that matter I reckon it's about as easy to throw a mountain into one sea as another. Lanty. Stick to it Tabbs. You have the best of that argu- ment. Tabbs. Thankee, Massa Nixon. You don't catch dis individ- ual nappin whar de Scripter am consarned. Lanty. Tabbs, are you versed in profane history > Tabbs. Do you spose dis darkey waited on Massa two years for nothing, while he was sittin on de flooh of de legislater.? Massa Nixon, I'm proud to say dat my limited knowledge of pro- fane history, am mostly 'quired by observation durin my pub- lic cai'eer. Alice. How very wise you must be Tabbs, if you have profited by all the experience of your eventful life, public and private. Tabbs. Reckon Massa"^Linton would have been wealthier and wiser if he had listened to the advice of a sartin cullud person. Alice. What do you mean Tabbs.? Tabbs. Well, if Massa had'ent had no dealins with Simon Car- ter, it would have been better for him. Jes like dese genrous, whole-souled chaps. Dey's so awful maganimous deirselves, dat dey never think anybody else is mean till it is too late. Mebbe it aint too late yet to give a little advice though. Alice. Have you anything of importance to disclose, Tabbs, that you are exciting our curiosity to such an extent! Unravel the mystery. Tabbs. Squire Carter might'ent want dis individual to unrav- el his yarn. But I reckon if Massa Linton had always put away his papers into a safe place, Missa Linton would have had some dockiments dat would help dis ravlin business pretty smart. Alice. Do you refer to father's private papers which were lost? Tabbs. Yes Miss Alice. And I also infer to some papers which de late deceased Mr. Linton dicVent write. Harry. Tabbs, drop your big words and tell us plainly what you do mean, Tabbs. Massa Harry, Fse been droppin big words round like ripe chestnuts arter a frost. Aint dat a fac ? To be plain about it, I mean dat Massa Linton never owed Squire Carter in his life, and dat Massa never gave him those big notes. * Lanty. I've guessed as much for some time. Alice. Tabbs, are you aware of the serious nature of the charges you make against my guardian, Simon Carter? 8 ODDS WITH THB ENEMY. Tahhs. Did'ent spect to charge any thing. Shant charge a cent, Miss Alice, for dese facs. It am all true though. Did'ent I hear Massa tell Massa Williams, that week before he died, that he did'ent owe nobody nothing ceptin a few little debts. Alice. Pooh ! Tabbs, you must not let an accidental remark lead you to such serious conclusions. Perhaps father did not know at that time the exact condition of those investments he and Mr. Carter made together. Tabbs. Jes so Miss Alice. In de opinion of dis darkey, no one will ever know de zact condition of dem vestments ceptin Simon Carter, and mebbe his next of kin Nathe. Lanty. Tabbs, do you know anything to justify your suspi- cions.'* Tabbs. Yes, Massa, I knows considerable more than this indi- vidual's gwine to tell, until de indigencies of de case requiahs de facs. Harry. Nonsense, Tabbs. You need not put on such an air of wisdom with your eloquence, nor speak in such a mysterious way. You have nothing but your own suspicions, and those on- ly because you do not like the Carters. Tabbs. Nothing but spicions eh.? I see de maligencies of de case requiahs a plain enclosure of de facs. Betsey. You mean the exigencies of the case require a dis- closure of the facts. Tabbs. I said exidigencies. But we will not argy dat point. Here am de facs. Did'ent I hear Massa Nathe and his Uucle Simon talking busy about Massa Linton's business.'* Nathan. (Aside.) The black rascal ! Tabbs. An when I see dey was so desput in arnest, I stop- ped on the stairs to listen, if it was sort of mean, an I heerd two mighty mean men layin plans. Nathan. {Aside.) Your black pate will suffer for this. Alice. Well go on Tabbs. We are tired waiting. Tabbs. Massa Nathe says to squire, says he, "You know Uncle them papers are taken care of, now how's we gwine to fix up matters.?" An Squire Carter says, "We'll jes put in plenty of claims an try to get a morgidge on de farm for the present. Afterwards we can tighten de screws jes as we please if dat gal don't come to a favorable elusion." Lanty. The villians! Harry. Can this be true.? Tabbs. True as preachin. Betsey. Neither of them is too good for such villiany in my opinion. Alice. Friends judge not too harshly. I cannot hear my adopted brother and my guardian thus spoken of. Let us drop the subject. Where can Nathan be to night.? It is time he was home, if he went to the village. Harry. Lanty, that reminds me it is time we were at home too. Alice. No, I did'ent mean that. Don't be in a hurry. ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 9 Harry. Really we must go. It is getting late. Good night. Lanty. Good night. {Exeiini L.) Be/^ev \ (.^^^'^9 ^^ door.) Good night. Call again. Tabb's. Good night. {Exit R.) Betsey. I must see to the kitchen for the night. {Exit R.) Alice. And I'll go up stairs to mother. {Exit R.) Nathan. Yes, and I'll go too. A precious fool I've been, ly- ing there an hour or so in that dark hole. Aha! -They know our plans, do they.^ All through that black rascal Tabbs. But, his influence does'ent amount to a straw. Alice, herself don't be- lieve him. No, she trusts me still. So much the better. Tabbs is easily disposed of, and then we shall see who wins, Harry List or I. {Exit R.) Curtain. ACT II. Scene, Mrs. Linton's Parlor. Time next day, after Act I. Table C. Mrs. Linton seated R. of table. Mrs. L. Oh, this continual trouble! Since my husband's death, there has been nothing but worry over his affairs. Claim follows claim, until I fear nothing will be left. {Knocking heard.) Who is that.? {Goes to the door., L.) Efiter Tabbs, showing in Simon Carter. , Squire, How are you, Mrs. Linton. I hope you are well. Mrs. L. Good day, Mr. Carter. I'm quite well thank you. Take a seat. Squire. {Takes chair, \^.) Fine day for the soldiers to say good bye. There is a terrible bluster down among the cabins on the creek. Women and children are crying. The men are half- crying too. Should'ent think they would care a great deal, as they don't leave much behind. Mrs. L. They leave their wives and children behind, and nothing should be dearer to men than these. Those who have experienced such partings, best know how bitter they are. Squire. Very true. It is natural to feel such things. We are all human when it comes to that. Tabbs. {Aside.) De Squiah am speakin from observation. Dat las remark don't come under de spear of his personal sper- ience. Mrs. L. This cruel war will bring sorrow to many hearts that have never known a care. How can men deliberately and inten- tionally wrong their fellow men.? Is there no better way than bloodshed to settle differences of opinion .? Squire. Differences of opinion may be honest, yet irreconcila- ble. So the sword must decide. But' I've come down to-day on a little matter of business. I want to see what can be done toward settling up my accounts with your husband's estate. You know 10 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY, ^ I have made out my claims entirely from my books, including those old notes. Tabbs. {Aside.) Plaguey old notes. Made about las week. Mrs. L. Yes, I know yo'u were preparing a statement, and I'll be obliged to trust to the accuracy of your accouifts, since my husband's private papers have so unaccountably disappeared. Squire. Very mysteriously indeed. I lave you no clue to their whereabouts. Mrs. L. .None. I have given up the search as hopeless. Squire, And I too. I think there is little probability of your ever seeing them again. Tabbs. (Aside.) Dat am mos entirely likely (Aloud.) Dey're gone sure. Mrs. L. Tabbs, you may go. Squire. Why, are you here Tabbs? Go at once. We have private business that must not be heard by everyone. Tabbs. (Aside, going.) Not de fust business he did'ent want every one to hear. (Exit R.) Squire. Well, as I was saying, I have those matters in good shape at last, and am now ready to settle at once. Mrs. L. If there is a balance in your favor, I fear that I should not be ready to settle immediately. Squire. There is quite a balance in my favor. Mrs. L. Heaven protect us! We shall be homeless yet. Squire. I am very sorry Madam, to be obliged to break this unpleas£tnt news to you. But I am not able to lose the money, and, though administrator of the estate, I must present nriy claims with the other creditors. Mrs. L. You do but your duty in claiming your own. I will pay you every cent, if my child and myself are left penniless. Squire, It will not be so bad as that. Mrs. L. What does the estate owe you.'' Squire. A small amount comparatively; only some seven thousand dollars. Mrs. L. A very large amount considering our other debts. Then my husband was deeply involved.? Squire. He was. He lost heavily in oil speculations. The bulk of my claim is for money loaned at that time. Without my help he would probably have been bankrupt then. Mrs. L. What settlement can we make without sacrificing everything .? Squire. Oh, take your time. Give me a mortgage on the real estate, and pay it off at your leisure. Mrs. L. Mortgage the homestead ! T'is the last resort, but better than 1o sell it to strangers. I will give you the mortgage, and trust to Providence for the means of paying it off. Squire. All right. I'll not be hard at all. Now since we have settled up that business satisfactorily, there's another little affair I'd like to mention. Mrs. L. What is that.? ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 11 Squire. You know my nephew, Nathan, is very fond of Alice. Mrs. L. It would be very strange if he were not, for their relations have always been those of brother and sister. Squire. Pshaw! There is no brotherly love about it. It is all the real thing. Why should'ent he marry the girl.? He will some day have all my property, and will be well to do in the watrld. As for his bringing up, you know what that is. I think they would make a splendid match. Mrs. L. To be properly mated, young people oiust love each other, and I doubt if Alice entertains any other feeling for Nathan than that of a sister's love. Squire. There is great deal of moonshine about the loves of young people. When I wanted to marry Matilda Williams, I just went and asked her father about it, and he said yes. The girl said something about not loving me as well as she shou'd love a husband. I told her love would come in time, and her father said the same. We were married, and we always got along without any trouble. If I do say it myself, I never knew a quieter, more obedient wife. Mrs. L. I don't doubt her obedience., Mr. Carter, not in the least, but I do doubt the propriety of such marriages, especially be- tween very young persons. Alice is too young to think of marry- ing yet. When she is of proper age, she shall choose for herself. I shall not attempt to dictate to her upon the subject of marriage. A mother's advice is all I have to ofi'er, and if I were offering any- one advice now, it would be for Nathan to give up all hope of ever winning Alice, for I am sure her heart is already another's. I have intimated as much to Nathan several times. Squire. You mean Harry List, I suppose.? And can you con- sent for one of your family's most bitter enemies, to marry your only child.? Do you not fear the old feud will be renewed in all its bitterness.? Can a house divided against itself, stand.? Mrs. L. That feud was a senseless, causeless quarrel, which I hope will be forever consigned to oblivion by its youngest repre- sentatives. Squire. Mrs. Linton, I am astonished to hear you speak so. You hope this for the furtherance of a love match between those representatives, eh.? Mrs. L. Mr. Carter, I beg you will not misunderstand me in a way which reflects so decidedly upon my candor, and implies an intrigue upon my part. Of all things, I depise hypocrisy and intrigue. {Rises indignantly)) Squire. {Rises, aside.) Hang it, I must not be too fast yet. {Aloud.) I beg pardon, Mrs. Linton. I did'ent mean to re- flect; never thought of such a thing. But you can see that the conseqences of such a union might prove disastrous. Could you not influence Alice to regard Nathan more favorably.? Your in- fluence with her is very great. Mrs. L. I know it is, but I will never use it to compel her to marry a man she does hot love. 12 ODDS WITH THE ENBMY. Squire. That is your decision then ? Mrs. L. It is. Squire. Very well. I like people to decide such things in a plain outspoken way. No half-way underhand work for me. I can respect such decisions as that. {Going.) Good morning, Mrs. Linton. Mrs. L. Good day, Mr. Carter. {Exit R.) Squire {Passing 'out L., as Mrs. L. passes out R.) Deuce take it, may be when she has no roof over her head, Nathe Carter's would be better than none for her and her high-toned daughter. {Met at door by Nathan, tvfio enters.) Nathan. Well Uncle, what success.' Squire. {Re-entering.) Curse it, no success at all. That girl don't care a straw for you. But I did succeed too. The mortgage is all right and that will bring both mother and daughter to terms, or my name is'ent Simon Carter. Nathan. ' Uncle, it looks pretty hard to defraud helpless wom- en in that way. I would like to have the girl and her property if they could be had honorably, but I almost wish we had never begun to work by unfair means. Squire. Bah!" Don't turn coward and indulge in conscien- tious scruples now, when it is too late. Nathan. You may well say conscientiotis scruples, for what we have begun is certainly wrong in the sight of Heaven. It would be base ingratitude in me, to betray those who have ever been my best friends. Squire. Nonsense, Nathan ! It will be all right when the property is yours and the girl your wife ; can't she enjoy it, and can't her mother share it too for that matter.!^ " Stratagem is fair in love and in war." It will all be in the family still, Nathan. I had'ent thought of it in that light before. May be all will be well in the end. I hope it will since we are into ihe ugly business. But did you know that Tabbs suspects us ; knows in fact that those notes are not genuine.^ Squire. The devil he does! How did he find that out.? Nathan. Overheard our conversation. He has already told Alice, but she does not believe him. Squire. He must be disposed of. Nathan . B ut h o w .? Squire. Trust me for that. I'll find some way. Nathan. Hush, Uncle! We must not remain here talking. We may be overheard again. Squire. You are right. I must go at once. (Exeunt L.) Curtain. ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 13 ACT III. Scene, Mrs. Linton's parlor. Time a few days after Act II, Mrs. L. Enters R. Mrs, L. Simon Carter is rude in speech and manner, but I have never doubted his honesty, even though ugly rumors were afloat many years ago concerning him. Can Tabb's story be true? No, I have good reason to believe that my husband s af- fairs were involved. Tabbs must be mistaken. That mortgage places us in the power of Simon Carter. His language the other day seemed almost like a menace, but we must meet his claim, and that is the only way left us. Enter Alice R. Alice. Mother, hav« you heard the news? Mrs. L. No, Alice. What is it.? Alice. George Harley ran away from home last night. Mrs. L. Impossible. It can't be true! Alice. But it is true, Mother. Susan Harley has just been here and told Betsey all about it M». Harley started this morn- ing to the city, to see if he can hear anything of George, and Mrs. Harley has worried herself sick. She is abed now, and Dr. Berry has been called in. Mrs. L. Oh, the follies of hot-blooded youth! Could that misguided boy but realize the unspeakable anguish which his per- veisi'y has caused his parents, he would pause in horror at its consequences. But his ungovernable passions like a fierce si- moon, have consumed his better qualities, dried up the springs of filial love, and left his heart a barren waste, scorched by its own mad passions. Poor boy! Sometime he will repent his folly. Mrs. Harley' s grief brings back to me the sad remembrance of our own poor wanderer^ laid to rest in a strange land, your own lost brother Oscar. Alice. Dear mother, do not call him lost. I feel that he is yet alive, and will some day return to us despite his foolish vow. Mrs. L. Banish the thought. The evidence of his death and burial, is too strong to allow us to cherish such delusive hopes. Alice. Oh, mother, don't speak so. You know that I cherish the hope that he is yet alive, as dearer than all else. Enter Tabbs L. Tabbs. {Aside.) Ceptin Massa Harry. How dese women folks will be meanin about one thing when dey's talkin about an- 14 ODDS WITH THE ENE>IY. other, and dat other not on de subjec at all. (Aloud.) Beg pardon for interruptin de felicities of dis occasion, but Alice. Tabbs, go away with your nonsense and ludicrous talk. Will you never learn to stop your highflown gibberish.? What are you here for.? Don't you know better than to intrude.? Our conversation is private. Tabbs. Private! Dat's what de cruitin officer wanted me to be. Dis chile prefers to be sensed from private life jes now. Alice. Tabbs, leave this room instantly. Mrs. L. Alice, Tabbs does not deserve rebuke. His genial good nature has often sent a ray of sunshine through this house, when all around was gloomy. His unskilled tongue speaks many a generous thought with a grotesque expression, but an honest purpose. Tabbs. Your pardon, Missa, but the gemman, Massa Harry, is done tired waitin. Mrs. L. Is Harry at the door.? Show him in at once, Tabbs. Tabbs retires L. re-enters bo-wing in Harry List. Harry. Good morning, Mrs. Linton. Good morning, Alice. Mrs. L. Good morning, Harry. We are glad to see you. Alice. Good morning, Harry. I'm so glad that you have come. I have been wanting ever so much to see you. We have been making arrangements for a dinner, for Capt. Wilson's Company, next Thursday, and we shall need you to help get things ready. Take a seat, Harry, till I tell you all about it. {Ml seated, Harry L., Mrs. L"". C, Alice R.) Harry. I have another engagement for that day, which will prevent me from assisting you in the preparations for the dinner. I suspect Capt. Wilson's Company will dine out that day. Alice. Pshaw ! An engagement which will prevent you from assisting at the dinner! The Company will dine out! Of course they will — in the open air. None of your jokes. Hairy. Harry. I'm not joking. I was never more in earnest in my life. Alice. What do you mean, Harry? Harry. I've enlisted. ^J-\ Enlisted. Harry. Yes; I have enrolled my name in Capt. Wilson's Company. To-day