'. ''*^,i 
 
 
 i^* 
 
 
 
 

 0^ % L!nL' 
 
 
 
 • N 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V »»!,*^' ^ A.* 
 
 
 
 
 
 • M 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 • ao 
 
 
 
 * ^0 
 
 <^. . (^ 
 
 
 .♦^^r^. 
 
 
 ,.^\> 
 
 ^•>.^^' 
 
 • ♦^^♦^ » 
 
 >& ^ ^ 
 
d3?l 
 *^0 
 
 THE TREND 
 
THE TREND 
 
 A MODERN DRAMA 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES SMITH ROLLOW 
 
 M 
 
 ^c^-.\ 
 
 l\ 
 
 (d%. 
 
 Printed by 
 
 GUIDE PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
fliBHARY of COi^aSii^S 
 \ Two Copies Kecoivvj^ii j 
 
 UkK 9 1908 
 
 ti. - --"V^ M-T ^ » liiii.iil 1 |ii 
 
 
 Copyright, 1907, 
 JAMES SMITH ROLLOW 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
PREFACE 
 
 ^^^^i^^^HE author realizes that he has taken an 
 m l\ unusual course by inserting narrative 
 m J in a drama. He is also mindful that 
 ^^^^ plays are not read by the general read- 
 ing public, due, he thinks, that purely dramatic 
 work in type lacks picturesqueness or food for 
 the imagination; therefore his reason is obvious 
 and manifold; first, to be brief; secondly, to pic- 
 ture the action of characters ; and thirdly, to make 
 the scenes as vivid as possible. He has also held 
 more to the warmth of feeling than to cold mathe- 
 matical methods or precision. The work incites 
 some speculation in character development. 
 Katherine Janeway, a foundling infant, adopted 
 by indulgent and wealthy parents, seems to de- 
 velop a dreamy nature, and at times is emotional, 
 vivacious or serious. The good reader will only 
 have to exert his imagination in a slight degree 
 to picture the whimsical young woman, after a 
 life of indulgence in childhood, and her following 
 life in a convent for several years, on meeting a 
 handsome and brilliant man who is evidently the 
 idol of her fondest dreams, and under the cir- 
 cumstances proposes marriage and carry out a 
 Leap year privilege, according to tradition. On 
 
 5 
 
the other hand, Raleigh, a man of the world and 
 apparently experienced in all that is attractive to 
 his nature, lacks warmth and craves for some 
 form of novelty on seeing Katherine, who turns 
 out to be the very ideal of his thoughts, becomes 
 animated and apparently loses his self-control 
 temporarily and answers her in the same strain 
 as she (Katherine) had given herself up to on his 
 arrival, first shows that the poetical or gentler 
 side of his nature had been touched. After a few- 
 moments he realizes his position and vows to an- 
 other, and retracts. 
 
 Nature is so varied in her works and characters, 
 if no such incident is recorded as is pictured, it 
 is quite possible in these days of incessant activ- 
 ity. While the high order of man Mr. Janeway 
 so warmly contends for may be in abeyance and 
 not within our grasp or imagination, and if our 
 intelligence has not reached that condition where 
 we can thoroughly trust each other's honesty in 
 the common pursuits of life, it is at least time to 
 reflect upon our material and mental growth for 
 comparison, and conclude that our only salvation 
 is in turning toward the building up of our 
 mental vigor and moral work, to keep pace with 
 our material achievements and to advance our 
 civilization to a higher plane for the purpose of 
 freeing ourselves from the bondage of servitude 
 for mere gold; and when we consider our mate- 
 rial advancement under the stress of opposition 
 
 6 
 
from ignorance and devastation from disease and 
 war, it would now seem a much less severe and 
 arduous task to develop the thoroughly physi- 
 cally, mentally and morally balanced man, who 
 could emancipate us from selfishness and greed, 
 which so greatly retards our mental and moral 
 progress and keeps from us that higher order or 
 nature which would develop us from frail and 
 cunning masses into an individual and collective, 
 wise, just and powerful representative of a glo- 
 rious destiny that awaits our advancing. 
 
CHARACTERS. 
 
 Jack Raleigh, Multi-Millionaire — President 
 Allied Companies. 
 
 Harry Dodge, self-made man. 
 
 Herbert Janeway, formerly a wealthy mer- 
 chant and manufacturer. 
 
 Mrs. Janeway, his wife. 
 
 Katherine Janeway, their adopted daughter. 
 
 Uncle Billy Marshall, philosopher, wit and 
 philanthropist. 
 
 Curate Rollins, English clergyman. 
 
 Judge Marks, Associate Judge Supreme Court 
 
 Harry Brown, of Brown, Marshall S^ Company. 
 
 Secretary Williams, Secretary Allied Com- 
 panies. 
 
 Secretary Short, First Assistant Secretary 
 Allied Companies. 
 
 Young Morton, 
 
 Wall Street men. 
 
 Young Whitehouse, 
 
 Young Chase, 
 
 Young Rockwell, 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury, society leader. 
 
 Mrs. Fletcher, her friend. 
 
 Mrs. Barbour, young, handsome, ambitious. 
 
 Nina, French maid. 
 
 Society people, hall guests, hankers and hrokers, 
 men of affairs, Sunday school children, 
 clerks, stenographers, and others. 
 
 9 
 
THE SCENES. 
 
 Act I, Scene I — Library in Herbert Janeway's 
 Long Island home. 
 
 Scene II — Lawns in front of Herbert Jane- 
 way's Long Island home. 
 
 Act II — Reception room, Herbert Janeway's 
 Fifth Avenue mansion j New York, 
 
 Act III, Scene I — President's office. Allied 
 Companies, lower Broadway, New York. 
 
 Scene II — Office Brown, Marshall S^ Com- 
 pany, Wall street. New York, 
 
 Act IV — Large and commodious parlor in Her- 
 bert Janetvay's Long Island home. 
 
 11 
 
THREE YEARS 
 
 ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ELAPSED 
 
 BETWEEN ACTS I. AND II. 
 
 THREE MONTHS 
 BETWEEN ACTS II. AND III. 
 
 — AND — 
 
 NINE MONTHS 
 BETWEEN ACTS III. AND IV. 
 
ACT I. 
 
ACT 1. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 (Herbert Janeway^ a manufacturer of wire 
 nailSj with many mercantile and manufac- 
 turing interests in Pennsylvania in the early 
 prominent days of the steel industry. He 
 later enters New York's strenuous life and 
 speculative atmosphere and becomes finan- 
 cially embarrassed. Reduced^ he goes to his 
 Long Island surroundings and contents 
 himself in the relinquishing of all further in- 
 terests in active business to live quietly under 
 the gentle, retiring influences of his wife,) 
 
 ( Harry Dodge^ naturally a gentleman, has a fire 
 in his constitution to arouse those about him 
 when stirred, is honorable to a degree, and 
 very faithful to all the principles that direct 
 his actions. He is manly in appearance, and 
 his physique and general bearing commands 
 respect from those who know him slightly, 
 and love from those who know him well, ) 
 
 (Library in Herbert Janeway^s Long Island 
 home, early afternoon,) 
 
 (Enter Herbert Janeway and Harry Dodge.) 
 
 17 
 
[ ACT I ] The Teend 
 
 Dodge. Yes, sir. I confess I am proud of 
 my invention. 
 
 Janeway. Dodge^ your life seems to me like 
 a dream. You have risen from a grocer's clerk, 
 office boy, apothecary's assistant, and student of 
 chemistry to that individual position of the in- 
 ventor. And your invention will surely bring you 
 millions in money and world-wide fame. It all 
 seems to me like fiction. What would your good 
 mother and father think were they alive and 
 should learn these facts? 
 
 Dodge ( after silence ) . If this was so my hap- 
 piness would be supreme. That is the one thing 
 that would mar my happiness that could other- 
 wise be unbounded. 
 
 Janeway. You know I have little money 
 left, but I have friends in the financial world. 
 DoDGE^ take my word for it, if it is within the 
 range of my power I will furnish the capital re- 
 quired to market your invention. 
 
 Dodge {shakes hands with him). Thank you, 
 sir, very much. How fortunate I am to have 
 met such a true and genuine friend as you are. 
 
 Janeway. I consider our meeting a most 
 happy one, and I cherish our friendship as one 
 of the best of all I can claim. When will you 
 return to New York? 
 
 Dodge. At once. 
 
 Janeway. Stay here with me for a while. I 
 want you to meet my daughter, who has just re- 
 
 18 
 
The Trend [ act i ] 
 
 turned home after her graduating exercises at 
 the convent. I want you to meet her. 
 
 Dodge. I must return to the city at once for 
 many and good reasons. 
 
 Janeway. Then in that case I will go with 
 you. (Rises from chairs leaves the room^ returns 
 with Katherine Janeway.) 
 
 Janeway. Mr. Dodge^ allow me to introduce 
 you to my daughter, Katherine^ a favorite, of 
 course, since she is my only one. (Dodge bowSj 
 Katherine extends her hand,) 
 
 Katherine. Mr. Dodge^ I am most delight- 
 ed to meet you and to know you as one of father's 
 old friends. He has told us all so much of 
 you and your achievements. How lovely it must 
 be to be an inventor I and work out original plans 
 and accomplish something yourself without the 
 aid of others. How lovely! 
 
 Dodge. Miss Janeway^ all that I have done 
 or accomplished has been done alone, and I have 
 learned to live and work quite comfortably alone. 
 Alone in the world. 
 
 Katherine. To work alone appeals to me 
 as pleasant, but to live alone seems to me hor- 
 rible. Is this your experience? 
 
 Dodge. Yes, to a certain extent it is, but my 
 work keeps me so busy that I do not have time 
 to consider the other at all hardly, but when I do 
 I think it rather a hard life, to live alone in this 
 great and beautiful world. 
 
 19 
 
[ ACT I ] The Teend 
 
 Janeway (looking at watch), Mr. Dodge^ 
 it is now time for us to leave for the station, to 
 go on the afternoon train. 
 
 Katherine (shakes hands with Dodge and 
 kisses her father again and again). Good luck 
 to you, and may the Goddess of Fortune bless 
 you both on your every turn. 
 
 (Mrs. Janeway enters, shakes hands with 
 Dodge and kisses Mr. Janeway good-bye as 
 they leave,) 
 
 Mrs. Janeway. A very deserving young 
 man. 
 
 Katherine. Yes; he seems so. Do you 
 think much of his invention, the match that will 
 only light when its head is in contact with the 
 human breath, and never ignites from friction on 
 any surface such as wood, metal, or stone? A 
 real innovation I Father says he has found some 
 chemical affinity for the human breath by the 
 mixing of sulphur and alum and some other se- 
 cret components and placed it in the head of his 
 match, and father thinks that great things will 
 come of it. 
 
 Mrs. Janeway. Well, the good boy deserves 
 all he can gain. He is of a Southern family of 
 fine record and good blood, but like many South- 
 erners, during the Civil War they were so re- 
 duced financially that they never gained their 
 position again. The young man practically sup- 
 ported his mother and father up to the time of 
 
 20 
 
The Trend [ act i ] 
 
 their death from his own efforts, and gained such 
 education as he has through his own endeavors 
 and without the aid of anyone. 
 
 Katherine. a most deserving young man, 
 but of course, I suppose, narrow, as all men must 
 be without an education. Where did father first 
 meet him? 
 
 Mrs. Janeway. In a drug store, where he 
 was employed when we first arrived in New 
 York. The acquaintance was by accident, but 
 it seems their regard for each other has grown 
 ever since. 
 
 Katherine. May they have good luck, for 
 both are most deserving men and sterling as- 
 pirants. ( The clock strikes at 2.30 p. m. ) 
 
 Katherine. It is now time for us to prepare 
 to leave for the station, to meet the curate and 
 the children. They are to arrive at three o'clock. 
 
 Mrs. Janeway. Yes, my dear. Will you be 
 ready soon? 
 
 Katherine. Yes, mother; I shall be ready 
 within a few moments. INIother, is the good 
 curate the same as of old, or has he changed since 
 I last met him? 
 
 Mrs. Janeway. My child, he is the same es- 
 timable man, a preacher of staunch qualities; and 
 a Christian without a fault, I believe, unless it be 
 a fault for a Christian to be without a wife, for 
 he is not vet a benedict. 
 
 21 
 
[ ACT I ] The Trend 
 
 Katherine. He was always so good and 
 kind. Of whole soul and heart and earnest in 
 his office, and with it all so plain and unsophisti- 
 cated. 
 
 Mrs. Janeway. Yes ; he is a quiet, calm and 
 cultivated gentleman. Simple life, with all the 
 happiness that is derived from it, is his motto. 
 He never expects too much from his flock, but is 
 uncompromising in his belief and faith in Him 
 our Father, the Maker of heaven and earth and 
 the Director of mortals, who knows so little of 
 His great works and motives, and above all 
 things the curate claims that men should be loyal 
 to their duties as they are taught in the creeds 
 that have been handed down to them from gen- 
 eration to generation, and that they should trust 
 in Him for guidance in all things and pray for 
 direction from Him and His infallible wisdom. 
 
 Katherine. He is so good and faithful, and 
 I shall be so glad to see him again. And now, 
 mother, if agreeable to you, we will prepare our- 
 selves and leave for the station at once. 
 
 {Exeunt,) 
 
 22 
 
SCENE II. 
 
 (Heebert Janeway^s Long Island home, a com- 
 modious building of Colonial architecture, 
 with wide porches, supported by heavy col- 
 umns on three sides of the house and sur- 
 rounded by beautiful lawns and a grove of 
 fine old trees. To the right is rolling land 
 and hedge fences of neighboring estates. 
 From the front can be seen the Sound and 
 the shores of Connecticut and Rhode Island. 
 To the left, and not far away, is the railroad 
 station. The front lawn joins a lane con- 
 necting many fashionable homes of New 
 York society people, known as a colony of 
 the ''400.'') 
 
 (NiNA^ Katherine Janeway^s maid, is ar- 
 ranging ribbon streamers about a May-pole pre- 
 paratory to the arrival of Katherine, Curate 
 Rollins^ Mrs. Janeway and the children for a 
 dance. Nina sings seriously for a time, then 
 says:) How this all reminds me of my home in 
 France! (Pause.) Ah, how one can dream of 
 something far away, waiting and watching for a 
 time as I did when thinking of coming to this 
 great and busy country! (Reflects.) But now 
 
 23 
 
[ ACT I ] The Trend 
 
 I think it would have been better had I remained 
 at home and had lived for dear old father and 
 mother and the boys. (Sighs,) However, 
 everything could be much worse. I might have 
 been thrown among more unworthy and unkind 
 people. (Cheerily.) Perhaps I should be 
 more grateful, for I might have gotten in the 
 home of some cold and heartless family like some 
 of whom I have heard. (Reflects.) Ah, no; no 
 such trouble is mine, for my dear mistress. Miss 
 Katherine^ is a sweet child, of warm heart and 
 the soul of goodness. She shall always prosper 
 and be happy, for it is due her, and our Father 
 would never allow anything that would prove 
 harmful or cruel to befall such a good descendant 
 of His heavenly home. She is incarnate with 
 Him and His holy works, representing Him with 
 such sweetness, tenderness and loveliness as only 
 she seems to possess, and such as can only be re- 
 warded with kindness. Yes, she is safe, of that 
 I am sure, and may she always continue to be so. 
 This is my humble prayer at this moment and 
 forever more. 
 
 (Now voices of children are heard as they 
 approach in song of the church. Nina 
 moves energetically about as she arranges 
 everything. She then looks off into the 
 distance and sees a little crowd of church 
 people advancing. 
 
 24 
 
The Teend [ act i ] 
 
 (Katherine Janeway enters with the girls. 
 All the children have flowers j while Kath- 
 erine carries a great variety. She at once 
 begins a vivacious activity for the comfort 
 and pleasure of all. After dividing some 
 of her flowers with the girlSj she places 
 upon each boy a buttonhole blossom,, and 
 expresses a kind and loving word to each. 
 As she fastens the flower upon the last boy 
 in the line, Mrs. Janeway^ accompanied 
 by Curate Rollins^ enters, Mrs. Jane- 
 way seems happy. Curate Rollins^ 
 moved by the kindly welcome given the 
 children, with warmth and power befit- 
 ting an educated and refined man, and in 
 the eloquence of a polished preacher, 
 says:) 
 The little ones will surely have a lovely time, 
 and this occasion will be one of indelible pleasure 
 in their little hearts and minds. 
 
 (He views the May -pole, speaks of its 
 beauty, as well as the other arrangements, 
 provided for their entertainment, and ad- 
 mires all,) 
 Curate Rollins. Everything is beautifully 
 arranged, and I feel that the children will repay 
 their friend and teacher for all the trouble she has 
 taken for their welfare and entertainment. 
 
 Katherine. Ah, Dr. Rollins^ please do not 
 say too much in this respect. I am afraid the 
 
 25 
 
[ ACT I ] The Trend 
 
 children might really feel indebted to me, and 
 this is not the case. I would not for the world 
 have them think that they are indebted to me for 
 anything, but on the contrary, I am indebted to 
 the dear little ones for coming — for it fills me 
 with joy and love to see their fair faces and have 
 them at my home as my guests. 
 
 {The children are engaged among them- 
 selves, and apparently do not hear what 
 is said, Mrs. Janeway^ assisted by 
 NiNA^ is visiting each one separately to as- 
 certain if anything is desired or can be 
 done for them. 
 (Curate Rollins walks over to where 
 Katherine stands. He looks fondly 
 upon her fine face and brow, with all their 
 sweet outlines abounding in youth, while 
 a depth of kindness and wisdom glows 
 from her wondrous eyes, and says:) 
 You are too kind. You, I am sure, are one of 
 God's trusted creatures upon this earth, doing 
 always some noble and worthy act for all those 
 who come in your direction and never, never al- 
 lowing a word of thanks to be offered in return 
 for all you do for the benefit of others. May 
 Heavenly wisdom lead you on and on in this 
 world, and, I trust, compensate you in some holy 
 manner in time to come. 
 
 Katherine. Oh, Dr. Rollins, you are very 
 kind, but really, I do nothing for which anyone 
 
 26 
 
The Trend [ act i ] 
 
 is indebted to me. It is my most cherished hope 
 that some day I may be able to do some good for 
 someone or for others in this world. This is my 
 daily prayer, my most cherished desire and my 
 one wish above all others, and my abiding faith 
 is that some time I may be able to lend a helping 
 hand to those who may be in need. 
 
 (A moment of silence j then Katherine 
 seems to awaken to her surroundings^ and 
 hurriedly says:) 
 The children, the children ! 
 
 {Now music is heard j she hurries to her 
 chargeSj arranges them all fondly about 
 the May-pole, The next instant a feast 
 of childish song and dance ensues. Kath- 
 erine becomes imbued with the loveliness 
 of the scene, the mirth of the children and 
 the music J and cannot keep her feet still. 
 She enters into the dance, while Mrs. 
 Janeway laughs at her sprightliness and 
 says:) 
 She is nothing more than a child herself. 
 
 (Curate Rollins goes up on the porch with 
 Mrs. Janeway. They make some sug- 
 gestions as the time goes on, which are 
 carried out by Katherine in her enter- 
 tainment. 
 
