Evening star., 1922-06-25

his house was in suburb, where it
was restful. quiet and green.
X X ):
Its customary train OF late after
- noon carried him for forty min
yates through the city to its outskirts
and the development of which his
home was a part Eldreda was out
side, in a deep wicker chais, absorbed
in q magazine Of the moving picture
world. She was nineteen. had large,
appealing eyes. q spectacular pile Of
taken third prize IN . beauty contest
conducted by just such maessine as
she was reading.
The photograph Of her upon which
this triumph was based, greatly en-
larged, hung prominently on the wall
Of the living room In It her Arm
shoulders were draped in q precaf-
ously informal seeming piece Of silk.
her hair was dressed to Its utmost ef-
fectiveness, and the celebrated, the
appealing, eyes regarded the world
with an innocent and tender surprise.
Her mouth the photographer had
softened in shadow.
She nodded to her father and in
stantly returned to the page before
her. Eldreda, he knew, was cross be-
cause he wouldn't send her to Call
fornia in order to complete the sue
cess already so auspiciously begun.
Sending her west, he had discovered.
was not a simple concern of trans
portation-it included clothes, tho
right clothes; a hotel in Los Angeles,
the right hotel, for. perhaps, a month
and then she would be of, or.
rather. on. At least, she, supported
by her mother, said she would.
with your favoritesr' he COM
mented in 4 determination Of cheer
fulness.
Eldreda raised her eyebrows.
"In my opinion" she said, Gloria
Swanson is absurdly overestimated.
What they all see in her personally ]
can't make out. But. then, every one
agrees that what the screen needs 10
new types--something different" Her
breast heaved sharply. Never had
there been such an opportunity" Her
chin dropped gracefully on hand
steadied by the chair arm. Her body
expressed a sort of resignation. the
eyes sought the far horizon.
II hear the studios are all coming
east" he observed hopefully.
"In time for me to play old woman
bits" she retorted in a voice with Q
perceptible edge.
She turned abruptly away from him.
The line Of her cheek. her clenched
hand. registered hardly contained re-
sentiment.
He went on into the house and up
to Nanine's and his room. His wife
was reclining on a couch. Since she
sary to rest a great deal. That fat
ness had come upon her so over
whelmingly that any vestige of
struggle had been doomed from the
first. She had simply expanded until
she resembled an inflated caricature
Of Eldreda.
There you ars." she said languidly.
"Tes, here I am" he agreed II
thought, maybe. Nanine, tho evening
was so fine we'd all take little ride
after supper"
TT blows my hair" she answsred
without interest. "And that back
seat Is too short. TO say nothing Of
Eldrsda's complexion"
NOW, look here!" he cried. i've
~ heard enough about that back
seat and Eldreda's complexion and
your hair. There's nice little limou-
sine hxed up and the owner can't
pay for. Well. I can get It right, and
I'm going to buy it for you girls.
How's that, heyr'
1T might be good. and then 1t
mightn't," she told him. "It depends
If It roars inside II Il does. It viii
hurt my head"
"Td hate to think over the times my
heads been hurt through roaring"
he retorted with = display Of spirit
And ths1s 10 another thing got to
speak of--that's Eldreda- I'm not 60
ing. to give her three thousand dol
lars to 60 to California with. and she
might as we'll stop posing and pos
turing. amt a camera. I amt .
director, and it'll get her nowhere"
sooner or later" Nanins asserted.
What do you meanr' he demanded
heatedly.
"Genius will be justified" she added
smphatically.
''Geniusr he was practically shout
ing. IF either Of you think rolling
your eyes 10 geniua you're fooled be-
fore you 60 mile. It's the capacity
for painH, and that. on the other
hand. 10 what you give me-painsr'
You will keep on getting them.
tool" Her voice and manner were
placid.
Suddenly no felt absolutely help
less. Nothing he could say would
move. AFFECT, his wife: nothing touch
his daughter. It might be wiser to
give Eldrsda the money at once. to
speed her into the west. to the 40
claim and fortune % sursly-in her
estimation ana her mothsrs-waiting
for her.
Now. Il I was west could get
about more" Nanins asssrtsd. 'Ths
weather there, they say, 10 elegant"
This was . new phase Of the west
ern project, and he was startled At
the possibilities It opened. DID she
mean that she would 60 out with
Nldreda, he asked. Nanins did. He
could spend the winters with them.
"who would run the businesa-pay
for 20 ntuchr'
This question. vary silently. he IN.
swsred for himsslf-Miss ConiSes.
she could. very nearly. almest do
lust thst. But not suits. Il vss thA
osmbiuaaI3en es 1liso oosisee ~ AinI.