I shall don a soldier's coat for better or worse, that is for three years or during the war. Alice. Oh Harry how I shall miss you ! We never can endure to lose you, perhaps forever. I shall go mad at the dreadful thought that you might be killed or crippled for life. Oh the cruel, cruel exactions of war! Mrs. L. Be calm my child, Harry is yet safe. We must trust to God to preserve him. Harry this is sudden. You have never told us anything about your intending to enlist. Have you your ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. , 16 father's consent? Why have you resolved so suddenly to leave a comfortable home and brave the dangers of the battle field? Harry. This morning father asked me again to cease my visits here. I refused. He urged that I should not visit Avhere he was not free to go. I told him humbly and with sorrow that his objections were Ibunded upon prejudices which should have been forgotten long ago, and that I respected his wishes but could not admit his right to choose for me. In a violent passion he ordered me to obey him or leave his house and never more call myself his son. It was a hard choice but honor bade me stand by my convictions, and now I wish to say to you something which I had long hoped to say under more auspicious circumstances and with father's approval Mrs. Linton, I love Alice dearly and I think that she loves rne although no vows have ever passed our lips. I ask you to let her be my wife, if lam fortunate enough ever to return from the arm}- alive. I could not join my youth- ful comrades in the camp until I had unfolded to dear ones at home, my long cherished hope. As for Alice this boy's confes- sion brings no tidings new to her. Her answer I have guessed already. Alice have I guessed right? Alice. Yes, dear Harry, yes. Mrs. L. Harry, you are both young. Alice is too young to think of plighting her faith to anyone for years. And then our future is so uncertain. Her father's affairs are yet unsettled, we may have plenty; we may be left in want. The old feud between your kindred and Alice's can you ever forget? Harry. Mrs. Linton, I have not forgotten that deep seated enmity. I remember it as a thing which should be forever banished out of sight. Its unhallowed dregs are too bitter for oblivion. It is that alas! which brings me here to-day to speak my love. A boy's love it may be, yes a child's love you may call it, for it sprang up and reached maturity amid the happy scenes of our childliood daj's. But the man's reflective moods can not forget the boy's sweet preference. Mrs. L. Have you considered the consequences of this estrange- ment from your father: They may affect your future welfare and they deserve more than a passing thought. Is it wise to bring into such close relations those whom years of enmity may sunder? ^ Harry. It were better than to blight two lives with grudges in which they had no part. Mrs. L. True my brave boy, but there is plenty of time. When you return from the battlefield crowned with honors as I know you must, if God spares you, Alice shall decide. Harry. God bless you Mrs. Linton, If the foeman spares me I shall return to claim Alice as my bride. Alice. Oh Harry you will return safe. It would break my heart to hear that you were killed. Oh the miseries of war! Why did you enlist, Harry? Harry. No ties are sacred enough to bind the treeman when 16 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. his country calls. But time presses. The company starts at three. Alice. Must you go to-day Harry? Harry. Yes, and this minute. Alice. Oh, don't go yet. Harry. I must. Good bye, Mrs. Linton. (Shake hands.) Mrs. L. Good bye, Harry ; brave patriot, that you are. May vou have God's blessing; you have mine. Harry. Good bye, dear Alice. Should I fall, remember I liuveonly done my duty. I will write. For my sake do not de- spair. {Kisses hey. She clings to him.) Have courage. Trust in God and your country's cause. Farewell. Alice. Farewell, dear Harry. God be with you. {Harry presses her hand in silence. Exit.) What will become of us? it is dreadful to think that the innocent milst shed their blood in the quarrels of wicked men. What grievances have we to fight for? Why don't they send their own sons? Mrs. L. Every one owes a sacred duty to his country. You should not complain. Our grief is but a mite in the great woe around us. Others are bearing even heavier burdens. Alice. I know that, but the griefs of others does not lessen mine Mrs. L. It does not, but it should teach us not to consider our sorrows alone, while those around us are borne down by sorrows as great as ours. Cheer up my child. {Aside.) Her grief pre- fers communion with itself. {Exit R.) Alice. (Passionately.) He is gone, gone. .Must every one I love be torn from me. First my Brother Oscar when I was but a child, and now dear Harry is hurried oif, perhaps to fill a soldier's grave. The very thought is dreadful. ( Weeps.) Yet why should I cherish my grief, when Harry must bear his in silence among strangers? For his sake I will try to cheer up and hope lor the best. Somebody's coming. (Nathan appears at door R.) Nathan. I wished to speak a few words with you. {Aside.) She turns away. She has been weeping. What can be the matter? Alice. 1 will listen to you however painful the subject may be to both of us. Nathan. Dear Alice you remember I desired you to reconsider the question whicii I asked you the other day. I hope reflection lias softened your heart towards one who loves you as his own life. If you wish more time take it. I will wait. ^ Alice. I have not hardened mv heart, towards you Nathan God knows you .ire dear to me. But T will speak plainly. I love another. Nathan. Could you not love me? Is there no hope? Alice. I love you with a sister's holiest love and you cannot know how it pains me to answer you thus, knowing as I do what misery that answer will cost you. Nathan for your own sake and mine, never mention this subject to me again for we never can be aught to each other but brother and sister. {Exit R.) Nathan. I am decided. Fair means will not win. Fate makes ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 17 me a villain. (Uoeii R.) Enter Betsey R. meeting Nathan. Betsey. Mr. Nathan looks decidedly blue to day. I know what's the matter though. He has been declaring his love for Miss Alice again and "has got another refusal for his pains. What stupid idiots some men are ! They can't take a hint. Some of them will hanker around and ask half a dozen tifnes if a woman refuses them. Others will keep coming and coming but never have courage enough to ask a plain question. I have no patience with either sort and Lanty Nixon is one ot the latter. Why don't he speak his mind.? Goodness knows he has chances enough! If he does'ent soon make his intentions known I'll just bestow a little attention somewhere else. Lanty is jealous of that crack-brained fop who calls himself J. McClure Ilopkinson. Well he is too nice for this world. I don't care though. {Knocking heard.) Who's there.? {Goes to door L.) Come in Lanty. Lanty. Good afternoon Betsey. I have called in to tell Mrs. Linton I left the groceries at the kitchen door. Betsey. Very well, I will call Mrs. Linton. Lanty. No, its unnecessary, Miss Bluff. I'll tell you what I brought. {Approaches closely.) There was ten pounds Betsey. You need not get so close, Lanty. I'm not hard of hearing. Lanty. No, but you see I am responsible for these groceries, and I'm going to see that they are all properly inventoried by some one connected with the establishment. Betsey. What do you mean, Lanty Nixon, by calling this house an establishment. Lanty. Well, what shall I call it.? It seems to me you are getting a little particular about your language. Call it an insti- tution then, or a chebang. Betsey. Chebang indeed! Lanty Nixon, where do you pick up all your slang.? Lanty. See here Betsey, I'm in a hurry ; so if you please we will 140 on with that inventory. There was ten pounds of coffee, one codfish (not one of the aristocracy either), and fifteen pounds of ^gar as sweet as {Kisses her.) Betsey. {Slaps him.) Lanty, you're a fool. Lanty . May be I am. Betsey, but I'm sure of one thing, Betsey. What is that.? La,nty. I know a good article when I've sampled it. Betsey. Get out, you good for nothing! Lanty. Betsey, listen a minute. I wish to ask you a question. Betsey. Oh, do you. {Aside.) He is going to pop the ques- tion at last. {Aloud.) Go on, Lanty, I am ready to listen. Lanty. Why did you devote yourself to that addle-pated Hopkinson, the other night at Jones's party.? Betsey. Is that any difference to you.? Can't I entertain who- 18 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. ever I please without asking you? Lanty. I suppose you can, if you choose to slight your friends. Betsey. Slight my friends! Humph! Must I sit and entertain you allnight? You don't seem to appreciate it any too well. Lanty. You know well enough what that Hopkinson is. Betsey. What is he? Lanty. He is nothing but a sniffling, stuck up counter hopper. Betsey. Yes, he is a counter hopper, but he does not handle cheese and codfish, and greasy bacon. Lanty, it is so nice to go a shopping there, and have him display his goods. How charm- ingly he handles the yard stick. Lanty. I'd like to break his head with it. Enter Tabes L. Tabhs. Could'ent do it Massa Lanty, for did'ent Miss Alice read in de Filosomy, dat a hollow tube am stronger than a solid one. Miss Betsey, here am a card from a gemman below. Betsey. (Reads.) "J McClure Hopkinson." Show him in, Tabbs. ^ {Arranges furniture, etc) Enter Tabbs followed by J. Mc. J. Mc. Ah! Good aftehnoon, Miss Bluff. How aw you? I hope 3'Ou are well. Betsey. 