THE 
 
 RETURNING of ROSAUA 
 
 A PLAY 
 
 for Camp Fire Girh 
 
 BY 
 
 MARGARET L. FOX 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 THE CAMP FIRE OUTFITTING CO. 
 
 NEW YORK CITY 
 
THE 
 
 RETURNING OF ROSALIA 
 
 A PLAY 
 
 for Camp Fire Girls 
 
 BY 
 
 MARGARET L. FOX 
 
 "**^5> 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 THE CAMP FIRE OUTFITTING CO. 
 
 NEW YORK CITY 
 

 
 COPYRIGHT 1920 
 lY THE CAMP FIRE OUTFITTING CO. 
 
 ©CI.D 543 L2 
 
 TMP92-008869 
 
 APR 17bcU 
 
THE RETURNING OF ROSALIA 
 
 A PLAY IN THREE ACTS FOR CAMP FIRE GIRLS 
 
 By 
 
 Margaret L. Fox 
 THE RETURNING OF ROSALIA 
 
 Characters 
 
 MINA — A lialf-erazy gypsy. 
 
 NITA — A young gypsy from tlie same tribe. 
 
 ROSALIA— A child stolen by the tribe fourteen years be- 
 fore, and still believing herself a gypsy. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON (ONEIDA)— Guardian of Kitadini Camp 
 Fire. 
 
 MARGARITA — Her daughter, a bright spoiled child of ten 
 years. 
 
 MARIA STONE — Mrs. Robson's maiden sister, crabbed and 
 sour. 
 
 VIVIAN PRICE- 
 VIOLA martin- 
 Two girls who are the leading members in Kitadini 
 Camp Fire. 
 
 Girls of the Camp Fire 
 JEANETTE— The girl who knows a story. 
 BBSS — The girl who stutters when excited. 
 RACHAEL— The slangy girl. 
 I'AULINE- The girl who is afraid of bugs. 
 HELI^N — The girl who is romantic. 
 
 PERSIS — The girl whose "big brother" causes many heart- 
 aches. 
 SUSAN- 
 BETTY— 
 ELEANOR— 
 
 Just girls. (These three parts easily omitted.) 
 3 
 
THE RETURNING OF ROSALIA 
 
 Act I. 
 
 Time — Late Afternoon. 
 
 Place — Clearing in the woods, near the town of Button, 
 
 N. H. 
 
 SCENE — Woods, etc. One large fallen log, at lyack. One 
 stump or pile of logs at each side. Two entrances R and L. 
 
 Enter Rosalia and Nita, dressed in gypsy costumes. Shoes 
 
 are dusty and they look warm and tired. Seat themselves 
 
 on log, at rear of stage. 
 
 NITA— Rosalia, I am frightened. I have never before felt 
 like this. It is all so mysterious and awful. Mina 
 talking so queer and stealing away from the tribe in 
 the middle of the night. They will find us, Rosalia, 
 how can they help it. We could only have come a little, 
 little way, Mina was so sick. 
 
 ROSALIA — I am not afraid. {Stands and draws herself 
 up proudly.) I am thrilled. I am going to die for 
 Mina, if Rod comes. If they catch us and Rod threat- 
 ens to kill Mina, I will throw myself between and say 
 {passionately) "Kill me, but spare your old Granny." 
 
 NITA {contemptuously) — Poof! I don't believe you. You 
 are really just as much scared as I am or will be when 
 they get here. You have been reading too much of that 
 King Arthur stuff. Listen, Rosalia, when Rod finds us, 
 he will uncurl that long horsewhip of his and Mina will 
 dance and I will dance, and maybe you will dance, too, 
 for although he has never let you feel it, he will this 
 time, for he will be mad, mad MAD {stamps foot). 
 One of the horses sick and Granny lights out with his 
 two best little money-makers. 
 
 Granny is crazy, that is the truth, Rosalia. She is as 
 crazy as those little bugs we watched in the pool 
 back there, darting here and there, and not knowing 
 where they are trying to go. Believe me, we were 
 foolish to trust her and come away with her. 
 
 ROSALIA {seats herself on long) — Sometimes I think that 
 Mina is not as crazy as we think. I know she is trying 
 hard to accomplish some mission in this town. Some- 
 4 
 
times I think it concerns me and then I would do any- 
 thing to help her. It is queer that in all the gypsies 
 we have met on the road, I never see a girl with hair 
 like mine (picks up her golden curl). I hate it! Why 
 do the men shrug their shoulders and wink and the 
 women shake theirs head and seem sorry for me. There 
 is something strange about me. When we danced in 
 that town, a few days ago, almost the first time Rod 
 has let me show myself in a large town, a man in the 
 crowd said, "That girl is no gypsy." Granny knows 
 and I am going to know soon, if only Rod doesn't find 
 us first. If he does, I don't care much what happens. 
 I am sick of it all. The moving from place to place 
 (walks ahout excitedly) . No chance to learn anything. 
 I want to learn and read and really be somebody. Last 
 year, our tutor taught us a lot when we settled down 
 in Tilton for the winter. Oh, if I have to go back to 
 the caravan, I hope I die (soMing widhj) or Rod kills 
 me, I don't care which. (Throivs herself on ground.) 
 I am so wretched. 
 NITA (standing over her, unth clenched fists) — I will never 
 leave you, Rosalia. If you go the long, long road I will 
 be close behind. I swore fealty to you in our gypsy 
 fashion, years ago, and a gypsy never goes back on 
 that oath. (With quick change of manner) I know, 
 now, you are not a gypsy. A gypsy never cries and acts 
 the way you do (p7'ods her with her foot). Get up! 
 I am ashamed of you. (Takes her l)y the arm, and 
 pulls her to her feet.) Quick, here comes Mina. Hide 
 behind the trees and watch her. 
 
 (Hide behind the scene, at right.) 
 Enter Mina, at left, old and bent, with loose hanging hair 
 
 and wild manner. 
 MINA — Ah, the bebes have gone far — hope not too far — 
 (limps about, peering into the icoods.) How Mina wish 
 for strong body now. Head all buzzy, legs feeble — 
 (limps to log, and painfully seats herself with groans 
 and mutterings). Now, let me think — (passes hand 
 over forehead) What is it I try to do? Where am I? — 
 First, we are near, yes, w^ithin a mile maybe of Button. 
 5 
 
Dutton, that was the place, I know (excitedly). Then, 
 I have bebe with me, yes, she must be right near, some- 
 wheres. (Shakes head, sadly) If I only knew lady's 
 name. Never did know that. Maybe she dead now. 
 If only Rod doesn't come till I find somethin' (jnses). 
 What is I want to find? I not know (wildly). Now, 
 my head bad again, I can't see (passes hand over eyes). 
 Soon, soon they will come! Rod will put me in crazy 
 house; he say so, last time I try to escape. Oh! 
 (screaming) Help! I won't go. I bite, I kick. Nita ! 
 (calling) Nita! Ros ! little Ros ! 
 
 Girls run in and Rosalia puts arms ahout Mina. 
 
 ROSALIA — Hush ! You are all right, Mina. Rod can never 
 find us. See how cunningly the tent is hid (points out 
 left). You can pass right along the path and not see it! 
 Nita and I will be very careful. We will not go out 
 of your sight. Calm down, Mina, dear, no harm shall 
 come to you, for I will kill Rod first. 
 
 NITA (walks to front of stage, aside) — Both of 'em just 
 plain nuts, first Granny and now Rosalia. (Alimics) 
 I will kill Rod first. Guess so, six foot two and a 
 whale. Suppose she will throttle him with her two 
 hands. (To Rosalia) Come on Rosalia. Granny is all 
 right, except in her upper story. Take her to the tent 
 and we will go hunt a spring and get some grub. What 
 do you say? 
 
 ROSALIA (to Mina, gently leading her to left entrance) — 
 Are you feeling better now, Mina. Lean on me. We 
 will go back to the tent and I would just lie still and 
 try not to think. May be the good spirit will send some- 
 one to help you on your mission. Are you all right 
 now? 
 
 NINEA (fechly cryingq — I so weak, so weak. My head ache 
 so. 
 
 Rosalia and Mina exit left. 
 
 NITA (passionately) — ^She is an angel! She is no gypsy. 
 
 How I wish I could do for Granny, the way she does. 
 
 Granny is a good old scout, but I am a little devil. I 
 
 know that, for Rod says so; still I want to help and 
 
 6 
 
I'll stick by Rosalia forever and ever. 
 Exit Nita left. 
 
 Enter from right, Viola, Vivian and all the Camp Fire girls, 
 in ceremonial dresses. 
 
 VIOLA — Gee, what a great place for a council fire. 
 
 VIVIAN — Yes, I wish we had seen this first, but then today 
 we were scheduled for the mountain. Great place, isn't 
 it, girls? 
 
 Chorus of '''Swell, Peachy, Great," etc. (Hrls look 
 about. 
 
 VIOLA — Let's rest awhile. We've got lots of time. 
 
 VIVIAN — Yes, come on, girls, let's sit down. 
 
 {All seat themselves, about on logs and ground.) 
 
 JEANETTE {who always knows a story) — Yes, come on, 
 girls and I'll tell you a story. 
 {Fearful groaning) 
 
 JEANETTE {innocently) — Don't you you want to hear 
 about it? I went to the movies last night. It was a 
 love story, "Under the Greenwood Tree," and Elsie Fer- 
 guson was the girl, and — 
 
 VIVIAN — Forget it, Jeanette. We all went. Didn't we? 
 It was mush, simply mush, and I must say I am sur- 
 prised when I look around at the movies and see so 
 many members of Kitadini Camp Fire, there. 
 
 PERSIS {who has a "Mg brother") — That is just what my 
 big brother says. 
 
 VIOLA {holding up her hand) — Listen, girls, the oracle is 
 about to make known his convictions. 
 
 RACHAEL {the slangy girl) — I should worry about that 
 boob. 
 
 HELEN {who is fond of Ralph, the "big brother") — I think 
 you girls are horrid to talk about Ralph Pousland that 
 way. He is a dear. I don't blame Persis for talking 
 about him. I wish he wav? my brother. 
 {General laughter) 
 
 JEANETTE {sarcastically) — Yes, you do. You make me 
 think of a girl in a story I read the other day. She 
 was just like that, telling all the boys she wished she 
 was their sister and • 
 
 PAULINE {screaming and jumping to her feet) — Oh! A 
 
 7 . 
 
miserable horrid bug. I am not going to sit on tbe 
 ground another minute. Come and kill him, someone. 
 There he goes right on Rachael's shoulder (screams). 
 Come and get him off Raehael. He will bite her. I 
 know he will. 
 
 RAOHAEL (cooly hrushing him off) — You make me sick. 
 Let that darned old daddy long-legs go. I should worry 
 about him. 
 
 BESS (who stutters) — I j-j-j-ust wish Mrs. Robson was 
 here t-t-t-o hear you s-s-s-ay that s-s-s-illy s-s-lang. 
 
