Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1917 — DIAMONDS AND HEARTS BY HIGH SCHOOL [ARTICLE]

DIAMONDS AND HEARTS BY HIGH SCHOOL

High School Class Play to Be Given At ElHs Monday and Tuesday Evenings. Each character in this play is original and lifelike. Bernice Halstead, a young lady of eigtheen, has a burning desire to meet Dr. Burton, a young physician who ’has just moved into her home town and she has a brilliant idea by which this may be brought about. She tells her plan to Amy Halstead, her younger sister, and to Inez Gray, a young lady visitor, who are willing to share in the fun. Mrs. Halstead, the stepmother to the Halstead girls, is away from home and the girls sieze this as a prime opportunity to carry out their plan. Bernice plans that one of the girls must pretend to be sick and the others shall >be affectionate nurses. They promise Sammy, the darky bellboy, ten cents if he will go for the doctor and say nothing about it to anyone else. The one who pulls the longest toothpick must pretend to ’be sick and it falls to Bernice, to be the patient and win the captivating Dr. Burton. - Dwight Bradley, Mr. Halstead’s son by a former marriage, wishes to mgrry Benrice in order to gain possession of her His motherpromises to help him win Bernice but Bernice’s thoughts turn to Dr. Burton instead of Dwight. Bernice leaves the Halstead home and ’becomes a country school teacher in order to avoid Dwight. She boards with Abraham and Hannah Barnes. Abraham or “Bub” is a Yankee farmer, a homespun, lovable man who lives with his maiden sister. Hannah Mary or “Sis” and the scene in his home with his equally attractive sister is one of the strongest in the play. Dr. Burton at the death of his parents has been brought up and educated ’by Abraham and Hannah. He pays them a visit and again meets Bernice, his patient" . In the meantime Dwight Bradley

has stolen jomeof hftr mother’s diamonds. He has been successful »n slipping to the Barnes home and hiding them in Bernice’s trunk. By this plan he purposes to force Bernice co marry him in order to clear herself and then her property will pay his debts.

Sammy, the clever little darky boy, overhears Dwight’s soliloquy about the stolen diamonds. Abraham Barnes comes to the Halstead home and Sammy fells Abraham what he has heard. Abraham recognizes Dwight as the man whom he saw slipping aiway from his house on the day when the diaonds were hidden in Bernice’s trunk. The sheriff is called and Dwight and his mother are arrested, which proves Bernice’s innocence. The drama is full of comedy, pathos and country life of the most wholesome nature. The case of characters is as follows:

Bernice Halstead, a young lady of 18, with an affection of the heart, a lover of fun and a hatred of arith,metic—Wilda Littlefield. Amy Halstead, her sister, two years younger—Mamie Bever. Inez Gray, a young lady visitor, willing to share in the fun—Gladys Arnott. Mrs. Halstead, a widow, and stepmother to the Halstead girls—Marjorie VanAtta. Hannah Mary Barnes, or “Sis,” a feiaiden lady who keeps house for her brother —Ruth Wood. Dwight Bradley, a fortune hunter, and Mrs. Halstead’s son by a former marriage—'Harry Moore. - - Dr. Burton, a young physician— French Crooks. Sammy, the darky bellboy in the Halstead home —Howard York. Abraham Barnes, a Yankee farmer, still unmarried at forty; a diamond in the rough—Robert Loy. Attorney—Seth Reed. Sheriff—Harvey Snow. « Act I. —Place: A pleasant parlor in the city home of the Halstead’s. Dr. Burton’s patient. Act ll—Scene I—Kitchen in the old Barnes farmhouse. The new school teacher. Scene 2—Same as proceeding scene but two weeks later. Abraham’s heart strays. Act Hl—Same as Act 1. The fortune hunter is brought to justice. All serene.