1 am quite well, thank you. How are you? J. Mc. Very well indeed. Good aftehnoon, Mistah Nixon. Lanty. G^'od day, Mr. Hopkinson. Betsey. Take seats, gentlemen. (J. Mc. takes a seat.) J. Mc. Ah! Yes, thank you; hawdly have time though. {Seated]. Mc. R. C, Betsey R., Lanty L. C, Tabbs stands L.) Tabbs. {Aside.) Golly, he am a stunner, sure. J. Mc. I thought I would call, ah. I did not knoAv but you might want to walk down to the depot, to see the soldiah boys off this aftehnoon. As I passed here, I thought I would stop. Perhaps we might go togetheh. Betsey. Nothing would please me better than to accompany you. J. Mc. Ah indeed! Thank you, aw you ready? Betsey. I shall be ready in a moment. Excuse me. {Exit R.) J. Mc. Certainly ; certainly. Tabbs. {Aside to La.nty) Massa Lanty your cake am dough for this evening anyway. J. Mc. Do you think of enlisting Mistah Nixon? La.nty. {Fiercely.) No I do not. J. Mc. Beg pahdon, I diden*t know but you would. Most ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 19 young men desiah to rush to arms but for my part I prefer to stay at home. Tahbs. And rush into arms. Sometimes it am mighty sweet to rush into arms at home. Dis individual is wilHn to serve his country dat way too. Lardy. Patriots of that stripe are as plenty as bad excuses and just as useful. A great many stay at home because they are unwil- ling to defend the country which protects them. J. Mc. Oh ! ah ! Did I understand — [Indignantly^ both rise, enter Betsey.) Ah! are you ready Miss Bluft? Betsey. I am ready. Good afternoon Mr. Nixon. You will excuse my abrupt departure. It is time to go and I presume you wish to see the boys start too. Mrs. Linton and Alice will entertain you in the meantime. Good afternoon. Lanty. Good afternoon Miss Bluff. I'm obliged to you for your kindness but I shant need any entertaining this afternoon. J. Mc. Good aftehnoon Mistah Nixon. {Exeu7%t L.) Tahhs. If de enemy' d get him dey would put him in de imagi- nary wid de baboons sure. Lanty. Confound the impudent puppy. What a fool I've been! Blind as a bat! Tahhs. Massa Lanty, excuse dis individual in correctin one little mistake of yours. Lanty. What is that.^ Tahhs. Massa Nixon I'se gwine to state plain facs and you must'nt get riled either. Lanty. Well, go on, hang it. Tahhs. Stead of Massa Hopkinson's beein a puppy it was massa Nixon. Why.^ Case Massa Nixon's eyes was'ent opened at fust. Lanty. Shut up you black rascal. (Kicks him as he escapes R.) Enter Mrs. L, and Alice. Mrs. L. *Why Lanty! what are you doing? Lanty. Nothing; we were only joking. Tahhs. (Re-enters.) What would he do if he was in arnest.? I'd jes like to know. Alice. Tabbs is always joking and your inclination to levity is little less than his. Lanty, we never know when you are in earnest. Lanty. You hit the mark that time Alice. Excessive levity is my failing. But to-day I cast aside that wretched garb of non- sense and am determined on a manly resolution. Alice. What is that Lanty.? Lanty. I shall enlist to-morrow. Mrs. L. Why you said this morning you were not going to the army. Lanty. I have changed my mind. Alice. How sudden this is! Is everybody going to the war? £0 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. What made you change your mind so soon Laiity ? If \ on must go I am glad you are going with Harry. Betsey will be a sympa- thizing companion in my grief. Why do you look so grave? Any thing wrong between you and Betsey.'' Tabhs. Reckon Miss Betsey's grief wont Lanty. Tabbs I wish you to understand I can manage my affairs without your assistance. Tabbs. Yes massa. Laniy. I guess there is nothing wrong. I've changed my mind; that's all. I can't go with Harry though for I am not ready to start this afternoon. Alice. Why ! haven't you heard that our boys have orders to remain until to-morrow.'* Lanty. Good luck! Then I will go with Harry. Mrs. L. Where is Betsey.? Did she not tell you of the delay.? Lanty. She knew nothing of it herself. Alice. I was hoping Harry would come home this evening but I suppose he could not get leave of absence. Enter Harry followed by Squire, Nathan, Tabbs L. Harry. But he did though. Alice. Oh it's Harry (Rushes into his arms.) Squire. Zounds! what does this mean.? {Alice starts a7id screams.) Mrs. Linton do you approve of your daughter's rushing into the arms of a young man in this way.? It you do I as her guardian must express my unqualified disapproval of such un- womanly conduct. I came expecting to see that young upstart urging his preposterous claims but I confess I was not prepai*ed for this scene. • Lanty. (Aside.) A Spy. Harry. Squire Carter, do you dare to insinuate that Miss Linton would be guilty of an unwomanly act.? Squire. Who are you boy who thus presumes to question me in regard to what I shall say to my ward.? You bear the uniform of a soldier of your country but you have yet to learn the respect due your superiors. I'm thinking that will be the first lesson you will get. Harry. If you choose to use insulting language in the presence of ladies I shall dare to question your right to do so, even at the risk of being considered a fit subject for receiving lessons on politeness. Tabbs. (Aside.) Massa Carter needs a few lessons in dc a-b-c's of dat branch. Lanty. (Aside.) I'd like to be his teacher. (Aloud.) Squire Carter, if you came here as a spy why did'entyou listen ;it the door where you could hear all that was said without the restraint of your presence.? That would be more in keeping with your mission. Nathan. (Aside.) Can he suspect me.? Squire. Boy, I know my place and my business. Who presumes ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 21 to tell me here what I shall or shall not say? Alice. Mr. Carter I am sorry if I have offended you. Harry. Mr. Carter your language reflects not only on Mrs, Linton and Alice but on the entire company. For my part 1 scorn your insinuations as unvvorth}' of — i— MvK. L. Harrv, please keep cool. Squire. As unworthy of a gentleman. I understand. You cooly insult me do you?- Harry. My language is plain; you can interpret for yourself, Lanty. Mr. Carter you first offered an insult I think, and can not complain if )'ou are paid in your own coin. Mrs. L. Gentlemen please do not forget Adhere you are. I am surprised at this unseemly wrangle. Squire. What is unseeml\? Mrs. Linton do you call me to account for plain advice because it was too plain? Remember I have the power to exact satisfaction for these injuries. You well know my power over this house and you ought to know that Simon Carter can resent an insult. Mr. List you will find that my influence is not confined to this neighborhood. I have friends in the 13th regiment who will be only too glad to favor me by granting any little requests I may make. Lanty. Tools for work which vou would'ent stoop to do your- self. Tahbs. (Aside.) Plaguey low work Squire Carter would have to stoop to, hi, yi. Squire. And so you feel at liberty, Mr. Nixon, to interfere here with your meddling impertinence. Your impudence is un- endurable, though you are excusable for imitating the example of your superiors. But by Heaven, I'll have satisfaction for all this. Nathan. Confound it Uncle, can't you stop? What's the use of all this row? Has your honor been assailed? Tahhs. {Aside.) Dat would be sailin an illusion. Squire. I have been insulted; grossly injured. Alice. Mr. Carter, it was all my fault, please forgive Harry, and I'll bear all the blame. Harry. I don't think I shall suffer much without forgiveness. Mrs. L. Remember, Mr. Carter, that youth is rash and apt to be hasty. Lanty. And that old folks are sometimes more than hasty. Squire. More than hasty ! What do you mean? Mrs. L. Mr. Carter, do not be unreasonable because the boys may happen to be inconsiderate. Let us drop this subject. Squired We will not waste words. I am unreasonable, am I? So be it. I am a match for all of you, when it comes to the test of power. Tahhs. {Aside.) A lucifer match 1 spect. Squire. Mrs. Linton, when you find yourself without a roof to shelter you; when you are deserted, friendless, and penniless; perhaps you will remember that the 'Carters wished to be your 22 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. friends, and that you spurned their proffered kindness to ace pt from others, a delusive friendship which could only prove a curse. Adieu. (Exit L.) ARRANGEMENT OF CHARACTERS. C. Mrs. L., Alice, R. Lanty, Tabbs. Harry, Nathax L. SLOW CURTAIN. ACT IV. Three years have elapsed between Act III and IV. Scene, — Mrs. L. seated by a table sewing. Room poorly furnished. Evidences of great poverty. Knocking. Mrs. L. opens door L. Squire Carter appears. Mrs. L. Simon Carter! Squire. Good morning, Mrs. Linton. I hope you are well. Mrs. L. You hope I am well ! You who have blighted for- ever the hopes of a once happy household. Dare you speak the word hope.'