Sherwood Anderson:Mother

She shrugs her shoulders

A proud, free, independent woman like you and a boy like Harry -- how absurd, such a woman as you. MABEL CLARK cannot stand any more of it. She gets up determinedly and moves toward the door

-- 17 --

MABEL CLARK I must go now, Mrs. Horton, I must. I tell you I don't feel well.

MARY HORTON follows her to the door, again taking hold of her arm, stopping her at the door

MARY HORTON No, no, don't go. Stay a while. I know what it is. It's the heat. Wait. Stay here. It will get cooler. Let's

talk. Let's be friends. I so need a woman friend. I'm so lonely here. You see, I wanted to ask you to help me with my boy Harry. Mabel, I can't depend on his father and I know that you and Harry are real friends. You see I'm a sick woman and go very seldom out of this room. I don't know people. I want a woman like you, Mabel -- free, proud -- independent -- intelligent -- a woman not afraid of the gossip of a small town -- I want such a woman to be my friend and my boy Harry's friend.

Her voice becomes pleading

That's why I sent for you, Mabel. I want you to stick to Harry -- take my place -- be his real friend. Go about with him, tell him things a mother can't tell a son.

She keeps smiling

You see, some really designing woman might … well, you know. You can be such a help to him.

MABEL CLARK forces herself past MARY and to the door. She has become afraid of MARY HORTON

-- 18 --

MABEL CLARK Yes, yes, Mrs. Horton, I will, I will. I'll do anything you ask. Let me go now. I must go.

MARY HORTON still clings to her, her hand on MABEL'S arm

MARY HORTON But, Mabel, if you must go. But I won't be rude. Come again, when you can. I know you'll come soon. We are

going to be friends. I need you. I knew you would help me with Harry. You promise me, don't you? You are so good. You'll come to see me often after this, won't you? I know Harry admires you so. You'll be his friend and my friend and you'll help us both. You see I'm so helpless, so helpless. You will help me, won't you? I know you will.

MABEL CLARK

At the door

Yes, yes, I promise. I'll do anything. I promise. I must go.

MARY HORTON

Standing in the doorway

Oh, Mabel, I'm so sorry you must go. Now remember your promise. You'll come again soon, won't you?

Speaks brightly

If you don't, Mabel, I'll come to you.

MABEL CLARK

In the hallway outside agitated

Yes, yes, I promise. I promise. Good-by. Good-by.

MARY HORTON

In the doorway

Good-by. Good-by, Mabel. Oh, you darling! You have made me so glad, so happy.

She calls

And you will stick to Harry, won't you?

-- 19 --

MABEL CLARK

From the distance

Yes, Mrs. Horton, yes, I will.

MARY HORTON stands a moment in the doorway looking out into the hall. Her figure suddenly changes. It slumps and she turns and comes back into the room and closes the door. She stands a moment at the door, clinging to the doorknob and then half staggers across the room to the rocking chair. For a moment she sits with her face in her hands and then her head falls against the back of the chair and she lies there white and still. She smiles. There is a time of silence in the room and then a man's voice is heard from outside, in the hallway. The man is singing a popular song of the period

VOICE FROM OUTSIDE One little girl in blue, lad,

Won your father's heart, Became your mother, I married another,

But now we have drifted apart.