The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-06
AFTER THE WEDDING

Ria said nothing even after we had l arrived at the apartment. Tommy, with the understanding that is going to make him a wonderful moving pie l ture director some day, left us with merely: See you in the morning, Vir- gie.' He did not bid Gloria good-by. was glad of that. There is always
 finality about good by" which lacks warmth and friendiness. Tommy's very casualness upon leaving gave me to understand that ! he still regarded Ria as one of us;
 that she would continue to have place in his thoughts.
 Silently I helped Ria off with her beautiful coat. She made no sign
 that she knew that I was doing it, | except to lay her cheek caressingly against its soft furriness.
 could not sleep. and I knew that Ria, too, was wakeful Several times l heard her turn and rearrange her pillows.
 I wondered just what I should do in the future. I could not afford to keen up the apartment. My money was getting rather low and although 1t looked as though I would have steady work at seven-fifty day for a week or two, I began to get little cold feeling In the pit of my stomach whenever I thought of what might come after that.
 I was only commencing to realize the hard work, the disappointments the self-denials and heartburnings that one must encounter in the nov ing pictures Tn the beginning there was always the money. the beauty, the fine clothes of the star dangling before me. But now I had seen the raft of people around the studios day after day. waiting. waiting, waiting. sometimes for merely a little three dollar tob--old men with patheticallv brushed and darned clothes. young girls whose shoes were run over at the heels. whose hats were palpabiy homemade and whose smile, if some what artificial and a brave gauntlet thrown In the fate of fate.
 was anxious to talk to Ria because knew that she was going away the next day If possible. and knew that had to be at the studio at nine.
 I thought over the girls that I had met and wondered if any of them could fill Ria's place. could think of none who would quality
 Finally about 2 o'clock in the morning Ria called softly: "virgie. are you asieep?"
 No. I have not been asleep"
 In a few minutes she appeared af my bedside enveloped in her coat and with pillow in her arms. Putting the pillow at her back. she seated herself at the foot of my bed facing me.
 Let's plan it all out. even if we don't carry out the plan" she sug- gested assthough I knew her thoughts. Hnf |, Kitty Dalton will be able to leave the hospital. don't imagine that I will be able to get away tomorrow. am going over early in the morning and talk with the physicians. Tn the meantime, John Storm will have talked with Kitty and prepared her somewhat for my part of the plan.
 'I don't think Kitty has been told vet that her eyes are in great dan ger. John will have to explain that to her. because otherwise nothing could make Kitty Dalton leave here. Life in the movies is the only life she enjoys"
 You are not going to have an easy time. Ria" I warned sympathetically.
 No" she unused. more to herself than to me. Tt Is going to be fierce. 1 for Kitty is the kind of girl that would go wrong anywhere. She drift ed Into the movies because sine thought it was a splendid field in which to gamble-for she is a gam 1 bler-hoping to get the best of those with whom she plays. She is going to 1 suspect me and my motive. I do not | know whether I dare tell her that | Herb Richardson is putting up the money. Certainly will not dare tell l her that I am Herbert's wife"
 shall never forget the intonation of Gloria's voice as she said, Her bert's wife" Into 1t was woven all the melody of love, the harmony of great desires and the minor strains of absolute devotion.
 In these tones I heard the same ec- stasy that I saw on Ria's face as she came out of the lighted room into the darkness at John Storms house in Riverside. I wondered how long she would be able to live fin the rarified atmosphere of the mountain top" as John Storm had expressed Ii.
 Tomorrow-G1oria's Plans.
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