  Scene: Inside the large room of a newly built board cabin up at the mine. Centre, rear, the open mouth of the tunnel, with the wall resting upon the rocks above. Left, in this same wall, near the corner, a door opening outside. Right, near the other corner, about four feet up from the floor, a small oblong window through which one sees the snow lying thick upon the mountains, and beyond the snow the dark of the sky with the winter stars shining brightly. In the right wall, well back, a door opens into a bedroom. Centre, in the opposite wall, a second door opens into a sort of woodshed. Left, a little way to the rear from the centre of the room, a heavy iron stove with chairs standing about. A woodbox is over near the wall, left. Forward right, a table with a bugle lying upon two or three sheets of loose paper, and, farther over, a heap of ore samples in which, with the light of the near-by lamp falling upon them, the gold is plainly visible. Harvey Anderson, his hat pulled low over his eyes, sits with his back to the bedroom, staring at the stove. The only motion discernible is an occasional pressing of the lip when he bites his moustache. Later, Mrs. Egerton, careworn and evidently in deep distress, enters Time: Christmas Eve. Mrs. Egerton. (In a low voice) It's after midnight, for the lights are out Down in the town. It must be after one. (Speaks back as though into the bedroom) You think the guard would let him come right through? Harvey Anderson. Yes, mother. Mrs. Egerton. I didn't mean to wake you, Harvey. Harvey Anderson. I ain't been sleeping. Mrs. Egerton. But it seems so long. (Turns again to the window) Harvey Anderson. The snow's so deep upon the mountains, mother. And Sam and Chris—I know they'd hurry on— They ain't come either. Nurse. (Entering from the bedroom) It's stopped snowing now. Harvey Anderson. It's getting colder. How's he seem to be? Nurse. There's very little change. What time is it? Harvey Anderson. (Looks at his watch) Going on half past three. (They look at one another) Nurse. Don't think such things. (Anderson goes to the woodbox and looks in) Mrs. Egerton. (At the window, to herself) If I only knew! If I only knew he'd come! Nurse. (As Anderson goes into the woodshed) He may have telegraphed for specialists. (She glances toward Mrs. Egerton, then goes quietly to the door, rear left, and looks out) Nurse. (Comes back) I wish that there was something that I could do. Mrs. Egerton. You made it plain that he must come at once? Nurse. Yes, Mrs. Egerton. I told the truth. Some think it's better to deceive. I don't. And I find that people thank you in the end. Mrs. Egerton. And they've been gone since nine. Nurse. Lie down a while, Won't you? I wish you would. Mrs. Egerton. Isn't that some one? Nurse. (Goes to the window) It's Mr. Bentley with the guard, I think. (Mrs. Egerton leaves the window and walks about the room) Mrs. Egerton. (Half to herself) The stars are so low down, so beautiful; And the world so full of joy. Isn't it strange? To-day we're here and to-morrow somewheres else. (She stops by the bedroom door and stands looking in) Nurse. He's so your boy. Mrs. Egerton. Yes, yes. Nurse. And he loves you so. It's always 'mother' when he speaks at all; You and the mill. (A pause) And then you'll always know There's never been a man in Foreston Been loved as he has been. Mrs. Egerton. But he's so young! And his work—He'd just begun. So little chance! Nurse. I've nursed so many cases of old men, And men in prosperous circumstances, too, Who've had no friends at all, just relatives. (Mrs. Egerton walks about) Nurse. And friends are so much closer, don't you think? Mrs. Egerton. Has he never, never mentioned Donald's name In his delirium? Nurse. (Shakes her head) But then you know Those first weeks at the Hospital were a blank, Or almost so. And then when he came to After the operation—— Mrs. Egerton. Donald! Donald! Nurse. I being a stranger, just a nurse, you know. In delirium of course it's different. But then I'd left the case. (Harvey Anderson enters with an armful of wood) Nurse. I was surprised When I got word from Mr. Anderson That you had let him—It's so far up here. Mrs. Egerton. He wanted to so much. Nurse. They always do. But they don't always know what's best for