Allatoona, a play in four acts

Front matter

PS

.BiAs

isos

Act I

[SCENE — The Gillford farmhouse and lawn; Colonel and Mrs. Kilgore; the lattei has her arms full of flowers.]

COL. KILGORE— Well, we’ve had a delightful tramp in the woods, anyway; and now, Mrs. Kilgore, if you have all the posies, shrubbery and weeds you can carry, suppose we meander off towards home. Bless me! if we haven’t run right on to the Gillfords’ dooryard here. How natural everything looks — same old house, same old rosebush, same old pump, same old tin cup, on the same old nail! Let’s have a drink. [Goes to pump.] Nothing has changed since I went to the war, two years ago. It doesn’t seem possible. [Cheers.] Listen! That’s the boys of my regiment down at the fair grounds. How they have enjoyed their furlough !

b

Allatoona.

MRS. KILGORE — And just to think how soon you must go south again ! Oh, I hate to think of it!

COL. KILGORE — Yes; the time’s already up; our furlough has expired.

MRS. KILGORE — Oh, it’s a shame to go so soon ! But I’m coming down to see you in almost no time. [Sees rosebush.] Look, what roses! Let

me put one on your coat. [Does so.] There, now!

Ah, see; over there is Laura Gillford’s berry farm. [Looks off the stage.] You know she took to berry growing when the war broke out; first for fun, and then to make lots of money ; and now just to be a pretty little boss. Three thousand boxes a week ! It’s a sight to see her with her army of boys and girls, her boxing, and counting, and packing, and shipping. I guess she’s the best-natured girl, too, in the world. She does everything by pure goodness ; and, then, she’s so everlastingly handsome !

Allatoona.

That girl could have her pick, you know, of anybody in the county.

COL. KILGORE — Ha, ha ! her pick ! Why in thunder, then, does she pick on that swell-head, Eldred Marshall — the most conceited jackanapes in my regiment, and only a private at that?

MRS. KILGORE — But, dear, private or no private, he is very brave; isn’t he? He took the rebel flag at Lookout; didn’t he?

COL. KILGORE — Yes; by reckless deviltry — not by bravery.

MRS. KILGORE — But the men of your regiment do think him just great. Why, they just carry him around, down at the fair grounds. Yes; they think him immense.

COL. KILGORE — Yes; that’s just it; so do the fool girls in this town. I hate the upstart ! If Miss Laura wants to know what she’s about to marry, bring her to the camp with you, when you come south. She’ll get her eyes opened. She’ll discover

Allatoona.

that a private, policing camp and living on hard tack is a mighty different thing from a private on furlough, carrying his arm in a sling, and flirting with the girls. See if she doesn’t!

MRS. KILGORE — I wonder myself where the girl’s pride’s gone to.

COL. KILGORE— She’s got none!

MRS. KILGORE — Oh, yes; she’s pride itself — she’s madly ambitious, besides. She hopes to see Eldred an officer yet — Colonel of your regiment, when you're made General ! Why , that purring little babe has ambition and courage enough to be an Alexander.

COL. KILGORE— Well, Eldred Marshall will never be an officer with my consent ; mark that.

MRS. KILGORE — The Governor may promote him for that flag business — then

COL. KILGORE — I’ll put the commission in my pocket. Eldred Marshall shall never see it. I am Colonel of the Tenth Regiment. I guess. I’ll

Allatoona.

not forget his popularity-seeking and his trying to make me ridiculous with the men. [Marian, in a green velvet dress and picture hat. listens unobserved.]

MRS. KILGORE — And I’ll not forget how once he danced with Miss Gillford and left me sitting there like a wall-flower.

COL. KILGORE— Oh, well; she’ll desert him quick enough. Wait till she sees a private in the camp. She’ll desert him for an officer in a week. I wonder what’s become of Eldred Marshall’s other girl ; that one he had at college in Kentucky, just as the war broke out?

MRS. KILGORE — Oh, you mean Marian Lee: poor, infatuated Marian Lee ! I guess she finished herself up long ago. I heard she killed herself down there. They found a body in the Ohio river, you know.

MARIAN [passes again without their seeing

Allatoona.

her] — Infatuated ! Infatuated ! Dead in the Ohio river! Do they think that?

COL. KILGORE [boy passes] — Hello! There’s a telegraph boy.

BOY— Is this Col. Kilgore?