 {Games and dancing continue with alertness 
 and persistency, while Mrs. Janeway and 
 
 27 
 
[ ACT I ] The Trend 
 
 Curate Rollins enjoy the scene, com- 
 fortably seated in large chairs, and Nina 
 stands close to hand in case her services 
 are needed, 
 
 ( The weather is beautiful and calm. Kath- 
 ERiNE looks lovely, her cheeks are pink, 
 and her vivaciousness overshadows the 
 usual calmness of her character, which at 
 times seems grave, 
 
 (The scene is one to be remembered; fancy 
 costumes are worn by the little men and 
 women, and they apparently enjoy the 
 spirit of the occasion in the crisp air that 
 is gently blown from the Sound over their 
 heads as they dance and sing to the 
 music and execute movements that are so 
 highly entertaining to all lovers of a 
 May -pole dance. All is life and appar- 
 ent happiness, and Curate Rollins seems 
 delightfully entertained. 
 
 {After much time is spent in the very ex- 
 hilarating exercises upon the lawn, Mrs. 
 Janeway and Curate Rollins^ with 
 NiNA''s aid, led the children away to some 
 other part of the grounds suitable for ob- 
 serving the setting sun and for other 
 changes of scene, while Katherine re- 
 mains behind to gather up handkerchiefs, 
 flowers and other trinkets dropped during 
 the dance. 
 
 28 
 
The Teend [ act i ] 
 
 (It is now past five o'clock and the sun has 
 begun to descend behind the hills. Cu- 
 rate Rollins^ who is ever attentive and 
 even solicitous of Katherine^s welfare 
 whenever an opportunity presents itself, 
 sends Nina bach to request her to 
 come and join the party, which is now 
 some distance from the house, Kath- 
 erine promises to do so, but soon, how- 
 ever, seems so fatigued either from the 
 exercise of the afternoon or from mental 
 depression, that she leans quietly upon a 
 rustic seat for momentary support. While 
 in this position but a few moments, she 
 gives way to feelings that had evidently 
 been stored within her bosom for months, 
 or even years. She looks out into the 
 road and then, with emotion, let loose the 
 bounds of her restraint, saying:) 
 
 Oh, I am so lonely and weary 
 That it make the world seem very dreary ; 
 But surely the one intended will yet come, 
 And then life's work will be begun. 
 
 So I will content myself at least for a time, 
 And try to feast upon these dreams of mine ; 
 And the one who could blight this strife. 
 And swell my life, my heart, and love to some 
 great height. 
 
 29 
 
[ ACT I ] The Trend 
 
 Oh, what happiness I will have some day, 
 
 To love, to cherish and to obey; 
 
 What else in life could be so sweet 
 
 As living at the command of the one you'll meet? 
 
 (Pause.) 
 
 Hark! hark I what is this I hear? 
 
 A firm, even and manly footstep not far from 
 
 here. 
 Gracious me! It makes me quiver; can it 
 
 be he 
 Of whom I have dreamt and wept and prayed 
 
 to see? 
 
 My, my, I feel so agitated — what can it be? 
 Is it a premonition of evil or of good? 
 
 (Jack Raleigh walks across lawn at a dis- 
 tance, ) 
 
 Oh, what a human form to behold ! 
 Stately, handsome and bold. 
 Yet gentle, I am sure — 
 The dream of my life once more. 
 
 Oh, fate! What shall I do? Ah— I see; 
 'Tis provided for by circumstances ; 
 Some good saint has favored me, for this is 
 Leap Year. 
 
 30 
 
The Teend [ act i ] 
 
 Now for action. I must not wait for slow 
 processes of yore. Our good Director has given 
 me this one more chance, and I have no time to 
 procrastinate. I shall relate to him and see what 
 he says. I shall propose, as it is my privilege at 
 this time, and if Providence, with the aid of Leap 
 year, shall set my dreams at rest and place in 
 each happiness instead. All! what bliss. What 
 bliss! {Takes up trinkets and hurries into the 
 house.) %i'Mi 
 
 (Raleigh enters. He is attired in the 
 Meadow Brook Hunt Club riding clothes, 
 white breecheSj high boots and hat, all of 
 which are well fitted to his form, and every 
 line of his closely knitted figure is well 
 brought out by the good effects of the 
 tailor. He nurses his left wrist in his 
 right hand; seems agitated. Stands close 
 to the center of the scene and says in seri- 
 ous tones:) 
 Ah, that was a narrow escape, for which I 
 should thank God {and then hurriedly, as if cor- 
 recting himself:) 
 
 Or that something which is instrumental in 
 shaping our lives and fortunes in this world, for 
 saving my life. (Katherine disconcertedly 
 emerges from the house.) 
 
 Raleigh. I beg your pardon. I trust you 
 will forgive the intrusion. Will you give me a 
 glass of water? 
 
 31 
 
[ ACT I ] The Teend 
 
 Katherine. Certainly, certainly. I will 
 bring some water at once. 
 
 Raleigh. You are very kind. ( Katheeink 
 goes into the house, ) 
 
 Raleigh {alone). What a lovely girl! and 
 apparently so agitated. What can it mean? I 
 shall find out if possible. I may be able to ren- 
 der her service. (Katherine returns with a 
 jug of water and glasses, Raleigh drinks and 
 seems refreshed, Katherine seems awkward 
 and ill at ease,) 
 
 Raleigh. I have just passed through a 
 rather exciting experience. While at high speed 
 my good hunter stepped into a hole that was cov- 
 ered over with brushwood, and it brought us both 
 heavily to the ground. 
 
 Katherine. How terrible! How terrible! 
 Were you much injured? 
 
 Raleigh. Thank j^ou, no. Only a little 
 shaken, and this arm seems swollen, and I suffer 
 some pain there about the wrist. I suppose I 
 landed on my right hand and broke the force of 
 the impact. 
 
 Katherine. What a narrow escape! 
 
 Raleigh. I shall never forget my sensation. 
 Our speed was so great that when I left the sad- 
 dle I flew through the air like a bird for at least 
 twenty feet before landing. And when I turned 
 to look after my horse I saw that he had turned 
 a complete somersault and his hind legs were in 
 
 32 
 
The Trend [ act i ] 
 
 close proximity with my body. I gained my feet 
 at once, caught the animal as he rose, and now 
 we are here, imposing upon your kind hospitality. 
 
 Katherine. How fortunate you are in your 
 misfortunes. 
 
 Raleigh. How? 
 
 Katherine. Such accidents could turn into 
 great disasters. 
 
 Raleigh. Ah, yes — yes. That is true, and I 
 am grateful for your kind sympathy. But as 
 matters stand now I think the worst of all is that 
 we have lost the trail of the hounds and my 
 fellow-riders by the delay. 
 
 Katherine. Cannot something be done for 
 your injured wrist? 
 
 Raleigh. It is rather painful. But I shall 
 wait until I return to the club house before bath- 
 ing it. 
 
 Katherine. You should not wait so long. 
 I will get a bowl and some more water at once. 
 {Starts for the house,) 
 
 Raleigh. Oh, thank you, I could not think 
 of troubling you to such an extent. (Raleigh 
 alone, ) 
 
 Raleigh. I have never seen so beautiful and 
 charming a creature before, and one who comes 
 so near my ideal of pure womanhood. ( Kather- 
 ine returns with a quantity of bandages, absorb- 
 ent cotton and a bowl, and says:) 
 
 Katherine. You can now bathe the injured 
 
 33 
 
[ ACT I ] The Trend 
 
 part, and I shall dress it for you. You should 
 not allow the inflammation to develop to such an 
 extent as it would by waiting so long for atten- 
 tion. 
 
 Raleigh (surprised). Thank you, thank 
 you. How good and kind you are. But — 
 but (Katherine confused.) 
 
 Katherine. How stupid! I have forgotten 
 the lotion. I will fetch it at once. 
 
 Raleigh. Thank you, but I am sure I shall 
 not need it. (Katherine in the house.) 
 
 Raleigh. How shall I ever repay her? 
 Heavens, I believe I am in love again. I am 
 puzzled. What shall I do? I'll propose. I'll 
 propose. (Katherine comes out of the house.) 
 
 Raleigh {continues). I'll propose. I'll pro- 
 pose. (Katherine draws near him. He says:) 
 
 I was just saying, I propose — I propose find- 
 ing my party before returning home to-night. 
 (Katherine^ with towel, dries the injured part 
 gently J soaks a cloth with liniment, wraps it about 
 the wrist and then dixsses it with the bandage 
 cloth and says:) 
 
 Katherine. I am sorry father and mother 
 are not at home, for they might do something 
 more for you. Won't you have a seat on the 
 porch while I go for mother and our little party? 
 
 Raleigh. Oh, no, no; thank you very much, 
 but I am sure nothing more could possibly be 
 done than you have already so kindly done for 
 
 34 
 
The Trend [ act i ] 
 
 me. ( Raleigh moves off a few steps. Thinks, 
 looks at Katherine^ says:) 
 
 You have been very kind, and I am most grate- 
 ful for all you have done, and now — as one good 
 turn deserves another — I trust you will forgive 
 me for taking the liberty of asking if there is not 
 something I could possibly do to return my obli- 
 gation? I am most desirous of being of service, 
 and you seem so anxious. 
 
 Katherine {confused, then laughs). Oh, 
 there is nothing in reality. There is nothing, I 
 assure you. I was only thinking of life to-day 
 and the lonely part of it that we have to endure 
 at times, and now it all seems such a coincident, 
 for this is Leap year — 
 
 Raleigh (surprised and disconcerted). Oh, 
 yes. Yes, yes — of course. Of course this is 
 Leap year. But what has this to do with this 
 show of consternation? 
 
 Katherine {more composedly j in a very de- 
 cided and bewitching manner). Well — well — 
 to be exact and plain, and since you ask me, I 
 will tell you. I had just resolved, before you 
 arrived, to pour out my feelings to and ask some 
 good man to be my guiding star and protector 
 forevermore. 
 
 Raleigh {starting, steps aside and exclaims:) 
 Well, well — I have been in much speculation. I 
 have had many narrow escapes, been in close 
 range many times with my adversaries, have fol- 
 
 35 
 
[ ACT I ] The Trend 
 
 lowed the hounds through almost impassable 
 ways with imminent danger on all sides, and have 
 had to have courage in this world to save myself 
 from destruction; but I'll be blessed if this isn't 
 the hardest of all situations or conditions I have 
 yet had to solve. {Thinks a moment^ advances 
 toward Katherine^ looks upon her wealth of 
 brown hair earnestly^ while Katherine looks 
 defiant but mingles with it some encouragement, ) 
 Can it be true that this is no ruse or jest, and do 
 you really mean, measure and weigh all that 
 you say? 
 
 Katherine (roguishly), I always mean 
 what I say. (Then retorted reproachfully:) 
 How could a lady do otherwise? 
 
 Raleigh (aside). Strange, strange — I must 
 confess, but now I stand face to face with a 
 proposition for being gallant, and I could never 
 be accused of such a breach of manly conduct as 
 it would warrant should I decline the challenge. 
 (Moves toward Katherine. Katherine looks 
 toward the ground. Raleigh kneels before her, 
 looks up into her face and says fervently:) 
 
 Noble one, with spirit of a saint, 
 
 For what else could a woman be 
 
 Who has thus so highly honored me? 
 
 Just such a fair one as you 
 
 I have lived and longed to meet, 
 
 And I therefore place myself at your feet. 
 
 36 
 
The Trend [ act i ] 
 
 I have loved the plain and unpretentious more 
 
 and more, 
 And now this stirs me to the core, 
 To find such a fair woman so honest and so bold. 
 
 {A moments silence,) 
 
 May I kiss your hand once, in reverence of my 
 esteem? (Takes hand and attempts to press it 
 to his lips.) 
 
 Katherine {withdraws it somewhat angrily,) 
 You have no right thus to do. 
 
 Raleigh (rises , moves aside again, thinks , 
 then says:) With all my heart I will honor 
 thee; with all my power I will reverence thee. 
 Your courage and your features will always be 
 treasured in my memory and imprinted upon my 
 heart. (The prattle of the children is heard as 
 they return,) But alas, alas — it cannot be, for 
 I am betrothed to another. (At this moment a 
 blast of the horn of the hunt club is heard. ) 
 
 Raleigh (cries:) The hounds! The hounds! 
 They return this way. (He starts to hurry off, 
 gaining some distance; he turns, looks toward 
 Katherine and reverently says:) I owe you 
 a lifelong debt, and may it yet be in my power 
 at least to make a partial payment in some form 
 (and as he hurries off, adds:) Farewell — fare- 
 well, kind one, farewell. (As he passes from 
 the scene the children enter again. Katherine 
 excitedly but lovingly cares for them and asks if 
 
 37 
 
[ ACT I ] The Trend 
 
 they will have food or drink, as Curate Rol- 
 lins^ Mrs. Janeway and Nina come upon the 
 scene. Strange shrieks of a woman's voice are 
 heard, A few moments later a man dressed in 
 hunting costume hurriedly enters, asks for water, 
 saying that a lady has been thrown from her 
 horse, and fears she is badly injured, A moment 
 later Katherine and Curate Rollins leave for 
 the scene of accident. In a short time Kath- 
 erine returns, and excitedly tells her mother of 
 the calamity and the probable death of a lady 
 rider, and almost faints as Nina leads the chil- 
 dren into the house,) 
 
 38 
 
ACT II. 
 
ACT II. 
 
 {Three years later. The Janeway household j 
 now in New York, is once more greatly re- 
 plenished by Mr. J^neway^s association 
 with Harry Dodge in his new match ven- 
 ture , which is so successful that it has made 
 all those interested in the match production 
 most pj'osperous and sanguine in their an- 
 ticipations. Mrs. Janeway^ always devout, 
 religious, and careful of her associations, is 
 now passed away, and upon Katherine is 
 devolved the household cares and the care of 
 Mr. Janeway. Katherine is endowed 
 with a most pleasing and captivating person- 
 ality, and what nature could not do for her 
 in polish and culture a renowned body of 
 teachers have bestowed upon her; she, how- 
 ever, is one who no one can foretell what her 
 real and natural character will develop, for 
 she is like a beautiful stray bud of some rare 
 plant, but not knowing the nature of the 
 plant, it is impossible to tell which way the 
 beauty of its offspring will turn, or whether 
 darker and somber tendencies will outweigh 
 the lighter and more pleasing shades. 
 Katherine at times is serious and sober, and 
 
 41 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 at others most charmingly vivacious and 
 brilliant J and after a very careful and watch- 
 ful training by her adopted mother ^ and 
 spending several years of her life in a con- 
 ventj we find her now about twenty-four 
 years of age, with lovely form and features 
 bright, radiant, and a great favorite in a fast 
 and fashionable society in the great metropo- 
 lis. She proves herself a delightful hostess 
 for her aged father, and is surrounded with 
 every luxury. There are receptions, opera 
 parties, dinners and balls often during this 
 winter through the Janeways^ hospitality, 
 due to a lenient and indulgent old father's 
 pleasure in serving his fascinating adopted 
 daughter. One night during the middle of 
 December the Janeway mansion on Fifth 
 Avenue is thrown open to a cultivated col- 
 lection of people who represent that class of 
 society that is famous in New York for 
 wealth and fashion. The time, labor and 
 services of those known in the arts of decora- 
 tion and for making a feast of the kind con- 
 spicuous and successful are employed, in- 
 cluding a celebrated French caterer, to pre- 
 pare the delicacies and the beverages for the 
 table, and a noted decorator to carry out the 
 picturesque program. The feature of the 
 night is to be the rendering of a classic song 
 by Katherine Janeway, after which many 
 
 42 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 noted professionals will follow; then supper, 
 and finally dancing, is the well worked out 
 plan of the entertainment. The Janeways 
 are at the height of their anticipation in life. 
 The old father is happy because he is once 
 more a man of means, after having suffered 
 reverses, and can again indulge the child of 
 his adoption with all she cares to have, and 
 dream and anticipate her happiness with her, 
 all of which crowns his joys to the unbound- 
 ed, while she glitters in jewels and is radi- 
 antly happy as she realizes the dreams of her 
 younger days, that of living in the great city 
 of Netv York, mingling with many fashion- 
 able personages, and surrounded by all the 
 latest fads that can be afforded.) 
 
 {Reception room, situated next to the ball room 
 in Herbert Janeway^s Fifth Avenue man- 
 sion, in New York. Soon after dinner 
 Harry Dodge meets Mr. Janeway, to talk 
 over private business matters before the 
 guests begin to arrive.) 
 
 Dodge. Yes, sir; things are moving glori- 
 ously in our favor. We had to-day from the 
 Consolidated Match Company, which is a con- 
 tributory of the American Gas Company of New 
 York, which in turn is controlled or owned by 
 the National Oil Company of America, with all 
 its subsidiaries, a most flattering offer for our 
 
 43 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 franchise and process and a major portion of 
 our stock; they now offer us par for the stock, 
 which you know, sir, they refused to accept three 
 years ago at five dollars a share. (Dodge re- 
 markably pleased as Me. Janeway looks upon 
 him beamingly,) 
 
 Me. Janeway. My boy, you have made a 
 wonderful record, which reached a climax to-day, 
 and places you in an enviable position. To have 
 such old heads, with long experience in finance 
 and business, to come to you with such a flatter- 
 ing proposition is certainly a position of which 
 any young man should be proud. (Pause for a 
 moment. ) But I, in my himible opinion, would 
 advise you not to acquiesce; not because they 
 will not be able to carry out any part of any 
 agreement in which they may enter, but they 
 will only subject you to humiliation at some 
 future time, as they humiliated me after I had 
 agreed to sell out my nail business to that great 
 combination that is now affiliated with the Na- 
 tional Oil Company of America. They do not 
 want your business for any purpose but to de- 
 throne it, and you with it, so that you and your 
 business cannot disturb their progress or produc- 
 tion by competition, and now I would say, hold 
 on to your own, strive as you have ; you have the 
 grit; you have shown it; you are young and 
 strong, and you will only have to continue in the 
 future as you have done in the past to land in 
 
 . ■ 44 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 some position that is far above your dreams to- 
 day of a most flattering success and business 
 career. I say this after my experience with just 
 such a combination of men, or devils, as time will 
 show, that are now trying to weave you into their 
 net of destruction. While you are young and 
 innocent of their dreadful deeds and the inhuman 
 actions they resort to when wishing to carry out 
 some of their selfish purposes or greedy desires, 
 my boy, I would say, hold on to what you have, 
 steer your course alone, and what you derive 
 from your own endeavors will be gained honor- 
 ably, at least ; and while it may not be so produc- 
 tive in a monetary way, I am sure you will be 
 happier, even though your plans may give you 
 more trouble and less material wealth than you 
 would accumulate by resorting to questionable 
 and unseeming actions which promote such a 
 large corporation as you speak of now. 
 
