Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-02
The
LOVE STORY
of a
MOVIE STAR
CHAPTER XII


T WAS shocked at the tone of dis
l. courtesy, almost of contempt But at
the same moment Roland wheeled
around.
I'm not made out of rubber"' he
snapped.
I can hardly describe how felt, how
endangered We're all my ideals by these
few words; the sense of personal shame
and anger / felt; the sense Of tears.
But at the same time. Roland saw me
approaching and stiffened even sitter
than before. He was put out, confused,
uncertain. hardly knew whether he
was going to back away or come toward
me.
Suddenly he came to me, and the
blonde lady. turning, saw him, saw me,
and rose. She looked from one to the
other and caught my eyes. ! looked
back, my soul barred. l fear, and my
love for Roland shining in my eyes
She made a movement forward. as If
to cover Roland, and he confronted me,
abashed.
How did you get in?" he asked,
not even calling me by name.
The girl told me to come
You shouldn't have. We're in the
middle of a scene. This isn't allowed.
Please go. I'll write to you"
He said all this in an impersonal way.
as If he were ordering his dinner. The
blonde woman stood beside him. He
turned TO her.
This is Miss Moreland, Alma. Miss
Audrey"
nodded. She nodded. ] turned.
I'm very sorry" i said, and then
walked slowly away, trying to keeE
from falling.
l don't remember leaving the build
ing. l don't recall having passed the
telephone girl with her impudently curl
Gus stare. When / came to myself II
was to find myself on a shabby, dingy
street, filled with cheap, smelly shops
and thronged with untidy. foreign look
ing women with dirty children clnginl
to their skirts. They, too. stared a
me curiously. l was as completely lost
as if had been in some strange, for
eign land.
! turned helplessly to an old woman
wearing a wig which could never hav
been intended to deceive any one still
having the gift of sight:
Would you be good enough to tel
me where ! amf" asked. Il fear an
lost" But she only laughed stupid,
in reply.
looked about me for some street sig,
that would give me some clue to wha
part of the city l was in. / wa
vaguely frightened, l scarcely kney
street where the sign should have beer
| found nothing that could help me. 7
: my great JOY | saw a policeman ap
4 preaching. could have thrown m
) arms about him; never had | been S
| glad to see the uniform before!
0 "Oh, please, officer. Can you tell m
how to get to the ferry to? l hay
t quite lost my way"
( II should say you had - lie smile
e down at me in a paternal fashion frol
his great height. why, if you wer
/ the river. And it's the other rive
) you'll be wanting. Now, look her,
@ young lady, the best thing you can d
: is TO walk down this avenue for fou
blocks. You can get car there tht
e will take you clear across town, an
: you'll only be short walk from yor
n ferry then"
n thanked him warmly, but hesitate
n minute before making my next rt
d quest. .
II "Is there anything else / can do f.
4 you?" he asked noting my embarras:
Il ment.
~ "Are you going down that way
'. Might-might walk down with you?
I stammered. "These people look
queer, I'm afraid of them
"Sure you can" he laughed. "Th
= do look bit queer until you're us'
,e to them. But you'd be perfectly safe
: the daytime, anyway. They're most
= Wops and Hikes" he assured me.
n I hadn't the most remote idea
IS what nationality "Wops" and "I<ike'
> belonged. was perfectly willing
N believe that they would do me no har
but / avaied myself Of his permi
le sion to accompany him, nevertheless.
i Once at the desired corner, he wait
politely until my car came in sight.
= gave him my best smile, by way
thanks.
e Once on the car, / resolved to p
II all thoughts of Roland's treatment
% me out of my mind until i was safe
e locked In my own room. knew that
effort OF mine xwould Keep the tea