* Squire. Mrs. Linton, I have not come here to call up the bit- ter things of the past. Let us forget the past. Mrs. L. You taunt me with my wrongs when you speak of the past. Squire. I am not here to speak of what might have been but of what may yet be. Mrs. L. What can you have to say to me.? Why do you pre- sume to enter this house.'* Poor as it is it has never been con- taminated by the presence of such as Simon Carter. Squire. Stay Mrs. Linton. We have been enemies but let enmity listen to reason, may you not have judged too severely? Your lot has truly been a hard one, but who is to blame.'* Your late husband's property passed to his creditors of whom I was the principal one. Your homestead became mine under a mortgage which you gave willingly and of which you admitted the justice. You and your daughter have hardened your hearts against me and my nephew Nathan, him who once was called your son. It is for him I have come to speak. Whatever slights I may have endured are satisfied. Yes I may say forgotten. He has always been your friend. He would again be your son and more than a brother to Alice. Will you accept a reconciliation.? Mrs. L. And is this your mission.? Our interview is ended. Squire Then you prefer poverty to comfort.? ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 23 Mrs. L. Ay, a thousand times better poverty, than one penny of your hated wealth or this degrading alHance. {Ttcrns aivay,) Squire. (Aside.) Unyielding as adamant. We must have the girl though or our title is unsafe and the boys luay come home any day. But I've another plan or two. (Aloud.) Mrs. Linton. I have been talking to day with Mr. List about this house, you know it is so close to my property that it really detracts from the value of my residence quite materially. I believe j Alice. Why -who can have written to me: can it be from Har- ry.? Takes letter. No, it has no post mark, and the word "present." Tears it open, reads aloud. LiNTONViLLE, April 20, 1865, Miss Alice Linton : For some time past the Directors of this district have con- sidered the advisability of employing some one else to teach our school. We are satisfied that a change is now necessary. Your successor will take charge of the School next Monday. Very truly, yours, Simon Carter, Clerk of Board. Alice, The last blow has fallen ! Mrs. L. No, not the last. They will turn us out of the house next. Alice. We are indeed at their mercy, defenceless women with no protectors. Oh! when will Harry and Lanty return.? What can be the cause of their long silence.? Mrs. L. My child, cease your vain regrets. Harry has evi- dently forgotten us; then why should we remember him.? His coming would bring no joy to our hearts. Alice. She speaks truly. It must be so, but the thought is a death knell to my last vain hope. How could one, the very type of honor, act so basely without even a word of explanation. I can't believe it. I'll not believe it. I ifjill hope on till he tells me from his own lips, that he wishes to be released. Mrs. L. Your hope is delusive. We are indeed forsaken by all who could render assistance in an hour of need. Alice. Not by all. Heaven watches over the distressed, and will some day avenge the wrongs of the innocent. Betsey. Well, we have our hands and the wide world to make a living in, if that's any consolation. Help will come from some quarter. "The darkest hour is just before the dawning." Curtain. ACT V. One month has elapsed between Acts IV. and V. Scene, Table C. seated Mrs. L. R. Alice R. Betsey L. Knock- ing L. Betsey goes to door. Enter Phcebe. Betsey. Come in Phoebe. We are glad to see you. Phcebe. Good morning Mrs. Linton, good morning Miss Alice. 28 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. Ahce^^ \ ^°°^ morning Phcebe. (S/ia^e hands.) Mrs. L. Take a seat, Phrcbe. We seldom see you now. Have you too forgotten old friends and the days when you found a place at our hearth? Phoebe. No, I have not forgotten you Mrs. Linton. The thought of you and your trials has cost in«j many a sleepless night, many a bitter tear of regret. Mrs. l.inton I never shall forget your kindness to me. Oh! that I had been more worthy of it. Mrs L. Why do you speak ofunworthiness, Phoebe.^ I always found you faithful in all things. Phoebe. We all have our faults, and I have mine. I have not always been what 1 seemed to be. Betsey. You were always my ideal ot perfection in your sphere, Phoebe. Phcebe. Our most cherished idols are often crushed in the dust. Alice Along with the heart whose inspiration clothed thein with life and beauty. But what has been crushing your idols to dust Phoebe.? Phcebe. You could only hate me if I told you. Enter Squire Carter L. ( His knocking not noticed.) Squire. Only hate you if you told! Girl, have you been blab- bing.'' Have you.'* If you have you will pay dearly for it. Go home. You know you are not allowed to visit here. Mrs. L. It is you Simon Carter who are forbidden to come here. Squire. By whom.? Mrs. L. By the usages of society and the dictates of self-res- pect which forbid a genletman'' s entering where he knows his presence is disagreeable. After the wrongs you have inflicted on me how dare you enter my house. Leave it at once. Your pres- ence is as loathsome as the foulest reptile. Squire. Save yourself the trouble of racking your brains for further hard words. It is not pleasant for me to" be obliged to enter your house. I am here only to bring home a disolaedient servant. Betsey. And hear what she would say to us. But Ave know enough -about you already to consign you to a felon's cell. Sqtiire. Know what! What did you say.? Girl have you be- trayed me.? Have you.? Come with me at once. {Seizes her., she screams for help) Betsey. Coward, do you dare to lay hands on a woman.? Phoebe. Save me, save me. I never will go with him again. He will kill me. Squire. Come on {Drags her forward) yo^xt longne VfWWeaxn by-and-by to stop its wagging, or I'm mistaken. ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. ^ 29 Enter], Mc. L. y. Mc. Well realh' ah! Do vou want any help Mistah Carter? Is she crazy ah? Squire. Help ! Crazy ! No you lunatic. . I can manage her myself. She has just run away from her work. That's all. Betsey. Save her, Mr. Ilopkinson, from the hands of Squire Carter. She has dared to assert her right to do as she pleases and he threatens revenge. Mrs. L. Mr. Hopkinson, protect us from Simon Carter, for he fears that we may learn the secrets of his villainy. Phabe is no longer safe in his hands. J. Mc. I am astonished ah ! Squiah Carter a villian ! Squiah this is a free country. May be you had better keep your hands off this young lady. Squire. Mr. Hopkinson, I'm slandered, basely slandered. J hope you will not interfere since I am merely claiming my just rights. Betsey. Rights! What right have you to say where any one shall go in this free land? Mr. Hopkinson, please protect us and I will be forever grateful. y. Mc. Well it is really a pleasure to hear you say so. I Avill strve you most willingly. I beg pardon Miss Bluff, but I believe the last time we met you preferred to have some one else as a protector. Betsey. (Aside.) Because he would act the dunce. (Aloud.) I was just joking then and did not mean to slight you Mr. Hop- kinson. You know we shall always be good friends. y. Mc. Only friends! Is that all? I would rather we were enemies than such friends. Squire. Deuce take your palaver. Phoebe, come with me. (Advances towards Jier.) y. Mc. I really can't allow you to take this young lady with my consent. Squire. I shant ask your consent, nor anybody else's. (Ad- vances.) y. Mc. Look here Squiah. It is exceedingly unpleasant for me to be obliged to hurt your feelings ah, but I shall have to do so unless you modify your demands a little. The factisyou don't take this girl until she is willing to go. Squire. Mr. Hopkinson, it seems to me you are unreasonable. But we have always been on good terms and I don't wish to quar- rel with a friend about a trifle. I will just wait here until the girl is ready to go. Mrs. L. Mr. Carter, Phccbe shall remain here till she has finished her visit and wishes to go. You can remahi tou, of course, if you insist on it. But I hope you wiil excuse Alice and myself from entertaining you. Phoebe, come to the kitchen and we will have a chat. (Exeunt Mrs. L. Alice and Phcebk R.) Squire. (Aside.) Well I suppose I'll have to go without her. so ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. I'll keep a close watch on this house though. {Exit L.) y. Mc. Squiah Carter seems determined to have his own way in this village, to run things in fact. Betsey. Yes and he is not very particular about the means he employs to run them either. He has succeeded in getting posses- sion of ail Mrs. Linton's property, and now he dares to come here to this poor place to exercise his authority. y. Mc. This is a poor place. Miss Bluff, I should think you would get tired of staying here. There can't be much induce- ment for remaining ah. Betsey. No not much. {Aside.) And very little for leaving. y. Mc. Miss Bluff, you aw sacrificing yourself by toiling here this way. You aw actually givinjor Mrs. Linton your services, pon my veracity you aw. Betsey. Mr Hopkinson I am not sacrificing myself by serving those who befriended me when / needed assistance. I am not giving- Mrs. Linton