Why Marry? Part 53

Oh, very well, this is your property.

HELEN

But _I_ am not! I go, too!

[_She runs to ERNEST._

THEODORE

Don't commit this sin!

JOHN

Let her go! She's no sister of mine.

JUDGE

[_the only calm one_]

If she leaves this house now, it's all up.

JOHN

A woman who will give herself to a man without marriage is no sister of mine.

HELEN

[_about to go, turns, leaning on ERNEST. To all_]

Give!... But if I _sold_ myself, as you are forcing poor little Jean to do, to a libertine she does not love, who does not love her--that is not sin! That is respectability! To urge and aid her to entrap a man into marriage by playing the shameless tricks of the only trade men want women to learn--that is holy matrimony. But to give yourself of your own free will to the man you love and trust and can help, the man who loves and needs and has won the right to have you--oh, if this is sin, then let me live and die a sinner!

[_She turns to ERNEST, gives him a look of complete love and trust, then bursts into tears upon his shoulder, his arms enfolding her protectingly._

ACT III

_It is well along in the afternoon of the same busy day of rest.

Most unaccountably--until the JUDGE accounts for it later--the terrace has been decked out with festoons and flowers since the excitement of the morning. j.a.panese lanterns have been hung, though it is not yet time to light them and though it is Sunday in a pious household._

_Most incongruously and lugubriously, LUCY is pacing to and fro in silent concern._

_THEODORE now comes out of the house, also looking hara.s.sed. Lucy turns to him inquiringly. He shakes his head sadly._

LUCY

No word from Uncle Everett?

THEODORE

No word. He must have reached town long ago, unless he had tire trouble.... It's a bad sign, Lucy, a bad sign. He would surely telephone us.

LUCY

Oh, if he _only_ hadn't missed their train!

THEODORE

[_hopelessly_]

Uncle Everett is the only one who could have brought them to their senses.

LUCY

It may not be too late. He took our fastest car, our best chauffeur.

THEODORE

Detectives are to watch all the steamers to-morrow. John telephoned at once.

LUCY

But to-morrow will be too late! And, oh! when it all comes out in the newspapers! The ghastly head-lines--"well-known scientist, beautiful daughter of a prominent family!" Oh! What will people say?

[_JOHN, hurried and worried, rushes out shouting for LUCY._

JOHN

Any news? Any news? [_THEODORE and LUCY give him gestures of despair._]

Then it's too late. [_He, too, paces to and fro in fury. Then bracing up._] Well, I found Rex, over at the Golf Club. Terribly cut up. But listen; not a drink, not one!... Where's Jean? Got to see her at once.