The Photo-Play Journal (Jul 1919-Feb 1921)

PHOTO-PLAY JOURNAL July, igig m\nm sUAU^ lyJjl Villi NlIEa Adapted From the Vitagraph Photoplay Starring Alice Joyce % LILL1AM BEATRICE MILLER El CAST Marcia Van Arsdale Alice Joyce Her Mother Eulalie Jensen Her Father Frank Nor cross Robert Gardhic William Carlton, Jr. His Mother Mary Carr HERE is a charm about social functions that lures society to its portals. The Van Arsdales were noted for their hospitality and for springing surprises with "that little something different." Their friends anxiously awaited the coming of their reception, which was scheduled for the following week in honor of Marcia's debut. Grand festivities were anticipated. Noticeable about the atmosphere on these occasions were the warmth, fragrance and a pot-pourri of interesting side-attractions which kept the spirits of the party in a veritable whirl of merriment. The interest never lagged at any activities maneuvered by the Van Arsdales and this debutante affair was to exceed any previous attempt at entertainment. The appointed evening arrived, and beneath a latticed archway laden with wistaria tastily blended with evergreens, the hostess received the guests who were ushered into the ballroom, gorgeously decorated. From their concealment behind closely arranged palms, the orchestra sent forth sweet strains of enchanting music wholly ideal for the dancers. When all guests had arrived and were chatting gaily, the moment for the grand entrance of Marcia arrived, and all eyes centered in the direction of the slow approaching form garbed in white satin and tulle. Marcia descended the stairs with head erect and with a haughty poignancy truly significant of her class. She had long since been elevated to the highest shrine in her circles and she was vainly wooed by a coterie of eligibles who possessed wealth. This night's reception meant a great deal to Marcia's mother, who cherished the hope that this would begin a series of romances culminating in the acquisition of a wealthy son-inlaw. For months past, the Van Arsdales had arrived at the startling realization that their largest holdings of stocks were rapidly diminishing in value and Marcia was the only avenue of retrieving their fortune. But Marcia was not very conciliatory to the proposition of bartering her soul for wealth; in fact, she even detested the thought of matrimony. She was thoroughly embittered against the world dating from the end of her school year when she became hardened as the result of an unpleasant ordeal, wherein her school companion and she were caught playing pranks and betrayed by a town sport. In vain, they both had pleaded with the young man to keep silent, but he boasted to his friends their coveted secret, which resulted in her girl friend taking her life. The incident had impressed her mind so deeply that she vowed to accept men as nonenities. Mrs. Van Arsdale's "prospect" was Bob Jardine, a young self-made man who had become known as the "Copper King" in financial circles, and she was very particular about having him accept her invitation to the recep tion. He was the first person whom she presented to her daughter. "Permit me to present my daughter, Mr. Jardin," she announced, politely. Bob bowed and shook hands. "I am delighted to meet you," he said impressively. "The pleasure is mutual, I assure you," replied Marcia in a cool tone. Bob noticed the rigid formality in her remarks, but paid little heed to the custom which usually accompanies initial introductions. "I trust I won't infringe on your time by suggesting a short stroll on the porch, will I ?" he asked suavely. "No, indeed," she assured him. "The idea is very welcome and more preferable than to become overheated by dancing." They casually promenaded from one end of the porch to the other, drinking in the cool breezes from the bay. Bob at various intervals mildly endeavored to enlist her attention on the subject of matrimony, for looking far back into those black eyes, he saw the light of a true heart beating beneath her icy exterior and needed only awakening to the full realization that all mortals are not of the same calibre as the Judas of her school days had been, and when she unfolded the story, he more than ever wanted to convince her of the true fidelity of real manhood. Bob seemed to possess the keynote to her disposition, and before she realized it, she was telling him about her good times at school, how she had become embittered against man because of one scoundrel's tactics, and blushingly confessed that Bob was the first man whom she could trust with the secrets of her heart. "There is only one way which will prove that you can trust me, — and—that is — Be my wife!" He faltered on the words, but her intelligent face grasped the meaning. "Before I give my answer, I want to tell you the conditions. . . . There is a consideration— and I want to go into this thing with a clear conscience. My heart does not yet actuate my accepting, for there is a sore spot against man in general that must be healed. Your coming into our family brings with you your vast fortune which my parents hold as an essential factor to be considered before I get married. I want luxury, and lots of it!" "I will agree to all that," he interrupted. "As you are willing to pay the price, I'm prepared to take your name, run your house, etc. . . . " and be a wife and mother?" he cut in. "It's not being done nowadays," Marcia replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "But I insist !" he rejoined. {Continued on page 56) Ince Studio Patter llllllli iiiii;i;;ii;:!['iii|iii!i:':'i!;:; minim 1111 B f Am • p-J— !. „*' _...„. J H A * 1 fa 1 ml ■ ' ■■■■ S^J __ — fe-,.,1 , . 7 . / / 1 V \ Enid Bennett — What's your part in your new picture? Charles Ray — I'm a prize-fighter, what are you? Enid — I'm starting out as a scrub-woman, Charlie — Gee, those two pictures ought to be a clean-up for Mr. Ince.