COL. KILGORE— It is.

BOY — A telegram for you, sir.

COL. KILGORE [reads it]— -Gods! Look here! It’s from General Sherman. Forest’s guerrilla cavalry’s raiding Kentucky. They’ve got it in for you They’ll wreck the train. Keep the hour of your going south a dead secret. — Sherman.

MRS. KILGORE— My God! What’s that? You sha’n’t go ! Revoke the orders ; stay here till the raid’s over.

COL. KILGORE — Can’t do it. The Secretary of War orders us to the front at once. There are big rumors that Sherman will burn Atlanta, cut everything behind him, and start for the ocean with a

Allatoona.

hundred thousand men. It’ll make him a bigger man than old Grant. The newspaper generals call Sherman crazy ; Lincoln says he wishes he could find a thousand crazy men like Sherman.

MRS. KILGORE— Don’t go! You will be wrecked and killed.

COL. KILGORE — Don’t you fear. Nobody knows when the train leaves. You couldn’t find out for a million dollars. It’s a dead secret.

MRS. KILGORE — Dead secret! There are no dead secrets up here in the north. Spies are everywhere; everybody’s watched. I am alarmed!

COL. KILGORE — Nonsense! Do you look for spies away up here in Iowa?

MRS. KILGORE — Certainly! Only yesterday a strange young woman in a green velvet dress and a picture hat excited attention when the band played in the village park.

COL. KILGORE — Tut, tut! Don’t be alarmed. The Southern Confederacy isn’t sending pretty

Allatoona.

girls up here in green velvet dresses and picture hats, to spy out the country.

MRS. KILGORE — And why not? Women are not so much afraid of war’s excitements as men imagine. Even our pretty, little, soft, sweet, dear, harmless Laura does little but talk of war and regiments and signal flags and the like — it’s amusing. Why, that babe even trains her berry girls to move around by signal. They say Eldred Marshall taught her how to do it.

COL. KILGORE — Well, well! How ridiculous! [Drums heard.] There’s parade call; we must go. [Exeunt.]

MARIAN [entering and looking cautiously about] — So! She’ll desert him; Laura Gillford will — that’s what I heard the Colonel say this minute. Eldred Marhall shall know that. I wonder if he thinks I am in the Ohio river, dead? I know he doesn’t! That cold parting from me, though, in Kentucky, might have killed me. What a note that

Allatoona.

was! Ten words in which to say good-bye forever! So they think me dead ! But here I am, I — Marian Lee — a Southern spy in a Northern town. Who in this world ever would have thought that? What strange things love can do! What am I here for? To find out when the Tenth Regiment goes south. That moment I am to send Forest a cipher telegram; and he — he — will ambush and wreck the train. [Pauses.] Great God! Is that what I am here for? Murder? Oh, love — love! Does love impel a thing like that? I am not here to murder! Great heavens, no ! I saw Eldred Marshall to-day in the village park. He did not know me. I almost touched his hand. That instant my love burned a thousand times anew. I had one moment of the bliss of paradise. I was no longer the rejected; I was the happy woman. Oh, what pain love brings ! It is like the harbinger of death hid in leaves of roses. Oh, I must — if for one instant only — see him again — speak to him. Oh, he is here; so near: and I — I dare not see him — speak [pauses] — I will

Allatoona.

— I will dare — I will, this hour. So this is Laura Gillford’s home! To-day she has a festival. I know it all. He will be here. I, too, will be here. What would Laura Gillford think to see me here? — me — Marian Lee, who would walk around God’s whole green earth for one hand clasp of her acknowledged lover. [Singing heard.] Hark! It is her festival. 1 must be quick. [Exit.]

[Berry girls enter, cheering and singing.]

FIRST GIRL — To-day the berrypicking’s done; huzza! huzza! for laugh and fun.

SECOND GIRL [swings her box] — I’ve forty boxes ; who has more ?

THIRD GIRL — I’ve picked to-day just fortyfour.

FOURTH GIRL — I’ve thirty boxes, fair and fine. What girl has got such fruit as mine?

FIFTH GIRL — I’ll buy some ribbon for my hair.

SIXTH GIRL — And I a dress for Sunday wear.

Allatoona.

ALL — Look, look! Sweet Laura’s coming here. Quick, boys and girls, let’s give a cheer.

[Laura enters; they cheer.]