 VIOLA — No use talking, girls, we have got to stop it, and 
 make Raehael quit, too. It is like the flu, just plain catch- 
 ing. Oneida is the best Guardian in the world. She 
 asked us the other day not to be so careless about our 
 language. I am going to try, but gee, it's the limit. 
 {All laugh) 
 
 VIVIAN — Do you know I think Oneida looks dreadfully. 
 I went to her house today, because I thought she was 
 going to hike with the rest of us and I went in, as she 
 always tells us to do. There was Margarita with her 
 arms around her mother begging her not to cry and 
 Aunt Maria stood like an image in the doorway and 
 she said to me, "Well, of all the nerve, I ever heard 
 tell of. Walking right into folks' houses without even 
 ringing the door bell. If those are Camp Fire manners, 
 
 confound me !" I felt awfully cheap and sorry, but 
 Oneida came right out into the hall and put her arms 
 around me and said, "That is alj right, little Viv. 
 Don't mind, Maria. We are all a little sad and dis- 
 turbed today. I feel very weak and miserable, but 
 will try to go to the mountain to Council Fire, but 
 will have to go in the machine. Tell the girls to for- 
 give me if I am a little late." I, had such a lump in my 
 throat I couldn't say I was sorry or anything. I just 
 kissed her and came away. 
 
 BETTY — ^No need to tell our Guardian anything. 
 
 SUSAN — ^She seems really clairvoyant, sometimes. 
 
 ELEANOR — I know it. She knows everything we do, good 
 and bad, and. always praises the good and excuses 
 the bad. 
 
 . 8 
 
SUSAN — Sometimes, I think she really dreams things. 
 
 JEANETTE — I know something, no one else here knows. I 
 know all about — 
 
 BESS {pounces on her, and holds her down) — No more 
 s-s-stories, Jeanette, about m-m-m-ovies, m-m-magazines 
 or anything. 
 
 JEANETTE (struggling) — Girls, take her off. I really have 
 something to tell this time. 
 
 BBSS— Shall I let her up, Viv? 
 
 VIVIAN — Yes, but she must prove her claim that it is 
 something worth hearing to the satisfaction of all pres- 
 ent, or we will all sit on her next time. 
 
 JEANETTE (takes center of stage) — I know why Oneida 
 is sad today and I know everything. You know she 
 lived here years ago and then moved away and has 
 only been back a few years. Well, my mother told me 
 • last night all about why she left and everything. Girls, 
 Mrs. Robson, our Oneida, has had a great sorrow in 
 her life. 
 
 RACHAEL (explosively) — Rats! So have we all. 
 
 JEANETTE (offended, crossing to Viola)— YiolSi, I will not 
 go on until Rachael is silenced. 
 
 VIOLA (goes to Rachael and holds hand over RacheVs 
 mouth) — Go on, Jeanette, I'll bet for once you are 
 going to tell us something we really want to hear. 
 
 JEANETTE ( looking around the circle and very importantly 
 resuming her story) — Girls, Oneida had a beautiful 
 daughter. 
 
 SUSAN — Course she did, Margarita, but she is a holy terror. 
 
 PERSIS — My brother, Ralph, says she is going to be one 
 of the prettiest girls in this town and he only wishes 
 he was a few years younger. 
 
 HELEN— Oh, I am so glad he isn't 
 
 RACHAEL (jeeringly) — La! la! Lovesick Helen gives us 
 the bow-wows. 
 
 VIOLA (promptly covering RacheVs mouth, again) — Go on, 
 Jeanette. 
 
 JEANETTE— No, I don't mean Margarita. She had an- 
 other daughter and lost her. (Pauses to produce effect.) 
 (Oirls, startled, rising, ''Dead?" etc.) 
 9 
 
SUSAN — I felt there was a sorrow in her life. 
 
 JEANETTE — Not dead at all, girls, but disappeared. Stolen 
 or kidnapped or something. Isn't it awful? I never 
 slept a wink last night. I'll tell you all about it. 
 
 BESS {shivering) — G-g-g-irls. I am s-s-s-cared. L-l-l-lets 
 go find our G-g-g-guardian. 
 
 RACHEL — I should worry. Jeanette is having a pipe dream 
 or just plain lying to get us interested and then she 
 will tell us it is another movie. 
 
 JEANETTE — Girls {they cluster around her) — It was this ^ 
 way. Long years ago, perhaps as many as fourteen or 
 so, Mrs. Robson lived here in Dutton and she had a 
 dear little girl, three or four years old, and one day 
 she just went down the path into their garden and 
 they never saw her again — and that's all they know. 
 
 VIVIAN— Isn't that dreadful? That must have been what 
 she was crying about today. 
 
 VIOLA — That was years ago. She wouldn't still remem- 
 ber. 
 
 VIVIAN {indignantly) — Little you know of a mother's love, 
 Viola Martin. A mother never forgets, 
 
 JEANETTE — Well, my mother said, today she. Rose, that 
 was her name, would have been seventeen years old. It 
 is her birthday. She said fear of losing Margarita was 
 the reason that Oneida always kept her with her, eyen 
 bringing her to Camp Fire meetings. Girls, isn't it 
 awful? I promised mother I wouldn't tell a soul, but 
 when Viv told about finding Oneida crying and every- 
 thing, why I just had to. Girls, promise on your honor 
 as Camp Fire girls, never to tell. 
 
 GIRLS {one after another) — "Never tell," "Cross my heart," 
 etc. 
 
 VIOLA— Tell us, Jeanette, what they did to find her? Did 
 they ever ha\;e any suspicions or clues? 
 
 SUSAN — Viola's detective instincts are aroused. Don't you 
 
 wish you had lived then, Vi? 
 VIOLA — I would have done something. It might have been 
 
 the wrong thing. But Viv and I would certainly ha^e 
 
 been busy. Wouldn't we, pal? 
 VIVIAN {with hand on heart, makes low how) — Yours till 
 
 la 
 
death, Sherlock. 
 
 JEANETTE — They hired detectives and — policemen — and 
 etverything, I guess. It was of no use. They always 
 suspected some gypsies that were camping in these very 
 woods (awsomely) perhaps on this very spot. 
 {Gi7'ls shiver and look over shoulders) 
 
 BESS {almost crying) — I w-w-w-want to g-g-g-o home. 
 
 VIVIAN (putting arm around Bess) — Brace up, Bess. Be a 
 true Camp Fire girl. They fear nothing. 
 
 RACHAEL — The deuce they don't. I am scared to death of 
 a rat and so is Viv. 
 
 VIVIAN— Well, rats are difeerent. I wouldn't be afraid 
 of a dirty old gypsy. Would you, Viv? 
 
 VIOLA — Certainly not. They are simply a lot of cowardly 
 horsethieYes — most of them. What does my history say? 
 They are a peculiar vagabond race descended from the 
 Hindus and no one seems to give them an awful bad 
 name except for their thieving habits. Well, I haven't 
 a thing for them to steal, so why should I be afraid of 
 gypsies. 
 
 JEANETTE (dramatically) — How about if they stole babies? 
 That is just what everyone in this town thinks they did 
 with little Rose Robson. Stole her and were too scared 
 to offer her for ransom as they intended and concealed 
 her somewhere or carried her away off into foreign 
 countries. Anyway, the gypsies were watched for years 
 and the detectives finally made up their minds that 
 they got too frightened to keep her and killed her 
 and hid her body in the bushes. (Looks ahout, as if 
 looking for it.) 
 
 BESS (leginning to cry) — S-s-s-top her, g-g-g-irls. I shall 
 have h-h-ysterics. 
 
 VIVIAN — Jeanette is using her imagination too freely. Line 
 up girls, I have a few words to say to you. 
 
 (Girls line up, at left of stage and Viv mounts log.) 
 
 VIVIAN — Girls, we are all wearing our ceremonial robes 
 and are on our way to Council Fire, where we are 
 lifted above all the mean and petty things of life. Our 
 name Kitadini, means the highest mountain and our 
 Guardian's name Oneida means the rock resting on 
 11 
 
tliat mountain, on wliicli the beacon fire is built that 
 sbeds its glow for miles around. Isn't. that what our 
 Guardian means to us, girls? Isn't that what her life 
 with us has meant? Always our beacon fire and strong 
 as the rock, to take so many girls to her heart when 
 she is always sorrowing for her own? Girls, swear to 
 lo\e her, help her and never to do anything to cause 
 her to regret making Kitadini Camp Fire what it is, 
 in this community. 
 All together, girls, swear. 
 
 (Oirls raise right hands very solemnly together, "I 
 swear") 
 
 BETTY — Three cheers for Vivian, who always says the 
 right thing. 
 
 GIRLS (form circle and cheer) — "Hullabaloo (repeated) 
 twice) Rah rah. Rah rah — Vivian, Vivian, Vivian!" 
 
 VIVIAN (confused) — Girls, don't be foolish. Let's get our 
 things together and trot along or we will be late to 
 Council fire and Oneida will have to wait for us. 
 
 (Start along, hut pause as Nita and Rosalia enter 
 left. Girls exclaim and draw Mck and look at the gyp- 
 sies curiously.) 
 
 VIVIAN— What have we here? 
 
 VIOLA (aside) — Don't that girl look like Margarita Rob- 
 son? 
 
 VIVIAN — Viola, you have got them. 
 
 BETTY— Are they gypsies? 
 
 JEANETTE — Isn't this exciting. Just like a story, they are 
 so pretty — 
 
 NITA (hold and cool, under their scrutiny, drags Rosalia, 
 who covers her face with her hands, to center stage) — 
 Look, Rosalia, here are some make-believe Indians. See 
 their beads. White-faced Indians. Did you ever hear 
 tell? Come, pretty squaws. Let me tell your fortunes. 
 
 ROSALIA (pleadingly) — Please come away, Nita. Mina 
 wouldn't want them here. 
 
 NITA — Come, which girl will have her fortunes told? Ten 
 cents is all I will ask and you shall know your fate, 
 
 BETTY— I don't want to. 
 
 ELEAJNOR — Nor I. I think gypsies are horrid creatures. 
 
 12 
 
BESS — G-g-g-irls, c-c-come on. I w-w-w-ant to g-g-g-go. 
 
 HELEN — Can you tell me wliom I will marry? 
 
 NITA — Not his name, Miss, but I can describe Wm. 
 
 HELEN — I have a nickel. Who will lend me another? 
 
 VIVIAN — I will (passes her money). 
 
 NITA (takes Helen's hand) — You are a very foolish little 
 girl; very romantic and you think yourself in love, but 
 you are much too young to think of such things. 
 (Girls cluster around and laugh.) 
 
 HELEN (tossing her head) — Oh, I don't believe you can 
 tell fortunes at all. 
 
 VIVIAN — Yes she can, too. She has hit it just right so far. 
 
 RACHAEL — I should worry, Helen, give the little monkey 
 your paw and heed well the gypsy warning. 
 
 NITA (angrily) — No nice girl call other girl monkey. Rosa- 
 lia, take your hands down from your face and show the 
 girls how much you look like them. She isn't a full- 
 blooded gypsy. 
 
 HELEN — Never mind about her. Tell me the rest. 
 
