The First and the Last eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 30 pages of information about The First and the Last.

The First and the Last eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 30 pages of information about The First and the Last.

Wanda.  Wanda.

Keith.  Are you fond of Larry?

Wanda.  I would die for him!

     [A moment’s silence.]

Keith.  I—­I’ve come to see what you can do to save him.

Wanda, [Wistfully] You would not deceive me.  You are really his brother?

Keith.  I swear it.

Wanda. [Clasping her hands] If I can save him!  Won’t you sit down?

Keith. [Drawing up a chair and sitting] This, man, your—­your husband, before he came here the night before last—­how long since you saw him?

Wanda.  Eighteen month.

Keith.  Does anyone about here know you are his wife?

Wanda.  No.  I came here to live a bad life.  Nobody know me.  I am quite alone.

Keith.  They’ve discovered who he was—­you know that?

Wanda.  No; I have not dared to go out.

Keith:  Well, they have; and they’ll look for anyone connected with him, of course.

Wanda.  He never let people think I was married to him.  I don’t know if I was—­really.  We went to an office and signed our names; but he was a wicked man.  He treated many, I think, like me.

Keith.  Did my brother ever see him before?

Wanda.  Never!  And that man first went for him.

Keith.  Yes.  I saw the mark.  Have you a servant?

Wanda.  No.  A woman come at nine in the morning for an hour.

Keith.  Does she know Larry?

Wanda.  No.  He is always gone.

Keith.  Friends—­acquaintances?

Wanda.  No; I am verree quiet.  Since I know your brother, I see no one, sare.

Keith. [Sharply] Do you mean that?

Wanda.  Oh, yes!  I love him.  Nobody come here but him for a long time now.

Keith.  How long?

Wanda.  Five month.

Keith.  So you have not been out since——?

     [Wanda shakes her head.]

What have you been doing?

Wanda. [Simply] Crying. [Pressing her hands to her breast] He is in danger because of me.  I am so afraid for him.

Keith. [Checking her emotion] Look at me.

     [She looks at him.]

If the worst comes, and this man is traced to you, can you trust yourself not to give Larry away?

Wanda. [Rising and pointing to the fire] Look!  I have burned all the things he have given me—­even his picture.  Now I have nothing from him.

Keith. [Who has risen too] Good!  One more question.  Do the police know you—­because—­of your life?

     [She looks at him intently, and shakes her, head.]

You know where Larry lives?

Wanda.  Yes.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The First and the Last from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.