ier for your empire and your
armies and your guns, will you, Herr Captain?

_Hertz:_

Why--eh, no. Every child counts these times. But we will put you under
lock and key. You are a firebrand. I warned you. Come along.

_Hedwig:_

You want my child, but still you will not promise me what I asked you.
Well, we shall see.

_Hertz:_

Come along.

_Hedwig:_

Give me just a moment. I want to send a message to the emperor. Will you
take it for me, Herr Captain?

_Mother:_ [_Signing._]

Humor her.

_Hertz:_

Well, well, hurry up!

[_Hedwig sits at table and writes a brief note._]

_Mother:_ [_Whispering._]

She has lost Franz. She is crazed.

_Hedwig:_ [_Rising._]

There. See that it is placed in the hands of the emperor. [_Gives him
the note._] Good-by, Amelia! Never be a war bride, Amelia.

[_Kisses her three times_,] Good-by, Mother.

[_Embraces her tenderly._] Thank you for these.

[_She gathers the baby things in her hands, crosses the room, pressing a
little sock to her lips. As she passes the cupboard she deftly seizes
the pistol, and moves into the bedroom. On the threshold she looks over
her shoulder._]

_Hedwig:_ [_Firmly._]

You may read the message out loud.

[_She disappears into the room, still pressing the little sock to her
lips._]

_Hertz:_ [_Reading the note._]

"A Message to the Emperor: I refuse to bear my child until you promise
there shall be no more war."

[_A shot is fired in the bedroom. They rush into the room. The Mother
stands trembling by the table._]

_Hertz:_ [_Awed, coming out of the room with the baby things, which he
places on the table._]

Dead! Tcha! tcha! she was mad. I will hush it up, Maria.

[_He tears up Hedwig's message to the emperor, and goes out of the
house, shaking his head. Amelia is kneeling in the doorway of the
bedroom, bending over something, and softly crying. The Mother slowly
gathers up the pieces of Hedwig's message and the baby garments, now
dashed with blood, and, sitting on the bench, holds them tight against
her breast, staring straight in front of her, her lips moving
inaudibly. She closes her eyes and rocks to and fro, still muttering and
praying._]

CURTAIN

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of War Brides: A Play in One Act
by Marion Craig Wentworth

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR BRIDES: A PLAY IN ONE ACT ***

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