 Dodge {approaches Mr. Janeway, extends 
 his hand in a manly manner:) You said the 
 other day you did not know how to acknowledge 
 and thank me for services I had rendered you. 
 If you are at all indebted to me, sir, you have 
 more than repaid that indebtedness a thousand 
 fold by your frank and fatherly advice — {and as 
 if wishing to say something more that is nearer 
 to his heartj he breathlessly and with much ex- 
 citement, falters:) Mr. Janeway^ Katherine 
 
 — Mr. Janeway, Katherine " 
 
 45 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 (A sweet voice calling "Father^ father/* 
 
 is heard from some one near at hand and 
 
 approaching, A moment later j as Dodge 
 
 eccitSj Katherine Janeway is at the feet 
 
 of her adopted father, imploring him to 
 
 be good and gracious on this evening 
 
 which would prove to be the climaxing 
 
 period of her childish life. Then she 
 
 says:) 
 
 You know I am now no longer a butterfly, as 
 
 of the years gone by. I feel as the time goes on 
 
 that there are more responsibilities in life than 
 
 I had ever dreamed of. Just think of the great 
 
 and awful powers that are bestowed upon one 
 
 single human being at certain times of life. It 
 
 seems that one becomes a real representative of 
 
 our Father above to command one, two, or more 
 
 of his creatures upon this earth. 
 
 (Mr. Janeway looks up in surprise at this 
 outburst of seriousness on the part of his 
 adopted daughter, and inquires of her 
 more minutely as to her meaning, and 
 finally elicits from her her real meaning 
 as she says:) 
 I believe men are not men at all, but only chil- 
 dren at play, for I am quite sure I hold the des- 
 tiny already of several within the palm of my 
 hand, or could command them with a wave of my 
 wand, as was done by witches of yore. 
 
 Mr. Janeway. You must not be so sure of 
 
 46 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 your great powers over the fickle man — but I 
 know it, I know it only too well. I can see that 
 your movements are felt in every direction when 
 you are in company with my sex, and that your 
 attractive powers are envied and talked of by 
 your own sex. 
 
 {After a pause father and daughter get 
 upon their feet, and as the father lovingly 
 caresses his yet frivolous child, in whom 
 he has just noted the first dawn of the 
 real seriousness of life, says, as the daugh- 
 ter hows her head low:) 
 
 May your new life be blessed with all that is due 
 to a faithful and loving child. 
 
 {The daughter kisses the father a loving 
 good-bye and leaves the room to dress for 
 the grand occasion of the night,) 
 
 (Mr. JanewaYj alone and already attired 
 in evening dress, soliloquizes:) 
 What is the use of trying to understand it all? 
 The world is governed by higher authority than 
 is upon this globe, and right is might, and is 
 bound to rule in the end. They by pretence have 
 robbed and humiliated me by getting control of 
 my business, solely for the purpose of closing up 
 my plant, so that I could no longer disturb them 
 in carrying out their dastardly deeds of organ- 
 ization and sole control of the wire nail busi- 
 ness. {Pause,) After shutting up my factory 
 
 47 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 they made me a member of the Directorate, and 
 then dictated terms to me that were so overbear- 
 ing and obscene that it drove me out from the 
 sheer force of their iniquities, they calculating 
 at the time that I would be so disabled from age 
 and physical weakness that I would no longer 
 be able to antagonize them. They were correct 
 in their conclusions until the present stage of the 
 struggle, but now satisfaction seems to come to 
 me in the end by God's guidance, that young 
 soul Dodge has placed me once more in position 
 where I will dictate to them. Yes, to them, with 
 all their showy wealth in store, fraudulently and 
 stealthily obtained by shameful actions and self- 
 ish deeds. Ha, ha, ha! the victory is not yet 
 won, and we have our ammunition and stores of 
 war at hand, and with all the generalship from 
 my great experience, and with all the fire and 
 power that is left in this old and decaying body, 
 I will fight them on and on to the end — yes, fight 
 them hard and to the end; yes, even to the end. 
 {As these last words are dying from the lips 
 of the old gentleman, music, the first of 
 the evening, is heard emitting softly from 
 the hall-room. Nina appears before Mr. 
 Janeway^ who seems utterly oblivious of 
 all his surroundings,) 
 Nina. Sir, Miss Janeway requests your 
 presence in her boudoir ; she wishes you to see her 
 and to know if you approve of her attire. 
 
 48 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 (As Mr. Janeway and Nina leave the 
 room Harry Dodge and Harry Brown 
 enter, appearing in great glee, and in ani- 
 mated conversation about the coup of the 
 day in Wall street.) 
 Brown. Yes, we have pressed them hard, 
 our product is growing more popular every day 
 with the public, our match is fast taking the 
 place of all others in use, and that, you know, is 
 something they cannot withstand. Our foreign 
 trade is growing enormous, and we shall soon 
 have to have additional plants. The Trust Al- 
 liance knows we shall have them in our power 
 sooner or later, since our match has so many good 
 qualities over anything they can manufacture, 
 and, to their chagrin, we are protected by the 
 laws of patents. They realize that they cannot 
 make anything which will come within the range 
 of our process. They know we have the advan- 
 tage of a cheap article, as well as a good one. 
 We have them cornered, and I predict before 
 long they will offer us two hundred dollars a 
 share instead of the one hundred dollars offered 
 to-day for a major portion of our stock. 
 
 (The men laugh gleefully at the predica- 
 ment the Consolidated 3Iatch Company 
 has placed about themselves and their loss 
 of the monopoly of the match business, 
 even though they are backed or owned by 
 the great Oil Trust of America,) 
 49 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 Dodge. Brown^ you speak well, and matters 
 really look favorable for us, but do you not know 
 that sometimes I fairly shiver to the soles of my 
 feet when I think of the gigantic organizations 
 we are fighting and the way they fight. They 
 resort to any means, at times, to carry their point 
 when they are hard pressed. Think of the in- 
 fluence and affluence at the hands of this giant of 
 finance. They are capable and cool-headed 
 business men of long experience, their lawyers 
 are the best legal talent obtainable, they are well 
 fortified politically, which means much when in 
 a fight such as we will have to wage, and if I may 
 say so, politics and finance, nowadays, have much 
 influence over the judiciary. 
 
 (He places his hand on the shoulder of his 
 friend and co-operator, and says seri- 
 ously:) 
 Old man, we have no easy task before us, but 
 we are in the struggle at least to stand fast. 
 Brown. I am, to the end. 
 Dodge. And I, with heart and soul, even to 
 eternity. 
 
 {A strange and weird strain is heard. It is 
 the beginning of the long-looked for mo- 
 ment by Katherine Janeway. It is the 
 prelude of her song that is to make her 
 famous or otherwise,) 
 (Brown attempts to show his comradeship 
 with Dodge by shaking his hand, but 
 
 50 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 Dodge seems breathless and colorless with 
 emotion. He creeps into a place of ad- 
 vantage and says:) 
 Will you remain with me, Brown? I can- 
 not brave it, I can go no closer, I shall go 
 no nearer {and as he tries to control him- 
 self ^ his color seems like one in death,) 
 (Brown stands close to him and grasps his 
 hand, as he looks as though he will fall. 
 The next second a deep and magic note 
 sounds upon the hushed and deeply si- 
 lenced atmosphere. There is a tremor j 
 then a trill, and then a succession of weird 
 notes like the sound of thunder, and then 
 like the pattering of ram 07i the housetop; 
 then several strokes of lightning. The 
 music is strange and weird, and then at 
 intervals it is both sentimental and emo- 
 tional. The time and notes are most re- 
 plete and perfect for exactness and 
 strength, and brings forth an extreme va- 
 riety of sound and contrast with exquisite 
 vibration. ) 
 (Dodge listeris with intensity, so much so 
 that he is almost marble-like in color, and 
 now, after the first introduction and 
 deafening applause resounds in his ears, 
 his face flushes, and as the rare voice 
 starts again upon its curious portrayal of 
 nature, which is pathetic at times and 
 
 51 
 
[ ACT II ] The Thend 
 
 strangely poetic and romantic at others, 
 and in which intermingles a fervent prayer 
 of a Shepherdess to Heaven for the safe 
 delivery of her flock from the fury of the 
 storm, ) 
 (Dodge again clutches the hand of his 
 friend without uttering a word, and there 
 remains until the last note of this very 
 quaint and absorbing classic rendered by 
 Katherine Janeway^ amidst a profuse 
 hand-clapping, is at an end. He then 
 quietly says to Brown:) 
 I must go ; I must go at once and congratulate 
 her. Will you come? 
 
 (The next moment the men leave the scene, 
 evidently much relieved, but excitedly 
 move towards the great assembly of peo- 
 ple in the ball room, who are offering their 
 congratulations to her who has made for 
 herself, in the last few moments, so envi- 
 able a place in the hearts and minds of the 
 exclusive set of the great metropolis,) 
 (Mr. Janeway appears in the reception 
 room, surrounded by a bevy of young 
 matrons and maids and men of fashion, 
 offering their congratulations to him for 
 the achievement of his daughter,) 
 Mrs. Westerbury {a leader of the "sxvell" 
 set, says, in offering her hand) , You should be 
 proud of your daughter. She is a prize, and one 
 
 52 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 any man should be proud of, either as a father 
 or a husband. 
 
 Mrs. Fletcher. Allow me to congratulate 
 you, my dear Mr. Janeway. You have a lovely 
 child in your care, and if I dare say so, from now 
 on you will have more care than ever before ; she 
 will be sought after in many and various man- 
 ners ; but take care and see that she gets a man, 
 and not an imitation or dummy, for a husband. 
 (And many other such words of congratula- 
 tions follow J with hand-shakings, until the 
 old gentleman, overwhelmed on all sides, 
 is carried off his feet and out of the recep- 
 tion room by many young maidens to the 
 grill room. The music begins once more. 
 Many couples leave the room for dancing, 
 while Mrs. Westerbury and Mrs. 
 Fletcher^ in company with several other 
 ladies, stand gossiping about affairs af- 
 fecting society.) 
 Mrs. Westerbury. And I hear she is al- 
 ready engaged to that uninteresting young man 
 who is in business with her father. Such a pity 
 for so beautiful and brilliant a girl to throw her 
 life away thus, by giving it up to such a narrow- 
 minded human being as he must be. Why, they 
 say he is so jealous that he hates to have another 
 soul look upon her fair face. How absurd, how 
 ridiculous! Ha, ha, ha! Mary, think of the 
 time he would have, if it should prove to be the 
 
 53 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 case. He would go about half mad, I dare say, 
 with his star of grace and beauty, who would flirt 
 with men of her equal, for I hear she is really very 
 coquettish. She would make a beautiful partner 
 for a man of the world, you know; such as my 
 dear husband was when he was young. He fair- 
 ly made me flirt with other women's husbands 
 and young men, as you know, and this has been 
 most entertaining and charming to me in life. 
 
 Mrs. Fletcher. Certainly you did, and you 
 also took the gentleman into your confidence and 
 borrowed a few hundreds or thousands, as the 
 case might be, when you were in need of ready 
 cash for keeping up your margins, or to pay off 
 your indebtedness at cards, or to bet on your 
 favorite horses. 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. Ah, Mary, dear, that has 
 been the case so often that it is quite natural for 
 me now to do so. 
 
 (Mrs. Barbour^ a young matron with more 
 polish and good looks than morals, ap- 
 proaches lightly, and hanteringly says to 
 Mrs. Westerbury;) 
 
 My leader and mistress of the social empire, 
 pray tell me something of the new leader in the 
 political world, that head who has ascended to 
 the coveted throne without a wife. 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury {half seriously.) Ah, 
 dear me, another commoner, and I suppose we 
 will be compelled to take him under our fold. 
 
 54 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 Uneducated, unrefined, and very coarse; knows 
 nothing but the game of politics, but very rich 
 and holds more power over New York City, in- 
 cluding the Supreme Court judges, than any 
 other person on earth. 
 
 Mrs. Barbour. A good recommendation, I 
 confess. Will you give me an introduction soon? 
 I aspire to wealth and politics of the day in ac- 
 cordance with my ideas of living, and besides, you 
 know we have had great trouble of late. Father 
 has lost heavily in stocks, and my husband 
 has been cut off from his allowance, and I 
 do desire so much to meet such a good little 
 lamb like Mr. O'Neil, of whom you speak, and 
 who is so innocent of our life and the works of 
 our set. I would like to cultivate his acquaint- 
 ance. It would be intensely entertaining to 
 watch him develop; must be highly interest- 
 ing to first see him creep, then his first step, 
 and finally, I suppose, like all the rest of 
 his clan, his final and last fall backward 
 into degradation, or to his original state 
 or flock. Ha, ha! If not into the peniten- 
 tiary, where so many of his kind abide. Oh, 
 how I would love to meet this present lion from 
 the jungles of this mighty city. You know that 
 it would be jolly good fun, as w^ell as very prac- 
 tical, at this particular time for me. Now, my 
 dear Mrs. Westerbury, do you not think you 
 can arrange this little affair for me? I promise 
 
 55 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 to be good, and when I ascend to the throne of 
 government (I believe they call it petticoat gov- 
 ernment, even to controlling the old and very 
 grave judges (sarcastically) of our beautiful 
 state), you may depend upon me at all times to 
 be of service to you. Remember your husband 
 sometimes has legal entanglements to straighten 
 out about this great railroad system in the state. 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. Well, well, Rose Bar- 
 bour, I am surprised ; but I suppose it is all due 
 to the capriciousness of the times in which we 
 live. History repeats itself, and we are only 
 imitating our forefathers and mothers of years 
 ago, when petticoat government ruled the des- 
 tiny of monarchs and nations. 
 
 (All) Ha, ha, ha! Good, good! 
 
 Mrs. Barbour (to Mrs. Westerbury). Al- 
 ways willing and ready to respond to a good and 
 witty or practical move, whether it be of prose 
 or poetry. (Then, addressing all:) 
 
 Ladies, you see this genius who compels us 
 all to follow and to be loyal and loveable to her, 
 as our leader, and I now move that we give three 
 cheers and a kiss to our fair, wise and brave 
 empress. 
 
 (Now there is approaching a crowd of peo- 
 ple , gaily talking and claiming engage- 
 mentSj as Katherine Janeway enters, 
 attired in a lovely gown and flushed with 
 the excitement attending her successes. 
 
 56 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 Many young men are surrounding her, 
 one claiming a dance, another a few mo- 
 ments of conversation, and another beg- 
 ging to place his name on her list of 
 dances, and lastly and most earnestly, 
 both Dodge and Raleigh claim her re- 
 spectively as their partner to supper,) 
 (Mrs. Westerbury comes to Katherine''s 
 rescue tdth her experience and trained tac- 
 tics, which seem to make her word law, 
 whether it concerns man or woman; and 
 she tenderly strokes the poor girVs head 
 and brow, who is now fairly overcome by 
 the attentions and tribute paid her.) 
 Mrs. Westerbury. My child, you must be 
 tired. Think of the strain that has been imposed 
 upon you this evening. You must take a few 
 minutes' rest and join me on the other side of 
 the room for recreation, or a little gossip that is 
 so requisite to womenkind. The gentlemen, I 
 am sure, will allow this privilege, while they 
 smoke or take a stroll to the grill room. 
 
 (Good, good! shout several men,) I have 
 thought that that was necessary for the last half 
 hour, responds Raleigh, but you see, it takes 
 a woman's wit and ready diplomacy to mnke 
 such a suggestion without incurring the disfavor 
 of any one. 
 
 {Some of the men leave the room, yet Dodge 
 
 57 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 remains, with two or three others, who are 
 talking to some ladies,) 
 
 (Mrs. Westerbury leads Katherine to a 
 seat near a corner in the room and begins 
 to converse with her in a manner which 
 seems more serious than restful, and 
 finally, after the last man leaves, Mrs. 
 Westerbury exclaims : ) 
 
 What say you, Mary (addressing Mrs. 
 Fletcher) ; Mary, what say you? I have com- 
 menced to give our honored star a little motherly 
 advice; what say you to w^hat I have said? I 
 have told her that she is now upon the threshold 
 of a great danger. Every man from the cellar 
 to the garret is madlj^ in love with her. I have 
 told her to be careful and observing in her choice 
 and that when her decree must fall, to allow it to 
 fall firmly upon a man of the world and not a 
 stick or a dummy. Take a man of the world with 
 experience in the world, as the world is, and 
 never a narrow, frail-minded one who will stick 
 so close to her apron strings that it will be im- 
 possible for another man to look upon her fair 
 face at all. We are a family of beings, requir- 
 ing an intermingling of others to keep us well- 
 balanced and broad. Why, my poor life would 
 have been ground out of me long, long ago, had 
 I been held down by some poor, miserable speck 
 of humanity. Ah, Mary, you know the freedom 
 
 58 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 I have had, and how I have enjoyed it. Don't 
 you think I have, dear? 
 
 Mrs. Fletcher. Why, of course I do. 
 Mrs. Westerbury. And to think now of so 
 beautiful and attractive a girl as our dear Kath- 
 ERiNE has proven herself to be, to think of tying 
 herself to such a selfish and narrow an individual 
 as he must be, and all for the mere sake of senti- 
 ment, or for what he has done in a material way 
 for her father, seems ridiculous. Why, she her- 
 self will shine so brilliantly in the future that she 
 will be able to command the wealth and wisdom 
 of a monarch, with all his dependencies. Ha, ha, 
 ha ! No — no, my dear Katherine^ it must never 
 be so. You must have some one with good tact, 
 manly and experienced in the world, and broad 
 enough at least to allow another human being, 
 either man or woman, to look upon your fair 
 face. 
 
 (Mr. Janeway^ with a crowd of young men 
 following him, enters. Apparently some 
 of them are under the influence of wine. 
 They come upon the scene arm in arm. 
 These frivolous young men seem in full 
 enjoyment of the festivities. Mr. Jane- 
 way cries out:) 
 Katherine^ Katherine^ my dear, where are 
 you? I wish to congratulate you, my dear; you 
 have charmed me, as well as all the men present 
 on this evening. If you could only hear the 
 
 59 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 praise that has been given you! I am proud of 
 you. I am proud of you, and this is all I can say 
 of you now {and he kisses his adopted daughter 
 fervently ) . 
 
 (Katherine leaves the room upon the arm 
 of a young man who claims a dance with 
 her. Many other young ladies^ with their 
 escortSj likewise leave as the music com- 
 mences, ) 
 (The remaining men and women begin to 
 discuss the respective merits of the horses 
 that are to appear in the races in the south 
 during the following week, hut soon they 
 all finally leave Mr. Janeway alone in 
 his big chair, musing under the strain of 
 things. ) 
 (Katherine stealthily enters alone, and 
 seeks her father's advice about a vital ques- 
 tion, that of giving her heart and hand 
 away in marriage. She says:) 
 Father, father, do help me {as she falls upon 
 her knees by the side of her father) . What shall 
 I do? Harry is fretting himself into a fury and 
 insists upon having an answer at once. 
 
 Mr. Janeway. What, at such a time as this ? 
 {More thoughtfully). Well, the poor boy has 
 the fever like the rest, or he wouldn't be human 
 if he hadn't. What have you told him, my dear? 
 Katherine. I have told him that he was 
 foolish. 
 
 60 
 
The Trend [actii] 
 
 Mr. Janeway. I concur with you in one re- 
 spect—foolish about the time he speaks of it, but 
 never about the girl involved. 
 
 Katherine. Will you go and see him and 
 tell him that I appreciate all he has done, but that 
 he should wait for a short time longer, and try to 
 calm him, for he seems to be almost in a frenzy. 
 Mr. Janeway. Certainly, my dear, certain- 
 ly. I will seek him at once. 
 
