Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-06
CHAPTER XNXIN

T THINK Malcolm Sandy felt sorry
for me when I stood there before him
and said I'd marry him the next day
I felt dazed. stupcfed. rs II great
weight Of sorrow had fallen on me and
was crushing out my life. Far down
on the bay the foghorns were calling,
and | seemed to remember with luS'
part of my mind the night Of the studio
party when had heard them and
had thought of how I'd hate to hear
them IL were unhappy. We'll, now
I knew how that would feel.
Back in my own room again. few
moments later, / tried desperately 70
get control Of myself. But all | could
think Of was that / was going to marry
Malcolm Sandy: that somehow | hal
been tricked into doing this thing that
didn't want to. that would always
make me look at life through cloud
of unhappiness.
Suddenly / knew that | never could
do it, never! No matter how cruelty
people talked about INC. no matter II
he broke my contract with him and !
had to walk the streets looking fol
work, I coul,ln't do It. Anything would
be better than being married to him
when loved Derry So
I got my little fitted bag out of the
closet Colleen Moore had given it to
me when I left Los Angeles. And rs
I tucked into it few things that I'd
need, the hot tears that filled my eyes
splashed down on my hands.
Don't be perfect fool 80 | told
myself sCathingly. Think Of all the
girls who are working hard to earn
their living. and brace up. Don't
be sorry for yourself. You were 4
silly goose to get into this mess, bui
you re lucky to be able 10 slip out. And
maybe this'll teach YOU some sense and
make you little kinder toward people
YOU hear gossiped about when you don
know for sure that they're to blamt
for what they seem to have done. Come
on. now. Di Chcyne-brace up"
And by the time I'd got my littlt
bag packed I'd made myself stop cry
ing. Then I hunted up my own ol;
coat--I never could wear that beaver
one again-and got into it and n plar
| little hat and took my pockctbook ant
travelling bag and slipped OUT into thu
hall.
1t was a very long hall and the Ii.
brary opened at the further end. i
was stilf lighted and ! knew that Nal.
colin Sandy was probably still there
| Mrs. Lane was likely to be in her owl
room. So. very quietly, | slipped int,
! the kitchen and let myself out by tn,
back door.
1t opened on an inclosed stairway
! and also on hall, into which III,
| freight elevator opened. That WASH
running, though, so hurried dowl
| the back stairs. Now that / was reall!
| on my way out Of the house | Couldn
60 fast enough. Ny heart was beatin.
| like a triphammer. and my knees SHOOT
under me as I ran faster and faStc
down those six long flights Of stairs
! What if I'd get out into the stree
and find that Malcolm Sandy was ther
on his way back ~ his club? Wha
would | do, anyway, when ! got to IN
street? Where would ! go:
! couldn't answer that question. bu
I went on and on, eager only to b
outdoors and free from the awful hover
ing cloud that seemed to have settle
down over me. And so. after ages an
ages. it seemed TO me. did get to tn
street. and stood there in the door
way for a moment, trying to plan wha
I'd do next.
On such stormy night ] knew
would be hard to get n taxi. and, any
way. wouldn't know where to tell
driver to go. didn't know myself
1t was very latc-after Il o'clock.
wondered if hotels would admit gir,
who were alone without any baggage.
The subway was only n block ava
and ! decided TO take that hadn
ridden on it very often, but / di
know something about il, and as