them. Harvey Anderson. But he was getting on so well. Nurse. I know. Harvey Anderson. There was no fever till four days ago. Nurse. (To Mrs. Egerton) When I got here he was quite rational. Harvey Anderson. And talked about the mine here and the mill. And figured out the timber that we'd need For next year's run. I don't know what it was. (Quietly replenishes the fire) Mrs. Egerton. (At the bedroom door) He hasn't moved. Nurse. It quite exhausted him. Mrs. Egerton. You think he recognized me? Nurse. I don't know. Harvey Anderson. (Who has come to the table, picks up one of the sheets of paper) And he was planning homes here for the men Upon the valley land, with flowers and trees. Nurse. Wasn't it strange that he should hear the bells? Harvey Anderson. I hadn't heard them till he spoke. Nurse. Nor I. Harvey Anderson. He seemed to know that it is Christmas Eve. Mrs. Egerton. His speaking of the toys! Nurse. Lie down a while. Harvey Anderson. It's all right, mother, it's all right. Nurse. Won't you? We'll call you when he comes. Buck Bentley. (Entering hurriedly from outside) Here comes a light. Mrs. Egerton. (Collecting herself) If there's anything, Harvey, anything I can do To help the work along, you'll come to me. Promise me that. And you must keep right on. Harvey Anderson. Yes, mother. We talked of that. (Mrs. Egerton kisses him and goes into the bedroom) Buck Bentley. How is he now? Nurse. About the same. (She goes to the window) Buck Bentley. You didn't think he'd come. Harvey Anderson. He's been six weeks, almost. But that's all right. Is the Doctor with him? Buck Bentley. Yes. (Starts for the door) I'll tell the boys. Harvey Anderson. Then come back, Buck. Buck Bentley. I will. (He goes out. Anderson stands staring at the door) Nurse. I'm so, so glad. These weeks and weeks——It's been so hard to bear. It ought to be a lesson to us all. You'll stay, of course. Harvey Anderson. I? Sure. Nurse. He's felt so hard, So bitter toward you. (Buck Bentley enters quickly. Looks from Harvey to the Nurse) Harvey Anderson. What?—— Buck Bentley. It's Sam and Chris. (Sam Williams and Chris Knudson come in with a lantern) Harvey Anderson. See anything of Egerton coming up? (The men show surprise) Buck Bentley. They sent for him. Sam Williams. Is he as bad as that? Harvey Anderson. He hasn't been himself. (To Bentley, who starts out) Then come back. Buck Bentley. Yes. (Anderson turns and shakes his head at the Nurse, who goes into the bedroom, closing the door after her) Harvey Anderson. He spoke of both of you. Chris Knudson. Too bad! too bad! Harvey Anderson. I thought you'd like to be here. (They sit silent about the stove) Harvey Anderson. Colder. Chris Knudson. Yes. (They are silent) Harvey Anderson. Things going all right, Sam? (Sam Williams nods) Harvey Anderson. And in the camps? Chris Knudson. Hundred and fifty men. (They are silent) Sam Williams. There's a report That Masters will turn State's evidence. Harvey Anderson. Good news. Chris Knudson. The citizens are pressing on the case. Harvey Anderson. They'll find the trail leads where we said. Chris Knudson. That's sure. Sam Williams. His throwing down the silver don't help though. (They are silent) Harvey Anderson. You see about those young pines, Chris. With spring We'll begin setting out as partner wished, And start all over with the land all green. (They are silent) Chris Knudson. The boys will be so sorry. Harvey Anderson. I don't mind, Now that it can't be, telling you of a plan—— (There is a slight noise in the bedroom. Anderson turns and listens; but everything becomes quiet again) Harvey Anderson. Of a surprise he had for Christmas day, For all of us and the families of the men. Nurse. (Appears at the door and calls quickly) Harvey! (Anderson starts for the bedroom. Suddenly Harry Egerton appears struggling with his mother and the Nurse. His head is bandaged and his face is covered with a six weeks' beard) Harry Egerton. No, no! See there! see there! see there! They're here already! (A shadowy line of workmen with their wives and children in their Sunday clothes comes in left) Harry Egerton. (Shouting right) In the dry-kiln, Sam! And fetch the other barrel, Harvey. Mrs. Egerton. Harry! Harry Egerton. A Merry Christmas, friends, to all of you! I'm glad you've