Two Ways of Love.
58
Or some convenient substitute must cut
The cord that binds us, or you never can
Be wife to any man———
The cord that binds us, or you never can
Be wife to any man———
Adrienne—I'll call no death
Nor other agency to set me free
Who never has been bound. I will not stoop
To subterfuge, but stand upon the right
Of my humanity. Why! Tom, 'tis you
And you alone who know this secret. See!
You hold my future, helpless, in your hand.
My heart cries out to you for happiness.
Oh, cousin! Would you cut me off again
From out the living?—bid me find my place
Among the tombstones. See, I kneel to you.
[Kneels.]
Nor other agency to set me free
Who never has been bound. I will not stoop
To subterfuge, but stand upon the right
Of my humanity. Why! Tom, 'tis you
And you alone who know this secret. See!
You hold my future, helpless, in your hand.
My heart cries out to you for happiness.
Oh, cousin! Would you cut me off again
From out the living?—bid me find my place
Among the tombstones. See, I kneel to you.
[Kneels.]
Tom—
For God's sake, Adrienne! (No man was meant
To suffer thus, and I can bear no more.)
[Adrienne rises.]
You do not know the cruelty of this.
I love you, dear. Have loved you all your life.
Although you never guessed. Yet it is so.
For God's sake, Adrienne! (No man was meant
To suffer thus, and I can bear no more.)
[Adrienne rises.]
You do not know the cruelty of this.
I love you, dear. Have loved you all your life.
Although you never guessed. Yet it is so.