 NITA — You are fond of a tall dark fellow, he is years 
 older. He drives a machine, what you call — automobile, 
 let's see — (hesitates) it is red. (Shouts of laughter 
 from the girls.) He has a sweet sister and he thinks 
 no more of you than of any other pretty child his sister 
 plays with. You must forget him. Soon another hand- 
 some blond man will enter your life, who will be the 
 right one. Keep your heart and life pure and sweet 
 for him. 
 
 VIOLA — Pretty good guesswork, little one. That describes 
 Persis' Ralph. Now watch out, Helen, for the hand- 
 some stranger. 
 
 HELEN (half laughingly, half provoked) — I do not believe 
 in fortune telling, anyway. -^ 
 
 VIVIAN — Who is your friend and what is your name? 
 
 NITA (sullenly) — My name is Nita. Her name, none of 
 your business. Gome Rosalia, we must go, now. 
 
 ROSALIA (frightened)— ^it2i, Nita, I am afraid. These 
 
 girls may tell Rod they saw us. Tell him where we are. 
 Mina — Mina. 
 
 (Mina rushes on, waving her arms and screaming.) 
 13 
 
MINA — What is? What is? Mina here. Go 'way, you 
 dressed-up fools. How dare you make the fun of my 
 Rosalia? Get out of here, every one of you. (Chases 
 them off. Girls run out in mad rush.) 
 
 (Mina soothed l)y Rosalia, continues to mutter for 
 some time.) 
 
 NITA {watching them, contemptuously) — Rosalia, you are 
 certainly getting to be an awful booby. Perhaps, if 
 you had been nice to those girls you might have learned 
 something about yourself. You never can tell. Now, 
 they think you are the worst gypsy in the lot. I acted 
 lots better than you did with your silly hands up over 
 your silly face all the time. 
 
 ROSALIA — I can't help it. I felt so queer. When that 
 first girl said she looked like Margarita someone, I was 
 afraid I was going to learn something and somehow I 
 couldn't bear to know. Mina, Mina, now you are quiet 
 and calm. Please tell me who I am and why we stole 
 away from the caravan and everything. Please, please ! 
 {Oirls lead Mina to log, at rear of stage, and sit 
 at her feet. Mina sits silent, sometime shaking her 
 head and muttering.) 
 
 MINA — Little Rosalia, no gypsy. She belong right over in 
 that town {pointing) once. Little cunning bebe, then — 
 long time ago — {loses her self and girls motion er^h 
 other to J)e quiet.) Mina, not know anything, but 
 Rod bring you in, long curs hangin' — I like you queeck, 
 I say, "Give Mina." He swear big oath and say "Get 
 out of way." He tell us all, he kill any one tell bebe 
 with us — hold bad smelling stuff under bebe's nose — 
 {shakes head) bebe go all limp — hides her under driv- 
 er's seat {rises to her feet and limps adout, excitedly). 
 I make fire {motion), cook supper — by and by men 
 come, lots of men. They say they hunt bebe. They 
 look everywhere but right place — then go away. Rod 
 laugh, he say by and by get money for bebe. We stay 
 day or two, then go away, Mina take care of Rosalia. 
 We call you that 'cause your najme Rose. You say, "Rose, 
 I Rose," so gypsy women call your Rosalia, that gypsy 
 name for Rose. Rod good to you, never whip — Whip 
 14 
 
Nita wlien she get rougti and hurt you — I feel sick 
 late days — want to take bebe back to mudder — first, 
 she cry in night, B'Mimsie, Mumsie." Once before I 
 try and Rod say, "I crazy, or he would kill." But when 
 we took the road to Button — horse fell sick — I plan — 
 I lie awake — I plan — What is I want to do? {Passes 
 hand over head.) Where did I come — I come — I come — 
 My head — Am I crazy? What did I say? (Seats her- 
 self on log.) I not know what I have said. Yes, I lie — 
 Rosalia is Rod's own girl — I not know — {getting eX' 
 cited). Where am I? {Shaking head and crying) Take 
 me back, I guess I die soon, now. {Drops head on 
 "breast, as if asleep). 
 
 NITA — Granny, you are not going to die {jumping to her 
 feet). When you get ready to die pick out a brighter 
 spot, old scout. Rosalia, let's take her to the tent and 
 — what you dreaming about? You surely do not take 
 any stock in that rigamarole, do you? Imagine you 
 are a fairy princess or something. Those spider bugs 
 are just getting warmed up a little in granny's garret. 
 
 ROSALIA {indignantly trying to get Mina's attention) — 
 Mina, don't look like that. I believe every word of it. 
 We will keep on until we find my people. Nita, that 
 was a long time ago. Do you suppose they would be 
 living here now? 
 
 NITA — Oh, yes. They probably live right around the cor- 
 ner from that church steeple you see in the distance 
 {pointing). Don't you wish you had been nice to those 
 girls now? One of them might have been your sister. 
 
 ROSALIA {jumping to her feet) — No, you don't think that, 
 do you, Nita? 
 
 NITA — Rosalia, that was the greatest mixture of truth and 
 lies I ever heard Granny spiel off and if you believe 
 that you must be nutty yourself. 
 
 ROSALIA {with dignity) — I believe every word of it. Come, 
 Mina. 
 
 {Together the girls assist Mina, who walks feehly 
 and mutters to herself. Exit left.) 
 
 Enter Vivian and Viola from left. 
 
 VIOLA — This is certainly an exciting day. Isn't it, Vlv? 
 
Why did we leave here so soon? I said I was not afraid 
 of gypsies but I was never so near scared to death in 
 my life as when that old hag appeared around the 
 bend of those trees. My heart was in my mouth. 
 VIVIAN — We really cannot be very good Camp Fire Girls, 
 can we, Vi? Do you remember, though, how we slept 
 on the shores of the lake, that awful dark night and 
 that owl kept making that weird, weird noise. We 
 weren't afraid. Maybe we did pull the blankets up over 
 our heads and shiver a little, but it was great fun just 
 the same, but I felt just as you did today. And, here 
 We have been planning, if our country ever goes to war 
 again to go in for secret service work and deal with 
 hardened criminals, spies and no end of awful creatures 
 and here we are scared to death of an old half-crazy 
 gypsy. 
 
 VIOLA — I know of one thing. I am sure that girl, the light 
 one, looked just like Margarita Robson. I got a good 
 look at her before she covered her face with her hands. 
 She looked at me with that wide-eyed gaze of Marga- 
 rita's when she has done something awful and wants 
 you. to think she is a cherub. The others were gypsies 
 beyond a doubt, but Viv, suppose this should be our 
 Guardian's girl. 
 
 (They seat themselves on log.) 
 
 VIVIAN — You know I was not surprised or sorry, when 
 Margarita and her aunt met us at the mountain and 
 told us Oneida was too ill to come today. Of course 
 I was sorry she was ill, but I just felt I could not face 
 her after that story of Jeanette's and seeing this girl 
 and the old woman and all. You know Oneida is so 
 keen. I am sure she would have, felt we girls knew 
 and that would have been hard for her. 
 
 VIOLA — Wouldn't it be peachy if we could find out all 
 about this girl, and it should be Rose Robson and we 
 could return her to her mother? Wouldn't it be won- 
 derful? 
 
 VIVIAN. Come on, Viola (arising), let's ferrit out this 
 mystery. At least, about this girl and these gypsies. 
 What are they doing hiding in these woods? Where is 
 16 
 
their caravan, wagon and things? Will you do it? 
 
 VIOLA — Well, of course, they may be miles away by now, 
 that is the way gypsies do, travel all the time, but let's 
 go on this theory. They are hidden around here some- 
 where and we must get the girl's confidences. How can 
 we do it? 
 
 VIVIAN — The little one was ready enough to talk, but the 
 other one was scared to death of us. She would never 
 talk to us girls. Would she? 
 
 VIOLA — Oh, Vivian (jumping up and down and seizing Viv- 
 ian's hands). Remember those masquerade costumes 
 we've got. Overalls, big hats and so forth. Let's 
 dress up in them and pretend to be boys. Oneida said 
 no one would know us from real boys. You know, girls 
 will always get chummy with farmer boys. They look 
 so harmless and innocent. Will you do it, Viv? 
 
 VIVIAN — Sure thing {hesitatingly), but our mothers won't 
 let us. 
 
 VIOLA {loftily) — Can't see any sense in asking them, at all. 
 
 VIVIAN {giggling) — Where can we dress? 
 
 VIOLA — Over in my barn. That is nearest the wood. Go 
 down through the meadow and jump the fence. Come 
 on over to my house and stay all night and we can get 
 cook to put us up a breakfast. We will tell her it is a 
 sunrise party, a hike, or something. Then we can get 
 into the woods before anyone is about. Are you wid 
 me, pal of mine? 
 
 VIVIAN {extending her hand and clasping Viola's) — Bet 
 your boots. Hand on it, Sherlock the mighty. 
 
 Exit right. 
 Wait of a few moments, in ivMch stage is darkened 
 a little. 
 
 Enter from left, Rosalia and Nita, canning 'blankets, which 
 they proceed to spread on the ground during the con- 
 versation. 
 
 NITA — Don't you think it will be cooler here than in the 
 tent? I think we had best settle down here for the 
 night. It is eight o'clock, for I heard the clock on 
 the church strike a while ago. 
 
 ROSALIA {industriously making her hed) — I saw two of 
 
 17 
 
those girls go through here, on their way home, I sup- 
 pose. It was while j'ou were gone for the wood and 
 Mina was asleep. I peeped from the tent and they 
 stopped here awhile. I would have come out but I was 
 afraid of waking Mina, 
 NITA (settling herself on her stomach on the blanket and 
 looMng about dreamily) — What a funny life they lead. 
 Think of dressing up and playing in the woods and 
 here we live in the woods and would be glad to play in 
 the town. 
 
 ROSALIA {settling herself beside Nita) — I wish I could 
 have said something to them for they must have thought 
 I was queer or something. I can't see what made me 
 act that way. 
 
 NITA — Well, I thought you were so brave when you were 
 telling about killing Rod and then to go all to pieces 
 before a lot of silly schoolgirls. It was the limit. 
 
 ROSALIA {lying down in her blanket, rouses, after a mo- 
 ment, and says) — Do you think we could hear Mina if 
 she called — Do you think she will be frightened if she 
 wakes and finds us gone? — Do you think Rod will come 
 tonight? 
 
 NITA — You are an excited question-mark tonight. I do 
 not believe you will ever get t osleep. Now {sitting up, 
 very straight in her blankets), let me relieve your mind. 
 First, we won't hear Granny because I have put her to 
 sleep. 
 
 "ROSALIA {horrified) — Nita, w^hat do you mean? 
 
 NITA {dramatically) — When we came away I took the 
 bottle that Rod gi\es her the pills out of when she is 
 wild and tonight when she ate her supper I put two 
 in the corn meal mush and Presto Chango {with airy 
 gesture) down they went. {Lays down again.) 
 
 ROSALIA {admiringly) — I believe, Nita, you have more 
 courage and are more resourceful than I am. 
 
