Page:Poet Lore, volume 28, 1917.djvu/564

 save him from destruction, protect him from death and send him back to me!

Voice of the Commanding Officer.—Fire! (Cries, screams.)

Tonicka.—Jesus, our Savior! (Falls upon the floor, then drags herself to the window).—If he should be killed! If he should be wounded!

(, with and  run out, frightened and bewildered, into the room.)

Bozenka.—Aunty! Aunty!

Ruzenka.—Mother! Mother!

Mrs. Kralenec.—Where is Vojtech?

Tonicka.—Out there, with the others! Children, children! (Snatching them up.) Pray for him, oh pray for him! They are firing if I could only arise,  if I could only see him!

Mrs. Skarban (Breaking into the room).—Tonicko! Listen! Firing, dreadful misfortune! (With out a fresh volley, the shrieks of the wounded, and the frightened cries of fleeing people.)

Tonicka.—What has happened?

Mrs. Skarban.—Come! Come! Kralenec

Tonicka (Faintly trying to rise).—I cannot stand What has happened? Vojtech

Mrs. Skarban.—Kralenec (the door opens.) Here

(Enter four miners, bringing on their shoulders, the wounded man.)

Tonicka (Summoning her last spark of strength).—Vojtech!

Mrs. Kralenec.—My son!

Trnka.—May the Lord sustain you, Kralencova!

Tonicka.—Is he hurt?

Trnka.—Hurt! (They lay him on the bed to the left of the sick child.)

Tonicka (Sinks down before ).—Vojtech, my dear Vojtech, they have robbed me! They have taken you away from me!

Kralenec (Slowly, in a broken voice).—And yet I am still a man!