my services. I orve it all to her. y. Mc. Ah! Debt of gratitude. But really Miss Bluff, would yoa not like ah to take charge of a house of your own.? Betsey. No I believe not. I think it would be trouble enough to help take charge of one. y. Mc. Oh! I meant to help. Of course you could not do it all. Miss Bluff, will you be my bwide. I ofteh you my hand and heart. I admiah you so much. Betsey Admire me do you! Just as you do a new necktie or the latest style of coat, I suppose. When I marry a man I want one who loves me. y. Mc. Really Miss Bluff I love you. You know I meant that at first. Will that be suflacient.? Betsey. Mr. Hopkinson, I don't love you. I cannot even admire you. I can respect you and that is all. y. Mc. Is that all.? Well that is not as bad as it might be. Could'ent we get along with respect.? Some married folks do not have even that. Betsey. Mr. Hopkinson I don't think I shall ever marry. My- mind is made up. Such a union as you speak of would lead to a life of misery. y. Mc. Could'ent you change your mind Miss Bluff.? Betsey. Not without some reasons, and I don't see any reasons just now. y. Mc. If your mind is made up I shant insist Well I sup- pose a girl is not to blame if she dontlike a fellah. {Aside.) Pon honoh I believe some other fellah is to blame. {Aloud.) Miss Bluff I presume you aw verj^ busy to day, so I will bid you good aftehnoon. Betsey. Good day Mr. Hopkinson. {Exit.]. Mc. L.) Plague take the dunce; he might have guessed how matters stood. May be I am a bigger dunce than he is after all. I sent Lanty Nixon away in fun and he left in earnest. Now Hopkinson is gone. I guess I'm too particular, "wit, money, and manners," dont ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 31 often go together. What's the odds now! It's decided anyway. Etiter Mrs. L., Phcebe, Alice, R. Mrs. L. For " better or worse" ? Betsey. No. Mrs. L, Are you acting wisely, Betsey.' Offers do not come every day. Betsey. Wisely or unwisely, I'd rather die an old maid than be tied to that booby for life. Alice. You may change your mind in a few more years. PhcEbe, I think I have guessed the cause of your despondency. Are you thinking of " What might have been".^ Phoebe. I am thinking of what might have been if I had not fallen, miserably fallen. Mrs. L. Phoebe, you surprise me. What is the matter.^ What have you done.'* Phcebe. I have wronged 3^ou so deeply that no repentance can atone for the crime. Your suspicions in regard to your property are correct. The Carters' claims were based on forgery and falsehood. Mr. Linton never owed them a dollar. You have been basely defrauded and I have been the means of enabling them to execute their criminal purposes. Mrs. L. Oh Phoebe! have you done this.= And we have known you so long and trusted you. It is terrible. What have you done to aid them.? Phoebe. I have been their accomplice. I took the missing papers, and Simon Carter forced them from me by threats of imprisonment. I deserve reproach. I deserve to suffer for my unpardonable guilt. Oh that I could atone for my crime by some act of reparation in your behalf! I would walk through fire to serve you. I'll be a slave no longer, and when the proper time comes, you may trust in me. Then Simon Carter will find to his sorrow that a despised servant can wield a power which he dreams not of. Mrs. L. Deluded girl, you are mad! What can ^•ou do to prevent Simon Carter's unholy works.? It is too late now. Phoebe. Too late! Alas I fear it is. {Musingly.) Why have I not tried to do something sooner.? Miserable coward that I am! It is not too late to die in the attempt. They are both away to day and now is an opportunity which may not come soon again. I'll tryti. Mrs.L What do you mean Phoebe.? {Exit Phcebe hastily L.) Alice. I believe the girl is crazy. Mrs. L. It is the lunacy of despair. Her story is too probable to admit of any doubt. And what a tale of villainy it is. For gery and falsehoodX What I took for a lack. of mercy in selling our property, proves to be a lack of honesty. And the man whom Mr. Linton trusted so implicitly is capable of robbing his benefac- tor's wife and child! Horrible thought! I was warned in time but would not heed the warning. Now it is forever too late! 32 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. Betsey. I always despised the whole set anyway, for I believed thev were not trustworthy. Now {Knocking ■which is unnoticed^ Enter Simon Carter unnoticed?) the evidence is complete and Simon Carter is a consummate villain. Squire. Villain eh } Who dares say villain? Have a care how you blacken my character. I thought you knew me Mrs. Linton.? Mrs. L. I thought so too Simon Carter, but I find I was mis- taken, for each day adds something to my knowledge of you nd your lawless transactions. Squire. There is one thing you have not learned yet, and that is the extent of iny power. Tempt me no further. Mrs. L. (JV it h scorn.) Temj>t you no further indeed! As if you had not already yielded yourselt fully to the wiles of the tempter. You have accomplished your fiendish work of robbery and cruel persecution. You have done your work only too well. Years ago people called you a villain. My husband and I disbe- lieved them because we thought you a persecuted man. You took advantage of his generosity to cheat him shamefully. Not content with your ill-gotten booty, you set yourself to rob his helpless family. You who was legally their protector. To accom- plish your dark deeds you alienated our friends and strove to blacken our fair name. You stole the patrimony which you were sworn to protect. Ay stole it ! Well might you blush with shame i{ your hardened cheek were not stranger to a blush. Squire. Mrs. Linton, you have said some hard things. You may yet repent these hasty words. You may be called upon to prove your assertions. Mrs. L. Repent my words? Never! No words can portray the depths of your infamy! Dare you ask for proofs.? They shall be produced. Simon Carter, [ know at last from an eye- witness, the secret of your cunning plot. Where are my hus- band's lost papers which you so hyp£)critically pretended to be searching for.? Who has seen them since you forced them from the trembling hands of a timid servant whom you threatened to imprison if she did not give them up.? Dare you answer that.? Squire. Mrs Linton this is all very fine but it is mere asser- tion. I suppose that trembling servant is Phoebe Day, who has been filling your ears with slander when she should have been at home at work. I see through it all. It's conspiracy. That's easily settled. Mrs. L. Base wretch begone! You have succeeded in your unhallowed schemes but you can not subdue a will determined to oppose you to the last. You may crush, but you can not conquer. There is a limit to all oppression'^and to all forbearance. Squire. Who will believe a tattling servant and such as you.? Mrs. I.. Oh bitter lot! Wronged, persecuted, and insulted because of my wrongs! Has it indeed come to this.? No lower depth can be reached. Traitor I defy you. Begone! Wreak vengance if you choose. You can no longer wound. Squire. 1 shall not leave until you allow Phcebe to go with me. But there is no hurry. If sKe stays, I stay. ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 33 Mrs. L. Until Phoebe goes! She has already gone. Betsey. She has learned her lesson of cringing obedience well. I'd just like to see the man who could rule me that way. Sqtcire. Mrs. Linton, where is that girl? I believe you are plotting mischief and have her concealed somewhere. Alice. We have told you she went some time ago. Is not that sufficient.'' Mrs. L. I know nothing more than you do of her wherabouts and as for plotting mischief, what alas! can we do or plot now.'' Enter Phcebe, L Excitedly. Squire. Can I believe my eyes.? Will you come here again.? What are you up to.? Phoebe, you must go with me at once and no words" about it (Advances to seize her.) Enter Nathan hastily^ L. Nathan. Flee from this house, uncle. The soldiers are home and Harry and Lanty are on the way here now. Tabbs is with them and has told them all. Flee at once for you are not safe here. Squire. Humph ! Is that all. Mrs. L. At last thank God. Alice. Where are they.? Betsey. When did they come.? Nathan. Uncle be quick. They are almost here. Squire. Silence coward! You are unworthy the name of Carter. Nathan. Well I can't be responsible for your safety. Squire. Pooh ! They dare not lay hands on me. I have the law on my side and they have not a line to prove Tabbs' story. Let them come. Enter Harry, Lanty, Tabbs, L. • Harry. Very likely you will let them come. Alice ! Alice. Harry! {They embrace and kiss.) * Tabbs. We's jes in force a comin like de bugs on de cowcum- ber wines. Mrs. L. God bless you Harry, back again safe and Tabbs faithful old servant. {Shake hands.) Betsey. {Rushes into Lanty's arms.) Why Lanty ! The same old Lanty Nixon. Lanty. Yes the same Lanty and not very old yet, and I infer from your demonstrations that you are still Betsey Bluff. Betsey. Yes. Enter L. Oscar Linton, introduced by Harry. Harry. Mrs. Linton, Colonel Oscar Linton, 34 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. Mrs. L. Oscar Linton! Oh God! my long lost son. {Rushes into his arms.) Oscar. Yes a prodigal son who fled from the best of mothers. May Heaven forgive him. Alice, the little pet of my boyhood. {They embrace.) Alice. Oscar ! Dear brother Oscar ! I always thought you would return to us. Tabbs. Wish dis individual could jump into somebody's arms for two or three moments. But den de filosomer says man often hugs a collusion. Golly I kind o'think all huggin am a collusion anyway. Oscar. And Betsey Bluff too, whom I have often led through the deep snow drifts, on our way to school. {Shake hands.) Nathan. Brother Oscar, will you not recognize me.'' Oscar. Do not call me brother. You never were my brother and now I loathe your proffered friendship. Squire. Loathe us then, son of a haughty race. We can en- dure your scorn. Nathan let us go. Girl, {Turning to PnoeBE.) will you go.'' Phoebe. Never! Oscar. What! Phoebe our old servant! {Shake ha?ids.) Phoebe. Yes, master Oscar, I am Phoebe. Heaven be praised that you are spared to come back again to shield the helpless. Squire. Be careful what you say girl. You have learned your place, I think. {Exeunt Squire and Nathan L.) Mrs. L. My darling boy, this is a joy unspeakable. But wh\ have you never written in all these years.'