 NITA — No, that was just plain common sense {sitting up 
 again). Now, about Rod. When I was picking up the 
 wood, two men passed by, on their way home from fish- 
 ing and I hid behind a bush. One of them said, "Did 
 you see the gypsies go through the lower road yester- 
 18 
 
day?" And the other man swore and said, "Yes; they 
 never dared to set foot on the upper road since that 
 .scrape fourteen years ago. Guess the farmers would 
 get out their shotguns if they did." The first man said, 
 "Yes, every gypsy tribe within one hundred miles knows 
 enough to give that road a wide berth." 
 
 IIOSALIA — Nita, Granny knew, didn't she? That was why 
 she brought us up here. I think for all her brain goes 
 wrong at times, she is really very shrewd and has 
 planned well, but I am afraid she will never get anyone 
 to believe her, if she ever gets well enough to get into 
 town. 
 
 NITA — Rosalia, let's go to sleep and hope tomorrow she will 
 be better and if she isn't, you and I will have to start 
 out and leave her. In that case (thoughtfully) we 
 would have to give her a couple of pills (lies down afid 
 covers herself up with Nanket). 
 
 ROSALIA (looking over at her, wonderingly) — Nita, you 
 are the strangest girl. You pretend not to believe any- 
 thing then you plant, as if you believed it all and you 
 talk as if Granny was an old horse or something ; but 
 I know you love her just the same, and would not hurt 
 her for anything. 
 
 NITA (gi-unting) — Now shut up, Rosalia, for Heaven's 
 sake and let us go to sleep. 
 
 (Intervals of yawnmg and occasionally Rosalia says 
 something, Mi Nita makes no t^eply, and finally the girls 
 sleep. ) 
 
 (Enter Mina from left. She draws the blankets up 
 a Nt and looks at the girls tenderly, mutters, as if to 
 herself, ''Tomorrow — tomorroiv'' and exits left, feebly.) 
 
 Curtain. End of Act I. 
 
 Act II. 
 
 Time — Next morning. 
 SCENE— The same as Act I. 
 
 Enter Vivian and Viola, dressed as farmer hoys, 
 VIOLA (in farmer's dialect) — Pal, we air about to unravel 
 the mystery of these heah woods. 
 19 
 
VIVIAN (laughing) — Do you believe we will ever see tliose 
 girls again or do you suppose tliey just strayed off from 
 the rest of tlie tribe? 
 
 VIOLA {in natural voice) — Well, they came a long way 
 then, for my father said the gypsies were camping 
 right outside Hillsboro when he drove over there last 
 night about supper time. They had settled down there 
 by the river, but father drove into town and notified 
 the authorities and they agreed with him that gypsies 
 were not wanted in these parts, and sent the police 
 out to drive them away. Father said they started south 
 in great haste. 
 
 VIVIAN — These girls could never have caught up with them. 
 Could they? 
 
 VIOLA — No, but that does not mean that they would stay 
 right in this spot. I am going to rest awhile anyway. 
 I am so full after that delicious egg and bacon break- 
 fast. My, but food tastes good cooked and eaten in 
 the great outdoors. {Settles herself against the log at rear 
 of stage, just where girls' Mankets have deen spread 
 the night Itefore.) Jumping Jehosphats! {leaps to her 
 feet) I have a clue. 
 
 VIVIAN {running to her) — Where? What? 
 VIOLA {pawing the grass) — See here! Here is where some- 
 one has been lying. Wait a minute {crawls around). 
 Here is another place just the same {gets to her feet). 
 Viv, here is where those tw^o girls slept last night — 
 {perplexed), but where did the old woman go? She 
 must have left them or something. Let's look and see 
 if there is another place crushed like this. 
 
 VIVIAN {examining ground) — Viola, I am so excited I am 
 trembling all over. We may see them any minute now 
 and I haven't a thing planned to say. Quick, let's make 
 our final arrangements. First, my name is Jake, isn't 
 it? 
 
 VIOLA — Yes, and mine is Hiram. This is the way I planned 
 it. We will be real rural, that is talk farmery. We will 
 flirt with them and jolly them. I'll take the little gypsy, 
 for I am afraid to tackle the other one. She seemed dif- 
 ficult to me. We will do anything to win their con- 
 20 
 
fideuce, for you remember the happiness of our Guardian 
 may be at stake. 
 VIVIAN — Shall we go in search of them? It seems terribly 
 tame to just sit here and wait. You sit here and rest 
 a minute and let that wonderful brain of yours work, 
 while I do a little reconnoitering up this path. 
 
 VIOLA (seating herself) — Don't be long. Will you? I can't 
 get my brain working until something really happens, 
 then watch me. (Watches Vivian up the path.) Viv is 
 so energetic. Has to be doing something all the time. 
 Let me see how will I start. (Stands and hows to 
 imaginary girls.) 
 
 VIOLA (in dialect, assuming pose) — Gosh all Hemlock! 
 What a pair of pretty gals. Pure and sweet as this 
 heah mountin brook, a fella can see that at a glance. 
 Then I will take the little one's hand and look into her 
 eyes and she will tell me the whole story. 
 Vivian, enters running from left. 
 
 VIVIAN — Oh, Viola, listen ! I have found them ! I mean I 
 know where they are. I'm so scared. Honest I am. 
 
 VIOIiA — Quick, Jakey, old man. Let's hear. 
 
 VIVIAN (gasping) — Just up the path, I parted the bushes. 
 There was a little tent. "I lifted the flap. There was 
 an old gypsy asleep. Oh, she looked awful. Mouth 
 wide open and she was groaning. 
 
 VIOLA— What else, Jakey? 
 
 VIVIAN — Nothing ; I ran for my life. Viola, I am so scared. 
 I did not know I was such a coward. Don't you think 
 we had better go to town and get someone to help us? 
 
 VIOLA (sternly) — None of that. These honors, if there be 
 any, will go to Kitadini Camp Fire and don't you for- 
 get that for one moment. 
 
 VIVIAN — But the old woman is awful. Wait until you 
 see her again. 
 
 VIOLA — We have been in lots of scrapes and I never saw 
 you show the white feather, Viv, when the time came 
 for action, I trust you now, to buck up, Jakey (slaps 
 her on hack). This will be loads of fun, even if we 
 are on a false scent. Where do you think the girls are? 
 
 VIVIAN — They must be right about somewhere for their 
 
 21 
 
tambos were in the tent. So they must be coming back. 
 {Sound of laughter-) 
 VIOLA — Hark, I heard someone laugh. Look there, they 
 
 are coming down the mountaiji side. 
 VIVIAN — They will have to come right through here. Won't 
 
 they? Let's just sit down on this log and look inno- 
 cent (seat themselves). Isn't this wonderful? I 
 
 wouldn't miss this for anything. 
 VIOLA — That is the way to talk. You are becoming my 
 
 good old pal again. 
 VIVIAN {in dialect) — Sure, Hiram, I allays be on hand 
 
 when the fun starts. Hey, old pal? {gives Vi a playful 
 
 punch, that nearly k?iocks her off the log). 
 {Talk 'busily.) 
 Enter Rosalia and Nita from right. 
 NITA — I think, Rosalia, that Mina will be better after this 
 
 long sleep. 
 ROSALIA — I know she will. Wasn't the sunrise beautiful 
 
 this morning? I never saw anything more gorgeous. 
 NITA {discovers the hoys) — Love of Peter, what have we 
 
 here? {Both girls run to right.) 
 
 Boys arise and Viola starts out gallantly. 
 VIOLA — Gosh all hemlock. *VVhat a pair of pretty gals. 
 
 Pure and sweet as this heah mountin brook, a fella can 
 
 see that at a glance {tries to take Nita's hand, who 
 
 gives him a smart slap). 
 NITA — Don't you get fresh, young man. You may not mean 
 
 any harm, for you look just like a pair of natural born 
 
 fools, don't they, Rosalia? 
 ROSALIA — They are not like any young men I have ever 
 
 seen. 
 JAKE {good naturedly) — Come, Hiram. Don't be a-gettin' 
 
 peeved fust off. You was a leetle presumptuous for 
 
 short acquaintance. Wan't you now, Hiram? 
 HIRAM — I was just plumb amazed at seeing tew sich beau- 
 
 toful creeturs wanderin' loose around our old wood lot. 
 ROSALIA {frightened) — Oh, is this your wood lot? We are 
 
 not going to stay only until Granny gets a little stronger. 
 JAKE — Welcome to stay as long as you please. I tell you, 
 
 we fellas get purty lonesome round these heah parts. 
 22 
 
ROSALIA — Aren't there any girls? 
 
 HIRAM {still rulthing his cheek) — Ain't any that will look 
 at us. 
 
 NITA — We saw a bushel of girls up here yesterday all 
 dressed up in Indian things. What were they, do you 
 know? 
 
 HIRAM — Jake, that describes the Kitadinis. Miss, that 
 heah was the Kitadini Camp Fire, I reckon, out for an 
 airin'. Pretty hansum crowd of gals in their civilized 
 rigs ; but Law, they won't look at us two old farmers. 
 
 ROSALIA {timidly) — I don't think that is very nice of 
 them. You look like good boys to me. 
 
 NITA — What do they dress like that for? Look like a lot 
 of nuts to me. 
 
 JAKE — That is their — heah — Vv^hat do you call it. Their 
 ceremonj^ dress, or something like that. They was kal- 
 kulatin' on havin' a big time up on the mountin yester- 
 day, but their big chief, guardian, they call her, got 
 sick and couldn't come — 
 
 ROSALIA — It must be something like those college frats 
 our tutor told us about, Nita. All banded together and 
 sworn to do all kinds of wonderful things, like King 
 Arthur's knights did, maybe — 
 
 JAKE {curiously) — What do you gypsy gals know about 
 college frats and that big guy, Arthur? 
 
 NITA — Poof, I suppose because — we are gypsies we don't 
 know anything. Why, every winter for years, we settle 
 down in a big lovely house that Rod owns and we girls 
 have a tutor. 
 
 HIRAM— Who is Rod? 
 
 NITA — Why, don't you know Rod? But course you don't, 
 living way up here. Rod is our big chief, king of all 
 the gypsies. He is old now, but handsome. Isn't he, 
 Rosalia ? 
 ROSALIA {shivering) — I don't think so. Let's talk about 
 something else? Do you know many folks over in that 
 town ? 
 HIRAM — We know 'most everybody. Course we' ain't called 
 on to 'sociate with 'em, much. What is the matter with 
 the old woman in the tent? 
 23 
 
NITA {angrily) — There ain't no old woman and there ain't 
 no tent. What are you talking about? 
 
 ROSALIA — Why, Nita, don't lie that way. Didn't I tell 
 the boys we had Granny to look out for and of course 
 they know she can't live in the open as we do. 
 
 NITA — Well, there ain't nothing the matter with her and 
 you can keep your mouths shut about her. You can 
 talk to u& all you please. 
 
 HIRAM — That's the stuff, leetle gal. I like you better every 
 minute. Can you gals dance or do somethin' to help 
 us pass away the fust mornin' we've had away from 
 that air hay field for a week. Hey, Jake? 
 
 JAKE — The gals air a mite bashful, Hi 
 
 NITA {laughing) — Bashful, why that's our business. Danc- 
 ing and telling fortunes. O, Rosalia, let's tell fortunes. 
 You take the dark one and I'll take this fresh young 
 fellow — {starts for Jake). 
 
