Film Fun (Jan - Dec 1916)

A CHANCE MEETING By J. A. WALDRON A MAZED, he came upon her. She sat on the massive trunk of a fallen tree. Her gun leaned against it. There was no indication that she had noted his coming. Her expression would have puzzled a physiognomist. He placed his gun with hers, sat down a little way from her and coolly lighted a cigarette. The man who smokes cigarettes usually lights one in emergency. "This is a happy surprise," he remarked. "It's a surprise, all right," she replied, looking away from him. "And, really, I'm glad you arranged it." " Guess again, " she replied, without changing attitude or expression. "Then you didn't arrange it?" "I understood that you were down South somewhere." "But I came back unheralded. It's plain you didn't arrange it. Perhaps there may have been something in your memories of our association, in spite of events, that led you to this part of my estate — to the scenes where we have hunted together. I note you are wearing a f ami 1 iar costume . Where is your game ? ' ' "I haven't any game. I still close my eyes when I fire my gun. When I went hunting with you, it was for a purpose. I wanted to see what hunting was like, just as I wanted to see in other things the springs of action of the male animal. A study of the psychology of man." "The male animal? The psychology of man? I hope you haven't pursued the study too" We are nothing to each A thorough study of one Amazed. He Came Upon Her. It must have been in re "Why should you be alarmed? other now. And you're all alike, man gives a fair idea of all men." "Let's get down to the present, sponse to memories that you came here. ' ' "Not exactly. As I've told you, I didn't expect to meet you here." "Granted. But confess that you have memories of me that persist — at least some happy memories. I have happy memories of you, in spite of certain facts and of your strange ideas when we were married — your notions of the equality of the sexes and all that. Do you doubt that I really loved you? I'll put it in the present tense. And I have happy memories." "Most men have happy memories." "But didn't you love me once?" "I'm not sure. You know my idea of love. On man's side it's an ephemeral affliction that has enslaved woman down the ages, leaving her miserable after his convalescence. Do you remember that I exactly foretold what would happen to us — some of the things that would happen? As I thought, we hadn't been married a year before you resumed some of your bachelor habits, though you had professed that permanent isolation with me would be heavenly." "And finally you got a divorce." "For cause." "I'm sorry." "I suppose men who are divorced are sorry for one thing or another. Most men are not made for monogamy. They are polygamous by instinct, if not by inheritance. They can point to the patriarchs as honored examples, and they secretly chafe at modern conventions." "You are still a puzzle to me — and yet a charming puzzle. I never found out why you declined alimony." "When I divorced you, I also divorced your money. To my mind the woman who accepts alimony condones the offense." "But that's no way to look at it. I was anxious, knowing your circumstances after you insisted upon relinquishing everything I had given you — every plan I had made for exigency — to provide some" ' ' It was unnecessary. An attractive woman — a clever woman — and you among others have called me both — if she keeps her emotional balance and maintains a clear head can get along anywhere." "But isn't it possible that we may patch up certain differences? I'm just the same as when" "That's the trouble. No. With all of its faults modern life has some compensations for error. Happily the courts — the laws — have improved upon the form, 'Let no man put asunder. ' I never make a second experiment along lines that once have failed me." "But you'll give me credit for" "For a fancy reawakened. Yes." "And you'll admit that, finding you here, I naturally supposed you might be thinking kindly of me, after all." "Perhaps. And, really, I don't think unkindly of you." She rose as a man advanced from a group that had just come into view. The newcomer bowed. "We're ready, Miss Bellamy. " "Miss Bellamy!" exclaimed the ex-husband. "Yes," she replied. "It sounds quite professional, don't you think? I'm to be a modern Diana in a motion picture." "Not a Wink of Sleep" The loving young couple settled themselves nicely and went on with the interesting conversation they had evidently started on the outside. Several in the audience glared at them indignantly, but no one spoke until the unshaven man in the row in front woke up and turned around. "Say, bo," he began, "can the chatter, will yer? You've woke me up twice since you come in."