Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-25
1 Ysg CChs Daily Movie Magazine
LOVE STORY of MOVIE STAR
CHAPTER VI

roland WelleS ! Inc name ltscll cast
n spell upon me! And the beauty Of
the man-the athletic build, the great
square shoulders, the rolling name of
hair above that smooth, handsome face
that face with its large liquid eyes, fine
nose, and sweet, strong lips. Dark and
handsome, heavenly--to a girl OF seven
teen. I do not blame you, Annette
wilkins, for falling in love with him
But it was not his beauty after all.
No. it was the fact that he was my
ideal of q man. He had none of the
taint that / attached to other men. He
was the "Galahad of the Movies,
pure, chivalric, noble. Week after week
whether he was playing in dress suit
or a cowboy costume, he was the same.
He was the perfect lover; he was the
high minded man who saved girls from
dishonorable men; he was the hero,
tender. brave, dominating, gentle.
OF course, what had found was the
opposite of my foster father. Here was
he who was the other extreme; the
bearing. the chastc heart. | had found
what / was seeking. | was madly in
love with him.
/ lived now only when he appeared ;
in between, l was merely dreaming. But
when at last his turn came, the dark
and lost pianist beneath him became
an invisible flame.
In my usual way, made up my mind
TO meet him; and whenever l make
up my mind. the thing happens. Why
this is so, | don't know.
But perhaps it is this element in my
life which makes me feel that no photo
play have ever acted in is more strange
and unaccountabe than my own career.
You see. many of the movie stars
make n habit. at intervals, of going
around the country and leCturing in the
theatres. This is a good advertising
scheme: good for the theatres. good for
the stars. 1t gives people new interest
in their favOritcS. SO. in the course of
time. Roland WClles appeared in the
Imperial Theatre. bringing a record
crowd to the doors,
knew Of it several days in advance.
and lived in fever. | hardly ate or
slept. 1t was Wednesday when he
came, and he was not to appear until
80, in order TO keep the crowd
all evening. At 6 80 l went out 70
supper in the little place along the
garing street, with the crowds passing
up and down in the brilliant yet misty
air.
Coming out Of the restaurant l
stopped and bought bunch of fresh
lilacs. These I placed in a glass on
top of the piauo. Their scent is with
me still, bringing the spring, the night,
the dark theatre my first love!
II was little after 9:30. The little
sidedoor opened. under tho red exit
bulb. and Van Enden appeared, dark
large shape following him. j stopped
playing: the house grew deadly still
The operator left the theatre in semi
darkness. Van Enden said few words
of introduction. the audience applauded
wildly. and then Van Endcp withdrew.
Suddenly Roland WClles was standing
beside the piano, his arm on the top OF
Il. ! At the same moment the operator
threw the spotlight on him. / hardly
knew It. but I, myself. was caught, or
NJ least my head. in that circle of light
that splashed part of the piano and
part of the screen behind it.
He was so close to me, so real; and l
was not disilluSioned. 1t was exactly
MS n he had stepped out of the films
and had found flesh and a voice
did not hear what he was saying there
was no need of that. 1t was doubtless.
anyway, some stock speech about 'How
Pictures Are Made.
leaned forward. and the pail or my
whole soul must have drawn him. for.
in few moments. he turned his head
tightly. looked down n little, and met
nv eyes. Then he looked away. But
ever and again through that magic hour
he kept coming back to me. as if. sub
consciously, he found his real audience
in me.
Yes, was silly girl. But, then.
infatuated girls are silly. 1t seemed
10 me that only he and I were there,
even as in a scene in one of his plays.
I was even shocked when the applause
broke out at the end, when / saw the
Good Night" on the screen, and found
myself playing the exit march, and that
Roland Welles had disappeared.
When the theatre was empty, I rose,
leaned forward, and drew the lilacs down
TO my face.
And then he was standing beside me-
Pardon me, " be said II forgot my
gloves"
And l had not seen them-right be-
side the lilacs. Al the same time, |
had a queer intuition that he had not
there on purpose.
gave them to him, my hand trem-
bling.
Dark little place. this" he said
] found my voice
Yes" murmured.
Strange be said in an of hand
way, "a girl ike you holding a Job like
A fash of inspiration came to me.