Glacier County chief., 1939-08-18
Tie Phi|andorers Wife,
By OLGA L ROSMANTTH
Copyrtsht 1889: By News Syndicate Co., Inc.
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO

As yet an unimportant player in an
untmportant part, she had q colossal
opinion Of her own ability and could
her visions Of where she would be when
she got on. She dismissed her maid and
invited Mrs. Ransome to come in and
SIT down with as much poise as If she
had been the leading lady.
Il won't SIT down, thank you." said
polite to you. I'm here to ask YOU to
be good enough to stop running after
Hedda almost laughed outright, but
she had to manage the cigaret she
Kept dangling at the corner Of her
archaic language. However, might as
well play up to this strange paradox
who dressed like a film star and acted
like an Illustration of Godey's book.
what scream 1t was going to be to
tsH the girls when she got home to
Don't you think he can look after
himself?" she said.
He always does" said Lorraine. I'm
mere more IN your interests than any
Miner" Hedda was flicked mex-
pectedly on her tenderest spot. her
vanity: What do you mean-mine?"
We'll, surely you don't suppose I'm
here to ask you to leave him alone on
my account, do you? Other women have
tried to take him away from me
beautiful, mature, famous, successful
Women-and not one of them has even
severe mental breakdowns over their
failure. You're nice girl with a prom
ising talent. wouldn't like to see you
set back in your career with an ex-
perience like that"
Hedda stared at Lorraine Ransome
Ittn ola
ing through her heavy grease paint.
This girl standing here calmly patron
1zlng her, she figured, was at least five
years younger than herself actually
and at least 20 years younger in the
hgh ho OF worldly experience.
ment in short bark Of laughter. She
said rudely. Run along now. I've got
to eat and rest before the evening per
Torrance" She indicated bound man
uscript lying on her battered sofa with
an an ar Of triumphA"and I promised
TO read GllbertS new play"
That is his monotonous method with
az! OF you,' said Lorraine resourcefully.
He tells me your comments, and we
have a good laugh over them" She
added hastily, seeing a savage anger
stiffen the. girls face-"not that this
might be the case with you personally.
But I still say prepare yourself for
heartache if you count on taking him
away from me-"
Hedda looked at her from under
thickly maScaraed eyelaShes. you
mean you're afraid I'm going to take
him away from you"
., mo; You couldn't, Miss Mundy; And
further, no matter what you did, l
would never let him CO."
She went then abruptly and closed
the door behind her Miss Mundy stood
staring at the door saying, What do
you know about that?" while her Wis
itor's high heels tapped down the echo
Gilbert Ransome very soon made it
clear that he thought his wifes be-
havior was beyond joke. IF you
must fight, as you call it," he said acid
ly, "for Gods sake do it in a subtle
manner. All Broadway is laughing at
YOU"
Lorraine answered him with an omi-
nous calmness. ut doesn't disturb me.
I don't agree that if I played the
part OF the ,complacent wife they'd
You're being unreasonable, gauche
and stupid. Hedda may be as uncul-
tured as you say, but at least she
has some common sense"
Il know that, Gil. 1t isn't you she
wants. She knows your reputation. No
would want to take. that problem into
her life. She's playing on your vanity
for one thing only-what you can do
to further her third-rate career"
Now she had seriously angered him.
oh, you think that, do you?"
self she was selfish and egotistical.
It's very difficult to make such
woman fall in love. She laughed when
I begged her not to take you away
from me. Naturally; She thought it was
m anny to ge shGu nder think bek y9u were the
Gilbert Ransome threw his news
paper on the floor and jumped to his
feet. He had been reading a long,
critical appraisal of his work and its
influence on contemporary drama so
and now the pleasure Of It had turned
to dust and ashes for him. He could
what she. thought of it.
You show your love in a strange
way" he stormed at her.
The telephone had been ringing and
him that Miss Mundy wanted to speak
to him. Mot even the decency to
conceal her NAME" remarked Lorraine
In the mans hearing.
Her husband stamped out and picked
up up the telephone; Darling" said that
stimulate any and every emotion. Il
read what they said about you Con-
gratulattons. But there1l be more than
that when they see the new play"
you think it's good, Hedda?"
Odd how this particular morning,
his wife had so shaken his compla-
cency.
THE best yet. How wish I had the
drawing power to take the lead in it."
You could do it, too. Oh, well, it's
coming"
That reminds me-are you coming?"
Eyes. And right away. I can't eat
breakfast here. I'll come and share
yours"
There was no attempt on Gilbert,s
part to conceal his end Of the con-
yersation. He had left the dining room
door open and was speaking In his
usual tone Of voice. When he went In
to tell Lorraine that contrary to Sun
day morning custom he was going out,
she looked at him stonily without
speaking. He dropped a lioht. careIeas