Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/541

 John.—And his military obligations? They are also no doubt in the best of condition?

Commissioner.—We see there a clause from Vienna which has effected an exchange with America,—a sort of general amnesty. Yes, everything is in the best of condition. I take my leave, Mr. Karvan, and I wish you a happy journey.

(Exit.)

Hans.—I congratulate you, cousin, on your punctilliousness. How happy you seem over my escape from military duty! Are you glad that my affairs are in such good order?

John.—There is something here that is not in such good order but I think I am myself competent to put them so.

Hans.—What may that be?

John.—What is this about Julia? She will go with you, will she?

Hans.—We sort of mentioned it to each other didn’t we, Julia.

Julia.—We agreed since midnight.

John.—But as her guardian, surely I ought to have something to say in the matter?

Hans.—I am afraid the honor of the ward is not entirely safe with the guardian in this particular case.

Ann.—Was that necessary?

John.—Even if I permitted it as guardian, I cannot as mayor, just this way.

Hans.—What way? As bride and groom? You have such a fine conscience, John! We shall remove this objection at once. (To .) Come! (He leads her into the death chamber.) There lies one to whom we owe something.

John (To ).—So this is what you have been cooking up since last night, is it?

Ann.—You may thank your stars that we did!

John.—I almost had him! If he had not had that cursed pass!

Ann.—Shame on you! You cannot control your evil spirit even to my face. It is lucky for you, for me, for all of us that he is taking Julia with him. It would have been to his advantage to take over your business and marry her here.

John.—Viper!

Ann.—Julia is your guardian angel. She has taken a curse off this house.

Johnny (Looking through window into the lodge).—Mamma,