 {As Mr. Janeway leaves the room, Ra- 
 leigh lea2:}s from, behind a window cur- 
 tain into the room. He has overheard the 
 conversation between Katherine and her 
 father, and he claims her as his fiancee, 
 earnestly and fervently as he says:) 
 You asked me to marry you three years ago, 
 {With beating heart, at first, Katherine 
 seems frightened and, as he claims her 
 hand, she recoils and says:) 
 Oh, do forgive me, do forgive it all; how silly 
 it appears now. You see, in reality it was only 
 a woman's whim or a silly dream that I mdulged 
 in at the time. {Pause, Then:) 
 
 And besides {playfully), Mr. Raleigh, such 
 terms or propositions would not be honored now; 
 they are outlawed by time, and if negotiations 
 for another deal are to be opened, then other 
 precedence will have to be estabUshed and other 
 form of procedure will have to take the place 
 
 61 
 
[ ACT II ] The Teend 
 
 of those that were prevalent at the time you 
 speak of. 
 
 Raleigh. Oh, Katherine^ do not talk thus 
 of my devotion to you ; do not make light of my 
 burning love for you. You know that I have 
 waited and waited for this moment since that 
 eventful hour of three years ago when Alice 
 was brought helpless to your door and only lived 
 a few moments afterward. She, of course, as 
 you know, was the one I loved and to whom I 
 was espoused, but when she was no longer, and 
 after all honor had been paid her, you were next 
 in my thoughts. 
 
 Katherine. Oh, then, I am only second 
 choice after all. 
 
 Raleigh. Do not trifle, this is no time or place 
 for such proceedings. I adore you, you can com- 
 mand my existence, and give me such life as I 
 have never yet known and you hold in your hand 
 my destiny. It is at your command. 
 
 {He seeks her hand again, she withdraws 
 it and says:) 
 
 Mr. Raleigh^ truly, you have no right to as- 
 sume such a liberty. 
 
 Raleigh {bewildered for a moment). But 
 think of the suffering you impose upon me. Re- 
 member, you are my sole redeemer and my sole 
 director. Remember, no matter what your will 
 may be, I am ready to abide by your command. 
 
 62 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 Tell me Yes or No at this moment, for it is all 
 too horrible to bear another day, or even an hour. 
 
 Katherine. Mr. Raleigh {seriously) I 
 cannot understand this outburst of emotion. I 
 have never heard of such a devotion being in 
 existence before, and I have seen you many times 
 within three years. You must remember that an 
 answer to such an appeal cannot be given at a 
 moment's notice. You are honorable, you are 
 judicious and wise, think for a moment, how 
 could I say a word of encouragement to you 
 without due reflection. 
 
 Raleigh. But you know I love you, I love 
 you intensely, more than any other human being 
 could love another. 
 
 Katherine (mischieveously) . Yes, but you 
 have already refused me and my love once and 
 I must be a little more careful next time when I 
 oflPer it out too generously to the first one that 
 comes along as I did three years ago. 
 
 Mr. Janeway (calls out) Katherine^ 
 Katherine. 
 
 Raleigh {lamenting) . Do tell me something, 
 do tell me that I can hope. 
 
 {As Mr. Janeway approaches, Raleigh 
 excitedly and anxiously awaiting,) 
 
 Katherine. Oh, yes, yes, you can hope, we 
 will see what time will do. 
 
 (Mr. Janeway enters, says aloud:) Dodge, 
 poor boy, is almost wild with fervent love, and 
 
 63 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 the excitement of the day and evening together 
 with his business cares are weighing heavily upon 
 him, but good, Hke he is always when I spoke 
 to him, he calmed and said he saw his folly or 
 the injustice he has done and will henceforth be 
 more sensible. 
 
 {While Katherine and her father are 
 eagerly engaged in conversation, Raleigh 
 steps back in the rear and heai^s all that is 
 said. He stands motionless and white, 
 and as the last words are uttered, sighi 
 deeply. ) 
 (Mrs. Westerbury enters hurriedly and 
 seizes Raleigh by the arm and says in 
 low but audible tones.) 
 "How did you make out? I have done all 
 that I can do for you; paved the way the best I 
 knew how, and now the rest will have to be left 
 in your own hands and to the works of God." 
 (Raleigh moves convulsively at the word 
 ''God.'' It seems like mockery to him 
 under the conditions he lives. He only 
 motions to Mrs. Westerbury to take his 
 arm and he escorts her out of the room into 
 the glare of the ball room, with all its en- 
 tertaining elements of eoccitement.) 
 {After some silence Katherine says, seri- 
 ously.) 
 Harry is a good soul and a loveable boy, the 
 best in the world. What would we have done 
 
 64 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 without him, we owe all to him, and it will be an 
 unpayable debt, due to him, from us to Eternity. 
 Mr. Janeway. Ah, tut, tut, my child, do not 
 grow serious under such conditions as we have 
 here to-night. It is for jollification and happi- 
 ness and you should be happy, if there is such 
 a thing as happiness in this world. You should 
 be grateful to Heaven and to mortals for all that 
 has been done for you and for placing you in 
 such an enviable position as you have ascended 
 to to-night. 
 
 Katherine. Ah, I am grateful, most grate- 
 ful for it all, but somehow there is a coldness 
 within me which suiTOunds my cheerfulness and 
 is hard to throw off. How it came, or what it is, 
 I cannot tell. Ah, it is there and deeply rooted. 
 Now {after some deep reflection she says, sadly:) 
 Oh, if mother was with us now, so that I could 
 speak with her and hear once more words of com- 
 fort and encouragement and her final appeal to 
 Heaven to deliver us from evil. 
 
 {The old gentleman looks very sad as he 
 hears the name of his good wife and 
 Katherine speak of her thus.) 
 (Katherine looks tired j her face becomes 
 white and meditative, and the father 
 and daughter muse for a time. Kath- 
 erine kisses her father and leaves for the 
 hall room. There is wafted into the room 
 a number of Wall Street men; approach- 
 es 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 ing, they say they are looking for Mr. 
 Janeway and Uncle Billy Marshall^ 
 the great wit and moralist of the Street, 
 who has spent his life in the Street, 
 has been broken or bankrupt half a dozen 
 times, and is yet fairly well to do, is al- 
 ways cheerful and has an impediment in 
 his speech. As the men draw near, they 
 cry out:) 
 Uncle Billy^ where shall we find you. Oh, 
 Uncle Billy^ where shall we find you. 
 
 {They speak to Mr. Janeway^ who is in a 
 serious mood, and in his customary chair, 
 looking far and deep into the unknown. 
 Young Rockwell lightly and airily 
 says:) 
 Ah, Mr. Janeway^ you seem deeply con- 
 cerned about something. 
 
 {And then touching him lightly and gently 
 
 upon his shoulder, says:) 
 Does it pay, Sir, to enwrap one's self in the 
 mysteries of life, after so long and well spent one 
 as yours seems to have been? 
 
 {Before Mr. Janeway answers, young 
 
 Morton says:) 
 
 Mr. Janeway^ can you tell us something 
 
 about Uncle Billy Marshall^ or where he has 
 
 crouched himself? We have looked in every hole, 
 
 comer and crevice, but of no avail. 
 
 (Mr. Janeway seems to arouse himself; 
 says:) 
 
 66 
 
The Teend [ act ii ] 
 
 Ah, Boys, indeed I cannot tell you. Isn't he 
 to be found, I dare say he is in some cosy corner 
 with some prepossessing young maid or matron 
 and cannot be parted. I am sure you will yet 
 find him here. 
 
 Wall Street Men. Good, good, bravo, 
 bravo I 
 
 Young Morton. We wish Uncle Billy to 
 tell us his latest experience, or a story, you know, 
 and give us a lesson in his well-earned and prac- 
 tical philosophy. 
 
 Young Whitehouse. Boys, I could tell you 
 one story that was told to me the other evening at 
 Uncle Billyhs expense. 
 
 Do — do — cry all in chorus. 
 
 Whitehouse. It seems, during the last horse 
 show, Uncle Billy was accompanied by some 
 of his friends, who took a delight in showing him 
 the fine thoroughbreds that were winners of the 
 Blue Ribbon, all of which, or nearly all, were 
 owned by members of the New York Stock Ex- 
 change. The old gentleman looked long and 
 keenly at the horses, one after another, and ad- 
 mired them immensely, and then finally, after 
 the long line had come to an end, he stood for 
 a moment or two in deep contemplation and ex- 
 pectancy, and then said in his usual droll man- 
 ner and stammering speech: "Now, B-boys, 
 you have shown m-me all of the brokers' h-horses, 
 n-now wh-where are the cus-customers' h-horses? 
 
 67 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 (Huj, ha, ha, good, good, good, just like 
 Uncle Billy^ shouts someone, and much 
 laughter is indulged in by all of the men, 
 in which Mr. Janeway heartily joins, and 
 now Young Chase says:) 
 I have heard another story at the expense of 
 Uncle Billy. He went off to Washington one 
 day during last winter for a few days' recrea- 
 tion and as some of his New York friends had 
 opened a branch office in that city. He called 
 in one day, and, as is usual in such offices, there 
 were three large black-boards on the wall for the 
 purpose of keeping records of prices and sales. 
 After Uncle Billy had looked around the 
 office and had been introduced to many Wash- 
 ingtonians, among whom were some Senators 
 and many Representatives in Congress, and 
 while Uncle Billy was looking at the boards 
 for the price of some stock, and all the gentlemen 
 stood about, he was asked by the proud resident 
 manager of what he thought of the arrangements 
 of the office. Uncle Billy stood silent for a 
 moment or two, as if reflecting deeply and seri- 
 ously, and then said : Well, gentlemen, all seems 
 perfectly suited and convenient for the transac- 
 tion of business, but, but, there is one thing I 
 cannot help saying when I think of the ups and 
 downs of Wall Street during my long experi- 
 ence. These boards here in front of me seem 
 to express my feelings regarding three great 
 
 68 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 dominating elements of the Street, and I will tell 
 you what they are. Then pointing his finger he 
 said : This first board here seems to me to repre- 
 sent the institution that is known to us all as the 
 poor house; the second board there appeals to 
 me as an asylum for the insane; and the third 
 board there appears to me like an undertaker's 
 establishment. Now% gentlemen, do be careful, 
 and when you enter either one of these three 
 great institutions see that you select the one that 
 will furnish you the least suffering or concern. 
 And he quietly walked out of the office and back 
 to his hotel. 
 
 {Ha J ha J ha! they all shout, including Mr 
 Janeway. At this mo7nent jSIr. JMar- 
 SHALL comes forth into the room. There 
 is a shout of joy as he enters. He looks 
 calm and serious and very innocent of all 
 the transpirings. Two or three of the 
 young men take his arm and lead him to 
 the front as he stammers to jNIr. Jane- 
 way.) 
 
 Herbert, I only called to thank you for your 
 kind invitation. I have enjoyed myself im- 
 mensely. I am going home now, so good-night 
 (and offers his hand). 
 
 {A perfect shout rings out: Oh, oh, Mr. 
 Marshall, tell us a story before you go.) 
 
 (Do, do, cry the young men.) 
 
 69 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 (Uncle Billy looks puzzled j hut caliUj 
 good natured and gentlemanly, he now 
 adds:) 
 Herbert, give my love to your daughter, she 
 is one to be proud of, and tell her so for me. 
 {As Mr. Janeavay was about to xvalk to 
 the door with Uncle Billy^ young 
 Rockwell says:) 
 Mr. Marshall^ what do you think of the 
 times? Is there any imminent danger of a panic 
 as there is now so often spoken of? 
 
 (Mr. Marshall takes a prominent posi- 
 tion in front of the scene, parts his feet 
 a little, drops his head in unison with his 
 ^ stooping shoulders, looks thoughfully, 
 
 and then says:) 
 Well, boys, I do not know, I cannot discern 
 things in such a manner. 
 
 {And then with a twinkle in his eye and 
 much humor, says:) 
 I only wish I could, you know how valuable it 
 would be in Wall Street to foretell events. 
 
 Rockwell. But do you not calculate on 
 events before they arrive, Mr. Marshall. 
 
 Marshall. No, no, I do not, for what would 
 be the use? We would only puzzle our poor 
 brains all the more and make nothing by it. We 
 know nothing unless we are in the ring, to devise, 
 and since I am not in the ring, I am only like a 
 child depending upon a father, The unknown 
 
 70 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 will happen in due course of time. We mortals 
 are too fallible to judge the course of events in 
 this world which are sure to come from the in- 
 fallible. Therefore, boys, I say do not worry 
 yourselves over events unless you are in the ring, 
 to temporarily control that which you wish done, 
 but don't worry or think too much about events 
 or panics. Be honest. Give your fellow being 
 fair treatment and take care of yourselves. Leave 
 events and panics to that which governs us 
 all and you will live longer and have a happier 
 life. Now good-bye, boys, and good luck to you. 
 (And Mr. Marshall busies himself with 
 his life-long friend, Mr. Janeway^ and 
 soon gains the door which leads through a 
 corridor to the carriage entrance of the 
 Janeway mansion.) 
 (At this stage Harry Broavn enters the 
 room hurriedly and says:) 
 Gentlemen, will you not come in and join 
 us at supper? The doors are open and we 
 would like to have you and your partners in 
 early, so that you will have plenty of time with- 
 out being hurried. 
 
 (The men start for their lady friends j who 
 are in the hall room, waiting to he taken 
 to supper. Soon the room is cleared. 
 Harry Brown returns again in great 
 ecccitement with Harry Dodge, who 
 seems almost wild with excitement^ 
 
 71 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 Brown tries hard to calm him, but it 
 seems of little use. Dodge seems uncon- 
 controllable and appears to be in such a 
 rage as he moves about the room that he 
 is well nigh inhuman, and seems like a 
 ferocious beast. Brown pleads with him 
 as to the time and place for such a scene, 
 but of no avail; in appearance and in ac- 
 tion Dodge seems more insane than sane. 
 His rage is of such intensity that he is 
 impervious to all entreaties, and finally 
 he roars to Brown:) 
 If you are a friend of mine, you will do as I 
 bid you in this matter. Go to him, go to that 
 dog at once and command him to come to me 
 here, here in this room and at once, and if he 
 refuses, then shoot him — shoot him as you would 
 a dog and send his worthless life out of this world 
 without further parley over the matter. The 
 man who has proven himself to be such a cur 
 would be better out of existence, both for the 
 good of mankind and himself. {And now as he 
 proceeds he is ashen-like in color. He quivers 
 from head to foot with rage; he commands 
 Brown, at the penalty of the sacrifice of his 
 friendship, to go at 07ice and bring the culprit 
 before him.) 
 
 (Brown hesitates and wrings his ha7ids in 
 despair as he wonders how he can best 
 avert the catastrophe of possibly one or 
 72 
 
The Trend [ act n ] 
 
 more men's lives being taken at his 
 friend's home^ and the following ecvcite- 
 ment and sensation that would be sure to 
 follow such a scandal,) 
 (He turns once more to Dodge to plead j 
 but is spurned with contempt in face and 
 speech. The next moment he goes to 
 meet the man who is the cause of Dodgers 
 agitation, and is in the ball room, prepar- 
 ing to go to supper. Within a moment 
 or two Brown appears again with Jack 
 Raleigh^ who is sullen, cool and deter- 
 mined in appearance, but with evident 
 supjyressed excitement. Dodge and Ra- 
 leigh face each other in the center of the 
 room. Brown stands near Dodge^ and 
 one of Raleigh^s friends stands close by 
 him, who has just followed into the room. 
 Dodge approaches Raleigh^ who is now 
 cool and steady with drawn nerves, which 
 make them intense and more quiet for 
 the moment.) 
 (The men stand and gaze at each other for 
 a time, and then Raleigh^ with cool man- 
 
 ■ ner and words, says:) 
 
 I have come, in compliance with your friend's 
 
 appeal, to meet you here. Do you wish to 
 
 see me? 
 
 (Dodgers passion rises again at the first 
 word and he hardly waits for the sen- 
 
 73 
 
[act II] The Trend 
 
 fence uttered by Raleigh to be finished 
 before he flies at him like a lioness would 
 at one who was attacking her offspring, 
 and says:) 
 I wish to know if you are the author of the 
 
 words I have heard and given to me at your 
 
 credit? 
 
 (And then, without waiting for a word in 
 answer, he hurries on and repeats:) 
 I understand that you have said to-night that 
 my presence was a bore and an embarrassment 
 to polite society. You say that I am ignorant 
 and stupid, and step on ladies' gowns in the ball 
 room, and that my grammar and speech is so 
 gross that it grates upon a polished man's ears; 
 and further, that I am so ignorant of all the 
 requisites in polished society, due to my unculti- 
 vated condition, that my presence is a detriment 
 to refined gatherings. 
 
 {And then, without a word from Raleigh, 
 he flies at him and says:) 
 Are you responsible for such utterances com- 
 ing to me? 
 
 {He waits a moment for Raleigh^s reply. 
 Raleigh now white with excitement, but 
 never otherwise showing a sign of disturb- 
 ance, so well balanced is his control. He 
 hesitates again, and then calmly says:) 
 Do you not think this a rather unusual time 
 for such demand as this? 
 
 74 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 Dodge. No, no — {he fairly screams) — No, 
 no; no time or place is unsuitable for the denial 
 or acknowledgment of such a fiendish or devilish 
 outrage upon a human being. Answer, or I will 
 squeeze the very existence out of your miserable 
 life. (Makes motion to grip Raleigh^s throat. 
 The men's friends interfere.) 
 
 (Dodge desists for a moment ^ then advanc- 
 ing again, cries out with vehemence:) 
 Answer! Do not keep this suspense over me 
 longer. Ai^e you responsible for such uncalled 
 for and unmanly deviltry? Answer! 
 
 {For the first time Raleigh^s voice quivers 
 perceptibly as he says:) 
 Why {now with calmness), I would rather re- 
 serve this meeting for some other place and an- 
 other time, but if you press me, why then I sup- 
 pose I will have to acquiesce. 
 Dodge. Answer ! 
 
 Raleigh. I did not say all you have attrib- 
 uted to me, but I did say that such a person is an 
 objectionable quantity and an intolerable nuis- 
 ance to polished society, and should be made to 
 remain in their own sphere or rank. 
 
 {Before Raleigh has finished his last word. 
 
 Dodge removes his right hand glove and 
 
 gives Raleigh a resounding blow with his 
 
 ungloved hand upon his face, and adds:) 
 
 You scoundrel, you vagabond, take that for 
 
 your empty life and your empty words. 
 
 75 
 
[ ACT II ] The Trend 
 
 (In an instant Raleigh places his hand on 
 his hip pocket, and half di^aws from it a 
 glittering revolver; hut before he can do 
 more, his friend holds his hand tightly and 
 he can move the revolver no further. In 
 another instant he places the revolver hack 
 in his pocket, and says audihly, as he gains 
 his equilihrium :) 
 Heavens, heavens ! I almost defeated my own 
 purpose. This is the first time of my life. 
 
