Bess (flinging herself into May’s arms). O May!
Roy. And you dare to enter my house, you,——a felon?
Matt (staggering down and sitting in chair R. of table). ’Scgraceful! (hic) ’mong respectable people (hic) like me.
Mar. Hold, Mr. Manning! hear, before you condemn. I am innocent of crime. Five years ago I was employed in a house in Chicago as book-keeper. A large sum of money was found missing, and I alone had access to it. I was arrested, and placed in the prisoner’s dock. No proofs could be found to convict me, so I was discharged. I was innocent. The cunning rogue had so covered his tracks that the real culprit could not be detected. I was requested to resign my situation, which I did.
Roy. And you took no steps to make your innocence clear?
Mar. Unfortunately, no. I knew I was innocent, and, anxious to keep the matter from my father, Hon. Lucius Graves, of Wisconsin, I came East, hoping that in time my innocence would be admitted, and I should be recalled.
Roy. And your father?
Mar. Believes I am still in Chicago.
Roy. And without a word of explanation, with this stigma upon your character, you have won the affections of an inmate of my household? Mr. Graves, I am a just man; when you can clearly prove your innocence, you will be welcome. Until then, my doors are no longer open to you.
May. O Roy!