LAURA — This is perfectly lovely in all of you. What a happy coincidence, too. The week’s work is over, and here’s my birthday, all at once.

GIRLS — Huzza ! huzza !

LAURA — To-day every one of you gets a present, and double wages. And everyone shall take a box of berries to the soldiers at the fair grounds. The regiment will soon go back south ; let our blessings and our cheers go with them.

MRS. GILLFORD — And here, daughter dear, is a present to the soldiers from the aid society. You and the girls must carry them with you. What is it? Look! Bandages, housewives and havelocks : and in every housewife there’s a letter from some pretty girl. [The girls put the havelocks on, and parade about.]

FIRST GIRL [mounts a bench] — And here’s to

Allatoona.

Laura Gillford, the best and sweetest mistress anybody ever worked for. Huzza, girls! [All cheer.] And now for a song. [They sing.]

My lover is a soldier lad.

His uniform is blue.

Oh, well I love my soldier lad,

For he was ever true.

The bugle sounds; he marches off.

God bring him back to me !

For, oh, I love my soldier lad,

Wherever he ma}^ be.

Oh, if a bullet strike him dead,

In death he will be true,

And I will shed a tear for him,

My soldier boy in blue.

LAURA [moved and almost in tears] — Oh. thank you, girls — a thousand times! [Girls go off.] [A messenger hands Laura a letter.]

Allatoona.

LAURA — It is from Eldred Marshall. [Reads it] Dear Laura — I have big news. It is a dead secret, but the regiment leaves at nine to-morrow night. I go along. The doctor says I may. I come to you at once. — Eldred. Oh, oh, oh ! That means farewell, perhaps forever!

GIPSY [enters] — May I tell your fortune, little maid?

LAURA [aside; collects herself] — I’ll let her: I’ll let her. [Aloud.] Is seventeen years so very little, Gipsy?

GIPSY — Quite right; this is your birthday, little girl. [Shows cards.] Look here! Four hearts and a joker; the combination happens only in the month of August, exactly on the 17th. See! Four times four make sixteen, and a joker — that’s seventeen. May I see your hand, little one? Cards tell the past — the future is in the lines of the hand. [Takes her hand.] Just so — just so; the fates have many things for you, little girl. Yes, yes! I see

Allatoona.

you have a lover ! He is in the army ; he goes back to the war. Is it true?

LAURA — Too true! Will he return?

GIPSY— He may.

LAURA — And will he love me still?

GIPSY [looks again] — Another will love him better — better than you can.

LAURA — Impossible ! Impossible !

GIPSY — Have you his picture? I would see his eyes, his hair, his nose, even; ’tis thus we read the characters of men in love.

LAURA — I have his picture; I will bring it — quick. [She goes, but drops Eldred’s letter. Gipsy picks it up and reads it aloud.]

GIPSY [with emotion] — My God! Here is everything — the dreadful secret. I did not seek it — spite of me, it is here ! See this : To-morrow night at nine the train goes, and Eldred Marshall goes along. I did not know he was in the Tenth; I thought he was in the Seventh Regiment. And that

Allatoona.

telegram! Oh! heaven direct me! [She kneels.] My sworn duty is to the South — my South. My love — my heart — is — Oh, this is cruel! War is cruel as the grave, but this — this is bitter, burning hell. He will be on that train. Can love impel a thing like this? Must I send that telegram? I will deserve God’s curse. I will not send it. What shall I do? [Sees Laura coming back; rises.]

LAURA — Here it is. [Marian clutches at it and gazes with emotion.] But, look! There comes the original; there’s Eldred himself. [To Eldred as he enters, arm in sling.] Oh, Eldred; here’s a pretty little gipsy who tells fortunes. She can tell just everything. She told my birthday, my age, and — and — oh! such things, too, of you. You must have your fortune told. Come on now, quick. [He comes and kisses Laura.]

ELDRED — You got my letter, Laura?

LAURA — You are not going, Eldred?

Allatoona.

ELDRED — Well; let us see. What say my stars, then ? Come.

LAURA — Oh, I know she’ll like you. Why, just to see your picture seemed to move her so. Oh, I’m glad she’s not my rival. She’s so young, so beautiful — and — and —

ELDRED — You have no rival, dear. [Kisses her.] She does look young for a real, true, old gipsy, doesn’t she? And, suddenly, she seems all upset. I expect she only tells pretty girls’ fortunes — promises them rich husbands and pretty children. Well, gipsy girl [goes to gipsy], here’s my hand. Why, don’t squeeze it so. And now you let it go — don’t do that, either. There now, read my fate. How .shine my stars? It’s not so bad, is it? [Aside.] By George, how she trembles! It must be something very bad. [Aloud.] Well?

