Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-27

matter what Ilsaid, how argued
or reasoned, Serge was firm. And
he persistently guarded me every
minute, as if he were my very
shadow!
On the train, crossing the
States, 1 remember saying:
Serge. married you because
of the illusion of happiness you
gave me during our courtship.
But how am / ever TO be happy
with you if you continue to dis
trust me and TO subject me to
tactics which can never re-
spect? ?"
Don't you see, Pola darling,
that l can only be happy when
we are alone, in our own private
world2"
he looked at me with agoniZed
eyes and / wanted so much 10
understand him. realized sharply
that if we could not get along our
marriage was soon headed for
disaster. And not until then had
/ known how much depended on
its success.
I kept my mind focused from
then on on one thought; This
marriage must NOT fail. In Holly
wood l quickly found myself in a
fog Of compromise with my usual
routine of Independent living,
trying to do everything possible
10 make harmony between Serge
and me. Often 1 was encouraged
for a short time.
But my problem was only be-
ginning then.
Fedora, /" written by Sardou.
who had loved my valued friend,
Sarah Bernhardt, had been adapt
ed for my next screen venture.
Paul Lukas and Nils Asther
were selected as my leading men.
Clark Gable took a small part.
The fact that l worked all day
at the studio nearly drove Serge
frantic, and in addition. he was
jealous of every man who APP
peared on a set with me.
At times he was jealous of any.
thing or anXbrdY who shared my
interest with him. He would find
ways OF forcing me TO give him
complete concentration.
was ovcrtired from a long.
hard day the night Serge fingered
over dinner, eager to talk of any
thing which would serve TO pro-
long the time, 70 hold me there
when he knew ! should go to my
room.
OF course, / knew he wanted to
talk. that he perhaps wanted
companionship and was lonely.
He might even feel that his life
was futile, yet there was no rea-
son for that. no need for me to
worry over anything he could so
easily remedy.
When you are fatigued il is
sometimes difficult TO listen, even
TO the person you love.
II must get 70 bed, darling" l
said, rising from dinner.
But he did nat ZNant-RHe - GO
you know, Serge, l must rest.
I've had a trying day You
watched me work and you know
l worked like a dog
He looked up and at me and
raised his brows.
so you think you work? Let
me tell you that / know what II
means to work like a dog. I've
worked until l collapsed under
the strain Of sheer exhaustion.
Why, I've lain miles of pipe lines
in a blizzard-blown field for So
a day, And I've slept-five men
in a bed in an oil company bunk
house! Why. I've pawred my
watch 20 eat and I've never told
you this I've gone hungry
l sat back in my chat then,
and tears burned my eye had
no idea my prince had expert
enccd any such hards ps and
felt guilty l really didn't know
him well, yet loved him. / felt
as If / had not given him due
credit, that ! had been thinking
too much about my work and my
own problems.
Listen TO this" Serge went on,
his eyes dlated and his voice
lifted dramatically over the
wall of our garden in Georgia
we could sec the flags flying and
the soldiers marching and hear
the Georgian anthem. l was only
II then without a sense of fear.
So, ono night ran away and
Vent 90 the front. and into the
trenches, fought, hand-to-
hand. It became a sort of game
TO me. fascinating, demanding
my wit as well as strength. l
worked with everything 1 had
and | never had thought Of re.
ward yet, 1 was decorated with
the Grand Cross Of Queen