Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-04-20
Starigh n
BY the Noted Author
IDAH M'GLONE GIBSON
An Enlightened Theo

/ looked at Theodore StrattoI
i in astonishment. Abhorant al
was his suggestion that he divorce
his wife in order-to marry me, still
1t seemed asst hough he was going
to be honest with himself as vel
as with me.
At that moment l knew thai
never again would | have the un
reasoning, all-absorbing thrill ol
rapture that / had experienced
when this man, whom 1 had re-
garded almost as God, had told
me that he loved me.
The hurt was not that he had
shown himself seIfishly unworthy
but that | found myself incapable
of any love emotion at his fervid
ayowals,
Theodore Stratton, splendid
moving picture actor that he was,
had learned by his own simula-
tion OF emotion to read the souls
OF all those about him in their
facial expressions. did not have
to tell him~that nothing he could
say would bring back that glor-
ious first love that l had given
him.
Manlike, however, he could not
help putting his all to the test.
Tell me, Virgie. have | entire
ly lost outr You know--at least
am sure that you have been
told--that have loved many wo-
men. But swear to you that ali
those that have gone before are
like the unnumbered, unnoticed
leaves upon the trees which are
blown hither and thither by the
vagrant wind.
"Oh, my dear, my dearl 1
know that you, In your innocence
and purity, are the embodiment of
the well-beloved. You are the one
have been seeking all my life
and never found.
"And, Virginia, we could do so
much--make SO much of our lives
together. II | can not appeal to
your love let me appeal to your
ambition.
with your father as director
we could secure the writing world
for the stories that would suit us.
You would be starred as no wo-
man ever was starred before. l
would subordinate my popularity,
my talent, my personality to has
ten your advance"
Stratton stopped abruptly with
the word as though an icy hand
had tightened around his heart.
II seemed almost physical con-
traction to me. believe that at
that moment Theodore Stratton
saw vision of himself as he
would be when he was no longer
the most popular of screen actors
when he was no longer great
lover--when he was no longer
young enough to simulate youth,
to youth--when he was no longer
yonug enough to simulate youth.
believe that the dynamic force
of that idea, striking Stratton for
the first time, overwhelmed his
ego and left him changed, weak
ened. believe that at that mo-
nent Theodore Stratton began
the rapid decay in looks and in
technique which caused him to
abondon the screen in less than
two short years,
Wont you try to love me Just
little, Virgie?" he pleaded In
choked voice after a little sill
ence. 1t was a changed Theo, a
subdued and chastened Theo who
spoke.
Il can't even try, Theo. Honest
ly would like to do so even more
for my own sake than for yours.
You must know that something
very beautiful has gone out of my
life. something l am almost sure
| viii never have again"
He. came toward me with his
eyes alight.
Let me try to bring it back,
virginia?"
You can't do It. Theo. any
more than l, gave into your keep
ing the trusting soul of an ador-
ing child and the steadfast heart
OF a faithful, loving young wo-
man, Had you come to me at
that time and told me yourself
that you were married, /. In the
first flush OF my love for you,
would have given my life into
your keeping, never counting the
sacrifice of my reputation or the
moral code. In my mad passion
fear would have forgotten even
the prior rights of your wife ana
child.
When l came to understand
that l was not big, oyerwhelm-
ing factor in your life without
which you could not live; and
that deep down in your heart you
had known this when you told me
that l was your great love
when. at last, | know that you
had intended TO treat me just as
you have perhaps treated many
other girls. began to use my
reason.
My pride came to my aid amt
helped TO stifle my pain. And then