Matt. No such thing (hic): you did me no wrong. I de (hic) ceived you, and you turned me out like a dog——a stray dog——just what I was. What right had I ’mong hones’ folks.
May. The right every man has to recognition when he attempts to shake off the shackles of habit, and be a man again.
Matt. Jes’ so; but you see it’s no use (hic). I fell again.
May. O Matt——Roy’s comrade——tell me you forgive me.
Matt. Well, you lis (hic) ’n to me. You told me to go to my wife——my deserted wife (hic). I went; she died in my arms. (Serious, forgetting himself.) Poor woman! she had fallen by the way. I couldn’t raise her, but I did the best I could; I made a pillow of the breast where beat a heart that once was all hers. She died there: died like a child sinking to rest. (Weeps.)
May (surprised). Why, Matt!
Matt (quickly assuming drunken manner). Well (hic), she died——she did. Poor Mary Randall!
May. Randall? (Rises.) No, no, that was my name before I married Roy.
Matt (hic). Was it? ’twas mine before I met Roy. That’s something you didn’t (hic) find out.
May. Oh, heavens! if it should be! Well, well, go on.