Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-01
CHAPTER TX

CHAPTER TX
LNOR q while the trade journals deal
L ing with the motion picture industry
were full of announcements about Isabel
and her new company. She was to be-
gin work right away on n wonderful
story written by a big scenario writer,
whose name would be made public later.
Then she was looking for studio space
at Fort Lee. Then she was choosing a
director. Rut nothing definite was ever
told Always this picture was going
to be the most wonderful one ever made.
but that was all that was said about it.
Looks queer to me- one Of the men
at the studio said, one night when lot
OF us were eating some sandwiches that
hud been sent in; we were working late,
and hadn't time to 60 out to dinner.
''The latest is that she's reading stories.
the one that was written specially for
talents it says in the Review. That
always means that something's fallen
through, when they're just reading sto.
ries. ! know the signs"
Later ! saw that Derry had gone to
France with the aviation cOrps-gonc
without sending me even a line. tore
ur the little souvenirs I'd been keeping
of the times we'd COMO ont together,
and threw away the four-lcaf clover
he'd found and given me once when VIC
were out on location together. l felt
awfully unhappy, and sick of pictures,
and tired of everything. And then /
met Keith Gorham, and my life took
OH q queer twist that has never been
quite Strengthened out.
I don't know that can make you
understand his fascination for me. His
looks would have hecn enough for any
girl. even for one who'd been associated
with as many good looking men as l
Ind. He had black hair. and long. steel
blue eyes that We're heavy lidded. much
as Rudolph Valentines are. In fact,
there's ono closeup in 1.-The Four
Horsemen" where the heroine asks VAL
entino if he'll behave If she goes to his
studio. where Valentine makes me think
of Keith They have the same incxpli-
cable charm
We met at his aunt's home. Mrs.
Gorham was an old friend of my aunt's
and had asked me to a dance which she
was giving. She motored to town to
get me. and we drove in her wonderful
car to the most beautiful home I'd ever
seen-a long, low house. cream colored
with a red tile roof, with the blue sea
lying below it.
came out into the terrace when
had dressed for dinner. and there stood
Keith. one arm resting on the top of Il
great terra Gotta urn, his big figure. in
stunning white fannels, siihouctted
against The flaming gardens that swept
down to the sea.
Hearing my footsteps on the tiled
floor, he turned. and my eyes met his
long. heavy .lidGed ones. For an instant
my heart tluttered and had a curious.
hhiverv feeling Just one other time in
my life have ] felt that way; both
times the sensation has warned me that
| the man to whom / was being intrO-
duced was TO play an important part in
my life. Laugh If you want to; this
same thing has happened to other girls.
] know-and ! hope and prav that it
will never again happen to me!
Mrs. Gorham introduced us. and then
sauntered down to the rose gardens, the
heavy lace Of her gown making a soft,
Swishing sound. I found myself listen .
ing to it intently, knowing that I was
trying to postpone the moment when ]
would find that Keith Gorhams eyes
had drawn mine to his again.
We talked only moment, about little
commonplace things, before dinner was
announced. Then I found myself seated
across from him at the round table that
was laid on another terrace, from which
We could look up at the hills. dark
against the wonderful blue of Califor-
MAS night sky. Across from me sat
Mr.. Gorham, genial, sandy haired
man, who was frankly curious about the
world j moved in; between him anG
Keith sat his beautiful wife, her vel
low hair and the emeralds that CLEANED
about her throat made doubly effective
by the rose shaded light of the candles
Out of sight, but reminding us of 1T
presence by the salty tang 1t laid on thu
evening air, the sea murmured con,
tentedly. And the flowers that bloomcC
everywhere all seemed to be embodied II
the sunset -hued roses that were masset
on the table between Keith Gorham anC
me.
My tulle frock was orchid color. Will
cloth of silver shimmering beneath it,
fuffiness. ! knew that I looked we'll
that the deep waves of my bronze hai
were lovely, that my eyes had nevel
been deeper, clearer gray.
And ! knew, too, when ! looked a
Keith Gorham for a long, breathles
second, when my heart seemed to ham
mer in my throat. that that flower
scented evening was going to bring m
happiness.
CONTINUED TOMORROW