Why marry?

Front matter

CCSPXRIGHT DEPOSIT.

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BOOKS BY JESSE LYNCH WILLIAMS

Act I "And So They Were Married"

Act I

Up from the fragrant garden comes a girl, running. She takes the broad terrace steps two at a stride, laughing., breathless, fleet as a fawn, sweet as a rose. She is hotly pursued by a boy, handsome, ardent, attractively selfish, and just now blindly determined to catch the pretty creature before she gains the protecting shelter of home. She is determined to let him hut not to let him know it. . . . There, she might have darted in through the open door, hut it is such a cold, formal entrance; she pretends to he exhausted, dodges behind a stone tea-table, and, turning, faces him, each panting and laughing excitedly ; she alluring and defiant, he merry and dominafit.

She is twenty-five and he is a year or two older, hut they are both children; in other words, unmarried.

"And So They Were Married"

T

Rex HINK I'll let you say that to me ?

Jean

• [making a face at him] Think I'm afraid of you!

Rex

Take it back, I tell you.

Jean I won't.

Rex

I'll make you.

Jean

[with a dance step] Think so, do you ?

Rex

I warn you.

Jean Booh-woo !

[He makes a feint to the right, then dashes to the left and catches her.

'And So They Were Married"

Rex

[triumphantly]

You would, would

Jean

[struggling]

you ?

Let me go,

Rex

I couldn't think of it.

Jean

[seizes his hands to free herself — cant] You're so strong — it isn't fair.

Rex You're so sweet — it isn't fair.

[Smiling down at her struggles, rejoicing in his strength, her weakness, he gently draws her near.

Jean

[knows what is coming No, Rex.

Rex Yes.

S

"And So They Were Married"

Jean

You mustn't.

Rex

But I will.

[He laughs and kisses her lightly on the cheek. Therefore she struggles furiously. Therefore he does it again. And again. Suddenly he enfolds her completely and kisses her passionately — cheeks^ mouthy eyes — until she gasps in alarm. Laughter has gone from them now.

Jean Oh, please ! . . . some one will come.

Rex

' [with the intoxication of such moments] I don't care who comes — I love you.

Jean

No ... let me go.

Rex

Not till you kiss me, Jean. [Jean hesitates^ brushes his cheek lightly with her lipsy and in pretty confusion tries to escape.] Not till you

"And So They Were Married"

say you love me, Jean. [Eyes hidden in his coaty she bobs her head. He laughs and loves it\ Say it !

Jean I — er — do.

Rex

Do what ? . . . Say it ! . . .

[She cannot. He swings her about, bringing her face close to his.

Jean

I love you, Rex. Are you sure you love me }

Rex

Am I sure ! You irresistible little —

[Begins to kiss her. Masculine triumph.

Jean And want to marry me, Rex }

Rex

[stops — startled — had not thought oj that] Why — er — of course. What did you suppose !

[Drops his eyes, sobered. 7

"And So They Were Married"

Jean

[feminine triumph] And me "a penniless orphing" ?

Rex

[fascinated by the way she says it^ he laughs. Theny his honor touched] Why, what kind of a man do you take me for! [^nd wants her lips again.

Jean

[giving herself to him^ head sinks upon his shoulder]

Then, oh, Rex, love me and be nice to me and — and take me away from all this !

[She covers her face with her hands and sobs. He pats her tenderly, with a manly look on his face.

Lucy comes up from the garden. She is dressed in white with a garden hat, a garden basket filled with flowers in one hand, long scissors in the other. She is John's wife, the mistress of the house, sister-in-law to Jean; conspicuously a '^ sweet'' woman, affectedly so, a contrast with Jean's more modern, less delicate charm. Jean is frank 8

"And So They Were Married"

and brave, Lucy indirect aitd timid, pretty but fading, forty but fighting it.

Jean

[laughing] It's all right, Lucy — we're engaged !

Lucy Well, I should hope so !

[Shoots a look at Jean, "So?"

Rex

[recovering himself]

I have often tried to thank you and good old John for letting me come over here so much, but now ! How can I ever thank you ? See-what- I-mean ?

Lucy

I'll tell you how. Behave yourself after you are married to John's Httle sister.

Jean

Rex, have you had a fearful past ? How fascinating !

**And So They Were Married"

Rex

I'm going to have a glorious future, all right.

Jean

Not unless you do as I tell you. Going to obey me, Rex ?

Rex

You bet I am.

Jean

Then begin now. Go ! . . . Get out ! [She pushes Rex, laughing and protesting, toward the garden.] I want to tell Lucy how nice you are. Run along over to the golf club, and by and by — if you are a good boy — you can take me out in your new car. [Rex kisses the hand on his arm and leaves, laughing.] My dear, he has five cars ! Thank you so much.

[Alone, they throw off the mask worn before men,

Lucy

Now, deary, tell me all about it. How did it happen .?

Jean Oh, I simply followed your advice.

lO

"And So They Were Married"

Lucy Picked a quarrel with him ?

Jean [laughing] Yes. I pretended to believe in woman suffrage !

Lucy Good ! They hate that.

Jean I told him all men were bullying brutes !

Lucy They are! And then you ran away ?

Jean

Of course.

Lucy

And he after you^

Jean

Of course.

Lucy

And you let him catch you ?