WIXLIB

S 3501T35 W5922opy 1 HE WILLA FARCEInOne ActByMary Meek AtkesonNewYorkOrange Judd Publishing Company,1922Inc.

Copyright 1922,byOrange Judd Publishing CompanyPrinted in the United States of America

THE WILLA FARCEInOne ActByMary Meek AtkesonNewYorkOrange Judd Publishing Company1922

PERSONS OF THE PLAXAlice, heiressJane, hertofriend.Sam Hastings,Theopensceneisher uncle's wealth,Alice's lover.Toan old-fashioned study.fireplace, themantel aboveitthe rightisandecorated with vases andAt the rear is a desk stuffed with papers,and near the middle of the room a table piled with books.bronze ornaments.Several dark-tonedoilAsthe curtainmourningrises,ribbons,isupon theup before the fire.paintings hangfortable chairs are drav nAlice, in a white dressseated before thefire.stool at her feet, leans against her knee.haired Aliceismoreher unusual charm.waif.beautiful,For. aCom-with blackJane, on aThe dreamylowfair-though Jane's vivacity givesmoment nothingisspoken.

THE WILLAlice (looking about the room)To think that only amonth ago dear uncle was in this very room, Jane. It doesn't:seempossible, does it?Jane{comforting);But, dear, he was an old, old man,you know.Alice {wiping her eyes)But every day that uncle livedwas a blessing to his friends. Even when he was so sick:with influenzaJane:IAlice:{Dreamily.)last winter all his thoughts were for others.remember how you nursed him through it all.I was just glad to.He was such a dean.Someof the happiest days ofmylife Ihavespent in this old house.Janewith{teasing)that, didn'tI guess:SamHastings had a lot to dohe?Alice {frankly)Yes, perhaps he had. He's a man thatgirl would be proud to have for a friend, I think.I saw him with that richJane {making a wry face)Miss Upson to-day. I think he might have come to see you:any:oftenerwhen you werein trouble—instead ofless.You know how some people feelabout such things. Perhaps Sam can't bear it at all.Huh! He'd bear it all right if youJane {impudently)Alice:Don't, Jane.:5

THE WILL6hadonmuch moneyasUpson.as SallieI'd be willing to betthat.Alice{reallyprovoked)be enough for anymanTwo:to expectthousand a year ought tomethought uncle was mighty generous.I'm sure IAnd, Jane, I'd liketo have.myremember that you're talking aboutfor you towhen [She looks away into theme,Allie,Alice:I'm a mean and suspicioustostreaks inmyMineshoulders.hugIher.'\Forgivelittle beast, so IYou're not anything of the kind.your head onJaneJane jumps upfire.Yes, I've sometimes thought you did!Jane:wisham.Ihadhas such wild, romanticit{kissing Alice's hair):That'swhy welove you,dear.Alice{confidentially):You knowI've been thinking of—thethat young engineerweoneMrs. Barns', you know.eyesand his chinpassed on the street last nightthat's staying atsomething about his[AThere was—hell rings outside. \Jane:Oo!I'llanswerit.[She returns in a moment withSamSamto tell{importantly):I'vecomeHastings ]you the great goodnews!Both Girls: News!Sam It*s about Alice, and it's the greatest thingcould happen.You can't guess! {He stands in:them beaming,)that everfront of

THE WILLAlice {sadly)7I haven't been looking for good news,:since uncle's death.JaneOut with{impatiently);Samit,Can'tHastings.you see we're dying to hear?Sam:Well,got about townit'ssomehowPearson drew up a will for your uncle justAlice:we foundWell,Didn't youit.thatLawyerlast winter.knowthat?Sam:afterBut this was a later one. This one was madeyou had nursed him through the flu.Alice {dreamily)Jane: What isnews I ever saw.SamtheI:it?remember the lawyer wasYou{rubbing his hands delightedly)whole thing—all hishere.are the slowest person toWhy,:tellAlice getsproperty except some keepsakes tohis friends.Alice:JaneEverything?{stoutly)wouldn't have livedlastEverybody saysso well.Alice{still inJaneSam:onlyI did so little:fair.He—and he gaveIt must amount to a lot ofhome you can live in and the—and—the horsesBut where is that will ?be among her uncle'sAlice: Oh, but I looked them allSamthat'sAlice hadn't nursed himso.of this finebig estate, the cattleifthey say.:Thinkwintera dream)me everything.Sam That's whatmoney.Oh, surelyWell, I think::Must{importantly)systematic way.It:I'llmust bepapers, so they say.over.bet you didn't go aboutin this veryroomitin aright now.