 (Dodge stands glaring at Raleigh^ and or- 
 ders him, in the name of his friend and 
 partner, Mr. Janeway^ and on pain of a 
 further humiliation from his own hands, 
 to leave the house at once.) 
 (Raleigh hesitates. His friend counsels 
 him to leave without further delay, which 
 he starts to do. Just as he gains the door 
 he turns, faces Dodge^ and says in calm 
 and determined voice, mingled with con- 
 tempt and sarcasm:) 
 Mr. Dodge^ this matter has been opened, but 
 it is not yet closed. You will hear from me 
 again ; not, howxver, in a way you have started it. 
 You are contemptible and beneath my notice. 
 Too much so for a physical encounter, but re- 
 member, remember — when you recognize my 
 hand again there w411 be no quarter given. Re- 
 member this — remember! [And he slams the 
 door in Dodger's face.) 
 
 76 
 
The Trend [ act ii ] 
 
 {As Raleigh leaves, Mr. Janeway comes 
 
 fairly running into the room and says, 
 
 excitedly :) 
 
 Can there be any disturbance at all? What 
 
 does this mean, gentlemen? Someone has heard 
 
 very loud and angry words within these walls. 
 
 Can there be any disturbance at all? 
 
 (Dodge calms himself at once, stands close 
 to Mr. Janeway and says:) 
 Ah, sir, there is nothing — nothing at all the 
 matter. Someone must have misinformed you. 
 {As he says this, Katherine Janeway 
 comes hurriedly into the room, and white 
 from eoocitement, cries out:) 
 Father, father, is there any truth in the re- 
 port? Is there anything wrong? 
 
 Mr. Janeway. No, no, my child; all is well. 
 {Then lightly:) 
 
 I suppose it rose from the imagination of some 
 sentimental or sensational person. Nothing at 
 all; all is as quiet as can be. I have only found 
 Harry and Brown^ talking quietly over some 
 business proposition, or project, as they are wont 
 to do when alone. 
 
 {A bevy of young ladies and gentlemen 
 enter the room, fantastically dancing to 
 the music from, the hall room. ISIrs. 
 Westerbury halts the dancers in military 
 style, and then taking position in front of 
 77 
 
[ ACT 11 ] The Teend 
 
 Mr. Janeway and Katherine^ as Dodge 
 and Brown stand on either side, says in 
 a very charming voice:) 
 
 I and my company have come, sir {addressing 
 her words to Mr. Janeway), as a detail ordered 
 by a large majority of guests to go and seek 
 their host and hostess, and bring them to their 
 honored positions in the grand march to the din- 
 ing hall for supper. 
 
 {Now all is merry and they laugh heartily. 
 The music begins. Mrs. Westerbury 
 takes the arm of old Mr. Janeway. Fol- 
 lowing their lead are Mrs. Fletcher and 
 Brown^ and after them goes Katherine 
 upon the arm of Dodge^ while the others 
 follow merrily and triumphantly after- 
 ward, ) 
 
 78 
 
ACT III. 
 
ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 (Jack Raleigh seated in a well appoint- 
 ed office on the top floor of a corpo- 
 ration building in lower Broadway, at 
 eight o'clock in the morning, and three 
 months later than the second act. He is 
 in a large, comfortable looking leather 
 covered revolving armchair, before a spa- 
 cious table desk of fine and heavy ma- 
 terial in the center of the room, which is 
 handsomely furnished, as the President's 
 office of a large corporation. He is first 
 seen asleep, with head on arms, which are 
 resting on the desk in front of him.) 
 {He stirs, then a telephone bell rings. This 
 arouses him. Finally he gets up from his 
 seat, walks over to the mantel, over the 
 fire grate. He is in a reflective and 
 thoughtful mood, and looks very pale and 
 worn. After looking into blank space for 
 a while he says, with much seriousness 
 and dejection:) 
 What a sacrifice we have to make for the little 
 satisfaction gained in this race of life. (Pause 
 
 81 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 for several moments,) For three nights I have 
 been unable to sleep. I lay in bed and try in 
 every conceivable way to doze, but I have heard 
 those wonderful chimes of the Cathedral every 
 quarter, every half, three-quarters and hour, 
 strike. Ah, no one knows what untold misery 
 this is unless they have suffered as I have. This 
 morning at three o*clock I could stand the strain 
 no longer. I got up from bed, dressed and 
 walked the streets, until I found myself in this 
 office again at six-thirty, and have only succeeded 
 in gaining a drowsy or semi-conscious state dur- 
 ing the last half hour. (Sighs and i^e fleets,) 
 After all, what is life in this world? Is it really 
 worth all we suffer to retain our hold upon exist- 
 ence? I am a disappointed man; when a lad, 
 coddled by indulgent and well-to-do parents, the 
 world looked very beautiful and encouraging, 
 and this is the real happiness of life. Then 
 later to school, to be instructed to conquer all 
 conditions of strife and perplexing situations 
 with philosophy, thus tending to obliterate all 
 that obligation to our Maker, and to religion, 
 that was so tenderly and rigorouslj^ imbedded in 
 my young mind by a patient and loving mother, 
 and a good and faithful rector of our church; 
 finally to college, with more advanced study and 
 the lectures of the wise professors, who gave us 
 some room for doubt in God and His works, with 
 their science of Nature, their chemistry, their 
 
 82 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 astronomy, and finally those all absorbing sub- 
 jects of moral philosophy and of higher science 
 which they thought should preserve a man so well 
 all through this life and emancipate him from all 
 difficulties that w^ould come in due course of 
 time, and then a long course of poetry to offset 
 the prose of life and vice versa. Ah, which is 
 right — that is the question for matured manhood 
 to determine. Is it the simple teaching of God 
 and His works from a loving mother's heart, or 
 the more matured and cultivated contentions of 
 the men of learning in the lecture rooms and the 
 seats of advanced education? Yes, this is the 
 question. (Sighs deeply.) Ah, yes — yes; too 
 late, too late for me now. I have been a spoiled 
 child, a too much educated student in the grand 
 concourse of learning and study, I fear. I have 
 experienced and possessed all that is attractive 
 to the observing ones of this world. I have trav- 
 ersed all lands and seen all peoples; have been 
 indulged in money for my every desire, and now 
 there is nothing left in life for me. Everything 
 seems contemptible from familiarity. There is 
 not one thing I have desired which I have not ob- 
 tained or conquered. Yes, this is true — this is 
 true. (Then suddenly arousing himself, he feel- 
 ingly says:) Ah, yes, yes — there is one more 
 thing, there is one thing that I have failed in ob- 
 taining, and that was the life and love of my 
 fiancee, which was so ruthlessly taken from me 
 
 83 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 three years ago. How horrible, how cruel, and 
 what a beautiful and noble woman she was! 
 (Pauses a moment.) Ah, yes, but what a coinci- 
 dence, this meeting of Katherine. The minis- 
 ters would call it the work of God; the philoso- 
 phers would say, only a coincidence, or the work 
 of the laws of gravitation ; a mere circumstance in 
 the course of events. The mystic or the super- 
 stitious would say it is the work of some good 
 angel, your good luck, or that it comes from your 
 guiding star. {Now laughing hysterically.) 
 But I would say — yes, I would say, I know not 
 whence it comes. A man like myself, and with 
 such an education as I have received, and observ- 
 ing life from all sides, can only depend on what 
 he sees with his eyes, and cannot trust the future 
 or give credit to the past, or trust to any laws or 
 direction for what takes place, and after research- 
 ing all that is claimed by those who are supposed 
 to know, I find that we know nothing at all; 
 therefore my maxim must be, take care of your- 
 self and leave all else to that something with infi- 
 nite knowledge, and which is supposed to guide 
 the world. If we are not endowed with infalli- 
 bility, then surely we are not accountable for in- 
 fallible deeds or creations. {Now more sternly 
 and decidedly:) But I must take advantage of 
 all the features of life with which I am endowed, 
 and leave the rest for solution by the infallible. 
 {Pause. More engrossed:) I love Katherine 
 
 84 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 Janeway — yes, even more than I ever did that 
 soul which was taken from me on that eventful 
 afternoon near Katherine^s home. I love 
 Katherine Janeway; she has been placed in 
 my way by some unknown law or direction, and 
 it is now my solemn duty and purpose to place 
 her in that position for which she is evidently in- 
 tended, that of redeeming Jack Raleigh and 
 making a man of him in the end. (More desper- 
 ately:) And at any cost — yes, at any cost, even to 
 the last dollar I possess, or the last drop of 
 blood that courses through my degraded body, 
 which is now without a soul. Yes, this is all that 
 is left for me. There is yet one glimmer of light 
 in all the darkness before me, and this little flicker 
 is the love I possess for that one fair creature; 
 she may save me — she may make me. It is still 
 within the power of this one little creature in the 
 world to either save me and give me life, or to 
 deliver me to desperation and even destruction. 
 Ah, yes, yes — this is so. {A few minutes later.) 
 And now it is time to take up the thread of this 
 devilish business of destruction of others. The 
 price is high, but the penalty is higher. I do not 
 know about the future after this life ; all that has 
 been ground out of me. But I do know that 
 while I exist there is only one thing left for me 
 and my happiness, and that is to gain that fair 
 hand and heart and love of the fair little maiden 
 that means so much to me. (He now walks fast 
 
 85 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 and furious, and engages himself about the 
 office,) 
 
 {Takes out his watch; it is just 8.30 in the 
 7norning. He sets an electric signal for 
 his confidential employees to enter, and 
 the next moment Jack Raleigh is deter- 
 mined upon the annihilation of all things 
 between himself and Katherine Jane- 
 way^ even if it means the taking of the 
 life of a human being, ) 
 {There is a knock at the door. Secretary 
 Williams^ of the Allied Companies of 
 steel, oil, gas and matches, and many other 
 interests, is admitted to the presence of 
 President Raleigh.) 
 (Williams^ cool and calculating, stands by 
 Raleigh^s desk. He is servile-looking, 
 and his features denote a lack of spirit and 
 strength; in his hand he holds a large 
 number of papers; at his side stands his 
 stenographer; both wait. Raleigh final- 
 ly speaks, and dismisses the latter from his 
 presence, and with much excitement in his 
 voice, he earnestly asks Williams how 
 domestic matters are progressing. Wil- 
 liams replies, showing humble respect:) 
 Quite satisfactorily, sir, I am sure. We have 
 cut prices very low, and results are already at 
 hand. We are making inroads into the ranks of 
 the National Match Company. We may have 
 
 86 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 to cut again, and even still lower to turn the full 
 tide of trade in our direction; at least, to an ex- 
 tent that will be satisfactory for the purpose of 
 our present move. 
 
 Raleigh {deeply interested, becomes excited) . 
 Move with all haste to that end. Reduce prices ; 
 put on more force, offer all inducements consist- 
 ent with apparent moderation, and sway the 
 match trade of this country into our hands as 
 decidedly and as speedily as possible, without 
 becoming sensational in the Street, or in the cir- 
 cles of mercantile trade. 
 
 (Raleigh slams his fist upon his desk and 
 says with emphasis:) 
 
 We must let this matter go no further for 
 many good reasons, and our opponent must be 
 brought to terms at once. Spare no expense, 
 spare no judicious expedient at any hazard. 
 Make this report to your department agents, and 
 order them to use all their forces, and to wrest 
 our trade back from the National Match Com- 
 pany at any expense. Do this immediately. 
 Communicate with them by wire; put our whole 
 force in the field; reduce our enemies, and once 
 more regain our position as Dictators of the 
 Match Industry. 
 
 Williams. But, sir, do you mean to spare no 
 expense, either in cost or in reduction in prices? 
 
 Raleigh (furiously). I do, and I repeat it. 
 Spare no time, no expense, nor consideration 
 
 87 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 whatsoever, except sensational methods, but gain 
 that position we once held, as Dictators of the 
 Match Trade. 
 
 (Williams bows loWj leaves the office j and 
 as the stock indicator begins to print the 
 first message of the morning from Wall 
 Street, Raleigh leaps to it,) 
 Raleigh. Ah, as I calculated, the Street is 
 becoming nervous over their holdings in National 
 Match stock. (Then reads from the tape.) 
 National Match has become quite erratic, and 
 sold down five points at close yesterday, due to 
 reports that the Company is having some trouble 
 financially, and owing to rumors afloat of strife 
 between the Company and the opposing concern 
 of the Allied Companies which are affiliated with 
 the National Oil Company. (Now excitedly , to 
 himself:) The time has arrived for concert action 
 and a final blow, I believe. The Street has become 
 nervous, brought about by a reduction in prices 
 for our goods and the loss of sales by our oppo- 
 nent. Yes, now is the time for a decisive blow, 
 and I must deal it to-day. (Rings a bell, sends 
 for Williams^ says:) Give further orders to 
 drop prices lower than ever. (Then:) Please 
 give me reports of our foreign trade. 
 
 Williams. We have taken possession of the 
 foreign trade, and the National Match Company 
 has had a great falling off in business in the for- 
 eign markets. 
 
 88 
 
The Trend [act hi] 
 
 Raleigh {gasping excitedly:) Make a re- 
 port; make a report of this at once to Wall Street. 
 Also state that our domestic business has returned 
 to us greatly with our reduced prices. (Wil- 
 liams hesitates a moment j says:) 
 
 Sir, did you say make another great cut in 
 prices ? 
 
 Raleigh {yells). Yes, yes. And why not? 
 Why not? Why do you speak thus? 
 
 Williams. I was only thinking of our semi- 
 annual report of expenses and of profits. 
 
 Raleigh. When is this report to be made? 
 
 Williams. Within thirty days, sir. 
 
 Raleigh. Good enough; in thirty days we 
 will have our enemies at our feet, our business 
 fully recovered, and enjoying more prosperity 
 and better prices and profits for oui' matches than 
 ever before. Do not think of this semi-annual 
 report at all for the present. 
 
 {Now a cynical smile about Raleigh^s 
 mouth appears in derision,) 
 
 Raleigh. Yes, yes, to-day; yes, to-day our 
 opponent will be reduced and in our hands for 
 our dictation. They have held out for a time, 
 but to-night — to-night I will have their whole 
 business within my hand's grasp. {He looked 
 the deathly look of triumph of the expectant con- 
 queror, as he thought of all that would he his re- 
 ward, by the destruction of others who would be 
 in his way, ) 
 
 89 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 (Williams leaves him at once, Raleigh 
 goes to the tape again as the ticker begins 
 its work for the day,) 
 
 {He sneers) Oh, oh! (and reads:) National 
 Match has opened weak, and has fallen five 
 points already. 
 
 Raleigh. I will now wait a moment and see 
 if it has any strength for recovery, and watch the 
 effects of our report that Williams will make 
 to the Street at once. (Takes his seat. Secre- 
 tary Short enters,) 
 
 Raleigh. Well, Mr. Short^ what have you 
 to report about our personnel this morning? 
 
 Short. We have one man, sir, whom I have 
 feared for some time upon our rolls, a college 
 man, studied law and failed; entered our employ- 
 ment about three years ago, has a splendid record 
 for tact, displays a wonderful power for convinc- 
 ing and controlling our customers, and seems to 
 have them thoroughly under his jurisdiction; has 
 been trusted with some confidential matters. He 
 has applied for an increase in salary, but his re- 
 turns scarcely justify an increase at this time. 
 
 Raleigh (thinks a moment ^ and then quietly:) 
 I think you said that you had some reason for 
 fear in regard to this man. For what reason? 
 
 Short. He has scruples, sir; I am sure he 
 has a mind of his own, and a conscience ; has set 
 ideas on morals regarding others in the world; 
 in a word, he has explained himself on one occa- 
 
 90 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 sion when he said *he likes to see the under dog 
 have a chance.' This is the key to his character 
 and his conscience. 
 
 Raleigh {thoughtfully). You fear him, 
 then? 
 
 Short. Yes, sir, I fear him for the reasons 
 stated. 
 
 Raleigh. Has he been honest? 
 
 Short. Honesty itself, sir. Upright to a 
 degree, and thoroughly reliable, and has devel- 
 oped into a most capable man. 
 
 Raleigh. Try him further; raise his salary; 
 watch him closely; give him no further confiden- 
 tial work; find out his color, and if he has too 
 deep a one for us and cannot be shaded, or if he 
 is too strongly developed in character and con- 
 scientiousness for our work, give him rope and 
 plenty of it, and he will possibly tie himself up 
 eventually into a tangle from his own inventions. 
 We will then have him within our grasp. If this 
 does not work satisfactorily and he still has scru- 
 ples about honesty and giving the under dog a 
 chance, then find some pretext and discharge 
 him; lower him easily, for fear he might become 
 rebellious, and this, you know, would not do, es- 
 pecially as he has been in our confidence. 
 
 Short. Very well, sir, very well. 
 
 Raleigh. Now what others have you to 
 speak of to-day, Mr. Short? 
 
 Short. All else seems well, sir. 
 
 91 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 Raleigh. Very well. 
 Short. Good morning, sir. 
 Raleigh. Good morning, Mr. Short. 
 (Raleigh^ with apparent relief j jumps up 
 to the indicator^ puts his hand to his head 
 as though dreaming,) 
 By heaven, by heaven, it has done more than 
 I expected. The whole market is becoming 
 wild and almost panicky. National Match in 
 large blocks and selling ten and fifteen points 
 below the opening, and other stocks are tumbling 
 in sympathy. My, my, the time has arrived. 
 {Steps to his desk and rings bell hurriedly. 
 Personal secretary enters,) 
 Raleigh. Go and find Judge Marks and 
 bring him to this office. Hurry with all pos- 
 sible dispatch in my automobile. Find him at 
 all hazards, and tell Judge Marks that the mat- 
 ter is most urgent, and that he should endeavor 
 to come at once. 
 
 (As the secretary leaves the room another 
 employee enters and hands Raleigh a 
 card J saying:) 
 Sir, the gentleman says that he must see you; 
 the matter is important, and a personal inter- 
 view must be effected at once. 
 
 Raleigh {reads card, and cries out in dis- 
 may:) Uncle Billy Marshall^ Uncle Billy 
 Marshall! Heavens, what brings him here at 
 such a time? {Then quietly and knowingly to 
 
 92 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 himself:) I must see him; it will never do to 
 refuse. ( To the employee, as he straightens him- 
 self up for an ordeal:) Show Mr. Marshall in 
 at once. (Raleigh now brings all his reserve 
 strength and agility to his command, preparatory 
 to acting his part as well and as innocently as 
 possible. Uncle Billy Marshall enters the 
 office quietly.) 
 
 Marshall. How do you do, how^ do you do, 
 Jack, my boy? How are you? 
 
 Raleigh {rises and cautiously offers Uncle 
 Billy a chair opposite to him at his desk). Well, 
 well, Uncle Billy, this is a surprise. The first 
 time you have honored me thus during our very 
 pleasant and long acquaintance. 
 
 Marshall. Ali, yes, yes, my boy, very un- 
 usual, I assure you, especially at this time of the 
 day; quite informal to call at such an hour; but — 
 but — the matter which I wish to see you about is 
 consistent with the exigencies of the case. 
 
 Raleigh {acting surprised). Uncle Billy, 
 what can it be? What is it I can do for you? 
 
