Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-22
The
LOVE STORY
of a
MOVIE STAR
CHAPTER XVIII

TT WAS all in vain that told myself
L that he had passed completely out of
my life. kept waiting for word from
coming back.
And what is my dream today, look
ing out over the long blue tides of the
sea?
Weeks passed. and again my money |
dwindled almost to the vanishing point. |
I re Learned all those little tricks of
utter poverty which l had hoped were
behind me forever. l knew exactly
how far could make five. cent pack
age of crackers 60, and how sparingly
l could afford to consume my bottle
of milk. Naturally, l grew thiu and
weak. 1t was all in vain, too, that
| told myself that l must rouse my
self from the apathy into which / had
fallen. / was beaten. | admitted it.
| decided TO give up and try to get
job in a department store.
The weather was growing cold with
touches of bitterness. Then came two
DAYS without any food. | recall va alk-
ing, quite sick, for miles and miles
through the city, just to keep warm and
forget my hunger. On the seconL day
my head felt light and queer, and. now
and then, l would have spells of diZzi-
ness. But kept stumbling rlone.
| Suddenly, met woman who had been
in the Beaver Face company! 1T was
the one who had left shortly before
did, to play with a company in the
! West.
She stopped to gossip, chirping all
around me. She had met with perfectly
astounding success. l just ought 10
see her notices. Oh. no indeed, she
hadn't come back East to stay. just
a short holiday, that was all.
II was a good thing for me that |
met her. 1t was like n Slap. or a dash
of cold water in my face, making me
stiffen up, bringing back anger ana
pride. ! brought myself to, in order
not to betray my hunger and weakness
to her. ,.,., .,,
| asked. 81 heard you'd left the Henry
Irving"
wondered just what she had heard
about my leave taking.
Out of work. for the moment
I managed a brave smile. ,,...,
But perhaps she scnSed more. WIN
the greatest Kindness and tact sh"
quite casually told me Of an artist
friend of hers who was looking for
model. "a model who could act. she
gave me his address, and reconH:ehdeu
that / take some photographs OF my
self with me.
I thanked her warmly, ana pronisel
to follow her advice. ,,-..,
and fierce energy, ! dug some pictures
Of myself out of my trunk, ana made
n careful selection Of the ones which
| fancied might catch nm artists eye
How | ever got to that artist S
studio, / do not know. The city was
swimming about me the houses sway
ing and moving about; the very pave
mcnt seemed to rise and fall like the
waves I am looking at now.
But Mt last l came to the entrance OF
a brownstone house on one or the slde
streets near Fifth avenue. | looked fof
the desired name. Yes, there 1t was
But there was no indication OF the hoor
on which ! was to find him. ! had to
climb four long flights, stopping on
each landing to scan the names on the
various DOORS to the top floor. 1t took
me a long time to do it. And brought
up finally, painting, under the skylight
Of the upper hall.
I stood there. trying to balance my =
self trying to conjure up smile. trying
TO show myself at my best, Then
knocked. There was no answer,
knocked again, louder this time. The
door was suddenly flung open, and a
troubled looking man in long, loose
artists coat, and little cap perched
on his heavy thatched hair, pcercd out
at me.
what do you want?"
His tone was brusque,
II want work as a model | gasped
Haven't got any. Sorry ~
He started to shut the door. Then
in n flash, / realized that If | were
shut out, the end had come, My whole
nature rose in revolt and appeal.
held out my hands filled with photo
graphs.
these 80
He was startled. He stared at me
He seemed to sic me for the first time
He scratched his head thoughtfully
gave Inc sidelong look, and took tn
pictures. He told me afterward tha
in that sudden appeal of mine, he saw
the very character he was looking for
! Come in" he murmured.
As / started TO obey, the whole worl