Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/381

 Jaroslav.—Because you brought me up to believe that we had an abundance of money!

Dr. Svoboda.—Then try something now!

Jaroslav.—It is too late. At my age, a position of responsibility does not present itself to me.

Dr. Svoboda.—People who are afraid of work find every age the wrong one in which to begin. And the natural consequence of it results in such baseness as the sending of that telerram to Prague! Who can clear me of suspicion! Who will have faith in me now! Upon me, the infamy will fall, and if I try to ward it off, the supposition will at once arise, that like a coward I am trying to save myself from the consequences of the deed when I failed to accomplish my design! Oh you scoundrel!

Jaroslav.—Why waste such useless phrases!

Dr. Svoboda.—Truly, why waste phrases. For your perfidy and baseness deserve a different sort of answer.

Jaroslav.—Then you still gaze with indifference upon the precipice which is threatening to engulf us all for the sake of your crazy whim?

Dr. Svoboda.—I am gazing with alarm upon that chasm of moral depravity and shame which is fast engulfing my son!

Jaroslav.—Come, mother! We are in the way here. Before he will relent, our ruin must stare him in the eyes!

( walks away with his mother and .)

Dr. Svoboda (Sinks into a chair weakly, looking faint)—Such shame! Such disgrace! Shall I be able to bear this avalanche without being crushed this avalanche coming down upon me from all sides  and will not all my efforts and my sacrifice in the end be made in vain? (Talking to himself in evident indecision.) And who can assure me, after all, that I am absolutely in the right by taking this stand against all the interests of myself, my family? And must I finally take upon myself, through my loyalty in this affair, some horrible blame which as yet I cannot foresee? Oh that someone would lift from me this awful crushing load, and make the sacrifice a ligliter one! ( enters.)