GIPSY — You are a soldier.

ELDRED — Of course; see this arm; this uniform.

Allatoona.

GIPSY — You are one in a thousand — you bear a charmed life — and yet —

~ ELDRED — Will I be killed?

GIPSY — The lines are bad — yes!

LAURA — Oh, Eldred ; it is not true !

ELDRED — No, no ; Laura. IPs guessing only she’s doing. IPs fun.

LAURA — I will not hear it. [Goes.]

GIPSY — You are in the Tenth — the fated regiment. See; it moves to-morrow night.

ELDRED — No one knows that; its moving is a dead secret.

GIPSY — To-morrow night at nine. I read secrets; I know.

ELDRED — How do you know?

GIPSY — Never mind. See these lines.

ELDRED [aside] — I wonder how she knows. How strange. It almost unnerves me.

Allatoona.

GIPSY — Eldred Marshall I give you warning — Do not go on that train.

ELDRED — How do you know my name?

GIPSY — Never mind — don’t go.

ELDRED— Why?

GIPSY — Don’t go ; that is enough.

ELDRED [aside] — I wonder what in heaven she means. [Aloud.] What is the danger?

GIPSY [with deep emotion] — Don’t go.

ELDRED — Why do you tremble?

GIPSY [much agitated] — You will be killed.

ELDRED [trying to be cool] — Would you care?

GIPSY— Don’t go.

ELDRED [moved] — Would my life be something to you?

GIPSY— Don’t go.

ELDRED [steps away; aside] — How handsome she is — young — what eyes! I almost thought I knew her voice. [Aloud, going to her.] You are too

Allatoona.

fair, too young, for such a life. Is it for bread you do this? May I help you? [Offers money.]

GIPSY— No!

ELDRED — What, then?

GIPSY — More, a thousand times more.

ELDRED — For love?

GIPSY— For love !

ELDRED — He is a scoundrel who deserts you. Only a villain could do that ! Who is he? Where? I’ll drive him to the earth — villain !

GIPSY — No, no! No villain; no desertion! No, no; I am happy, happy in these rags, happy this very moment. [She looks longingly at Eldred, and pauses — is much moved.] Ask nothing further.

ELDRED [aside] — My God, that’s strange! For

a moment — I — I She’s no gipsy. I will try her.

[Aloud.] You have secret powers. Tell me; you speak of love; now — has — any — one — loved — me?

GIPSY— Yes; madly.

Allatoona.

ELDRED— Loves still ?

GIPSY— Madly !

ELDRED — You have seen her?

GIPSY — With you; just now.

ELDRED — Impossible — unless ghosts walk in broad daylight. [Aside.] I think she’s crazy. [Aloud.] Where else was she?

GIPSY — Down south ; perhaps it was Kentucky.

ELDRED— When?

GIPSY — Two years ago.

ELDRED [aside] — This is marvelous. She speaks of Marian Lee; there is not a doubt; poor, infatuated Marian Lee. I cut loose from her the day I left the college. [Aloud.] What is the color of her hair ?

GIPSY — Sweet brown.

ELDRED — Her eyes?

GIPSY — Heaven’s blue.

ELDRED— Her face?

Allatoona.

GIPSY — White as a lily.

ELDRED [aside] — Astounding! Save her rags, she herself could be a Marian Lee. [Aloud.] And she loves me yet?

GIPSY — She would go bare-footed around the green earth for you.

I

ELDRED — How long ago was that, did you say?

GIPSY — Two years.

ELDRED [aside] — Astounding! Astounding! She knows the very time. She reads my mind, perhaps; perhaps she knows Marian.

[Noises; she starts; Town Marshal enters.]

MARSHAL — Have you seen a woman dressed in green velvet pass this way?

ELDRED — No. What’s the matter?

MARSHAL — She is to be arrested; she is a spy. [Looks at the gipsy.] Who’s this? [Marian starts.] What are these cattle doing around the village?

Allatoona.

They may be spies ! I will arrest her. [To Gipsy.] Come along with me.

