Evening star., 1936-07-26
This Is Ny Wife"
Mosozins Section
Continued from pese five

She didn't seem to be talking to
anyone in particular, but to the world
at large. There were cheers and laugh
ter and the crowd surged in, carrying
Gale with them. Somehow Lois got left
behind with a backwash of strangers
who stared at her, not friendly or un-
friendly, but as though she were set
apart and different from themselves.
She could hear their murmurs. There
she is - that S Gale Thornton's wife"
And Lois knew somehow that they
were disappointed and little resent
full - not with her, but with Gale, for
marrying her.
She tried not to meet their eyes. not
to hear them, not to care. She looked
straight in front of her, at Gales dark,
reassuring head. She saw that he tried
time and time again to turn and come
back to her. But the crowd was too
strong for him. She ploughed on dog
gedly. 1t was all right. They wouldn't
lose each other. But it was frightening
to think that in spite of everything
she'd done to hold them, her three
days had slipped away from her.
Janet had so many intimate friends.
They crowded the simple Spanish re-
Ception rooms OF the little Beverly
Hills home. They meandered out onto
the terraced garden. where the win
ter's sunlight rested with the gentle
warmth of an Eastern spring. They
were carefully casual and informal.
But their clothes - sports clothes or
town clothes - had family likeness.
They were quite perfect
Gale stood at Lois side and shook
hands and said shyly. IL want you to
meet my wife"
Herman Rand, ostentatiously tenn
peramental, looked her over with glum
disapproval. IF I'd known Gale was
going to make a fool of himself by
marrying a nice girl within year.
I'd have left him at his gas station.
Marriage is bad publicity, my dear.
Fans don't like handsome young
star to marry - they think they're
going to marry him themselves. Bet
ter keep your eyes open"
He swept Gale away with him to
far corner to discuss the new pictures,
so that Lois stood alone by the open
window. How beautiful it all was. And
yet nothing seemed quite real. not
even the brown velvety hills, not real
as her home had been real or as the
rock -strewn New England fields. She
knew forlornly that nothing here ac-
knowledged her or belonged to her.
At intervals Janet would come over.
rafting cocktail shaker with one
hand and holding someone's arm with
the other. Darling, want you to
meet my dearest friend -" And the
dearest friend would linger a minute
or two. trying to talk to this badly
dressed, tongue-tied girl. and then
casually drift away again.
Lois was sorry for them too. She
wanted to tell them not to bother with
her. 1t was no good. They were like
foreigners. She couldn't speak their
language. Gale was different. He had
learnt quickly because he was really
one of them. He was going to be a
famous star She was just his wife.
How lovely the women were - like
smooth, gaily-colored pictures. Lois
kept on thinking. That must be
Marlene Dietrich - there's Norma
Shearer." But it never was. The real
people were elsewhere. Lois didn't
know it, but these were only members
of the vast army who we're lust wait
ing" to whom Gale and Janet we're
already fixed stars in the armament.
Lois looked at them wistfully. She
remembered what Leslie had said.
you won't have a chance against
them - not a weeks chance" But
then Leslie hadn't understood. Gale
and she really loved each other.
Janet took one of the Spanish chairs