Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-27
MOVIE MAD
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
CHAPTER LII
A Dramatic Lcave-Taki

~ LORIA never knew afterward what i'm
I PEELED her to do such thing, but she
suddenly decided to leave early while
the others were all thronging around Rolf,
and he would be helpless and unable to do
anything about it unless he wished to pre-
ciptate a scene. She did not stop to think
that it was cruel. Urged on by excitement
and the thrill of conquest she was acting a
part and, beautiful and entirely conf
dent, her leave-takng sayored of the dra-
matte.
"Good-by, Rolf she said lightly, fitting
over to him and standing for moment by
his chair. "Im so glad to see YOU looking
yourself again. I'm sure Vera's devotion
has done wonders for you"
She laughed gayly, her greenish brown
eyes shining; and certainly if she had ever
planned for d revenge she had it at that
moment. The sight of Vera's sulky red
mouth, the hushed amazement of the others,
and Rolf himself, helpless in his chair, was
delicious to Gloria. She swrled out, leaving
haunting scent Of violet perfume behind
her, and there a brief silence in the sun
parlor before every one started talking at
once.
Outside, however, Gloria's gay eXultation
vanished. She had not wanted to leave, she
had wanted to stay until after the others
had gone. And yet her usual perversity
had persuaded her to do this thing and she
had yielded to the impulse. Deep in her
subconscious mind there was the very femi-
nine desire to be conquered, to have Rolf
come to her and claim her. 1t was for
that reason that she had put off the mo-
ment Of seeing him alone, and yet, now
that there was nothing for her to do bun,
go home to the bungalow; she felt d
pressed and out of sorts.
Imagine such thing happening in rel
life" ran her thoughts. 81 thought WON
fell in love with their husbands only
movie scenarios or popular fiction. BIN
here in Hollywood, where every one is
supposed to be blase and world weary, it
would be funny if it weren't so serious
feel that if anything should happen l
couldn't stand it to go on with life
Once at home feyerish restessness seized
her. She wanted to talk, to be gay, she
rather dreaded having dinner alone, and
the impulse seized her to dress and go out
somewhere.
Up in her own room, very feminine
room, with dotted swiss curtains under
gayly flOwered chintz, and white furniture,
she swung open the door of her wardrobe.
After a moments thought she selected a
white evening dress, of cloudy lace, made
with a tight bodice that gave her quaint
Old World appearance. Hurriedly slipping
out of her things, she bound her head in
towel and went into the bathroom for
shower The water stimulated her with its
icy shock, and she emerged tngling all over
Her cheeks burned and her heart was racing
> she sat before her dressing table p1nnfng
up her hair and then, just as she was slip
ping her dress over her shoulders, the sound
of the front-door bell echoed through the
house.
Gloria waited, lips half parted, eyes dane.
ing. She could hear Alice's footsteps in the
hall downstairs, and then opening and shut
ting of the front door, and the murmur Of
voices. .tt
Footsteps out in the hall, and then
knock at her door.
Come in, Alice" Gloria called, little
impatiently, and then as the door swung
open she drew a sharp breath and stood
there staring. Rolf stood on the threshold,
his face white above the collar of his ulster.
He had worn an ulster that other day long
ago, that day when she had married him.
Strange that she should think of that now!