The Climbers Part 29

[_They turn in great surprise._

BLANCHE. d.i.c.k!

[_Fright at his appearance is mingled with her surprise._

WARDEN. [_At the same time as_ BLANCHE.] Sterling!

[_They do not drop hands._

STERLING. [_Coming nearer, very strong._] Drop my wife's hand! [_They do so quickly, not understanding yet._] So I've _caught_ you!

WARDEN. [_Angry._] Caught us!

STERLING. Yes, I had my suspicions roused some time ago!

BLANCHE. Of what?

STERLING. _I_ could go to the devil--what did _you two_ care! I could go to State's Prison! All the better--_out of your way!_

WARDEN. You're speaking like a madman!

STERLING. I went back to my house this morning; my wife was gone--no message left where to! But I questioned the servant. She'd driven here!

Why? Ha! [_A bitter half laugh; he turns to_ BLANCHE.] _You've come here once too often!_

WARDEN. [_Very strong._] Sterling!

STERLING. [_To_ WARDEN, _but ignoring his exclamation._] Then I went to _your_ house. _They knew_ where _you'd_ gone! You ought to train your servants better! _Both here!_

WARDEN. If you're not careful, I'll ram your insinuations down your throat.

STERLING. [_Jeers._] "Insinuations?" I've caught you! I make no "_insinuations_." I tell you _both you're caught!_ You're my wife's lover, and she's your d.a.m.ned mis--

[_Interrupted._

WARDEN. [_Seizing_ STERLING _by the throat._] Don't you finish!

BLANCHE. Sh!--for Heaven's sake! [_To_ WARDEN.] Let him alone; I'm not afraid of what he says.

[WARDEN _leaves_ STERLING.

STERLING. No, you never were a liar, I'll give you credit for that,--so confess the truth--you're his--

[_Interrupted._

BLANCHE. [_Excited beyond her control._] Listen! And you shall have the truth if you want it! These years that he's been befriending me I never dreamed of loving him nor thought of his loving me. [d.i.c.k _sneers._]

_Wait!_ No, not even the day my father was buried, when I learned outright you were _dishonest!_

STERLING. [_Surprised._] What do you mean?

BLANCHE. What I say--I learned it then from a paper of my father's. I shouldn't have kept my knowledge to myself--I see that now; but I did, for your sake, not for love of you--the love went for good that day. But here, a moment ago, I realized for the first time that my old friend _did_ love me, love me with an ideal devotion the n.o.blest woman in the world might be proud of! I didn't tell him then I loved him, but now I take this chance, I _take it_ GLADLY before you!--_forced by you!_ I tell him now, what perhaps he has already guessed, I love him with all my heart--I _love him_! I LOVE HIM!

STERLING. d.a.m.n you both! then it's the _end_ of _me!_

[_He pulls out a pistol and tries to put it to his temple._

BLANCHE. [_Cries out._] Ned!

WARDEN. [_Seizes_ STERLING, _catches his arm, and wrenches the pistol from him._] So that's what you planned to do, is it--make a wretched scene like that?

[_It begins to snow more heavily._

STERLING. [_In utter collapse and shame._] Why did you stop me? I'm better out of the world. I'm crazy with shame. First I disgraced and now I've insulted--_degraded_--the only living thing I care for,--that's my wife.

[_A moment's pause._

BLANCHE. [_Speaks quietly._] Come back to the house. Mr. Mason is looking for you; he has something to tell you.

STERLING. I know--more bad news.

BLANCHE. No, good.

STERLING. [_Echoes._] Good! [_Starting to go, he turns at the porch._] I want _you_ to know that _I_ know I'm a rotten beast.

[_He goes out Left._

WARDEN. You're going back _home_?

BLANCHE. "_Home!_" [_With a faint smile._] I should hardly call it that.

WARDEN. [_Aside to her._] You're not afraid?

BLANCHE. [_Half smiling._] Oh, no! And my boy's there.

[_The thick falling snow almost hides them, but they are unconscious of it._

WARDEN. What's to be done?

BLANCHE. Wait; we'll see--we'll see--let it be something we could never regret. Good-by, Ned.

[_Giving him her hand._

WARDEN. Good-by, Blanche.

[_Kissing her hand very tenderly and almost with a certain kind of awe, as_

THE CURTAIN SLOWLY FALLS