!THE WILL8Jane {jumpinggreatnewsrighthome andOh,:tell it!this issuchGood-by.runs out.]\ SheSammeup and down)excitedlymust runIAlice, why have youYou must know IVe alwaysno pity upon me at all.(tenderly)lately?yet you have:been so cruel toloved you— andAlice (with ready tears)I'm sorry, Sam. Dear unclewas so sick I couldn't think of anybody else. You know I:like you.Sam:"Like" me!I'm crazy about you, Alice.Can'tyou love me?Alice:whenI don'tknow.I didn'tmeanto hurt you,Sam,you've always been so kind.Sam(putting hisarm round her):of nothing but you for a whole year.me, please sayestly, ISay you will marryAliceit,Alice (drawing away)unsettled,Alice, I have thoughtnow, withdon't think there:Inewthisisdon't know, Sam.I'm sowill and everything.such a will, at—promise meAlice, promise meSam (earnestly)now that you'll marry me if we do find the will.Well(As Sam tries to kissAlice (listlessly):—:No, no—SamWait(tenderly)till:righther,)(Covering her face with her handsdon't do that.nervously.)Hon-all.we've found the will!Mydear one!(Rubbing her hand across her eyes.)Alice:I don't seem to know what Ito-day.myselfSam, I'm notI feelam doing or saying.Sam (energetically)thing,mydear.I'llNow, don't you worry about anyrun down and tell them I'm not coming:

!THE WILLweback to work and thensure I can findAliceitcan search for that will.{Heno time.in{to herself)wonderI:9I'mgoes out.)if Ireallywant him to?[ She stares into the fire.lJane {running in gaily)Wasn'tknew your uncle was a brick, but Ibricky as all that. My, isn't it fine!:IAlice:If I onlyJaneYes, yes, I guessknew what dearso.It'sthat the greatest news!didn'the was asa great responsibility.uncle wouldwant meYou're thinking too much, AUie.:knowdotoLet's look forthat will.AliceJanej'our{fearfully)mindoffNo,:Well, then,:let'sno, notnow.work on something to get{Going to the desk,) Did youget toyour troubles.copy those salad recipes you said you wanted ?Alice {goingto her)long sheets of paper.Uncle made so manysomething.Jones;Yes, I did that.:I think I'll looklittleHere's oneThey're on thoseover these things again.requests I'm afraidlist:"Mybestmywalkingreading glass to the negro minister;" I've done all those.\ She pulls outanother bunch of papers and looks throughthenij then stops suddenly, staring at a longwith a red cord. Ja- e {startled):Alice{soberly)up the paper.)Jane:Alice:seeforgetStephenmystickI'llpipe to:It'sHooray!What!{She holdsJane, I've found that will.been folded up in somethingReadThere's a lot"To mypaper tiedJane!itthiselse.minuteof lawyer wordsdear niece, Alice, sincefirst.Letmeby her loving de-

!THE WILL10myvotion she has savedreturnalllife, I feel it isbut just to give her in"that I have to give"All thatIhave togive," Jane.{TheGlory be!Jane:ifWhy,frightened.)you foundAlice starts up asbell rings.w hat's thematter?Aren't you gladit?Oh, no, no. I wish I hadn't. IAlice {nervously)I were deadJane: Alice, are you losing your mind?You don't understand, Jane, what it means.Alice:While 5 ou were gone I I promised Sam Hastings I'd marryhim if we found the will! And that's Sam now, I know it is.:wish—Jane{aghast)What:Alice {trembling)neglectful—andI:know.Hesaid Ihadn't meant to hurt himdidn't really think we'd findJane:world did you do that for?in theI don'tAnd youit,don't lovehad been— —andand Ianyway.him?know then, Jane, honest, I d idn't. Butwhen he tried to kiss me I thought of that young engineer,you know, that we saw on the street last night. He is soI suddenlyso big and manly and realdifferent somehowknewOh, Jane, do help me find out something aboutAlice:I didn't——him.{Covering her face with her hands.)Oh, I'm sucha goose![The bell rings again and Alice shivers with fright.lJane: Give me that paper a minute and let me think.{She goes to the desk and turns her back to the audience fora moment, while Alice walks uption.)Now,the will.Ihaveit.Youand down in great agitatell him you've foundneedn't{She hands the paperto Alice.)