 Marshall. Well, Jack, to be plain and brief, 
 I have come to ask you to let up on our poor boy, 
 Dodge. The poor fellow is nearly dead. Not, 
 however, do I come with his bidding, or even con- 
 sent, or knowledge. But, you know, just to do a 
 friendly act for a friend. 
 
 Raleigh {very surprised, looks innocent). 
 Uncle Billy, you have an advantage over me; 
 
 93 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 you puzzle me. (Now looking somewhat scorn- 
 ful , but fails to disguise himself longer. ) What 
 is it I can do to relieve your friend Dodge? 
 
 Marshall. Well, Jack, the whole Street is 
 aware and full of the knowledge that you are 
 driving the poor young fellow to a death strug- 
 gle. I come as a last resort. He and my old 
 friend, Janeway^ are at the end of the rope, and 
 are only struggling to hold on. 
 
 Raleigh (carelessly). Uncle Bill\% you 
 and the Street are mistaking matters. I have 
 no knowledge of what you say. If it appears 
 to the Street that I am driving any one to the 
 wall, it is without my knowledge. (Pause for 
 a moment.) But I shall see if such is the case, 
 it may be done in the course of business transac- 
 tion in this office, but without my knowledge. 
 You know lots of things are done in the interest 
 of many of my concerns of which I am innocent, 
 and without my knowledge. 
 
 Marshall (now vexed at the seemingly de- 
 ceitful pretense of innocence, with firm voice:) 
 Jack, Jack, what honor, or what lack of honor, 
 seems to direct these large business concerns of 
 this day? How can a man of your education 
 and, I presume, refinement, stoop to such das- 
 tardly and contemptible means of management? 
 Even though it gives you power and good re- 
 turns in a monetary way? You people assume 
 
 94 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 too much, too much altogether, over a sovereign 
 people. You are piratical — yes, piratical in its 
 worst form. The pirates of old gave a chance 
 to their prey, a chance to defend himself when in 
 their hands. You do not. You steal upon him 
 quietly and without observation with your un- 
 derhanded system and stab him in the back, rob 
 him, take his belongings and claim your inno- 
 cence and immunity, because the poor victims can 
 prove nothing openly in the courts. Due to the 
 corrupt condition you have established through 
 money in that body, which should be next to 
 holiness, and beyond the reach of all worldly 
 things, when honor and justice are involved. 
 
 Raleigh {very pale and much worked up in 
 demeanor under the volley of scorching words, 
 yet quietly) . Uncle Billy^ you evidently have 
 been reading sensational journalism, which in 
 reality has little foundation. 
 
 Marshall. Jack, Jack, do not talk to me in 
 this way. You poor fellow, you are a victim of 
 the money craze. I dare say you would have 
 been a decent and good fellow under such a code 
 of honor as was practiced in my young days, 
 which would give a man, especially one who 
 needed it, a chance or a helping hand, and help 
 to raise him when he was down, and never give a 
 blow to one who was off his feet and at your 
 mercy. 
 
 Raleigh. But, Uncle Billy, I do not un- 
 
 95 
 
[ ACT ni ] The Trend 
 
 derstand your errand, I am innocent of your 
 attack. 
 
 Marshall (now looking squarely and directly 
 at Raleigh). Jack, Jack, do you say this with 
 all the honor that is left in you, and with all the 
 pride of manhood that is yet yours? If you do, 
 I will say no more, and leave you without fur- 
 ther parley. 
 
 Raleigh (confused j and losing some of his 
 calmness). Uncle Billy, I will look into the 
 matter at once, and if my office is doing as you 
 claim, I will see that it is stopped, providing 
 there is no real commercial reason or cause for 
 such an attack as you claim we are making. 
 
 Marshall (contemptuously). Ah, yes, yes, 
 Jack; you speak as all persons do who try to 
 evade. 
 
 Raleigh. But, Uncle Billy^ you forget my 
 responsibilities. I am responsible to millions of 
 people. I am responsible to widows and or- 
 phans for their bread and butter; their very ex- 
 istence depends on my office and the discharge of 
 my whole duty ; my stockholders hold me respon- 
 sible for a faithful accounting of good earnings 
 and returns for money invested into my hands. 
 
 Marshall. Yes, yes, but think of the shame- 
 less methods that your large concerns resort to, 
 to gain these returns of which you speak; the 
 crushing of life out of the young, the crushing of 
 
 96 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 morals out of the whole civilized world, and for 
 what reason, what good is derived from such a 
 sacrifice of morals to the world? What chance 
 does a young man in your employ have to become 
 honest and ambitious? None. He is taught 
 from his beginning with you, by you and the 
 damnable men around you, to lie and to take ad- 
 vantage of all whom he comes in contact w4th, 
 without restraint or restriction, except for your 
 own personal interests ; first by gaining the confi- 
 dence of the people at large, then their money — 
 and giving in return as small value as possible; 
 then you add injury to this dreadful deception by 
 giving the ignorant, the too faithful, and the too 
 credulous short measures and weights, and then 
 render them excessive or incorrect bills for more 
 than they bargained to pay. Robbery — robbery, 
 pure and simple, and all this is done so that you 
 can gain these good returns of which you speak 
 for your dividends. {Short pause.) Who can 
 compete with you? No one. You lower your 
 prices to ruin competition, and then w^hen you 
 have ruined competition, you raise j^our prices 
 again and get back all that you have lost, and 
 then you make the people pay dearly for all 
 they get. Do you think this good teaching of 
 morals for the young men in your employ? No, 
 your heartless system makes thieves of them and 
 ruins their ambition to become good and honor- 
 able men. 
 
 97 
 
[ ACT in ] The Trend 
 
 Raleigh. Uncle Billy^ these questions are 
 too much to be answered off hand, but I must say- 
 that the larger a concern, the more economy there 
 is for our people and the world at large by the 
 lowering of expenses of operation and the public 
 receive the benefit in the way of cheap prices. 
 
 Marshall. Now, Jack, what good does this 
 economy do when you make thieves of the young? 
 What will the next generation be, and the fol- 
 lowing ones? Your system is the direct cause of 
 discontent, besides a curse to the community. It 
 generates highwaymen's attacks, the murderous 
 robberies of the day, the bank thieves and other 
 thefts in this country. The plain people of to- 
 day are too well informed and educated to silent- 
 ly stand by and let you rob them repeatedly, 
 without retaliation in some form, even though 
 foul it may appear. Jack, Jack, my boy, your 
 system is wrong, and it will only ruin itself in 
 time. You cut your men's wages to the lowest 
 notch and you raise your prices to the highest; 
 therefore it will only be a matter of time when 
 the people will be exhausted from the lack of 
 means to purchase your products, and then a 
 catastrophe will be at hand as your reward ; then 
 there will be a settling of differences on a more 
 equitable basis, the world will go on as before, 
 serenely as ever, imtil another snag in the evolu- 
 tion of events is reached, and then history will 
 repeat itself once more. Enough of this at this 
 
 98 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 time; I will leave you in the hands of your pro- 
 tector. You plead ignorance; well, if you are 
 ignorant or innocent, you will be rewarded. Jack ; 
 but if you are guilty, then you will surely pay the 
 penalty in some way, as surely as the sun rises 
 and sets; as honesty and the sun are governed 
 by the same laws, and are beyond the power of 
 man to deter. {Shakes hands with Raleigh.) 
 Good-bye, Jack, good-bye, and good luck to you, 
 my boy. {Leaves the office,) 
 
 (Raleigh^ very white and terrified, seems 
 to totter under the strain. He rings a 
 hell and asks an employee to order some 
 stimulant for him. He turns a few pa- 
 pers over his desk, signs his name to some 
 of them with a trembling hand, rings a 
 bellj calls for Williams and asks him if 
 Judge Marks has yet been heard from. 
 Instant later Judge Marks arrives. 
 Raleigh again brings all his reserve 
 strength to his command, takes the prof- 
 fered draught. Judge Marks enters the 
 office,) 
 Raleigh {light and airily) , Good morning, 
 Judge, good morning; take a seat, sir. {With 
 a wave of his hand all employees leave the office, ) 
 Raleigh. Judge, I am very much concerned 
 and anxious about the injunction proceedings al- 
 ready in your hands regarding the National 
 Match Company. 
 
 99 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 Marks. Yes — yes; well, sir, proceed. 
 
 Raleigh. Judge, how soon could we have a 
 decision? 
 
 Marks. What is the time now? 
 
 Raleigh. Just twelve-five, sir. 
 
 Marks. Well, I will have to go to luncheon; 
 that will take an hour. I open court again at 
 one-thirty ; by two-thirty a decision could be ren- 
 dered. 
 
 Raleigh {xmth glee). Good, good! Just 
 the time; it seems as though Providence is 
 with me in this case. Well, Judge, what do you 
 think of the merits ? 
 
 Marks. Well, a match is a match, and I be- 
 lieve the greater portion of both matches in this 
 case is wood. 
 
 Raleigh. Quite so, quite so ; all wood, except 
 the little head. 
 
 Marks. And what about the head? 
 
 Raleigh. One is lighted by friction on some 
 hard surface, and the other by blowing the breath 
 upon it — some secret composition which the hu- 
 man breath ignites from a certain acid affinity. 
 
 Marks. Very well; have you anything that 
 you claim is near or within range of this peculiar 
 head of the match of the opponents? 
 
 Raleigh. Yes, sir; we have had our Egyp- 
 tian agent send us a formula for just such a 
 match that was unearthed in Egypt, and which 
 was used, in all probability, thousands of years 
 
 100 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 ago by the Egyptians; therefore the match is 
 nothing new. 
 
 Marks. Hand me over the papers, please. 
 (Raleigh rings hell, has paioers brought 
 in and places them in Judge ISIarks^s 
 hand. ) 
 Raleigh. Judge, that is a beautiful place 
 you have up there in Connecticut, your country 
 seat. 
 
 Marks. Yes, it is; but I shall have to have 
 more money for its completion. 
 
 Raleigh. How much more, Judge, would 
 you need? 
 
 Marks. Well, probably forty thousand dol- 
 lars would suffice for a while. 
 
 Raleigh. Can I not be of use to you. Judge, 
 and loan it to you ? 
 
 Marks. Yes, yes; I intended to ask you to 
 help me out in this little affair of mine. Can you 
 spare it? 
 
 Raleigh. Yes, yes, certainly. 
 
 (Rings bell; soon hands Judge Marks a 
 roll of greenbacks, saying:) 
 Will this be sufficient? 
 
 Marks. Oh, yes, yes; it will do to carry on 
 improvements for a time, or for a month or two, 
 or at least (laughingly) until you get your de- 
 cision after this injunction to uphold your con- 
 tentions of infringement by the Xational Match 
 
 101 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 Company, and finally get your restraining order 
 permanently. 
 
 (Judge Marks rises from his seat to leave ^ 
 the men mockingly joking with each other 
 over some trifling incident of the day, and 
 then speak of the weather, and as Judge 
 Marks is gaining the door both he and 
 Raleigh appear to have worked them- 
 selves into some form of levity, but which 
 is purely affected. Marks comes back to 
 Raleigh^s desk and says:) 
 Oh, I had forgotten ; I intended to tell you the 
 latest story out my way. 
 
 Raleigh. Do, do. Judge (affecting a great 
 deal of pleasure and anticipation and self-con- 
 trol). 
 
 Marks. We were on our way home the other 
 afternoon on a local, while just in front of us sat 
 an old man, apparently a farmer, and not used to 
 affected city manners or ways. The conductor 
 came through collecting tickets. When he ap- 
 proached the old man said, as the train was 
 nearing a station, * Conductor, is this Water- 
 ville?' The conductor replied, *No, sir, this is 
 not Waterville.' Pretty soon the conductor 
 came through the car again as the train was near- 
 ing another station. The old man, with intensi- 
 fied interest, said to the conductor again, as he 
 passed hurriedly, * Conductor, is this Waterville?' 
 The conductor told him that he was not at Water^ 
 
 102 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 ville. Pretty soon the train stopped again. The 
 old farmer once more caught hold of the con- 
 ductor's sleeve as he attempted to pass in a hurry, 
 and inquired if this was Water ville. The con- 
 ductor, with some impatience this time, told the 
 old man it was not Waterville. Soon the train 
 stopped again, and just as the conductor was 
 most busy at the end of the car, where the passen- 
 gers were getting ready to leave the train, the old 
 man made a bolt towards that end of the car, 
 caught hold of the conductor's sleeve, and in a 
 most inquiring and serious way said, * Conductor, 
 is this Waterville?' The conductor was now ex- 
 asperated bj^ the old man's perseverence, and 
 said severely, *My God, no; this is not Water- 
 ville ; take your seat, please, and when we get to 
 Waterville I will tell you.' The old man took 
 his seat again, and wrapped himself in silence 
 and contemplation. The train stopped and start- 
 ed, and the old man did not move this time. The 
 train halted and passengers got off and on, but 
 the old man kept his seat in silence and relied on 
 the conductor. After a number of stops had 
 been made, the conductor was again coming- 
 through the car and he espied the old man, where- 
 upon the conductor became at once conspicuously 
 confused. He pulled out his watch, looked at 
 it, thought a moment, grabbed the bell cord and 
 directed the engineer to back his train. He 
 backed three miles to Waterville. The conduc- 
 
 103 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 tor fairly flew at the old man to hurry him out of 
 the train as it stopped, and as he took hold of the 
 old man's shoulders to help him out, he cried: 
 'Here you are, sir; here we are, old man, at 
 Waterville; hurry, please hurry.' The far- 
 mer looked somewhat surprised at first, and then 
 coolly and calmly said to the conductor, 'All, is 
 this Waterville? Ah, thank you; thank you. 
 My doctor told me to take a pill when I got to 
 Waterville,' 
 
 Ha, ha, ha! (Both Raleigh and Marks 
 mockingly laughed. Then Raleigh cries:) 
 Good, Judge, good; you are the best story teller 
 I ever heard. 
 
 (Judge Marks leaves the office of the great 
 corporation. Raleigh leaps to the ticker 
 again, and cries as a lion would with de- 
 light that is craving and almost has its 
 prey in its gi^asp:) 
 Oh, oh, it is here, almost here; revenge is 
 sweet, and the sweeter when it is so thorough in 
 its completion. That scoundrel, I told him he 
 would feel me; I am sure he does now. I prom- 
 ised no quarter then, and I will give none to that 
 ignorant fool. The impertinence, the assurance 
 of such an ass, to try and insult me in the face of 
 a great company, and at such a time. {Now 
 more calmly and reflectively, hut severely:) 
 Well, well, it is severe, but it is no more than is 
 due that young niiRan, and the fool that he is, a 
 
 104 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 good lesson for him for the future ; he will, after 
 this, possibly try to control himself better, and 
 treat his superiors with more deference; a good 
 lesson, I am sure, and in the end will prove a 
 benefit to society and the man for whom it is in- 
 tended. {Again he takes up the tape, crying:) 
 Heavens, see how the market is tumbling! 
 See how it falls without support ; why, our power 
 is growing more and more daily. The whole 
 Street seems afraid of our very breath when we 
 make a report. What, National IMatch now 
 only forty-five? A drop of thirty points only 
 since yesterday. All, well, we will have to take 
 care of our friends and advise them to purchase 
 again after this day, of all others, has fulfilled 
 our purpose. {Hurriedly and eoccitedly calls 
 for a messenger. ) I'll send orders to sell stocks 
 right and left, and especially National Match, 
 for the rest of the day to my brokers, and tell 
 them not to allow the market to regain itself at 
 least for the rest of the day, but to hammer and 
 bear it to the utmost up to the closing hour. 
 {Raises his head and places his hands about it,) 
 A deadly coup, but it must be so; the stakes are 
 high and they justify the means. I cannot live 
 without her; the world would be no world at all, 
 but a hell to me without Katherixe. And all 
 that stands in my way, or between me and her, 
 must fall by the wayside. {He almost falls from 
 suppressed eoccitement and the strain of the day,) 
 
 105 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 {At that moment and unannounced, Mrs. 
 
 Westerbury comes into the office and 
 
 calls out:) Jack, Jack {as familiarly as 
 
 though she was calling on her husband or 
 
 son. Raleigh rises immediately at the 
 
 first sound of her voice, as though magic 
 
 controls him,) 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. Why, Jack {as she looks 
 
 at him), you are ill; what can be the trouble? 
 
 You look so weary. 
 
 Raleigh. Oh, nothing, thank you, Mrs. 
 Westerbury; only a little tired, I presume. 
 Business pressure has been unusually heavy upon 
 me of late, and I dare say that I show it in my 
 appearance. 
 
 (Mrs. Westerbury goes to him, places her 
 hand upon his head, and then drops upon 
 her knees at his side, feelingly:) 
 Why, my dear boy, you must be careful of 
 yourself. You are too good and valuable to us 
 all to allow yourself to become incapacitated in 
 any one way. Why, Jack, how could we now 
 get on without you ! Always so kind and yield- 
 ing whenever we are in trouble, or in need of 
 your help. 
 
 Raleigh. Ah, Mrs. Westerbury, that is 
 nothing; I have done nothing; do not speak of 
 it at all. I fear I deserve none of your kind 
 words, or am not worthy of your kind consider- 
 ation at all. 
 
 106 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 (Mrs. Westerbury rises. Raleigh also 
 gets upon his feet and paces the floor im- 
 patiently, Mrs. Westerbury goes to 
 the other side of the room,) 
 Raleigh (finally). Have you any news for 
 me to-day? 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. Jack, I have just left 
 her, only a few short moments since. She, the 
 poor little child, is looking worn in expression, is 
 almost frantic, in fact, and seems to grow closer 
 and closer to him in his distress ; her uncultivated 
 girlish instincts respond to him all the more in 
 his trials and troubles. She seems as if she would 
 give her very life for his relief ; but, alas, she can 
 do nothing; her hands are tied. Dodge^ Mr. 
 Janeway and Mr. Marshall^ as well as some 
 others of their friends, have given up everything 
 — their homes are mortgaged, houses and all 
 equipments, such as horses and equipages — they 
 are all upon the brink of ruin, their last dollar is 
 in the hands of the brokers to help to hold up 
 their stock, as they think and argue it will tide 
 them over this temporary reaction of the market, 
 or an aggressive movement of their opponent in 
 the match business. Oh, Jack, I felt so sorry for 
 the poor little girl. Her face is white, her once 
 beautiful hands and arms have shrunken now 
 under the strain — and this is all I can tell you. 
 (Jack Raleigh for the first time looks hag- 
 gard and serious with sympathy, and hi^ 
 
 107 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 head is bent low, and with eyes toward the 
 
 floor in contemplation; he sighs several 
 
 times and finally moans:) 
 
 Yes, yes, it is now too late ; a desperate game, 
 
 but it must now go on to the end and without 
 
 interruption. 
 
 {Now seemingly again to gain that ag- 
 gressiveness and animal-like side of his 
 spirit^ he rings his bell again and gives or- 
 ders to sell National Match in large 
 blocks at any price it can be done, and be- 
 comes more active than ever.) 
 Raleigh. Mrs. Westerbury, if you will al- 
 low me, I will give you some advice for yourself 
 and your friends. Sell — sell short the whole 
 market, and especially National Match, for the 
 rest of the day. To-morrow buy the market and 
 go long on the whole list, and if you do not make 
 money or get some good returns for your trouble, 
 let me know, and I will reimburse you for any 
 losses you may have sustained. 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. Oh, Jack, Jack, you are 
 always so kind; how can I ever repay you, es- 
 pecially now since I am so much in need of 
 money. I have lost heavily of late, and must 
 replenish.. 
 
