Scene 5 Room in a Small Cottage on the Poplar Farm
(Ten miles from Muddy Creek, and owned by Dr. Gaines.)
Enter Melinda, R.
Melinda. Here I am, watched, and kept a prisoner in this place. Oh, I would that I could escape, and once more get with Glen. Poor Glen! He does not know where I am. Master took the opportunity, when Glen was in the city with his master, to bring me here to this lonely place, and fearing that mistress would know where I was, he brought me here at night. Oh, how I wish I could rush into the arms of sleep!—that sweet sleep, which visits all alike, descending, like the dews of heaven, upon the bond as well as the free. It would drive from my troubled brain the agonies of this terrible night.
Enter Dr. Gaines, L.
Dr. Gaines. Good evening, Melinda! Are you not glad to see me?
Melinda. Sir, how can I be glad to see one who has made life a burden, and turned my sweetest moments into bitterness?
Dr. G. Come, Melinda, no more reproaches! You know that I love you, and I have told you, and I tell you again, that if you will give up all idea of having Glen for a husband, I will set you free, let you live in this cottage, and be your own mistress, and I’ll dress you like a lady. Come, now, be reasonable!
Melinda. Sir, I am your slave; you can do as you please with the avails of my labor, but you shall never tempt me to swerve from the path of virtue.
Dr. G. Now, Melinda, that black scoundrel Glen has been putting these notions into your head. I’ll let you know that you are my property, and I’ll do as I please with you. I’ll teach you that there is no limit to my power.
Melinda. Sir, let me warn you that if you compass my ruin, a woman’s bitterest curse will be laid upon your head, with all the crushing, withering weight that my soul can impart to it; a curse that shall cling to you throughout the remainder of your wretched life; a curse that shall haunt you like a spectre in your dreams by night, and attend upon you by day; a curse, too, that shall embody itself in the ghastly form of the woman whose chastity you will have outraged. Command me to bury myself in yonder stream, and I will obey you. Bid me do any thing else, but I beseech you not to commit a double crime,—outrage a woman, and make her false to her husband.
Dr. G. You got a husband! Who is your husband, and when were you married?
Melinda. Glen is my husband, and I’ve been married four weeks. Old Uncle Joseph married us one night by moonlight. I see you are angry; I pray you not to injure my husband.
Dr. G. Melinda, you shall never see Glen again. I have bought him from Hamilton, and I will return to Muddy Creek, and roast him at the stake. A black villain, to get into my way in that manner! Here I’ve come ten miles to-night to see you, and this is the way you receive me!
Melinda. Oh, master, I beg you not to injure my husband! Kill me, but spare him! Do! do! he is my husband!
Dr. G. You shall never see that black imp again, so good night, my lady! When I come again, you’ll give me a more cordial reception. Good night!
[Exit Dr. Gaines, L.
Melinda. I shall go distracted. I cannot remain here and know that Glen is being tortured on my account. I must escape from this place,—I must,—I must!
Enter Cato, R.
Cato. No, you ain’t a-gwine to ’scape, nudder. Massa tells me to keep dese eyes on you, an’ I is gwine to do it.
Melinda. Oh, Cato, do let me get away! I beg you, do!
Cato. No; I tells you massa telled me to keep you safe; an’ ef I let you go, massa will whip me.
[Exit Cato, L.
Enter Mrs. Gaines, R.
Mrs. G. Ah, you trollop! here you are! Your master told me that he had sold you and sent you down the river, but I knew better; I knew it was a lie. And when he left home this evening, he said he was going to the city on business, and I knew that was a lie too, and determined to follow him, and see what he was up to. I rode all the way over here to-night. My side-saddle was lent out, and I had to ride ten miles bare-back, and I can scarcely walk; and your master has just left here. Now deny that, if you dare.
Melinda. Madam, I will deny nothing which is true. Your husband has just gone from here, but God knows that I am innocent of any thing wrong with him.
Mrs. G. It’s a lie! I know better. If you are innocent, what are you doing here, cooped up in this cottage by yourself? Tell me that!
Melinda. God knows that I was brought here against my will, and I beg that you will take me away.
Mrs. G. Yes, Melinda, I will see that you are taken away, but it shall be after a fashion that you won’t like. I know that your master loves you, and I intend to put a stop to it. Here, drink the contents of this vial,—drink it!
Melinda. Oh, you will not take my life,—you will not!
Mrs. G. Drink the poison this moment!
Melinda. I cannot drink it.
Mrs. G. I tell you to drink this poison at once. Drink it, or I will thrust this knife to your heart! The poison or the dagger, this instant!
[She draws a dagger; Melinda retreats to the back of the room, and seizes a broom.
Melinda. I will not drink the poison!
[They fight; Melinda sweeps off Mrs. Gaines,—cap, combs and curls. Curtain falls.