ELDRED [aside] — I must know more; he must not take her. [Aloud.] No; wait; she must not be arrested. You have no right. She is not a spy. Get your warrant first.

MARSHAL — I need none.

ELDRED — Then leave her here. This is private ground. I am responsible. Go your way.

MARSHAL— I will not.

ELDRED — One whistle from me and the whole Tenth Regiment is on your back. The nearest millpond will be your grave. We soldiers run this town now — understand that!

MARSHAL — I guess that’s so. Are you of the Tenth?

ELDRED — I am.

MARSHAL — Then I leave her.

ELDRED — Indeed you will; now go! [To gip-

Allatoona.

sy.] Never mind the little village pop-guns. Go on and tell me more — more — I like all this. What else? Look further. Have I had other loves?

GIPSY [recovers herself] — One only.

ELDRED — Is she true?

GIPSY — At present.

ELDRED — Will she always love me?

GIPSY — She is proud.

ELDRED— And then?

GIPSY — She is ambitious.

ELDRED— Then?

GIPSY — She will desert you.

ELDRED — So, so —

GIPSY — Mark it; you are a private soldier; she a beautiful, proud, ambitious woman.

ELDRED — She is dear and sweet.

GIPSY — No matter; you will lose her. You are beneath her station, her ambition; you know it. You may go up — be advanced.

Allatoona.

ELDRED— If not?

GIPSY— You lose her.

ELDRED — It’s a lie !

GIPSY — Mark me ; it is God’s truth. If you do not believe me, trv her; tell her you are refused a commission ; that you will never be more than a private soldier.

ELDRED [aside] — I fear she will be tried, spite of me. [Alouti.] Then what?

GIPSY — I have told you ; she will find another ; she will love some officer.

ELDRED [at front of stage and aside] — Could this all be true? I do not believe it. Yet this gipsy woman has told some truths — how, I know not. A gipsy once foretold my mother’s marriage, my birth, even this war. I believe in nothing, nothing they tell me. Yes, I do — a little. See here [goes to front of stage ; aside] then Laura will indeed be tried, for I will never receive a commission in the Tenth Regiment. I know that the Colonel hates me.

Allatoona.

Yes, she will be tried. She will be tried to the end of the war. If she remains faithful, as I know she will, the commander of Sherman’s army will not be so happy as private Eldred Marshall. [Exit.]

GIPSY — Oh, he is gone! He did not know me; but I have seen him — spoken — heard his voice — touched his hand — happy, infatuated, crazy Marian Lee. And she, she loves him — and he — did I not see his love for her? Where did he go? To her — to her ! [Looks after him.] God, how I contained myself ! I had the chance — before her very eyes. I could have thrown my arms about his neck — kissed him — kissed him — killed her— yes, killed her. Now I know about the train. I could not help knowing. That letter tells it all. At nine to-morrow night ! Oh, unfortunate me — to know the dreadful secret ! Oh, that telegram — that telegram! Must I send it? By my sworn oath, yes. By my heart’s love, no — never! [She goes up and down the stage in anguish — pauses.] Yet — perhaps — perhaps Eldred will not go.

Allatoona.

My warning moved him — I saw it. Where’s the paper — I’ll send the telegram [writes]. I have no choice [pauses]. God help me; I won’t; I won’t. [Tears telegram to pieces.] The Southern Confederacy may hang me first ; I won’t ! [She pauses ; walks about.] Oh, why did Eldred Marshall leave me so there at school in Kentucky? Did he not know it wmild kill me — kill me? Did he purposely reject me? Did he not know a despised, rejected woman’s fury — hate? There’s nothing in hell so terrible. No, I have not got that — no — no — no! Where is he, I wonder, now? Where is Laura Gillford just this moment? [She looks from the stage.] It is! It is! My God ; look there, under that beech tree — Laura Gillford in Eldred Marshall’s arms. Look ! He kisses her ! She — she kisses him ! Why am I not blind — dead? Oh, should that be — should that be? She happy, happy in his love, and I — I dying of the pain of love and the longing wretchedness that’s worse than hell. No, no, no! Now I will act. What! She, she.

Allatoona.

Laura Gillford, be in his arms, happy, when one little word of mine could end it all forever? [Seizes the paper and writes again.] I must — I must — hell itself seems driving me. Laura Gillford — Laura Gillford — I call to you, Laura Gillford — the telegram is signed !

[Curtain.]