Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1920)

40 Photoplay Magazine "I don t know wKere this came from. but I m ^oing to drink it all. Henry went into the next room. "But I want to dance lots of dances with Henrj'. Nobody in the world can dance so well as Henry," Evelyn managed to whisper to Mrs. Trude. The older woman laid a worldly wise hand on the arm of the bride of a year and a half, and smiled al her unsophisticalion. "Vou can dance with Henry at home — remember a young wife mustn't appear to be too much in love with her husband in this day and age, little girl. There's no way to keep a husband interested like flirting just a wee bit with the other nun. Run along now and have a good time.'' E\'KL\'X had never thought it necessary to figure out ways and means of keeping her husband in love with her. Henry just was in love wilh her, and she with him. But perhaps Mrs. Trude was right. Anyway. Mrs. Trude was rich and fashional)le and influential and had managed to keep a iiusband herself for some forty years. So Evelyn sighed rather unhappily as she saw Henry being led off, as a lamb to the slaughter, in the direction of a fascinating lady gowned in black and armed with a coquettish emerald-hued fan. But Evelyn realized that her views on ihings were entirely provincial, so she swallowed the lump that rose in her throat, and stepped into (he embraces of the bachelor Mr. Bruce Grey, blase and worth a million, with a careless little swing to her head, and a daring frankness in her eyes that took her partner more or less by surprise. Before they were through with this particular one step and the three more that followed Bruce Grey had told her that she was '"a cute little thing." that he knew he was going to like her very, very much, that life was lonely for a bachelor of his home-loving type, and that he hoped Mrs. Langdon would think his new car was nice. He would like to take her for a spin ver\-, very soon. Back in Baxter Street Evelyn Langdon would no more have accepted a similar invitation from a man than she would ha\e accepted a diamond tiara. Such conduct simply did not go wilh the morals of the street. But this — was Elmhurst-by-the-Way. Even so. Evelyns Baxter Street training almost made her turn off Bruce Grey's invitation. And that training might have succeeded had not Evelyn at that ver} moment seen her husband being vamped — obviously almost willingly— by Mrs. Hammond of the black gown and the fan. As they whirled past the corner where Henry was seated, Evelyn looked up into her partner's face in an imitation of Mrs. Hammond s manner with Henry, and said that she would be delighted to go — any time. As the party drew to a close. Henry looked rather sheepishly across the tloor at Evelyn, and Evelyn looked rather sheepishly at Henry — they had not spoken to each other since Sirs. Trude's intrusion — though they tried to hide their embarrassment in off hand lightness. "T'll meet you at the door." they signalled to each other, and went to get their wraps. But if Henry and Evelyn expected to jog along home in their own little car together, they did not know the ways of Elmhurst etiquette. Mrs. Hammond and Bruce Grev were both waiting at the door when Henry and Evelyn emerged from the dressing rooms — and some way or other, the Langdons could never figure out just how, it was suggested that it would be a pleasant diversion for Henr> to "flivver" his companion of a good share of the evening home in his car, while Bruce Grey drove Evelyn home in his ^por^y roadster. Who were Henry and Evelyn, mere novices in the ways of fashionability. to complain against such an arrangement? Though their hearts sank deep, deep down. Evelyn trilled in what sounded like a merry laugh straight from her heart, and Henry's deep " Ha-ha" was sincere enough appearing to convince anyone that he was delighted at the idea. But the tears trembled on Evelyn's long silken lashes ashe saw her Henry drive away in their own beloveil little car. which was still not entirely paitl for. with Mrs. Hammond. Two of them fell on. fhe orchid colored ostrich feathers that trimmed her frock — but Bruce Grey did not notice them as he was occupied with an ailjustmcnt on his rear tire holder. By the time he was through, and she was comfortable in the car. -ho had mastered her tears ami her voice. YOl "RE just a little kitten — now purr nicely for me." .<iaid Grey playfully as he sat down beside her. Evelyn's naive attempts to appear grown up and tilled with worldly wisdom amused him. bored and satiated with society and artiliciality as he was. It was a new sensation to have this sweet, fresh creature near him. He sat back and enjoyed her. being careful not to frighten her with any attempt at familiar