 JAKE {putting his hands behind him and retreating) — No, 
 sir-ee. From the time I was a leetle fella my mother 
 always taught me never to hoi' hands with no gals, and 
 I ain't goin' to fergit the teachin's of the best mother 
 that ever lived. 
 
 HIRAM {putting his hands in his pockets) — You be right, 
 Jakey, me neither. 
 
 NITA {offended) — All right. I said you was just natural 
 born fools, the first minute I saw you. 
 
 JAKE— Well, we ain't 'zactly that. Be we. Hi? Let's do 
 some stunts. Sing 'em some of those heah songs we 
 larned up at that sugar camp, last season. 
 
 {Both seat themselves on log, at hack, while the 
 girls look on and applaud. Here introduce some funny 
 songs, sung in a mannish voice. Parodies of amp popular 
 songs are alivays good. 
 
 HIRAM — That's all we can perform. Now you heah gals 
 do your part. 
 
 ROSALIA {gleefully)— Oh, yes, Nita, that last little dance 
 we learned. Wait until I get the tambos. 
 {Runs out left) 
 
 HIRAM {goes to Nita, cautiously) — That gal ain't no grpsy. 
 
 24 
 
She is the dead spit of Margarita over in Button, only 
 she's dirty. 
 
 NITA (aghast) — Rosalia dirty! That's the color of her 
 skin from being out in all weathers through sun and 
 rain. Little you boys know of the hardships gypsies 
 have to endure. Travelling about and singing and dano 
 ing and then giving all your pennies to Rod — Sh, here 
 comes Rosalia. 
 
 (Enter Rosalia with tambos and the two girls dance, 
 while the "boys seat themselves on the logs at front of 
 stage right and left. The dance used in the original 
 production was "The Gypsy Beggar Dance," from the 
 Russian School of Dancing.) 
 
 (After dance, they pair off. Nita and Hiram at 
 front of stage. Rosalia and Jake in rear, talkimg bus- 
 ily.) 
 
 HIRAM — I'm jist plum' crazy about you, leetle gal. (Puts 
 arm around her.) 
 
 NITA (looking foolish) — Don't be silly. 
 
 HIRAM — I jist love those black, black eyes. You know 
 some folks say, Nita, that only aggresiv' folks has black 
 eyes, but I think lots of lovin' folks has 'em, too. 
 
 NITA (pulling away from his embrace, smartly) — Some 
 folks that ain't born with 'em gets 'em later, if they 
 don't watch out. 
 
 (Walk to back of stage as Jake and Rosalia come 
 forward. ) 
 
 JAKE (dropping dialect) — Won't you trust me, Rosalia? 
 
 ROSALIA (amazed) — Why, how funny you talk and look 
 not like a farmer at all. 
 
 JAKE (hurriedly) — Wal, I guess I must have larnt same 
 social varnish, ain't that what you call it, the year 
 I was at that heah camp. 
 
 ROSALIA— I am going to trust you and ask your help. I 
 was stolen years ago from that town over there. Old 
 granny is trying to give me back to my parents, if they 
 are still living, but her mind is bad and she never did 
 know my name and we girls don't know what to do — 
 We escaped from Rod I should judge five milCvS from 
 here, but Granny led us through just over grown paths 
 25 
 
and it was so dark and all, I can't even judge where 
 we came from. We were afraid of Rod's following us. 
 but now we know he doesn't ever come into this part 
 of the wood. 
 
 JAKE {eagerly) — Rosalia, I can help you {in dialect hast- 
 ily) I mean, leetle gal, trust Jakey and he will be like 
 a brother to yer and restore yer to your lovin' mother. 
 
 ROSALIA — Oh, you are just teasing me. Did you ever hear 
 of a child stolen hereabouts? Have your folks lived 
 here long? 
 
 {Retire to hack of stage, talking excitedly.) 
 {Hiram and Nita at front.) 
 
 NITA — You are the coolest boy I ever met and believe me 
 I have met a few. First, you ask me to tell you all 
 about Rosalia, and when I have told you all I know, 
 you turn around and ask me to go to walk with you 
 tonight. Is that all the help you are capable of offer- 
 ing two girls in great distress of mind? 
 
 HIRAM — Listen, Nita. Never despise a walk with a farmer 
 boy. For I read t'other day, whar a big man says : "Never 
 be unkind to the lop-eared farmer boy who comes along 
 stepping high like a blind hoss straddling the corn rows 
 {imitates). By and by, he will own all the land that 
 jines his'n* and be president of the big bank where you 
 want to borry money." 
 
 NITA {laughing) — Gracious, I like you, e^en if you are 
 fresh and I'll throw worry to the winds and go to walk 
 with you tonight if Rosalia and your brother will go 
 along. 
 
 {Interrupt Jakey and Rosalia who are talking ear- 
 ncsth/.) 
 
 HIRAM — What do you say, Jakey, will you do it? Take the 
 gals to walk tonight down by the spring and show them 
 where that smashing big snake takes his moonlit bath 
 about seven-thirty. 
 
 ROSALIA {rising) — I can't go. I hate snakes and beside 
 we mustn't leave Granny. 
 
 JAKE — Wal, now I know somethin'. Those Kitadin Camp 
 Fire gals are comin' up these heah woods tonight to 
 hold that air thing they couldn't have yesterday, and 
 26 
 
your Granny won't want to stay hereabouts for tlier 
 are the consarnedest, foolishest bunch of gals, when they 
 git together, you ever see. And — and the noisiest, too. 
 So let's take Granny along and if she gits tired Hi 
 and I will tote her. She is a leetle thing. 
 
 NITA {surprised) — How do you know she is a "leetle 
 thing" ? 
 
 JAKE {hurriGdly) — Rosalia told me. 
 
 ROSALIA {promptly)— Why, I did not. 
 
 JAKE {airly) — Wal, then I must have dreamt it. Come 
 on, Hi. Goodbye till w^e meet again, gals. 
 
 HIRAM {sentimentally) — Goodbye, my leetle black-eyed 
 sweetheart. I am plumb crazy about you. 
 
 NITA {saucily)— Too bad about you. 
 Exit l)oys to ri/flit. 
 
 NITA — That was the best fun I've had for ages. Didn't 
 we string 'em along? 
 
 ROSALIA — I am going to hurry to Granny. She has slept 
 for hours. I am afraid you gave her too many pills. 
 Exit Rosalia to left. 
 
 NITA — Heavens ! Isn't Rosalia the most innocent kid. I 
 think she honestly thought those kids were boys. I 
 thought — until the first good look — and when they 
 wouldn't have their palms read. I KNEW. I wasn't 
 going to spoil their fun. They are a pair of good 
 scouts anyway, and they are probably connected with 
 that Camp Fire some way. Hi (?) said he could 
 straighten out the whole matter about Rosalia. He (?) 
 said not to worry and to forget it all and I am going to. 
 I am so happy {throws up her arms and takes a few 
 dancing steps). {Soltering) They are a pair of mighty 
 smart girls and they shall never know from me that I 
 saw through their disguise. I suppose being a gypsy 
 and a fakir myself makes me suspicious of others. 
 Anyway it was a good morning's work and I think 
 Rosalia is really in love with her Jakey. I shall let 
 her dream on for waking is such sweet pain. 
 
 {Walks out left.) 
 
 CURTAIN 
 27 
 
Act II — Scene 2. 
 
 Time — Evening, lighting suhdued. 
 SCENE — Same as before. Flag on hush at Mck. 
 Enter Aunt Maria and Mrs. Rohson and Margarita. Mrs. R. 
 ivearing her ceremonial dress. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON— Well, here we are at last. This is the 
 place, for here is the flag Viv said she would place on 
 the tree. It is certainly a lovely spot, but very small 
 for a council fire. {Walks about measuring distances.) 
 
 AUNT MARIA (sTdffing) — I tell you one thing, Mary Rob- 
 son, if I had ever realized what I was to endure when 
 I came to be a companion to you and Margarita, I 
 never would have left my happy home. 
 
 MARGARITA (impishly) — Happy home? Three rooms and 
 one old tom cat? 
 
 MRS. ROB SON— Margarita, be quiet. 
 
 MARGARITA— I won't, mother. She is an old cat herself. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON — Margarita, go sit down on that stump and 
 remain silent for five minutes. I shall punish you when 
 I get you home. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — Yes, a lot you will punish her. That has 
 come to be the common thing nowadays for a child 
 to insult her elders. When I was a girl — 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— Yes, Maria, I know and I feel too that I 
 do not do right with Margarita. She is a saucy, spoiled 
 child I admit, but Maria, when I think of anything hap- 
 pening to her I am as weak and helpless as a child my- 
 self. I cannot bring myself to punish her, for she looks 
 at me with that wide-eyed gaze just as little Rose did 
 once, when I spanked her hands for breaking a vase. 
 She looked at me and said, "Mumsie spank Rose" (hides 
 her face) I know it is foolish — (seats herself on log). 
 
 AUNT MARIA (softening, crosses and puts her hand on 
 Mrs. Rohson's shoulder) — Yes, I know, Mary. You are 
 a good woman and you have had a hard life. I am 
 sorry if I made you think of Rose again. (Margarita 
 steals out, left.) I hoped that you would not think of 
 her so much today after allowing yourself the luxury 
 of a whole afternoon in bed, yesterday. 
 
 2e 
 
MRS. ROB SON — I could have gone with you to the mountain 
 yesterday if we had not seen those vile-looking gypsies 
 passing just as I went out to the machine. That old 
 man fairly leered at me. It was too much — I know 
 I am weak. 
 
 AUNT MARIA {seating herself on log at hack) — You would 
 be much stronger if you did not wear yourself out fuss- 
 ing with those foolish girls half your time. You are 
 just wearing yourself out, catering to their every whim, 
 like coming here tonight. Absolutely no reason for it, 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— But, Maria, tonight is our Council Fire, 
 that the girls were disappointed in not having yester- 
 day. Surely I could do no less than come with them 
 tonight. 
 
 AUNT MARIA— Council Fire fiiddlesticks. You would think 
 they were a lot of Indians and you, too. Building fires 
 and kow-towing to them. Yes, downright heathenish, 
 I call it. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON — Oh, Maria. All love for girls and most 
 everything else was left out of your make-up, I really 
 think. It is a dreadful way to feel and I wish you 
 could have become interested in my girls. They are all 
 I live for except Margarita. They make the only bright 
 spots in my otherwise colorless existence. I love every 
 one of them, for their own sake and for the sake of my 
 Rose, who would have been just about their age, if she 
 had been spared to me. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — I have never loYed a child, except little 
 Rose, that you know very well. She was an angel. I 
 never had cared for anything but cats before, but I did 
 worship that baby. Never again. I will never permit 
 myself to become so idiotic. What is the use? Twice 
 love has entered my life and both times it has torn it 
 to pieces. I have succeeded in patching it up with the 
 cement of unfriendliness and crankiness. I am very 
 well satisfied, and so are other people, at least, they 
 let me alone and that is all I we;it. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON {going to her) — But how much better, 
 Maria, to have used the Camp Ffre methods of "Good 
 Service" and "Seek Beauty." 
 29 
 
AUNT MARIA — Hm! I think those girls of yours are just 
 like any other girls. Vain, silly and pert, and running 
 after the boys, and those two that stick around you so 
 much, with Oneida this and Oneida that, they are two 
 little devils, if I ever saw any. Oneida fiddlesticks ! 
 