come! (Shaking himself free) It's all right, it's all right! Candy, candy, candy, children! (The children crowd about him) Mrs. Egerton. Harry! Harry Egerton. Let them come! let them come! There! there! there! Harvey Anderson. Partner! Harry Egerton. (Laughing) Isn't it wonderful! Mrs. Egerton. It's mother, Harry! Harry Egerton. And here's a little doll and here's a sled! I brought them down over the chimney tops! (Laughs. A little boy remains after the other children have gone back to their parents) Harry Egerton. A little horn? Harvey Anderson. Partner! Harry Egerton. What golden hair! (The little boy returns to the others) Harry Egerton. (Advancing and shaking hands with the men and women, who file by him and pass out rear) Next year, my friends, if everything goes well, We'll have some homes to hang up on the tree But this is children's day. (Last in the line comes a figure in the garb of a workman, but with the tender, bearded face of the Christ) Harry Egerton. (Looking at his brow) Have you been hurt? (The figure holds out both hands to him) Harry Egerton. (At first wildly, but with growing calmness) Harvey! Buck! Mother! (The figure looks back one moment, then vanishes. Harry Egerton is seen falling into the arms of Harvey Anderson, who carries him into the bedroom. His mother and the Nurse follow. Sam Williams and Chris Knudson stand staring across at the door) Sam Williams. Our leader's gone, Chris. Chris Knudson. Yes, I fear so. Harvey Anderson. (Coming in and closing the bedroom door after him) Partner's gone. A Guard. (Pushing open the outside door) Egerton's come. (Donald Egerton enters, followed by the Doctor and two strange men, apparently surgeons, one of them carrying an instrument case. Egerton glances about and instinctively locates the bedroom, and at once goes toward it) Harvey Anderson. (To the Doctor) Too late. Doctor. Dead! Harvey Anderson. Just this moment. Voice of Mrs. Egerton. (As Egerton opens the bedroom door) Donald! Donald! (The Doctor follows Egerton into the bedroom) Chris Knudson. (Looking toward the door that the Doctor has shut) Peace and good will on earth. Harvey Anderson. He stood for that. (They stand silent about the stove. Anderson picks up two chairs, which he takes over to the two strangers, who are standing by the table) Chris Knudson. There's things about us here that we don't see. Sam Williams. (Looking toward the bedroom) Chris Knudson. What will we do? Sam Williams. You'll not desert us, comrade, now he's gone. Harvey Anderson. 'For all time; shall we say it?' Chris Knudson. That last day. Harvey Anderson. 'And give our lives, if need be?' Sam Williams. He gave his. (Takes up the lantern) Harvey Anderson. He hasn't left the Cause, Sam. Sam Williams. True. Chris Knudson. That's true; He hasn't left the Cause. Harvey Anderson. Here just last week, Sitting about the table, planning things, 'The Cause will be here, Harvey, when we're gone, A beautiful river flowing through the land.' Chris Knudson. There was the noblest boy this land's brought forth. Harvey Anderson. And we must make it wider, Sam. Sam Williams. Yes, yes. Harvey Anderson. Till the whole land is free. That's our work now. Sam Williams. Yes, we must keep right on. Harvey Anderson. That was his wish, That we should keep right on; and his mother's, too. Tell the boys that. Sam Williams. We will. Chris Knudson. There ought to be A public funeral so the men could march. Harvey Anderson. I'll speak to Mr. Egerton. First Stranger. (Indicating Anderson) That's him. (The two workmen go out) Harvey Anderson. Stop by the cabins and tell Buck. Good-night. (He shuts the door and walks about, stopping occasionally by the stove, absorbed in thought) Second Stranger. He'll hardly use us now. First Stranger. Probably not. (They take up pieces of the ore) First Stranger. (To Anderson, who is walking about) How much does this assay? Second Stranger. He didn't hear you. Egerton. (Enters with the Doctor and speaks with him aside) Drive down a mile or so and wait for me. (Mrs. Egerton and the Nurse come in. Both are dressed for travelling) Mrs. Egerton. (Walks toward the outer door, then suddenly turns) O Donald, Donald, this is Christmas Eve! Think of this night in years gone by! Egerton. (Tenderly) Mary! Nurse. 