Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1911)

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A GAMBLER'S END. 97 dared to come over here to your booth ; you might also guess my admiration for you. Will you pin it on?" "It is half a dollar more, when it is put on/7 she laughed back. She deftly tucked the flowers into the buttonhole of his evening-coat and pinned them there. Then she gave a little pat to the lapel and smoothed it out. "That ought to be an extra, too/' said Ealstone, with a grin, as he pulled a roll of bills out of his pocket, peeled off a crisp ten dollar note, and passed it to her, airily. "Keep the change," he said brusquely. "Oh, thanks ! You love flowers, don't you?" she smiled roguishly. "Some, when they are dressed in pale yellow with nice soft lace around a pretty neck and arms." His bold, ardent glance re-enforced his complimentary remarks, and Nellie Worthington blushed with pleasure at his gallantry. It made her think of Alabama and the courtly Southern gentlemen. She was glad she had worn that yellow gown. Ealstone was really hit pretty hard by the charming young actress. He frequently went to the theater where she was playing in "Eamona's Choice," a musical comedy. She had a sweet, lyric soprano voice and an exquisite figure. He also learnt that she was paid a very good salary. But Ealstone was not one to count the price when he wanted something very much. The price doesn't always have to be paid in full ! He paid her court assiduously, and the big, handsome man, who was also generous and considerate, when it suited his humor, soon won her warm Southern heart. They were married a month later. Having a husband and a home, Nellie Worthington was glad to say farewell to the footlights and the garish life of an actress. Poverty had led her to adopt it; not love of excitement nor adulation. For some months she led the life of a happy wife, but Ealstone occasionally showed a certain roughness which distressed her. Then there came harsh words, neglect, and frequent ab sences from home. Ealstone had represented to her that he had an income supplied him by his family which was paid in quarterly instalments. She supposed he was an Englishman of good family, who liked roving. One day he came to her in a peculiarly fractious mood. Something had delayed his remittance. He had lost considerable money at cards with some fashionable friends at the club. Unless he could pay this debt of honor he would have to get out, for he would lose caste and be "cut" by his friends. Nellie at once suggested that he should use some of the money she had in the bank. She had an account of two or three thousand dollars, carefully laid by during her career on the stage. It hurt her when Ealstone said bluntly: "Why don't you go back to the stage ? You were making good money, and you see how handy it would come in." ' Nellie burst into tears. She fancied she had made for him a beautiful home. It was a delight to her to add little touches to it. But he invariably went out evenings, and often returned late in the morning. She sweetly sought to keep him more at home, but his rude rebuffs finally disheartened her. One solace she had. She soon expected to be a mother. One morning Ealstone returned home in a peculiarly vicious mood. Without a word of reproach his still faithful wife sought to dispel his illhumor. Her sweetness seemed to enrage him. Again he flung out remarks he had made several times of late. "Why don't you go back to the theater? You could help things out. You're too good-looking to be nailed down to housekeeping." "Charlie," she said pitifully, "we have plenty to get on with, if we only are a little careful. I spend very little. Why don't you drop these games of cards. You know yon have lost a lot of money at them, several times. My money in the bank is nearly gone, and soon there will be a little one to be provided for. Oh, let us be happy, as we were in the beginning," she cried.