 MRS. ROB SON (pained) — Now, Maria, I will not hear you 
 talk like that about Viv and Vi. They are dear, warm- 
 hearted girls. Why {looJcing out left) here comes Mar- 
 garita. (Margarita enters.) Why, Margarita, where 
 have you been? How could you run away like that 
 when mother told you to sit quietly on the stump? 
 Mother would have been so worried if she had known. 
 (All rise) 
 
 MARGARITA (clinging to her mother) — I saw a little tent 
 hid in the bushes. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — There she is, lying again, Mary. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — Pet, you must not make up those stories. 
 Mother knows you did not see the tent, but you must 
 not tell it just as if it was true. 
 
 MARGARITA— I did see a tent. Honest, mother. 
 
 AUNT MARIA— If you do not train that child, I will take 
 a hand soon, Mary Robson. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON (hurriedly)— LeVs talk about something 
 else. Where do you suppose the girls are? Viv and Vi 
 told me they should be very late and asked us not to 
 wait for them, but the other girls are due here now. 
 
 MARGARITA— Mother, did I tell you what Bess' little 
 brother said the other day to his mother when they 
 were cleaning the attic. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— What was it, dear. 
 
 MARGARITA— -His mother was taking the winter clothes 
 out and a moth flew out and Bobby says, ''Mother, what 
 did the moths live on before Adam and Eve wore clothes." 
 
 MRS. ROBSON (laughing heartily)— Oh, how funny. He 
 must have just started in Sunday School. 
 
 AUNT MARIA (disdainfully)— Guvious, how easily amused 
 some folks are at the foolishness of their offspring. 
 
 MARGARITA — Can I have a new dress for the dancing 
 school ball, mother? I am to dance all alone, Miss 
 True says, if I can have a fluffy dress just like a flower. 
 30 
 
AUNT MARIA — Flowers ! Tansj weed, I guess. Homely 
 and scrawny and yellow. 
 
 [Margarita sticks out tongue.) 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — Yes, I think you may. {Margarita ca- 
 pers madly alyout.) Now, don't get wild, Margarita. 
 You will have to be very quiet tonight during the Coun- 
 cil Fire. Here come the girls, now. 
 
 AUNT MARIA {seating herself on log, at Ze/#)— Well, I 
 shall sit right here and I hope they don't say one word 
 to me. 
 
 MARGARITA — Don't worry. Auntie, they won't if they can 
 help it, I'll bet. 
 
 Enter right, Gamp Fire girls, all l)ut Viv and Vi, wearing 
 ceremonial goions. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — Good eevning, girls. What made you so 
 late. 
 
 All greet her and loalk about examining the woods. 
 
 BETTY — We waited for Vivian and Viola a long while 
 down by the post office. 
 
 ELEANOR — And they did not come after all. I stopped in 
 for Viv and her mother said she had been with Viola 
 all day and last night, too. 
 
 BESS — I s-s-stopped in for Vi and the c-c-cook said she had 
 gone on a h-h-h-ike with the Camp Fire g-g-g-irls this 
 morning. 
 
 JEANETTE — I guess that cook had been to the movies and 
 was dreaming about them still for a hike on a day as 
 hot as this one has been would be about the limit. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — Vivian and Viola have something on their 
 minds. They came to my house early this afternoon to 
 arrange for this Council Fire. They said they would be 
 Tery late, but would surprise us by appearing at just the 
 right moment and did not want us to wait for them. 
 
 PAULINE {shuddering) — Let's hurry. This place is full of 
 bugs and awful things. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — Pauline, you must get over being afraid 
 of crawling things before we spend that week in camp 
 in September. We will never be able to make a good 
 camper of you. 
 
 31 
 
JEANETTE — I read a story about a girl who was afraid 
 of— 
 
 RACHAEL — Can it, Jeanette, will you. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON— Girls, this is Council Fire time and I 
 want you to try to be careful about your language, just 
 for this little while. I am going to start a fund for 
 needy Camp Fire girls, by fining each one of you a 
 penny for every slang word you use in my hearing. We 
 would soon have a 'substantial fund, I know. 
 
 MARGARITA — Girls, did you get on to mother's new 
 head-band. Isn't that swell and doesn't she look peachy? 
 {Kisses her mother.) 
 
 MRS. ROBSON (laughing)— Well, girls, it looks as if I 
 would have to begin right in my own home, to collect 
 pennies. 
 
 ( G4rls cluster around to. examine head-hand. Persis 
 and Helen down front.) 
 
 PERSIS — ^My big brother says if you and I will be down by 
 th.e willow at eight-thirty, he will take us home. 
 
 HELEN {sighing) — Did he really, Persis? Did he say for 
 you to ask me? 
 
 PERSIS — Don't tell the other girls, we will skip them. 
 
 HELEN {rapturously) — Ever since that gypsy told my for- 
 tune I have tried to forget him, but I cannot. My love 
 for him is too deep. 
 
 {Join the other girls.) 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— Come, girls, we will start now. Get the 
 bowl. Bess. Just beyond that tree. {Points off right, 
 Bess exits.) 
 
 JEANETTE — I wonder what Viv and Vi are up to this time. 
 They are just like girls in stories — 
 
 PERSIS — My big brother says they will get into trouble 
 some day, on some of their expeditions looking for ad- 
 venture. 
 
 RACHAEL — Well, they won't call on him for help if they 
 do. Those two girls are smarter than any SIX boys I 
 ever saw. 
 
 {Enter Bess, with iron howl for fire. A small 
 amount of alcohol contained in side.) 
 
 MRS. ROBSON — Girls, tonight you must be \ery careful of 
 the fire in these woods, you know, so we are not to 
 32 
 
use the candles, but I will light the fire in the bowl and 
 recite the Ode to Fire and you can respond with that 
 quaint Indian response. 
 
 {Girls all hegin to talk at once.) 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — Come, girls, quiet now. Form a semi- 
 circle and I will kneel here. 
 
 (Instant quiet. This can J)e made very impressive. 
 Maria turns from log to witness fire lighting and Mar- 
 garita stands behind her.) 
 
 MRS. ROBSON (lights fire and recites Ode to Fire, found in 
 Gamp Fire Manual. Girls give Indian response. Any 
 Indian chant will answer. Pause and silence. Enter 
 Viv and Vi, in masquerade rigs. They pass to each side 
 of Guardian, who remains looking up, with rapt expres- 
 sion. They touch her shoulder and she starts.) 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— Why, it is Vivian and Viola, in the old 
 masquerade garb. What is it, dears? 
 
 VIVIAN — Oh, Guardian, dear, help us to help you. 
 
 VIOLA — Let me tell her, Viv. Oneida, we have found — 
 
 VIVIAN — Don't tell her that way, Vi. Oneida we have 
 found the most wonderful girl in these woods, and she 
 is looking for her mother and she looks so like Mar- 
 garita, we think she is missing Rose. 
 
 ONEIDA (rising slowly, in a dazed voice) — What are you 
 saying? What do you mean? Did I hear you say 
 Rose. Maria, do you hear? 
 
 MARIA (tartly) — Yes, Mary, I hear, but I had much rather 
 see. These romantic girls are using very bad taste in 
 this joke. 
 
 VIVIAN (putting her ar maround Mrs. Rodson, and almost 
 crying) — Oneida, you know we are not as cruel as that. 
 If we have made a mistake, it is through love of you. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— I am sure it is, dear. Tell me what ha^e 
 you and Viola been doing? 
 
 VIOLA — Wait a minute. Nita, bring Rosalia into the fire- 
 light. 
 
 Enter Rosalia, Nita and Granny. 
 
 NITA — Here is my Rosalia and here is Granny, who will 
 tell you all about it, for these two fine young men think 
 Rosalia is your missing daughter. 
 33 
 
MRS. ROBSON— Come here, little girl. 
 
 (Rosalia goes to Mrs. R. Trembling and shy. 
 
 Mrs. R. pushes the hair from forehead and looks into her 
 
 eyes.) 
 MRS. ROBSON {chokingly) — you are very like Margarita. 
 
 Could it be possible, Maria? 
 AUNT MARIA — Hold your horses everybody and let Maria 
 
 take hold of this situation. Come, gypsy girl, get the. 
 
 old hag to tell her story. 
 NITA {stamping her fooh) — You are a nasty, disagreeable 
 
 old hag yourself. You shan't call my Granny names 
 
 {puts arms adout Granny). 
 VIOLA — Now, little black-eyed sweetheart. We none of us 
 
 notice Aunt Maria. She is permanently soured — and 
 
 likes to rile folks up. Tell Granny to tell the lady 
 
 about Rosalia. 
 NITA {pushing Granny forward) — Speak up, Granny. 
 
 {Granny goes forward and falls at Mrs. Robson's 
 
 feet. Draws dress out of dosom.) 
 MINA — Here is a little dress she wore — when Rod bring her 
 
 that day many years ago — long curls hanging — I keep 
 
 dress — I hide for years — We stole her — lady — we keep 
 
 her close — long time — Her name Rose. She yours, I 
 
 know — I talk not so much — so many looking — so many 
 
 hearing — when I alone — I tell all. 
 ONEIDA {holding dress with tremMing hands) — Maria it 
 
 is my Rose. Look at this dress, you made it yourself. 
 
 See, do you remember. {Turns half crying to Rose, and 
 
 folds her in her arms) Ah Rose, my Rose. 
 
 {Girls gather in groups and talk together and wipe 
 
 eyes frequently.) 
 AUNT MARIA {turning dress over and over) — Mary, let 
 
 that blessed baby come to her auntie. God forgive me 
 
 for all my crankiness to those two sweet girls. 
 
 {Rosalia hangs hack, hut Aunt Maria gives her a 
 
 good hug.) 
 ROSALIA — Nita! Granny! Isn't this wonderful? Isn't my 
 
 mother grand and this is my little sister Jake told me 
 
 about. I feel as if I was dreaming. 
 MARGARITA— Mother, is this really Rose? I thought Rose 
 
 34 
 
was a baby. Will she be nice to me? Will she have 
 my pretty bedroom? Can I have my new dress for the 
 dancing school ball just the same? {Throws her arms 
 around her mother's neck.) Oh, mother, will you love 
 her better than me? 
 
 MRS. ROBSON (shakily)— Hush, child, we will all be happy 
 together (eml)races them "both). 
 
 NITA — Goodbye (putting out her hand), Rosalia. Here is 
 where our roads separate. Good luck to you and if 
 you oyer need friends again, which you probably never 
 will, just address us at the old place. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — Just a minute, you^g woman. Do you think 
 Maria Stone will ever stand for that? You shall be 
 my girl. I like your style. You are not a bit silly and 
 you stood up for that old Granny of yours in fine shape. 
 We'll all live together. 
 