'Thy will be done.' Harvey Anderson. It's all right, mother. Mrs. Egerton. Harvey! (She embraces him and goes out with the Nurse) Egerton. (To the Doctor) And you'll attend to everything? Doctor. Yes, Colonel. (The Doctor goes out. Egerton shuts the door and stands for a moment apparently waiting till those who have just left get farther from the cabin. He then starts pacing to and fro as though he were undecided what to do. As he walks left toward Harvey Anderson his brow darkens. But as he turns right and draws near the bedroom the hard lines of his face relax. It is clear that a terrible struggle is going on within him) Egerton. (To Harvey Anderson) You here alone? Harvey Anderson. Yes, Mr. Egerton. But that don't matter if there's anything—— (Egerton stands for a moment, then resumes his walk) Harvey Anderson. Is there something I can do? Egerton. (Stopping midway between the bedroom and Anderson, to the strangers) What do you say? First Stranger. We'll do the best we can. (The Second Stranger removes his overcoat. The First lifts the instrument case upon the table and begins to open it. Egerton walks toward the bedroom) Harvey Anderson. (Following him) I don't believe— I don't believe, though, Mr. Egerton, It's any use. First Stranger. (Suddenly covering Anderson with pistols which he has taken from the case) Keep those hands where they are. Bolt that door, Ned. (The Second Detective bolts the outside door. He then comes to the table and takes from the case two pairs of handcuffs, a long black mackintosh, and a black cap) First Detective. Search him. Second Detective. (Feels about Anderson's hips and sides) Slip on this coat. Harvey Anderson. (To Egerton, while the detective puts the coat on him) Well, partner, I've seen men where Hell was loud Shoot from behind dead bodies but, by God, I've never seen them shoot from such as him. (Nodding toward the bedroom) First Detective. Quick now. Egerton. You know the way? Harvey Anderson. You beat them all. First Detective. We keep the road to the left. Egerton. Over the mountains. You'll probably have some trouble. First Detective. We'll get there. Egerton. I'll have the Express wait for you at Lucasville. You ought to reach there—— (Looks at his watch) It's now five o'clock—— By ten or eleven. First Detective. At the outside. (The Second Detective hands to Egerton his son's will, which, in buttoning the coat up about Anderson, he has found in the latter's pocket) Egerton. (Looks into it a moment) Um! Second Detective. The guard will be off duty? First Detective. I think so, But we've no time to lose. (The Second Detective handcuffs himself to Anderson on the left side. The First Detective puts the cap on Anderson so that with the high Harvey Anderson. The black cap, eh? (The First Detective then handcuffs himself to Anderson on the right side) Egerton. You wire me when you reach the Capitol. First Detective. Yes, Mr. Egerton. Egerton. Go briskly now. First Detective. (Showing Anderson his pistol) Now not a word from you, you understand. (He puts the pistol in his side overcoat pocket and keeps his hand on it) Egerton. 'Twill soon be morning. Harvey Anderson. Yes, you'd better leave Before the land wakes up. (The detectives, with Anderson between them, go out) Egerton. We'll see, my man— (Puts the key on the outside of the door) How you'll shake down the pillars of this land. (He goes out and locks the door after him. A few moments pass. Suddenly at some distance outside a shot is heard. Again a few moments pass. Then, with a crash, the door is broken in and Buck Bentley, with the will in his hand, pulls himself hurriedly through the hole. He staggers to the table and seizes the bugle and blows a loud blast, then reels and, trying to steady himself, falls dead upon the floor, taking the table down with him. There is a clattering of the ore samples and a breaking of glass, and the lamp goes out, leaving the room in darkness. A half mile or so away, in the direction of Foreston, a bugle is heard, then, farther away, another, and fainter, another, and still another. And out through the window in the starlight of the Christmas morning soldiers with rifles in their hands are seen running rear left through the snow) |
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