 Raleigh. Well, you noAv have your chance, 
 Mrs. Westerbury. 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. I will go at once, Jack, 
 and place some orders with my brokers. But 
 
 108 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 how about luncheon you promised me to-day? 
 Will you not accompany me? 
 
 Raleigh. Oh, no, no ; I cannot to-day. Will 
 you not excuse me? I have important business 
 on hand, and will be here in my office till late 
 this evening. 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. But, Jack, Jack, your 
 health will not stand the strain ; do be careful, do ; 
 will you not come and dine with me to-night? 
 
 Raleigh. I will see. And many thanks for 
 your kind invitation, but it will depend upon cir- 
 cumstances. If I am not at your home at eight 
 o'clock, in answer to your kind invitation, you 
 will know the reason. 
 
 (Now becoming inore impatient, he takes 
 up the tape and says audibly:) 
 
 The market responds splendidly to the lash of 
 the whip in the hands of Jack Raleigh. 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury {about to leave). Jack, 
 have you any money to spare to-day? I wish to 
 take advantage of your kind recommendation to 
 the fullest extent. 
 
 Raleigh. Certainly, certainly, Mrs. West- 
 erbury; how much? 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. Say five or ten thousand 
 till to-morrow, and when I take my profits from 
 your suggestion, I will certainly return it. {A 
 ripple of humor passes over both faces,) 
 
 Raleigh {significantly). Shall I place this 
 on the same account with the other you promised 
 
 109 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 to pay back some months ago, Mrs. Wester- 
 
 BURY? 
 
 Mrs. Westerbury. Oh, Jack, Jack, you are 
 really a tease. How can a woman keep her en- 
 gagements like you men, who lead and mold 
 your own destinies as you choose them, while we 
 poor beings have to follow as best we can, both 
 as to your wishes or directions. 
 
 (Raleigh has some money brought to him, 
 
 and hands Mrs. Westerbury a big roll 
 
 of greenbacks.) 
 
 Raleigh. Good luck to you and to your 
 
 friends. (And he ushers her out of the office,) 
 
 110 
 
SCENE II. 
 
 {Office of BrowNj Marshall and Com- 
 pany^ Wall Street. Harry Dodge at 
 indicator, clerks at different openings at 
 the counter attending to customers. 
 Dodge deathly pale and nervous. He 
 reads aloud:) 
 
 National Match, forty — a drop of sixty points. 
 Heavens, what shall we do? All is gone now, I 
 am afraid. Everything is mortgaged — the last 
 thing, including pianos and jewelry have been 
 pledged, and still a few thousands more might 
 save us till to-morrow, when the market must 
 reach the bottom. What shall we do? Some- 
 thing must be done for a few thousands more to 
 hold off our creditors till morning, and then I 
 am sure the market will have commenced its re- 
 action. There is no foundation for this terrible 
 break in our stock and the market generally, and 
 they cannot carry it down much longer on lies — 
 yes, real lies and mere misrepresentations. But 
 how, but how {wrings his hands and seems to 
 totter as he thinks a minute; one of the clerks says 
 to a messenger. Yes, the other stock will take to- 
 morrow, just hold it till the morning; we will 
 
 111 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 then discharge all our obligations. Harry 
 Dodge hears the words of his faithful clerk.) 
 
 Dodge {in resolute tones). Yes, yes, it must 
 be done ; something must be done to carry on our 
 business for an hour more. It is now two o'clock 
 and our fight will be waged most furiously from 
 now till three ; one hour left, and I must save the 
 day or all is lost — yes, all is lost. 
 
 {He disappears quickly into the private of- 
 fice. Many men are now coming in noisily 
 and hurriedly for collections and settle- 
 ments. The clerks are busily paying off 
 pressing claim s^ and putting off those that 
 are not so pressing till the neoct day. As 
 the time goes on, more and more messen- 
 gers arrive, till the office is almost be- 
 sieged with young and middle-aged men 
 collecting and making settlements for 
 brokers. Harry Dodge emerges again, 
 in company with Uncle Billy Mar- 
 shall and Mr. Janeayay. 
 Dodge. Yes, I will go to the New American 
 and to the First ISTational Banks, and make an 
 offer to pledge our whole interest and my secret 
 for the manufacture of our match for a loan of 
 seventy thousand dollars, at twenty per cent, for 
 three months. It is a desperate chance, but we 
 must save our honor, ourselves and business fu- 
 ture. Even our bread and butter depend on this 
 last chance. The secret I have held next to my 
 
 112 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 life-blood, and when this is gone, the chances are 
 our proprietary, product will be gone forever. 
 But do you not think this best. Uncle Billy? 
 Do you not think so, Mr. Janeway? 
 
 Mr. Janeway. My boy, you are noble, and 
 you are making a noble fight. We have done 
 all in our power. You hold the last straw on 
 which the whole network of our lives and exist- 
 ence now seems to depend. You hold it, and if 
 you think proper of giving your secret away un- 
 der the circumstances, with the hope of holding 
 the ship together, then go, and may God be with 
 you in your honorable undertaking; and we will 
 await your return before closing our doors finally 
 and placing things in the hands of a receiver. 
 
 Uncle Billy Marshall. Seventy thousand 
 dollars will hold us up on margin to a selling 
 point of twenty-seven and a half for our stock, 
 but if anything else occurs to frustrate or reduce 
 us further, then even the seventy thousand dol- 
 lars will be of very little avail to us. 
 
 Dodge (more hopeful). They can do no 
 more ; they have said and done all that they can. 
 It is too late for a decision from any court to- 
 day, and they are now at the end of their lying 
 and treacherous means in this dastardly game of 
 ruin. The people will believe no more of their 
 lies, mark you, after the close to-night, and if we 
 can save ourselves up to the closing hour, then 
 we will be able to recuperate, I am sure, for to- 
 
 113 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 morrow will be Saturday, business will become 
 inactive, and by Monday people will believe them 
 no longer. They have had their run and the re- 
 action is due. 
 
 Uncle Billy Marshall. All right, my boy, 
 I hope you are right in your prognostications. 
 At any rate, try it, try it; you at least have one 
 chance left, and of course you must never give up 
 a chance when in this predicament, if that chance 
 be honorable, notwithstanding the fact that you 
 are dealing and fighting against modern thieves. 
 
 {The next moment Dodge leaves the office. 
 Uncle Billy Marshall and Mr. Jane- 
 way return to their private offices. Now 
 the excitement commences to be greater 
 and greater; more people arrive for set- 
 tlements. Many are running about whis- 
 pering to each other significantly. The 
 clerks at the counter have all they can do 
 to keep the noisy crowd from clamoring 
 for settlements as they move about the of- 
 fice excitedly. The clerks work slowly 
 and take as much time as possible to make 
 partial settlements, so as to extend the 
 time given each customer as long as pos- 
 sible, till three o'clock should arrive. The 
 ticker is now working frantically while the 
 market breaks again. Some young fel- 
 low reads out loud:) 
 114 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 National Match thirty-five; National Match, 
 10,000 shares sold at thirty-three. 
 
 {The crowd become more eoocited than ever 
 and make desperate efforts to have full 
 settlements made. The scene becomes 
 more and more terrible, and more noise 
 and excitement is indulged in. Harry 
 Brown comes to the counter and directs 
 the clerks to hold out as long as possible, 
 or until Dodge returns with some money. 
 He speaks to the crowd and asks them to 
 at least be gentlemen and fall into line and 
 to be orderly, adding that their claims 
 would be settled as soon as possible. Some 
 of the men go out of the office to bring 
 their employers to help them gain recogni- 
 tion. The clock's hands point to two- 
 thirty. Soon the office is filled with a 
 howling mass of men clamoring towards 
 the counters, demanding settlements. Just 
 at this time several policemen come into 
 the office and clear a way for a number of 
 other men who have bags of gold upon 
 their shoulders. As the precious metal 
 rings out upon the hai'd wood counters, 
 a mighty yell and cheer goes forth from 
 the surging masses of men now in the of- 
 fice. Bag after bag is opened, and pay- 
 ments of all accounts are now commenced 
 in earnest, and the excitement subsides. 
 
 115 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 At t'cvo-forty Dodge comes in, panting 
 terribly from excitement. He is met at 
 the door and congratulated and embraced 
 by his elder associates and Harry Brown. 
 He stops for nothing, but takes a window 
 at the counter and commences to pay out 
 the money gained by his efforts, as fast 
 and as indifferently as though it were 
 water, or there was plenty of money to be 
 had. Just now some one at the ticker 
 cries out: Look, look! And many eyes 
 rest on the tape. Some one yells in ex- 
 citement:) 
 A decision! A decision arrived at in Judge 
 Marks^s court. 
 
 (DoDGE^ ashen in color, seems to doubt him- 
 self. He falters as a man at the tape 
 reads out aloud:) 
 Judge Marks issues a restraining order with 
 pending injunction against the National Match 
 Company, based upon the fact that the products 
 of the contending parties are so nearly alike, es- 
 pecially since the major portion of matches are 
 made of wood, and is the same material, all ex- 
 cept the head, and since the Allied Companies 
 hold a secret for the manufacture of matches, to 
 be lighted by the same means as those manufac- 
 tui^ed by the defending company, he therefore is- 
 sues an order of restraint upon the defendants, 
 the National Match Company, and orders that 
 
 116 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 they show cause why they should not be perma- 
 nently restrained in the manufacture of the al- 
 leged secret match of later date than that held 
 by the complainants, for he finds the Allied Com- 
 panies held their secret long before the National 
 Match Company came into existence, and that 
 the secret is many hundreds, if not thousands, of 
 years old, and is an Egyptian creation. 
 
 Harry Dodge {now in terror^ cries out). A 
 lie, a lie; another lie they resort to. The scoun- 
 drels have even debauched the judiciary in their 
 dastardly efforts to ruin me. 
 
 (He staggers to the tape to read for himself, 
 while Mr. Janeway and Uncle Billy 
 Marshall and Brown are standing by. 
 He sees the facts with his misty eyes. The 
 next thing he reads is blocks of National 
 Match dropping five and ten points at a 
 time, and the whole market in a whirl- 
 wind of wild rage, and tumbling at the 
 rate of ten and twenty points on each sale. 
 As the tape is run off a fresh avalanche of 
 people are at the door, wild with excite- 
 ment, clamoring and entering in a fren- 
 zied state, and making demands in great 
 excitement. There is turmoil with this 
 howling mass of men, who seem more like 
 demons than mortals at this instant. And 
 in the wildest of the wild excitement 
 
 117 
 
[ ACT III ] The Trend 
 
 Dodge starts to leave the indicator. It is 
 too much for him; he totters^ speechless. 
 The neoot moment he throws his hands up 
 into the air and falls heavily upon the 
 floor. In an instant many men are about 
 him, tenderly raising his head, "He 
 breathes yet" says one, "Send for a doc- 
 tor" cries another. "Bring water" comes 
 from another,) 
 
 {The curtain falls for a moment. Dodge 
 is removed. Then the excitement com- 
 mences again with fresh demands by the 
 yelling masses. Brown mounts a chair 
 in the office; he takes off his hat; the noise 
 subsides for a moment, ) 
 
 Brown (sadly). Gentlemen, gentlemen, I 
 am pained beyond expression to say a death has 
 occurred just now, within our doors. Our col- 
 laborator and special partner of this firm, Mr. 
 Harry Dodge^ has just expired. 
 
 (31 any hats are taken off; a number of men 
 leave the office quietly, while a number of 
 others cry out. Shame, shame! Soon all 
 hats are doffed; the crowd awaits further 
 information, ) 
 
 Brown (continuing) , Owing to the distress- 
 ing condition of the market and the death of our 
 special partner, and our reserve being over- 
 thrown, which we hope will be temporary only, 
 
 118 
 
The Trend [ act hi ] 
 
 we shall have to assign, and further payments 
 will have to be discontinued at once. We there- 
 fore request you to leave the office quietly, with- 
 out further excitement, in respect to the sudden 
 death of Mr. Dodge. 
 
 ( The men commence to leave the office quiet- 
 ly, with uncovered heads.) 
 
 119 
 
ACT IV. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
ACT IV. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 (Surroundings same as first act; time, four 
 years later, and about nine months later 
 than the third act. It is the day before 
 Thanksgiving. Scene, a large, commo- 
 dious but moderately furnished parlor in 
 Mr. Janeway^s Long Island home,) 
 
 (Katherine Janeway is looking some- 
 what older and sadder and more serious 
 than ever before, and aged considerably 
 since act second. She is attired in a neat- 
 ly fitting suit of black and white. She is 
 not so vivacious, but is still a loving and 
 tender attendant and housekeeper for her 
 devoted but depleted old father,) 
 
 (It is just after breakfast, or about ten 
 o'clock in the morning. Mr. Janeway 
 is seated near the hearth reading the 
 morning papers, while Katherine is pre- 
 paring some warm article of wearing ap- 
 parel for him, to be used in cold weather. 
 Mr. Janeway reads from the papers that 
 Jack Raleigh^s companies are in a flour- 
 ishing condition; that their earnings will 
 123 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 be enormous at the end of the year^ and 
 while he makes no hitter comment, his 
 voice shows that he longs for some relief 
 from his embarrassed financial condition, 
 as he says J with sorrow in his voice:) 
 
 Well, the companies seem to flourish, and all 
 those who could put up with their abusive atti- 
 tude and despotic dictation, submitting to all 
 that is required of them, with a submission more 
 fit for a dog than a man, will have recourse to a 
 full purse this year for Christmas shopping for 
 their families, while I, who could not submit to 
 such plutocratic action on the part of the few in 
 control without resentment, will have to go with- 
 out money to buy my poor child a Christmas 
 gift, and to give her sufficient means to help her 
 make some unfortunate ones in the world happy, 
 as she has so lovingly done in former years. 
 
 Katherine. Ah, father, do not talk thus; 
 you have done and now do for me more than any 
 child could expect; you have humored my every 
 request; you have done for me more than any 
 child could expect from a loving and devoted 
 father. {She goes to him, places herself at his 
 feet J and says:) 
 
 Oh, if I could only do something to relieve this 
 great strain of misfortime from the head of my 
 poor father. This is my whole thought now, 
 and is foremost in my mind at all times, and to- 
 
 124 
 
The Trend [ act xv ] 
 
 day especially. This is what I must think of 
 to-day. 
 
 (All is said with such earnestness it makes 
 an impression upon the old gentleman, 
 who answers:) 
 My dear, what do you mean, and why so es- 
 pecially to-day? 
 
 Katherine. This of all days will, I am sure, 
 be the most trying of all my life. It is all too 
 much, too much for me, and I have sent for oiu* 
 good curate to come and consult with me. 
 
 (Mr. Janeway assumes the attitude of 
 reading what Katherine means, and says 
 out boldly J without reserve:) 
 Katherine, Katherine, my dear (as he 
 strokes her head ) , do you love Jack Raleigh ? 
 Katherine {much terrified and trembling at 
 this juncture ) . Father, I cannot tell you at this 
 time; somehow I have always been drawn to- 
 wards him. He seems to have had such a strug- 
 gle in the world, even though he is very rich. 
 Everybody seems to think so horribly of him; 
 and why, can you tell me? 
 
 Mr. Janeway {looks far off and serious for a 
 time) . All people, of course, with great respon- 
 sibilities and who have to wield their actions both 
 diplomatically and radically in order to hold an 
 exalted position, as does Jack Raleigh, will al- 
 ways have enemies, if not from real, from imag- 
 inary or fancied causes, emanating from jeal- 
 
 125 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 ousy. Raleigh himself has always been respect- 
 ful to me, and I am sure would be friendly, 
 should I make known to him that I desired aid 
 from him in any one way. He was blamed by 
 our poor boy Harry for his downfall, but who 
 can prove this, or even assert it with any degree 
 of certainty? And of course, a man in an envied 
 position such as Raleigh occupies, will always be 
 held responsible for all sorts of conditions that do 
 not coincide with public opinion, whether he is 
 innocent or otherwise. I dare say he gets credit 
 and is held responsible for many things person- 
 ally that, in reality, is not done by him at all. 
 To-day in commerce it is like war, and strife is 
 rampant on all sides when fighting competition 
 for supremacy, and a commercial general is no 
 more personally responsible for his tactics and 
 blows given his enemies than the general on the 
 field who fights for a cause, and not for his per- 
 sonal benefit, nor from his own dictation or feel- 
 ing. It is the condition of present day society 
 that requires it, and the commercial general of 
 to-day is one person at heart and another in ac- 
 tion, as they are expected to carry out the orders 
 and directions of other heads. Raleigh com- 
 mands an army and is responsible to a multitude 
 of people who owns the interests he represents, 
 and, therefore, no matter how his heart and head 
 appeal to him for action, he is delivered up to his 
 people, to carry on the warfare to victory, and to 
 
 126 
 
The Trend [ act iv ] 
 
 save and advance their interests at all hazards. 
 I do not to-day hold men at the head of these 
 great institutions personally responsible for their 
 actions, as I did some years ago, but I hold the 
 community at large responsible for allowing such 
 conditions to exist. It is an epoch and will be 
 changed in its own good time, and when people 
 are educated and enlightened as to their mistakes. 
 It all is as fair under the conditions for one man 
 as another; therefore, the commercial captains of 
 to-day are as the war captains of old, and they 
 are men at heart, but generals of the head and di- 
 rection. 
 
 (Pause. Katherine seems deeply inter- 
 ested in all her father says. ) 
 
 Katherine. Father, what is the real cause 
 of all this strife and trouble in the world, and how 
 could it be changed? Could one human being 
 do much toward making a change? 
 