 JEANETTE — Just as the story books say. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — You won't mind me after you get used to 
 me. My bark is lots worse than my bite — what do you 
 say? 
 
 NITA — I don't want to leave Rosalia, that's a fact, "and 
 then, too, I am in love with Hiram over there. He is 
 the nicest boy I ever met. 
 (All laugh.) 
 
 ROSALIA — I never dreamt they weren't boys until they 
 began talking to — to — ^mother. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON — Bless you, dear (embraces her again). 
 
 NITA — Now, it is all decided but Granny. Of course, she 
 will have to come too, for a while, anyway. Look, she 
 has dropped into that stupor again. What can we do, 
 Mrs. Robson; she lies like that for hours sometimes. 
 (Feels in her dress) Oh, Rosalia. I have lost Granny's 
 pills. What shall we do? 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— Girls, you walk along with Aunt Maria. 
 We will go in the machine. 
 
 (Exit girls, right, all talking excitedly.) 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— Now, Rosalia, get a blanket, if you have 
 
 one and we will throw it over Granny. You won't need 
 
 your pills, Nita, for we will have the doctor see her, 
 
 as soon as we get her home. We will send the chauffeur 
 
 35 
 
up for her. It will only be a few minutes. Girls run 
 out to get blankets. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON {standing over Mina) — Poor thing! We 
 must nurse her carefully back to health. It is prob- 
 ably lack of food and worriment of mind that have 
 brought her to this condition. 
 
 {Enter girls with Nankets and cover her over.) 
 
 ROSALIA {kissing her) — Just for a little while, Mina dear. 
 
 NITA — Goodbye, old scout. 
 {Exit right.) 
 
 After a few minutes Mina raises herself on elbow and 
 peers about. 
 
 MINA — Ha ! Mina was sharp that time — sharp. Doctor, 
 live in house {rises), humph! Never! {Limps about.) 
 Mina was sharp. Nita lose pill bottle {takes from 
 pocket). How many Rod say kill? Four kill — one — 
 two — three — four {swallows them). Mina in way. Re- 
 turning of Rosalia all done — well done — Mina go to 
 tent — lie quiet — {walks about, muttering) . Bye and bye 
 good spirit come for poor Granny. He looks after all 
 woods folks {limps to left eceit, waves hands feebly) : 
 Goodbye, my bebes, forget old Mina — be happy. 
 
 CURTAIN 
 Act III 
 
 Time — One month later. Evening. 
 
 SCENE — Living room of Guardian of Kitadini Camp Fire. 
 Table in center, with books, photo album and table lamp. 
 Sofa on left. Chairs scattered about. Palm in jardiniere. 
 Sofa pilloivs in abundance. 
 
 Curtain rises on Nita and Rosalia. Rosalia reclines on 
 sofa, with Camp Fire Manual and Nita sits by table with 
 head resting on hand, looking very sad. Both girls in eve- 
 ning dress. 
 
 ROSALIA — Oh, Nita. This is interesting. It is mother's 
 Camp Fire Manual. It tells all the honors the girls can 
 win. Do you suppose the girls will ask us to join? 
 There are a lot of honors here, we could get, under- 
 standing nature and woodcraft so well. 
 36 
 
NITA (gloomily) — They may ask you, but they won't ask 
 me. I am nothing but a poor gypsy. I know that, and 
 my place is in the kitchen, but your mother is too kind- 
 hearted to let me stay there. 
 
 ROSALIA (puts aside look and rises) — Nita, dear, I wish 
 you would not talk that way. It really is not true and 
 you have not been treated like that. Even Aunt Maria 
 is in love with your merry ways. If it was not for this 
 little odd streak, when you get so blue and touchy, we 
 would all be so much happier. Why is it, Nita? (Grosses 
 to her and puts her hand on her shoulder.) Aren't you 
 contented here? Do you wish for the old wild days and 
 Rod? Is your heart with the tribe? 
 
 NITA — No, no, Rosalia. I would not go back to that life 
 for anything, but I do not want to get too fond of this 
 life of ease and luxury and then not make good. I will 
 work and study hard. It does not come as easily to 
 me, as it does to you, dear. The real truth is I am 
 afraid the girls won't like me or want me to associate 
 with them and that would break my heart and I should 
 just get ugly and hate them all. 
 
 ROSALIA — We have not seen very much of any of the girls, 
 except Vivian and Viola. Of course, we have been al- 
 most in mourning for poor Mina and then the girls 
 realized that mother must have some time to recover 
 from the shock of having me restored to her and every- 
 thing, but I feel sure that no right-minded girls lay 
 such a chance occurrence as birth up against anyone. 
 Why, anyone of us might have been born a gypsy. 
 Don't cross bridges until you get to them, Nita, and be 
 your own lovely self, so full of life and bright as those 
 dear little scarlet berries we used to color our lips with. 
 Do you remember, Nita. 
 
 NITA (passionately) — I shall never forget. We were real 
 pals then, just like Viv and Vi, and if anyone ever 
 comes between us, girl or boy, I will run away and kill 
 myself. 
 
 ROSALIA— Never fear that, Nita. Will you try to be 
 happy and cheerful, dear, for mother has been through 
 so much, the past month, that I want her to have every- 
 
 37 
 
thing beautiful, here in this dear home. I know you 
 sorrow for Granny. I do, too, but I realize as mother 
 says, that she would have hated this life and if she 
 lived, would haTe suffered much. Why, just think, she 
 never would go into winter quarters with us and never 
 slept in a real bed in her life. She would have stifled 
 and died among us. She could not have returned to 
 the tribe for Rod would have beaten her to death. 
 Wasn't it all for the best? 
 
 NITA {rising) — I know something you do not know, Rosalia ; 
 it worries me terribly. You know, that day I — I — I — 
 lost Granny's pill bottle. I had hardly thought of it 
 since, so much happened, but today, when I was folding 
 away her old skirt, the bottle dropped out of the pocket. 
 (Seizing Rosalia's arm excitedly.) Rosalia, there was 
 only one pill in that bottle. {Throws herself on sofa.) 
 Granny did not die of heart failure. She killed herself 
 that we might live unashamed. {Sods passionately.) 
 
 ROSALIA {crossing to her, and soothing her) — Steady, little 
 comrade, steady. Mother and I knew all the time. The 
 doctor told mother that night, but we kept it from you. 
 I think it was splendid that you were the means of 
 helping her to so painlessly give herself to the Great 
 Spirit. Who knows what she might not have done in 
 her poor maddened state. Come, Nita, you told me once 
 that a gypsy did not cry. Sit up and dry your eyes 
 for the girls are coming for our first party and I want 
 you to look as pretty as a poppy. 
 
 NITA (sitting up, drying her eyes) — Does your mother think 
 it was careless of me to lose the pills and does she blame 
 me for stealing them from Rod? Does she think I am 
 Granny's murderess? 
 
 ROSALIA — Most certainly not. She feels as I do and says 
 you saved Granny everything unpleasant and it was 
 merely a quiet going to sleep. Nita, we will ne\;er 
 speak of this again. It only saddens us. We must be 
 brave and bright, particularly tonight, for everyone is 
 bound to be jolly and we must not spoil the party. 
 Our first, but not our last. Come, is it a bargain? 
 38 
 
NITA {with quick change) — I will be the gayest of all 
 (jumps to her feet). I will try to forget Granny and 
 be bappy. She would want us to be. I will try 
 to get rid of my ugly thoughts and not be jealous of you 
 or mourn for her or anything. I think Margarita is a 
 dear. Don't you, Rosalia? 
 
 ROSALIA — Yes, she is a lovely child, but I am going to train 
 her a little. She is wilful and has had her own way 
 too much. She is not going to make mother ery. She 
 did the other day, she was so saucy. She treats Aunt 
 Maria scandalously. I love her, but I see her faults 
 and she is going to do different. 
 
 NITA — You can do anything, fairy princess, and I already 
 see Margarita a model child. 
 
 ROSALIA (laughing) — I don't hope for that result or want 
 it either, for that matter. Mother asked us to look at 
 the dining table and see if we could make any sugges- 
 tions. You must sit beside me, Nita, for we will both 
 feel a little strange. 
 
 NITA — I have been dreading it all day, but now that the 
 time is so near I can hardly wait for the girls to come. 
 (Exit left.) 
 
 Enter Mrs. Rohson and Aunt Maria. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — What a change in this house, Maria. Every- 
 thing is changed and everybody, and you most of all. 
 I thought you really hated young folks and felt so 
 sorry for you at first, but you will never be able to 
 fool me again, Maria. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — I have never been so happy in my life as 
 since I put on my rose colored glasses of "Seek Beauty 
 and Give Service," Mary. Why, even Margarita seems 
 charming to me now, and I must say there were times 
 when I was pretty near hating Margarita. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON (laughing)— Well, I don't much blame 
 you, for she is a very impertinent, aggravating creature, 
 but I hope so much from Rosalia. She worships her 
 and tries to imitate her in everything. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — I am so glad you are going to call Rosalia 
 by her gypsy name. Rose Is such a foolish name.. I 
 39 
 
can't see how Harry ever called her tliat. He was so 
 practical. 
 MRS. ROB SON — Not where the babies and I were con- 
 cerned and she came to us in the month of roses. How we 
 
 wish he could have lived to see his first born back in 
 her rightful place. He would have wished her to bear 
 her gypsy name, for really old Mina gave our daughter 
 all she has known of love and care and at the last made 
 the supreme sacrifice. Surely it is fitting she should 
 be called Rosalia. 
 
 AUNT MARIA— Have you thought that Nita was a bit 
 homesick? When I gave her the new dress today she 
 had such a far-away look in her eeys and the tears 
 were just ready to fall. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — Nita is passing through a difficult change 
 in her mode of living. We must remember she was 
 born a gypsy and we must not confine her too closely. 
 She needs the touch of Mother Nature and all her chil- 
 dren, the birds, flowers and little animals, that she has 
 loved always. The stories she tells me of her life in 
 the woods and field is most interesting and she will 
 make a valuable addition to our Camp Fire. Have pa- 
 tience with her. She will repay all your loving kind- 
 ness some day. 
 
 Enter Margarita in her dancing dress. 
 
 MARGARITA— Mother, come quick. I let Dick out of his 
 cage so he could fly over the table and see those pretty 
 roses you put on the trellis. Jerry walked right in and 
 began chasing Dick and it is the peachiest chase you 
 ever saw. Dick don't stop flying a minute and Jerry 
 is right on top of the table. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— Rita, how could you? 
 
 AUNT MARIA— I'd like to spank that child. She keeps us 
 all upset all the time. 
 
 Both start out— enter Rosalia and Nita. 
 
 NITA — It is all right, Mrs. Robson ; I put Dick back in his 
 cage. No harm is done, except to the tablecloth and 
 Sarah is changing that. 
 
 (Margarita swinging Rosalia's hands) 
 
 MARGARITA— Wasn't it loads of fun, Rosalia? Didn't 
 
 40 
 
Jerry jump high? Most as high as your head. 
 