THE WILLBut what canAlice:Jane {runningHideitThere,!inIdo withIt?the door astoHtheone of those bronzerings again,)bellHe'll neverfigures.think to look there.Alice {looking about her wildly as she thrustsOh, if only I hadn't promised!into the figure)showsl Janeshake herSaminSamgood humor)Now,Alice.in,Alice {nervously):Gee,I'llfindIthoughtyou thatInever waswill.—Oh, Sam, don't! I I'm all undo we care about an old will,:What{Appealing.)strung.Hastings, pausing long enough toat his back, then goes out.}fist{in greatgoing to getthe paper:anyway ?SamCare:!should saymember,Alice,For a thing that means a million Well, IDon't you re{Remembering himself.)you promised to marry me If we found It?!remember.youcan see why I'm so crazy aboutSam: Well,{He turnsto have it settled.waitcan'tHonest, IAlice:Yes,Isearch.)Alice {tryingto distract his attention):—But but,it.toSam,Fm sure if I loved you enough to marry you, it wouldn'tOh, Fm certain we won't find it, anyway.Sam: I'd like to know why not? This Is all foolishness.WhatItneedsisalittlesystematic search.Womenalwayslook over things a dozen times before they find them.[Heturnstothedesk and begins going throughthea chair and buries her faceinherSam examinesthepapers,Alice sinks intohands.Whendeskitself,']the papers yield nothing

!!!THE WILL12Samtold{tapping on the wood)'.you{Heso.Alice {giggling)That's uncle:A secret drawer! Idrawer triumphantly.)Ah!jerks out a smallspecial importedsto-bacco.\Sam slams the drawer back and turns toSam, let's give it up!Alice {nervously)the mantel J\iSamNever;AliceSamwalk{desperately)Sam, you don't love me!:{a bit absentmindedly):worship the ground youIon, Alice.Alice {her handkerchiefYou're not interested into her eyes)meat all.No, you:don't.nothing but thatIt'sold willSam{turning and taking her in his arms){Teasing,)AndAlice {drawing away)With youSam:Well,paying no attention toburned up thatwill,That's whereThenis—notthatSam:Alice:all!be?say unclecourse he mightIt'sbehind a pic-and goestoexamine thepic-he goes to the mantel picks up one statue andreaching for theAliceIit is\ He puts Alice aside quicklytures.OfThere!{Looking over Alice's head.)ture.why shouldn'tme? I dareanyway.disturbed):{evidentlyAlice, Alice:are you jealous, dear?{startingother.'\upthat one.I don't seeinagonized haste):Oh, Sam, not{She snatches up the figure.)whynot!That would bethis HermesOh, but dear uncle loved best of

THE WILLSam{staring)It Isn't a:Well, whateverAlice:any one touchI can't let13Hermes,it is—it'sit'sa Juno.the one he loved best.it.\ Sam tries to watch her, but she waitstillhishackisturned, then slips the paper into a hook on the table.]Alice (showing thestatue)There!:I toldyouit vi asn'tthere.Sam{suspiciously)No,:—It isn't.itup and sheand turns towardthe table.][After Alice has set the figure back, he picksHepays no attention.whistlesAlice {picking up a book)SamThat's no reason:ButAlice:mustIII:was readingshouldn't lookfinishthis one.through.the most excitingIt'sIt!itthing, really.SamIt{looking at the back of the book):It'sa dictionary!must be exciting!Oh!Alice:Oh,well,didn'tyou ever get excitedreading the dictionary?Sam{dryly)I:must sayYou knowthat book.Inever did.the will's in there.Alice, giveI see themeedgenow.of the paper, rightWell, every old paper isn't a will. IAlice {stoutly)was writing out some salad recipes on big paper just like:that.Sam:Verylikelyoughtn't to mindabout them,AliceSam:mystory!Ifseeing them.it'ssaladrecipes,youThere's nothing secretI reckon.I guessHastings!myrecipes aremybusiness and not yours,