War Brides: A Play in One Act | Page 8

Hedwig:
Not a man left, I said.
Hertz:
You forget. I shall be here.
Hedwig:
You are old. You don't count. They think you are only a woman, Herr
Captain.
Hertz: [Insulted.]
You--you--

Hedwig:
Oh, don't take it badly, sir. You are honored. Is the name of woman
always to be despised? Look out in those fields. Who cleared them, and
plucked the vineyards clean? You think we are left at home because we
are weak. Ah, no; we are strong. That is why. Strong to keep the world
going, to keep sacred the greatest things in life--love and home and
work. To remind men of--peace. [With a quick change.] If only you
really were a woman, Herr Captain, that you might breed soldiers for
the empire, your glory would be complete.
[_The old captain is about to make an angry reply when there is a
commotion outside. The words "News from the front" are distinguished,
growing more distinct. The captain rushes out. The women are
paralyzed with apprehension for a moment._]
Mother:
Amelia, go and see. Hedwig, come here.
[_Hedwig crouches on the floor close to the mother, her eyes wide with
dread. In a few moments Amelia returns, dragging her feet, woe in her
face, and unable to deal the blow which must fall on the two women,
who stare at her with blanched faces._]
Amelia: [Falling at her mother's knee.]
Mother!
Mother: [Scarcely breathing.]
Which one?
Amelia:
All of them.
Mother: [Dazed.]

All? All my boys?
Amelia:
Emil, Otto--be thankful Arno is left.
[_The Mother drops her head back against the chair and silently prays.
Hedwig creeps nearer Amelia and holds her face between her hands,
looking into her eyes._]
Hedwig: [Whispering.]
Franz?
Amelia:
Franz, too.
[Illustration: HEDWIG: Franz?
AMELIA: Franz, too.]
[_Hedwig lies prostrate on the floor. Their grief is very silent; terrible
because it is so dumb and stoical. The Mother is the first to rouse
herself. She bends over Hedwig._]
Mother:
Hedwig. [Hedwig sobs convulsively.] Don't, child. Be careful for the
little one's sake. [Hedwig sits up.] For your child be quiet, be brave.
Hedwig:
I loved him so, Mother!
Mother:
Yes, he was my boy--my first-born.

Hedwig:
Your first-born, and this is the end.
[She rises up in unutterable wrath and despair.]
O God!
Mother: [Anxious for her.]
Promise me you will be careful, Hedwig. For the sake of your child,
your first-born, that is to be--
Hedwig:
My child? For this end? For the empire--the war that is to be? No!
Mother: [Half to herself.]
He may look like Franz.
[_Hedwig quickly seizes the pistol from the mantel-shelf and moves to
the bedroom door._
_Amelia, watching her, sees her do it, and cries out in alarm and rushes
to take it from her._]
Amelia: [In horror.]
Hedwig! What are you doing? Give it to me! No, you must not! You
have too much to live for.
[Illustration: AMELIA: No, you must not! You have too much to live
for.]
Hedwig: [Dazed.]
To live for? Me?

Amelia:
Why, yes, you are going to be a mother.
Hedwig:
A mother? Like her? [Looks sadly at the bereaved old mother.] Look at
her! Poor Mother! And they never asked her if she wanted this thing to
be! Oh, no! I shall never take it like that--never! But you are right,
Amelia. I have something to do first.
[Lets Amelia put the pistol away in the cupboard.] I must send a
message to the emperor. [_The others are more alarmed for her in this
mood than in her grief._]
You said you were going to the front to be a nurse, Amelia. Can you
take this message for me? I might take it myself, perhaps.
Amelia: [Hesitating, not knowing what to say or do.]
Let me give you some tea, Hedwig.
[_Voices are heard outside, and the sounds of sorrow. Some one near
the house is weeping. A wild look and a fierce resolve light Hedwig's
face._]
Hedwig: [Rushing from the house.]
They have taken my Franz!
Mother:
Get her back! I feared it. Grief has made her mad.
[_Amelia runs out. A clamor of voices outside. Hedwig can be heard
indistinctly speaking to the women. Finally her voice alone is heard,
and in a moment she appears, backing into the doorway, still talking to
the women._]

Hedwig: [A tragic light in her face, and hand uplifted.]
I shall send a message to the emperor. If ten thousand women send one
like it, there will be peace and no more war. Then they will hear our
tears.
A Voice:
What is the message? Tell us!
Hedwig:
Soon you will know. [Loudly.] But I tell you now, _don't bear any more
children_ until they promise you there will be no more war.
Hertz: [Suddenly appearing. Amelia follows.]
I heard you. I declare