Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-09
The
LOVE STORY
of a
MOVIE STAR
CHAPTER XVII

T IKE the reckless thing l was, l
Amade up my mind to wait at least a
week before looking for anything to do.
Remember. this was my first real holi-
day for ages. Any one who has ever
worked in stock knows how exhaust
ing it is both to mind and body.
had luxurious visions of lying in
bed as late as l liked, untroubled by
thoughts of rehcarsals; of spending long
afternoons going about looking at the
pretty things in the shops-1 am not one
of those persons who cannot enjoy sec.
ing things because cannot hope to buy
them-and Of going each evening to the
theatre Julia Marlowe, Mande Adams,
John Drew, ! would see them all for
the first time in my life. 1t would be
new and delightful form Of study to
watch these great ones of the stage and
learn, if possible, the secret of their
success. For / was not silly enough to
believe that I had yet learned even the
A B 9 Of my art.
What a happy, care free week l had! !
have never had one quite like it since.
l lazed about deliciously until after
noon, pottering about doing odd bits Of
sewing and repairing for which during
the past year I had never been able to
| find the time. l even bought some pretty.
| light material and made myself new
gown which turned out to be great
success. Indeed, if my landlady, Mrs.
Burkstadt. could be believed, had only
to wear it when I went to sec man
ager, and would be able to make my
own terms.
| Of course had told her all about my
hopes and fears. She was the sort OF
person in whom one just has TO con
fide. When she saw me strutting before
the mirror in my new creation, the tears
came into her poor, faded eyes.
People said that / was pretty, too
long ago." she sighed, "although no one
would believe it to look Mt me now.
"I'd believe it," I cried warmly, an(
I added. Il think you'd be handsome
vet If only YOU looked little happier. '
She only shook her head sadly BY
way of reply.
When it came to going to the thea
tres, lacked the courage TO try to ge
In on nv card as l had heard SOM
of the women in the company speak o
doing. I felt that I should die II
we're refused. And refused l almost Ger
tainly would be. Who in this great bee
hive had ever heard of Nella Morcland
an obscure member of an obscure stool
company in a little hamlet across tn
river?
Besides. / had made up my mind t,
ask Mrs. Burkstadt to go with nc.
felt n strange timidity about going abou
at night alone. I didn't feel that It wa
quite nice" I would certainly looI
more important If l had such an i'm
posing looking duenna. Then, too,
had a genuine desire to bring littl
PLEASURE and gayety into her drah life
ANY doubt that / might have enter
tanned as to whether she would enjo
it vanished, the minute ! proposed m
scheme to her. Her face lighted up lik
n child's, to cloud over again almos
instantly. She thanked me very mucf
/ was very kind, etc. But she reall
lco,ldn't accept. I had the most dread
ful time getting at her reason. AS
more than half suspected. it was be
cause she didn't have a decent rag
e her back. She admitted having MOI
d than one trunk packed with old things
Bu they were all hopSlessly out {
d style, The boys on the street woul
le boot at her if she were to appear in an
j. one of them.
'g After tremendous amount of plead
IF ing, l prevailed upon her to let me 81
N some Of them, reminding her that 81
l. had already praised my skill as dress
ly maker, and declaring that the only wa
81 to prove to me that she had meant whit
ty she said, was to let me build" a ne
costume for her out of these relics
M bygone splendor.
lie Half an hour later she appeared
:" my room, her arms piled high with col
IN tunes of every description. There we
be walking costumes, afternoon costume
all Of beautiful materials, and sever
u