* Seven long years have passed since the report of your death. Why have you been silent when a word would have changed a mother's grief into m. Oscar. I have not been silent. I suppose you heard of the fatal accident in the mine, when my comrade Jerry White was killed and several others fatally injured. But I wrote the particu- lars to prevent anxiety at home, for I knew you would hear of the Etcident through Jerry's friends. How they ever got me among the killed is more than I can tell, unless it was because I left immediately after for other diggings. I could not bear to stay where poor Jerry met his sad fate. Mrs. L. Your letter never came. Why did you not write again .'' Oscar. I received no answer and my proud spirit construed silence as an intentional slight. I left for California at bitter en- mity with my father because I imagined he cared more for Nathan than for me. We quarrelled and I vowed I would never return until the family needed my services. It was a rash and wicked vow which has resulted in nothing but sorrow to the dear ones at home. I say dear ones, for I loved ypu all at heart and have re- pented a thousand times of my folly. Alice. Tell us how you happen to come back with Harry and Lanty, in an officer's uniform. ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. ' 35 Oscar. That is soon told. When the war broke out I enlisted as second Heutenant, and have been promoted step by step to a colonelcy. I learned by accideat a few months 'since that there was a Capt. List in a regiment encamped near us. Alice. A Capt. List! But I asked about Harry. Lanty. Well, Capt. Harrv List then. Alice. What! You a Captain, Harry.? Tahbs. Dat am a lac. Dis war am a gwine to hatch out a a drefful sight of capens and ginerals. Dis individual will be a gineral too if he was'ent in de wah. He'll not be Tabbs anymore. Jest call him if you please Adjutant Sutler. La?ity. I thought you were only assistant barber where we found you, Tabbs. Tabbs. See heah massa Nixon, when a gemman has done got up in the world I think it is mighty small business to cast up to him the misfortunate occurrences of his poorer days. Mrs. L. Tabbs, you have not got up very high in the world when you return to us. We have reached the bottom of the scale. Tahbs. Massa Oscar will make that scale tilt pretty lively tother way some of these days, I tell you. Harry. Things have changed since we left, and we never heard of your distress. Why did'nt you write to us.? We could have helped you, Alice. I concluded you would write to us when you wished to hear from us. Harry. I did write repeatedly. And you never got my letters.? Alice. None after you left for the seat of war. Harry. I wrote several. Receiving no reply I feared that my letters were lost in the mails, and wrote at different times until I was forced to conclude that for some reason you wished to con- sider our engagement broken. Alice. How strange, that all our letters were lost. Oscar. That may not be very strange after all. Who was your first Capt., Harry .? Harry. Capt. Wilson. Oscar. And Capt. Wilson was the instrument of Simon Car- ter's machinations. Probably the Capt. could give you some in- formation concerning those letters. Harry. I see it all now. Squire Carter's remark about his influence, the day I enlisted, is clear as daylight now. Oscar. A remark dropped by a brother officer of mine, who was acquainted with the Capt. leads me at once to conclude that your letters never left his tent when delivered there. The Capt. is said to have quit the service under suspicious circumstances to avoid a court-martial, owing to various irregularities. Harry. How stupid I was not to think of that at the time. Well I shant hunt up Capt. Wilson for information just yet, especially since I have more important enquiries to make. Mrs. Linton I have come back from the army safe, as you predicted I 86 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. should. May I not ask now for the fulfilment of that promise which you made three years ago, that Alice should be mine.'' Mrs. L. Yes, if Alice has not changed her mind. Harry. I thhik I know what her answer is. Am I right Alice? Alice. Yes dear Harry. Through all these years I have loved and hoped on in silence. Oscar. In silence through the criminal knavery of designing men, who deserve to suffer severely for their crimes, so long un- punished. Mrs. L. By the mercy of Hedven the worst part of their black plot has miscarried, and with loved ones around me again I feel that half the sting of poverty is removed. To see you all once more, strong and happy, is something I never dared to hope. Harry. Lanty it strikes me you are rather still to night. Are you thinking about your next turn at picket duty, or about your rations of hard tack and bacon.'' Tabbs. Hard tack ! Dat am de reason of massa Lanty's sol- emn aspec, dat hard attack he had de day fore he enlisted. Dat enemy am still in de field. {Looks at Betsy.) Betsey. Tabbs I see you still talk in riddles as you used to do. But tell me all about your military career Mr. Nixon. I should like to hear it. I know you would always acquit yourself like a soldier. I'd be ashamed of you if you had not. Lanty. Would you indeed.'' I am happy to hear that you thmk I would not do anything unworthy of a soldier. Tabbs. (Aside.) Massa Lanty am about to fight his battles over again if de enemy don't surrender. Mrs. L. Lanty, I knew you would be a true soldier, for you were always a gentleman. Betsey. And the gentleman is the true soldier. Lanty. {Aside.) Now or never. {Aloud.) Miss Bluff, I think it is about time this thing was understood. Betsey, That what thing was understood, Mr. Nixon.? Lanty. Betsey, you know what I mean. I want — Miss Bluff it is about time — ahem, ahem, I think — Betsey. Well go on. How do I know what you think. Lanty. It is about time for you to choose between me and that Hopkmson. Betsey. You haven't asked me to choose yet. Lanty. Betsey, I've loved you for years. Will you be content to settle down with me for life.? Don't say no. Betsey. I'm not going to say no; you could have had an an- swer long ago if you had only had the courage to ask for it. Tabbs. Three cheers for Massa Lanty. He has met de ene- my and in de langwige of de philosomer, de victory am his. Massa Nixon don't you feel considerable better than when we met Massa Hopkinson goin down de larte as we came up.? Lanty. No more of your nonsense Tabbs. Harry. Allow me to congratulate you, Lanty, on your success ODDS WITH THE) ENEMY! 37 anM you Betsey on vour choice. The events of the last few min- utes would have driven aw^ay many a fit of your blues while in camp, Lanty. Lanty. I doubt that Harry. It seems to me your blues were about as indigo-tinted as mine. Suppose I had asked before 1 went to the war. TabJfs. Reckon you'd mos likely never gone at all. Lanty. That is possible too Tabbs. Suppose I had known my fate, it would only have made the going harder, and then I might have had to endure the painful reflection that Betsey was false, if any letters had been missing. Betsey. And I that you were false rather than bashful. Of the two evils I prefer the latter, especially as Mr. Hopkinons did not go to the war. Lanty. See here Betsey we shall have a quarrel at once, if you allude to that donkey again. Tabbs. Mustn't quarrel yet. Plenty of time for discussin fam- ily pivileges and judificatin differences of opinion after de honey- moon am set. When a family settles down to business such things have a reglar place in de orders ob de day as massa used to say about de proceedins of de legislater. Alice. That is often true Tabbs, though I hope the disposition will be wanting in this instance. Phoebe. *' A word to the wise is sufficient," Betsey. Betsey. Very true Phoebe, hniyou must not be so despondent amid this general rejoicing. Tabbs. Speck de cause am Miss Phoebe's soger has'nt come back from the wah yet. Phcebe. No Tabbs. I am expecting no soldier. I have great- er reason than that for despondency. Alice. Why Phoebe! You have not told us yet all you knew about Squire Carter's defrauding us. Phcebe. Will you protect me from the Carters if