 Mr. Janeway. Ah, my dear, I am afraid 
 one human being could do but little towards mak- 
 ing a change, for society itself is wrong, and our 
 men need changing from imitations of men to 
 real men, men of head and soul and body, who 
 can and will act individually; not men in form 
 only, who can only imitate and do things because 
 others do them. Ah, this is what we need, and 
 when it is done, or when men are real men, then 
 we can boast of our civilization in reality, and 
 we need not say what advancement we would 
 
 127 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 have, and what a saving in economics would be 
 at hand. The great trouble in the world is that 
 we all do things from precedent, especially if 
 this precedent tends to advance our own indi- 
 vidual interests, or we may gain worldly things 
 thereby, we will follow it even if, in the follow- 
 ing, we have to resort to means of dishonesty. 
 We need individuality and men, and not cowards, 
 as are our leaders to-day. Society needs changing 
 from the root ; our men need changing from their 
 foimdation to their heads; they need remaking, 
 so as to change them from apes to men, and real 
 men; yes, to real men with strength and courage 
 to be honest and fair in their dealings with others. 
 This is what we need, my dear, this is what we 
 need, and I dare say Jackson Raleigh is no 
 worse than the rest. He is not so much respon- 
 sible as is society itself, for he is too frail and 
 weak to stand alone, and is compelled to follow 
 other people's example, precedents and actions to 
 cope with them for the purpose of having success, 
 as success is looked upon and known to-day. 
 Men need mental development on a higher plane 
 to meet the present conditions; civilization and 
 advancement require better development in men 
 of the mind and heart than we have. We do not 
 need cowards and imitators, but brave men and 
 with an individuality. Such men as could look 
 starvation and destitution in the face and laugh 
 at it when it becomes a matter of choosing be- 
 
 128 
 
The Trend [ act iv ] 
 
 tween questionable deeds and honesty and up- 
 rightness in our affairs and business. Yes, 
 my dear, our men are as you have said, only 
 yet as infants, and they surely need devel- 
 opment. We need men strong enough to 
 give up the petty pursuits of deception and 
 selfishness for the greater and nobler accomplish- 
 ments of generosity and honesty. Anything of 
 the animal kingdom or of humankind is strong 
 enough to be deceptive, but it requires a man of 
 courage and strength to be honest, especially 
 when he is only responsible to his own conscience, 
 and such strength and nobleness of character can 
 only be derived from mental development; and 
 this alone can lead us to and along the road of the 
 highest attainment in a just, free and powerful 
 civilization. And now, my dear, I can only add, 
 we need men who can stand alone and give up 
 the subterfuge, the hypocrisy and the deceit of 
 this day for real honor, and can rise to that con- 
 dition where simple truth and simple honesty 
 will prevail for the sake of simple manhood. 
 This, my dear, will make the change, and this 
 only can produce any real change in our mode of 
 spending one-half our lives in perpetrating de- 
 ceptions and the other half in trying to remedy 
 the condition. 
 
 ( There is a ring of the door hell. Kather- 
 INE starts, Nina announces Curate 
 Rollins; he is ushered into the room. He 
 129 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 is as of yore, loving in nature and espe- 
 cially attentive to Katherine^ and is 
 heartily received by Mr. Janeway. 
 Greetings are exchanged, then Mr. Jane- 
 way thinks of something he has to do in 
 the library, and leaves the parlor. Kath- 
 ERiNE and the Curate are alone; Kather- 
 INE becomes nervous and restless and even 
 shy, not knowing how to carry out her de- 
 termination. Finally says:) 
 
 Curate Rollins^ I have a story to tell you; I 
 would appreciate your opinion of it. It reminds 
 me of some I have read. Probably as I go on 
 you will recognize some of the characters. You 
 are my only friend; you, who are always so kind; 
 it seems to me you have taken the place of mother 
 with me in directing me in all things whenever I 
 am puzzled and do not know how to act, and I 
 have always been so happy and glad afterwards 
 that I have taken your advice. 
 
 Curate Rollins. Ah, do not speak thus. 
 Miss Katherine^ but do proceed, and if I can in 
 any way be of service, you know it is my duty as 
 an officer of the church of God, as well as the in- 
 terest I have always taken in you and your affairs^ 
 to advise as best I could; and this confidence, I 
 hope, will never be marred, but increased as time 
 goes on. 
 
 Katherine- How good you are, how goodt 
 
 130 
 
The Trend [ act iv ] 
 
 {In a dreamy manner j as she now seems to look 
 and think of far distant things, ) 
 
 {The minister gets up from his seat and 
 paces the floor ^ while Katherine says:) 
 Once by accident a young girl met a fascinat- 
 ing and wealthy man. There was an unmistak- 
 able attachment at once. Circumstances caused 
 them to be separated for a time, and later they 
 again met under different conditions. The man 
 had had much trouble, even to the losing of his 
 fiancee. The girl had become somewhat swayed 
 in her first impressions of the man by the coming 
 into her home of another who was both kind and 
 honest, but who had never appealed to her very 
 much, for some unknown reason, after the second 
 meeting of the first man. The girl was amid a 
 whirl of life and excitement, being thrown among 
 a great concourse of many and restless people of 
 wealth, in a way which almost turned her head 
 from anything that was plain or simple. She de- 
 sired position, wealth and a man who was able 
 to hold sway in any company. While the second 
 man was of an honest nature, he lacked tact, and 
 was narrow in many ways, while the first was just 
 the reverse; he was both tactful and brilliant in 
 any company or position. The first man is now 
 accused of a great wrong, as many of his class 
 are at times, who are in a great position, and 
 commanding influence of this day; indeed, some 
 say he is the cause, through persecution, of the 
 
 131 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 death of the second man, not directly or by his 
 own hand, but, as I say, by persecution in other 
 ways. But this cannot be proven and cannot be 
 said with any degree of certainty, any more than 
 any other thing can be said that is not proved. 
 The girl has lost her ambition to become a society 
 belle ; she has tired of it, and it does not appeal to 
 her, nor to her life or character. It seems an 
 empty existence to her. As I said, the second 
 man is now dead; the first is more persistent in 
 his entreaties to win the girl's heart and hand 
 than ever before. He acknowledges that he is 
 no model of earthly perfection, but is a man of 
 the world; he realizes that he has done things 
 which have caused him to repent ; in fact, he says 
 there is only one thing left in the world for him, 
 and that is the girl in this story. She and she 
 only can redeem him, and keep his life, which has 
 become cold and bare and without interest, from 
 fatality. She holds his destiny in her hands, and 
 if she refuses him he is lost, and if she accepts him, 
 he is redeemed and a new life will be awakened 
 unto him, and she will be the director of his des- 
 tiny, and will teach what is good and right to 
 him. In a word, he claims the girl will be his 
 holy director, and make him see good in all 
 things instead of the reverse ; and now in conclu- 
 sion, the girl has nothing to appeal to him in the 
 way of wealth. He is rich and the girl is poor 
 in worldly things, and now as she bows her head 
 
 132 
 
The Trend [ act iv ] 
 
 she asks you, in humble spirit, what should a girl 
 do in such a case? 
 
 (Curate Rollins has already stopped by 
 
 the side of Katherine in his earnestness 
 
 to hear every word from her own lips, and 
 
 finally, in quiet and decided tones, says:) 
 
 Does the girl love this man? 
 
 (Katherine takes a long breath, as if al- 
 most penetrated to the heart with these 
 searching words. She recoils and then 
 says:) 
 As I have said, there seems some affinity which 
 appeals to her. 
 
 (The minister, in resolute tones, then says:) 
 If only an affinity, then wait till love itself 
 comes. Wait, wait until then, and never before 
 give your consent and life to a man of question- 
 able character, and who only holds a suggestion 
 of love as an affinity appeals to one. 
 
 (There is a long, strained silence after this. 
 Curate Rollins speaks first, and in a 
 way that is more than the earnest appeal 
 of a curate, but more of a man who holds 
 strong regard for the person to whom he 
 speaks; says:) 
 Katherine, Katherine, I know your story; 
 I know your characters. I have waited and wait- 
 ed for you to speak thus. Yes, and more than 
 this — I have prayed for you from the first day of 
 your meeting with him four years ago — your 
 
 133 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 meeting with Jackson Raleigh — I prayed for 
 you, and your delivery and guidance from all 
 that was thrown in your path in the great metrop- 
 olis; prayed that you would be delivered whole 
 and clean of heart, of soul, of body. God has 
 been good to you and to me ; you have been saved 
 up to this time; you have unfolded yourself to 
 me, and now I can only repeat, as I know your 
 heart and head, that you should, under the cir- 
 cumstances, wait; wait for further developments 
 and for the unfolding of your entire soul, which 
 must direct your love to the man of whom you 
 speak, before giving your decided and unreserved 
 answer to become his wife and partner for life. 
 {Just now there is a ring at the hell, Kath- 
 ERiNE starts and says:) 
 It is he, it is he, for his answer. Oh, my ; I feel 
 so nervous; do not leave me {she pleads) ; do not 
 leave me. 
 
 (Rollins enters the adjoining room and 
 awaits the arrival of Raleigh^ who soon 
 enters the parlor and looks at Katherine^ 
 who seems very much agitated. He is 
 surprised as she receives him somewhat 
 coldly and he says:) 
 Katherine^ Katherine^ are you ill? {Goes 
 to her side), Katherine^ this, I hope, will 
 prove to be the happiest day of my existence. 
 {Now attempts to take her hand; she tenderly 
 but decidedly withdraws it, Raleigh looks per- 
 ish 
 
The Trend [ act iv ] 
 
 plexed and uncertain. They both stand aloof 
 for a while ^ until Raleigh says:) 
 
 Katherine^ KatherinEj you know the cause 
 of my visit on this morning ; the suspense is ago- 
 nizing ; speak, speak — can you not relieve the ten- 
 sion in which I am placed? 
 
 {She demurs, seems frightened, does not say 
 
 a word; she is undecided and irresolute in 
 
 pose, Raleigh goes to her side, takes her 
 
 hand by force, saying:) 
 
 Allow me to relieve you of the embarrassing 
 
 position. {Then loudly and earnestly :) Allow 
 
 me to answer for you; may I not take all for 
 
 granted? 
 
 Katherine {cries out). Oh, Jack, Jack, do 
 not — do not press me thus. If you only knew 
 all and the truth. Oh, if I could only do as you 
 ask, I would, I would ; but my heart does not dic- 
 tate it to me. Why do you persist in this man- 
 ner? I would do all and everything for j'-ou I 
 could; I have regard for and sympathize with 
 you ; but. Jack, my heart is not ready to give you 
 the answer you desire. 
 
 Raleigh. But, my dear, the suspense is in- 
 tolerable — more than I can bear longer. If you 
 only knew the value I place upon your words to- 
 day, my dear, you would not question me further 
 in regard to my purpose. Oh, Katherine^ do 
 not wait longer; tell me — tell me at once. 
 
 135 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 {Now without waiting further Raleigh at- 
 tempts to fervently embrace her. She 
 again withdraws and says:) 
 Jack, you must not assume such a liberty. 
 ( They now separate for a few feet of space. ) 
 
 Raleigh. Katherine, what can be the cause 
 of all this? Are you ill, or do you yet insist upon 
 torturing me longer with a weary existence that 
 turns days into years and makes my life a hell on 
 earth to me? 
 
 {After a moment or two's reflection both 
 Raleigh and Katherine seem to become 
 calmer. Raleigh is the first to speak, 
 and with calmness and spirit, yet earnest, 
 says:) 
 You know the purpose of my visit to you on 
 this morning, this morning of all the days before 
 I have cherished to think of as would be the hap- 
 piest of my life, and you know the killing sus- 
 pense under which I exist, and would continue 
 without that which I seek, your heart and hand. 
 I have told you all; you know I love you as no 
 other mortal could love another. I am ready to 
 place myself at your feet; think, Katherine, 
 deeply and soundly of what I say. Katherine, 
 think of the responsibility that is upon your soul 
 on this day. My very reason, my life, my soul 
 and body depend upon the few words you tell 
 me on this day. I need you; I need your honor, 
 your innocence, your blossom of youth, your 
 
 136 
 
The Trend [ a€t iy ] 
 
 kindly spirit, your warmth of heart, all of which 
 is known to me in that one little phrase — love — 
 love, yes, love, infused into my body and my soul 
 that is so cold and desolate, and is yearning for 
 that one and only person in this world to warm 
 it into manhood again. (Short pause,) My 
 experience in the world as it stands has made me 
 a demon among men, I fear, and I need you, 
 Katherine^ I need you, I am sure, to lead me 
 back and show me again that path of life as is 
 like innocent childhood; yes, to return me to 
 honor and innocence, and to help me to forget 
 and to forgive and to seek repentance and for- 
 giveness from all whom I have wronged, as I fear 
 I have done in my duty as I have seen it, for the 
 good of others as well as for my own selfish de- 
 sires and as the world has taught me to do from 
 its coldness and the experience I have had with 
 others. You, Katherine^ and you only, can do 
 this for me, can return me to that which I have 
 gone away from in my glittering and garnished 
 pursuits in this life. 
 
 (Raleigh now stops and waits for further 
 words to come to him. Finally he says:) 
 Katherine^ think of this deeply; think of it 
 deeply and thoroughly before you give me your 
 answer to-day, but whatever you say, let it be 
 final, either one way or the other. This suspense 
 is more than I can bear longer; I am a poor, 
 starving soul, longing for the warmth of an in- 
 
 137 
 
[ ACT ly ] The Trend 
 
 nocent and pure soul in my life. Think, Kath- 
 erine; you have a grave responsibility to-day; 
 you have a heavenly and godly duty to perform. 
 I come to you to-day to save a soul from purga- 
 tory, and to help weave it into condition for God's 
 final resting place in Heaven. This will be my 
 last appeal to you; the answer must be final to- 
 day. I have waited now more than a year, and 
 to me this has been more than a lifetime. Kath- 
 ERiNE^ think again and again, and weigh this 
 grave responsibility in your tender way with ac- 
 curacy and with the regard I have learned to 
 think you hold for me. Weigh all carefully, for 
 this will either save a tormented life and change 
 its spirit into one of goodness and real life, or 
 send it at once to where I cannot tell. I am a 
 wealthy man, as you know; see what good you 
 could do as well as saving one poor soul. There 
 will be enough at your conmiand to make others 
 happy in this world, and this would help me to 
 atone for any evils which might be laid at my 
 door. Katherine^ I can say no more, dear ; will 
 you be mine and mine forever? 
 
 ( Katherine Janeway is trembling violent- 
 ly. She turns to speak; the tears seem to 
 drown her voice. She offers her hand. 
 Raleigh takes it fervently, hut respect- 
 fully, as she says:) 
 Jack, I can't; I can't tell you to-day. You 
 must wait — you must wait. 
 
 138 
 
The Trend [ act iv ] 
 
 (Raleigh turns very pale and pleads des- 
 perately for a final answer by saying:) 
 I cannot wait longer ; it is due to both of us, to 
 you, KatherinEj as well as myself, to have a 
 final answer at once. 
 
 {Intense silence again, Katherine now 
 becomes calmer under the great responsi- 
 bility, and says:) 
 Do not press me further. Could you expect 
 me to give you my heart, which is not yet ready? 
 I have always held a strong regard for you; I 
 have always thought you have been unjustly 
 treated by others. I have sympathized and felt 
 more than this. My regard and sympathy have 
 almost won my frail heart to you, but j^et there 
 is a lacking in fullness that prevents my feeling 
 safe in saying to you what you wish, and makes 
 me say that I can't accept you as my love and 
 partner for life; and now since this is the case, 
 you, at least, expect me to be honorable. I can 
 only say as I have said before, you must wait — 
 wait till that fullness is come. 
 
 Raleigh. Katherine^ the sweetest of all 
 good souls I have met in this world, this is a 
 heavy blow, a heavier one than you can imagine, 
 believe me. 
 
 (Raleigh looks as if his very heart strings 
 were rent asunder,) 
 Raleigh. I cannot expect more, for it is my 
 lot to take the consequences and take them as I 
 
 139 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 can. (Silence a moment or two,) Katherine^ 
 I must leave you now, but remember me always 
 as one who would have done and lived and died 
 as a whole soul for your good and your good 
 only. Remember me after this parting as a soul 
 who would have been consecrated to you, the one 
 in this world who could have changed my exist- 
 ence at your bidding, and now the time is at hand 
 for me to say farewell. 
 
 ( Theii without waiting for another word, as 
 if bewildered, he starts for the door, 
 Katherine is now nonplussed or dazed, 
 Raleigh returns into the room again and 
 says:) 
 Farewell, Katherine^ dear, farewell. [Seem- 
 ingly in a dazed condition, takes her hand in his 
 and kisses it twice and says:) Remember me 
 for the good intentions I held for you. Will you 
 allow me to kiss your hand again, Katherine? 
 {She does not answer,) 
 
 (Raleigh now turns and reaches for her 
 hand. She withdraws it. The next mo- 
 ment Raleigh^ seemingly half crazed, 
 reaches the door, Katherine stands in 
 silence a moment, then screams. Curate 
 Rollins enters,) 
 Rollins. Katherine^ Katherine — 
 Katherine. Oh, I feel so alarmed! Oh, I 
 feel so agitated and lonely! 
 
 (Curate Rollins takes her hand.^ 
 
 140 
 
The Trend [ act iv ] 
 
 Rollins. You must calm yourself. You 
 must calm yourself, and trust that all will be 
 right in the end. 
 
 Katherine {half dazed). Thank you so 
 much for all you have done. I feel now that 
 you have advised me aright again. Oh, let us 
 hope so — let us hope so. What would I have 
 done without your advice and help, and the 
 strength your words seemed to give me in this 
 ordeal. 
 
 Rollins. Katherine^ Katherine, let it be 
 so. Let it be so for the present, and as time 
 goes on let us grow to understand each other 
 more and more. Let our interests become more 
 and more alike; let our lives become more and 
 more conformed. Let our motives in life become 
 more and more cemented; in a word, let us grow 
 nearer and nearer to each other. (Silence,) 
 Katherine^ Katherine^ one year hence, or 
 when all this is forgotten or when you feel there 
 is no other one you can give that place in your 
 life I seek, let us become more and more as one 
 concrete, inseparable form of God's great family 
 upon this earth, and until he calls us forth to the 
 life everlasting. Let us become more and more 
 as one. 
 
 (Katherine sways from exhaustion. Rol- 
 lins gently places his arm about her for 
 support, Katherine looks toward the 
 ground. ) 
 
 141 
 
[ ACT IV ] The Trend 
 
 Katheeine. How could I answer now? How 
 could I do as you wish at this time? 
 
 Rollins. No, no — not now, but when you are 
 free, and when this trouble is at an end, and when 
 all this is passed. If you can forget, or when 
 there is no other one you should rather favor than 
 me, and when we grow nearer and nearer to each 
 other through God's grace, then you will answer, 
 will you not? (Silence,) 
 
 Katherine (softly). Yes, yes — at that time 
 I will answer. (Just now a pistol shot is heard j 
 and another report follows the first immediately. 
 Katherine shrieks and falls into the arms of 
 Curate Rollins; the next instant Mr. Jane- 
 way rushes into the room and cries:) 
 
 Heavens, heavens! Jackson Raleigh has 
 returned, and taken his own life in the front of 
 my home. 
 
 (Katherine swoons. Curate Rollins 
 raises his hand heavenward and earnestly 
 says:) 
 
 God's will be done! 
 
 (the END.) 
 
 Hi 
 
 142 
 
I 
 
MAH 9 1908 
 
^ ^ ' " * 
 
 
 
 
 ,<# ^^^ 
 
 
 
 • • 
 
 
 
 * ... "^ 
 
 b f • 
 
 i<i^ o**" 
 
 ^v^ 
 
 CV ^0^ . « * o^ *> <> . $ • • 
 
 ^^-^. 
 
 
 
 
 
 OM 9 
 
 
 
 J."-'*. V 
 
 W *??^f'* -■e.*' 
 
 ,-1°^ 
 
V ♦ 
 
 <?«. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V ... <.^*'^:7r* 
 
 
 N 
 
 
 ^^rs^ 
 
 .-^^^ 
 
 -^0 
 
 
 ^0 
 
 rl^^ 
 
 
 c4.^ 
 
 
 HECKMAN 
 
 BINDERY INC. 
 
 ^^ DEC 88 
 
 W^^ N. MANCHESTER, 
 ^*=^ INDIANA 46962 
 
 
 
 ■^6 
 4 
 
 A°^ 
 
 %.