lad that
herded sheep on the Athole hills: this morn it is I that am the
mother of a man who is among the great ones of the earth. All
over the land they will be telling of Dugald Stewart. Mothers
will teach their children to be men by him. High will his name be
with the teller of fine tales.--The great men came, they came in
their pride, terrible like the storm they were, and cunning with
words of guile were they. Death was with them.... He was but a
lad, a young lad, with great length of days before him, and the
grandeur of the world. But he put it all from him. "Speak," said
they, "speak, and life and great riches will be for yourself."
But he said no word at all! Loud was the swelling of their wrath!
Let the heart of you rejoice, Morag Cameron, for the snow is red
with his blood. There are things greater than death. Let them
that are children shed the tears.
(_She comes forward and lays her hand on the girl's shoulder._)
MARY STEWART. Let us go and lift him into the house, and not be
leaving him lie out there alone.
[CURTAIN]
THE SUN[1]
John Glasworthy
SCENE: A GIRL sits crouched over her knees on a stile close to a
river. A MAN with a silver badge stands beside her clutching the
worn top plank. THE GIRL'S level brows are drawn together; her
eyes see her memories. THE MAN'S eyes see THE GIRL; he has a
dark, twisted face. The bright sun shines; the quiet river flows;
the cuckoo is calling; the mayflower is in bloom along the hedge
that ends in the stile on the towing-path.
[Footnote 1: From _Scribner's Magazine_, May, 1919.
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons; included by special
permission of the writer and publishers.]
THE GIRL. God knows what 'e'll say, Jim.
THE MAN. Let 'im. 'E's come too late, that's all.
THE GIRL. He couldn't come before. I'm frightened. 'E was fond o'
me.
THE MAN. And aren't I fond of you? My Gawd!
THE GIRL. I ought to 'a' waited, Jim; with 'im in the fightin'.
THE MAN (_passionately_). And what about me? Aren't I been in the
fightin'--earned all I could get?
THE GIRL (_touching him_). Ah!
THE MAN. Did you--
(_He cannot speak the words._)
THE GIRL. Not like you, Jim--not like you.
THE MAN. 'Ave a spirit, then.
THE GIRL. I promised 'im.
THE MAN. One man's luck'a another's poison. I've seen it.
THE GIRL. I ought to 'a' waited. I never thought 'e'd come back
from the fightin'.
THE MAN (_grimly_). Maybe 'e'd b
|