I tell. Oscar. ) Harry. V That we will. Speak on. Lanty. ) Phoebe. You all remember that Mr. Linton's private papers mysteriously disappeared after his death. Oscar. Yes, I remember that you spoke of them, Harry. Phcebe. I can tell you where those papers are. Mrs. L. Indeed! Can you.? Too true, alas ! O&car. Where are the papers, Phoebe.? Tell us all the partic- ulars. Were thej-^ stolen.? Phoebe. In the changes which took place soon after Mr. Lin- ton's death, his desk and papers were removed upstairs, while some work was going on below. I took all the papers and books from the desk to clean it. Looking over the different packagse as I took them out I noticed one marked '* valuable" — '' notes, contracts, &c." I foolishly feared that particular bunch might be mislaid and placed it by itself upstairs on a shelf among some S8 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. old books. Those books were carried off bj^ Tabbs and thr6wn carelessly in the garret. When I looked for the papers, I was frightened to find they had disappeared. I could not find them in the garret so I kept the mater to myself instead of telling you as I should have done. When I learned the value of the miss- ing papers at the time you were searching for them, an evil thought came into my head to keep them if I ever found them. Some time after I found them but told no one, for I had an idea I could make money out of them. Mrs. L. And you sold them to Squire Carter. If you wanted money, why did you not come to me.? I would gladly have given you money. Phcebe, Judge not too harshly. I was not so wicked as I had planned. Nathan Carter had noticed that I was frequently hunt- ing for something, and the Lord only knows what put it into his head to ask me if I did not know something about the missing papers. My guilt betrayed me and I confessed all. Nathan said the papers belonged to his uncle Simon as administrator of the estate. He urged me to give him the papers for his uncle, but I refused, for I never thought of giving them to any one who might use them to injure your interests in anyway. He said no more about them then and left me. Mrs. L. Why did you not bring them at once to me if you mistrusted the Carters,? Phoebe. You were away from home that day. Besides I was ashamed to confess my crime and the Carters gave me little time to reflect, for that afternoon Squire Carter came over in hot haste and demanded the papers as his. He threatened imprisonment and prosecution if I refused. I was so frightened that I gave them to him on condition he would not tell any one what I had done. Betsey. Precious little danger of his telling anybody. Phoebe. Afterwards he compelled me by threats to go and work for him because he feared your influence. Since then he has kept me like a slave, constantly in fear of his threats. Oscar. Where are the papers now, Phoebe .? Squire Carter rtishes in followed by Nathan, L. Squire. I forbid her to speak. {Steps forward threateningly.) Oscar. {Steps forward.) Go on Phoebe, you are in no danger. Phoebe. Simon Carter I am your slave no longer. I will no longer remain silent Avhen silence would cover up crime. Here are the papers. {Hands them to Oscar.) They prove Squire Carter's black and infamous crimes. Take them, and may Heaven forgive me for my part in the dark business. Mrs. L. Heaven can forgive all in this act of repentance, and so may we. Oscar. The more because it makes reparation. Well do I know that hand ! My father's private papers and a memorandum ODDS WITH TBE ENEMY. 39 of his accounts with Simon Carter. PhoLbe, how did you regain possession of them ? Squire. Those documents are stolen from my private records. They are mine, and I will punish the thief with the law. {Steps forivard threateninglv.) Oscar. Stand back. Let the woman finish her story. Phoebe. Squire Carter keeps a strong iron box in his library. That box is always carefully locked, and 1 have thought for a long time that those papers were in it. One day he left the key to the box by accident upon the table. I took an impression of it and had another key made. I could no longer endure the rebuk- ing of my conscience at the misery I had caused. In his absence to-day I opened the box and found the papers, A great burden is lifted from my soul when I feel that even I may be forgiven. Squire. A cursed pretty blunder I've made. That is a bare- faced theft. I'll have those papers. Oscar Linton, you are an accessory to this theft; you will have to answer to that charge. Oscar. So she is a thief and I am no better. And who has made himself the chief culprit by reaping all the benefits of her crime.? Answ^er that. You are not yet done with this, Simon Carter. You shall suffer the heaviest penalties of the law. Nathan. Give back the property uncle. We are foiled. Those fatal papers are our ruin. Squire. Never! Never! They have the law, but I have the money. We'll see who wins. Besides I cant dispose of the pro- perty better than in defending it. Try the law. Ha! ha! {Exit I..) Tabhs. Squire Carter am pluck sure. Oscar. I too have some money and am not afraid to await the result. Alice. Can we recover our property } Oscar. Our case is clear. No court will refuse us justice. Nathan. Yes, your case is clear. My uncle Simon has com- mitted a great crime. But what is his sin compared with mine! I have turned against those who loved rne dearly. I have betrayed a loving mother and an affectionate sister. With the basest ingratitude I have brought to want, those who took me a poor ragged outcast and made of the wretched orphan, a respected and intelligent member of society. I have proved a viper in the bosom which cherished me. But as God is my judge, my crime began because of my love for her w^hom I hoped to make my honored bride. I loved her passionately and hoped to make atonement by restoring all in common ownership. I failed miserably and have wrecked my own brilliant hopes" of the future, and blasted the happiness of others. Life has nothing more for me but to drag out a despised existence. May God forgive me. I dare not ask forgiveness of those I have so cruelly wronged. {Exit L.) Alice. Poor Nathan! He has suffered enough already. lean forgive him. Mrs. L. Misguided wretched boy, he is to be pitied. Tabbs. {Aside.) Wonder if anybody will forgive dis chile for bein run away.? 40 ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. Mrs. L. What bliss in this jojous reunion after the long dark past. Oscar. Mother, I have been a wayward son. I have deserted a happy home. I have brought sorrow to a kind mother and a loving sister. Can you forgive me.'' Mrs. L. Dear boy we have forgiven you a thousand times and now all is forgotten and again forgiven. Oscar. Mother, sister, loved ones all, my heart swells with a sacred joy, when it leels itself once more entwined by the blessed ties of home. Harry. Comrades of the camp and field, we have survived the hardships of the march, and the dangers of the battle-field. But when we think of our stirring experiences and hair-breadth escapes, vc\z.j we ever remember that, with silent heroism, faithful ones at home bravely battled for the right while the Odds were WITH THE Enemy. ARRANGEMENT OF CHARACTERS. c. Mrs L. Oscar. Harry. Alice. Betsey. Lanty. R, Phoebe, Tabbs. L. SLOW CURTAIN. * iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin 016 112 398 5 KINSEY'S DEBATER, DESIGNED FOB THE USE OF SCHOOLS OF ALL GRADES, AND A GUIDE FOB INSTITUTES AND BUSINESS MEETINGS. This Manual of Parliamentary Usages is pronounced by the reviewers to be " the most practical one now published." It avoids all technicalities. It is carefully indexed. It is thoroughly cl .ssified. The reader can find, in a moment's time, full dire tions and exaniplesas to "motions," "duties of officers," "work uf commit- tees," etc At the close of each chapter, the points made in that chapter are exemplified bv a representation of a meeting, having its officers in full Avorking order, moving, discussing and voting upon ques- tions exactly as they occur in any actually existing organization. Every teacher needs the book for u-e in the Institute or Business Meeting. Every school-boy should have one. Webster, Greely, Clay, Sumner and indeed all our great men, haveattributed their suc- cess, to their interest in ear y Hfe, in Debating Clubs and Parli- amentary usages. Every reader of a newspaper needs a manual of this kind for reference, else he cannot follow clearly the workings of our legislative assemblies. TESTITyCOIsriJLXjS. The "Normal Debater" is recommended as a very excellent Manual upon Debating.— iVeit' York Tribune. This work is of :in exceeding-ly practical character, and has evidently been written by one who has had experience in arranging and conducting debat- ing societies. The diffic:ilt points are elaborated wiih much care, and many illustraiions or examples are given of" the correct method of conducting business. We heartily commend it.— Chicago Teacher. It ought to meet with a large sale, as there are hundreds of voung men who are eager to get the instruction its pages contain. — NeivYork School Journal. Single copies 75 cents, post paid. Six copies at 50 cents each, post paid. Address O. p. KINSEY, Lebanon, O. {S'7C^ LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS ■m 016 112 398 5