 ROSALIA (coldly, pulling hands aivay) — You are a naughty 
 girl, Margarita, and if I was your mother instead of 
 your sister, you would go to bed tonight minus the 
 party and the ice-cream. Come, Nita. 
 
 NITA — And if you were a little girl in our tribe, you would 
 get a good horsewhip round your little fat legs. 
 {Exit left Rosalia and Nita.) 
 
 MARGARITA — Mother, did you hear what Rosalia said and 
 Nita. I wish they had stayed with the gypsies. They 
 make me sick. 
 
 {Mrs. Rol)son hides face and turns away. Margarita 
 clings to her.) 
 
 MARGARITA — No, mother, I did not mean that. Honest! 
 I will be good. I love the girls. I will try to be better. 
 Mother, cross my heart {does so). 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — I will look for immediate improvement, 
 Margarita. Show me you mean what you say, by being 
 a good girl tonight at the party. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — Run out, now, and help Sarah fix the 
 table. {Exit Margarita left.) A good beginning, Mary, 
 I was afraid you were going to let her wheedle you. I 
 am going out now, and give Jerry his supper. Doubt- 
 less he will be disappointed at losing Dick. He would 
 ha\e made him such a dainty morsel. {Exit Aunt Maria 
 left.) 
 
 MRS. ROBSON {rising) — I believe I will go upstairs and 
 look up that book of games. The girls may want them 
 after lunch. {Exit right.) 
 
 Enter Margarita, left, ivalks across stage. Stops in center. 
 
 MARGARITA {counting lumps of sugar in handkerchief) — • 
 Five, they will never miss them. I certainly got them 
 easy. Cook is a muttonhead, anyway. That was such 
 an easy place to hide them. Gee ! I've got to look out 
 for Rosalia. She has got my number, as the boys say. 
 I want her to like me, for by and by she may have a 
 beau, and he may have a machine and I may want to 
 go riding with them, now and then. Think of all the 
 candy that Ralph Pousland has given Helen the past 
 mouth. Why her sister Grace has just grown fat on 
 41 
 
candy. He gives Grace some every time lie wants to 
 see Helen alone. I could vs^ork that, too. 
 (Exit right.) 
 
 Enter Gmnp Fire Girls, in evening dresses, with wraps, etc. 
 Hoo-oooo — Mrs. Robson ! 
 
 MRS. ROBSGN {from upstairs) — Yes, girls, is that you? 
 Just put your wraps in the hall. I'll be down soon. 
 The girls have gone out in the garden. Make your- 
 selves at home. 
 
 {Girls go hack and forth, carrying wraps into hall, 
 etc. Seat themselves ahout. Some on chair arms, some 
 on pillow on floor, etc.) 
 
 JEANE'TTE — I am just crazy to see the girls again. Isn't 
 it just like a story, girls? 
 
 RACHEL — Yes, it is, and I suppose because one story of 
 yours turned out so gorgeously, we will have to listen 
 to your stories for the rest of our life. 
 
 BESS— I think I like Nita the b-b-best. 
 
 SUSAN — Well, I can't see how you can tell, for we have 
 none of us seen them except riding in the machine. 
 
 VIVIAN — Well, they are both dandy girls and you will say 
 so when you know them. Won't they, Vi? 
 
 VIOLA — Sure, Jakey, but I do believe I am a wee bit par- 
 tial to my little black-eyed gal just the same. 
 
 VIVIAN — Well, the girls will soon have a chance to judge 
 for themselves. 
 
 ELEANOR — Is it true that you are going to ask both the 
 girls to join the camp fire? 
 
 VIVIAN — Yes, it is. Anyone got anything to g?ay against it? 
 
 PERSIS — My brother says he shouldn't think we would 
 want a gypsy to belong to our camp fire. 
 
 VIVIAN (ivarmly) — You can tell your brother to go hang. 
 
 HELEN— I think Ralph is just right. 
 
 RACHEL — Laws ! Course you do. . 
 
 VIOLA — Well, here it is, girls. One black mark can keep a 
 girl out. One marked ballot. Let's vote (passes bal- 
 lots) and see if there is any girl in Kitadini Camp Fire 
 mean spirited enough to keep a good respectable girl 
 from enjoying the privileges of our Camp Fire whether 
 she be an Esquimaux or a gypsy. 
 
 42 
 
{Girls whisper together and prepare ballots atf^ 
 Vivian collects them.) 
 
 VIVIAN — A triumph for the teachings of our good Guardian 
 and for the honor of Kitadini Camp Fire. 
 {Enter Rosalia and Nita from left.) 
 
 VIVIAN — Girls, here are our new Camp Fire sisters. Nita 
 Stone and Rosalia Robson. 
 {Girls cheer madly.) 
 
 VIOLA — Now, girls, recite together, the Wood-gatherer's 
 desire so they may know they are one of us. 
 
 {Girls all stand and repeat the Desire, found in 
 Gamp Fire Manual.) 
 
 NITA {excitedly) — You are the greatest bunch of girls I 
 e\ er saw. I do not know you all by name yet, but I can 
 guess which is which because Viv and Vi have talked 
 so much about you. This one is Bess, and this is Jeau- 
 ette. I can bring something to Camp Fire because I 
 can make dandy baskets and fine camp-beds from 
 branches. Can't I, Rosalia? 
 
 ROSALIA^ — ^Yes, Nita makes wonderful beds. Not a branch 
 out of place to poke in the back in the middle of the 
 night, the way mine always do when I place the 
 branches. I can tell you all about the stars and flow- 
 ers, for they have been my constant companions for 
 years, rnd I can tell you many stories I have learned 
 around our camp fire from the old women of the tribe. 
 
 VIOLA — Girls, won't they make camping this September 
 just one long dream of golden bliss? 
 
 JEANETTE? — Do you like to read, Rosalia, and go to the 
 movies ? 
 
 ROSALIA — I like to read, but I have never been to the 
 movies. The men would not let us go into town in the 
 evening. 
 
 RACHAEL— Gosh ! Think of that, girls. Never been to the 
 movies. 
 
 PERSIS — I may as well tell you now that my big brother 
 asks the whole Camp Fire to be his guests tomorrow 
 night at the monies. We are to see Mary Pickford in 
 "Johanna Enlists." He has asked a lot of the boys to 
 
 43 
 
go, too, but if it is too warm we will go up on the lake 
 instead. 
 
 HELEN— I sure do love that boy. 
 
 PAULINE — So do we all just about now, I guess. 
 
 Enter Mrs. Rohson. Right. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— What is all the excitement. I thought 
 something very secret was going on from what I could 
 hear from upstairs. 
 
 VIVIAN' — Oh, no, Oneida. First, we were voting Nita and 
 Rosalia into Camp Fire and every one wanted them. 
 
 MRS. ROB SON — Of course they were wanted. It would 
 not have been Kitadini Camp Fire if they had not been. 
 
 VIOLA — Then we were repeating the Desire and then Per- 
 sis told us that Ralph had made up a movie party for 
 tomorrow night. 
 
 PER SIS — And you and Margarita are to go, too, Oneida. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— I should like to go and if Rita behaves 
 well tonight she may go, too. Here comes she and 
 Aunt Maria, now. 
 
 PERSIS (hastily) — And Aunt Maria, too. Ralph didn't 
 say her because he thinks she is still a crank, but we 
 girls know her better now, and we want her. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON (laughing) —All right, Persis, I will pre- 
 vail upon her to come and if Nita is one, of the party 
 Aunt Maria will surely be there, for I never saw a more 
 violent case of love at first sight. 
 
 Enter Maria and Margarita. Right. 
 
 AUNT MARIA — Evening, girls. Mary, I want you to see 
 Margarita's work. I have given her a lesson in knit- 
 ting. She picks it up wonderfully quick. Show mother, 
 dear, those last three rows she did herself. (Ejoamine 
 knitting and Persis goes and whispers to her ahout the 
 movie invitation, ichile girls chatter and look at photo 
 album. ) 
 
 BESS — Tills seems like old times. Only 1-1-1-lots better. 
 Having the girls here. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON — We owe a great deal to our two detectives, 
 Viv and Vi. They both of them displayed cleverness and 
 courage. Poor little Viv declares she was frightened to 
 death at times, but we all know that if Viola was, she 
 would never admit it to anyone. 
 44 
 
VIOLA — Didn't we have fun that morning in the wood, Viv, 
 with Nita and Rosalia. I really wished a dozen times 
 I was really a boy. Nita was so lively and saucy. I 
 am sure she would ha\e been my affinity {sighs). 
 
 VIVIAN — Just the way I felt. I looked at Rosalia's pretty 
 throat and planned where I would plant a sweet kiss, 
 if I were really her lover. {Crosses to Rosalia.) But 
 I am going to keep my affinity just the same. {Puts 
 her arms ahout her.) Nobody could love her better than 
 I do already. 
 
 {Nita looks anxious hut Viola crosses to Nita and 
 puts arm ahout her.) 
 
 VIOLA — Well, said. Pal, I shall keep my sweetheart, too. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON— Well, girls, what a winter we shall have. 
 It will take all our good common sense to balance those 
 four. They will certainly make a great quartette to 
 entertain us and I feel sure our adventures will double. 
 
 AUNT MARIA^ — Mary, can't we have a little music? The 
 girls will love to hear Rosalia sing and Nita can dance 
 like an — an — an acrobat. 
 
 MRS. ROBSON — Not just now, Maria, for after lunch we 
 are going to have a real stunt party. We have just 
 about time before Sarah calls us, for Margarita to do 
 her little dance she is getting ready for the ball. She 
 has been coaxing to dance for us all day and she will 
 have to go to bed directly after lunch. 
 
 MARGARITA {springing to her feet) — May I, mother? 
 Dance, I mean. Not go to bed. I hate that, but course 
 if I am going to the pictures tomorrow night I'll have 
 to go to bed early tonight. Here, Maria, old sport, catch 
 the knitting {throws it to Aunt Maria). You can finish 
 it. It makes my hands ache. Start the music, mother. 
 {Dances, after the girls have cleared a space for 
 her.) 
 
 At close, they applaud. Mrs. Rohson goes to door at left 
 and says — 
 Come, girls, lunch is served. 
 
 MARGARITA — Me first, hooray— (rws 7? es for door). 
 
 AUNT MARIA {restraining her) — No, you don't^ young 
 lady. You are going to be good and go out with me 
 45 
 
and sit beside me and behave yourself. 
 {Girls exit left.) 
 ROSALIA — Or else you won't get any ice cream, Rita. 
 NITA— Or candy, Rita. 
 
 {Exit Aunt Maria and Margarita, left. Rosalia and 
 Nita folloio slowly, arms ahout each other. Stop in 
 center, stage.) 
 ROSALIA — Nita, what do you think, now. Are the Camp 
 
 Fire Girls all right. Are you happy? 
 NITA {dramatically) — I am so happy, it hurts. I am too 
 happy to eat. I know I cannot swallow. It surely was 
 a great day for us when Granny, bless her, planned 
 THE RETURNING OF ROSALIA. 
 ( Walk out, as curtain falls. ) 
 
 End of Act III. 
 
 46 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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