Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1924)

Photopla> M\».\/i\i Advertising Sei non " 5 bed servants and service She wouldn't te Sordthat sort oi thing and the thought >f stinted, ball satisfied years sickened her This strange fear of the future had always d her. It was the explanation of man) hings that Hollywood did not understand. Oh, she had never sold herself. She couldn't. -Ier physical reactions were too intense. Bui hat fear had driven her ometimes to inti vith men who apparentlj had nothing ,i woman like Leda O'Neil. Men in vhom her friends could see nothing that could jossibly interest her. lluy did not know that the power to get fcney, to help her make money, to show her iow t» acquire things that would some day Eke money for her, interested Leda very Buch. With a sort of cold, cynical wisdom that had ■ways been hers, Leda O'Neil looked well into he future. When the lean years emu-, it night not be so bad to l>e Mr-. Cleveland Hi popularity, his ability to earn <. were unlimited. Time would not affect hem Wrinkles, and sagging fare muscles, ino! those unavoidable extra pounds about the raist, and that little line under the throat BOuld not keep him from being as valuable to the box office as lie had always been. A GREAT comedian need never hear those fatal words, " too old," that sounded like a death knell in the ears of some beauty whose menial and emotional life were just blossom The age limit was more stringent with a n beauty than with a ball player or a lighter. She was old at thirty — or before. And the public was the most fickle of lovers where mere beauty was concerned. Cleveland Brown was rich. He would grow richer. She liked the sound of it. And she did love him. In her way, Leda O'Neil did love him. Cleveland Brown watched her as she opened and closed her eyes sleepily. She looked so sweet and gentle, in the little white frock with the pale blue ribbons at the girdle and a locket of pale blue enamel on a slender chain about her throat. Almost like a Madonna, with her heavy black hair combed back smoothly and heavily from her white forehead. Suddenly, hope sang high in him. Why not? This was the real Leda O'Xeil. The woman of the heavy silken draperies and the -rented grey and black room upstairs was only what her life had made her. He felt uplifted, purified of all evil fears by the sight of her as she lay there. They could be happy. Even this thing that had haunted him for the pa-t week could be brushed aside now. The inopportune divorce suit that had shocked him so. the last disillusionment shattering the one picture of married life that held beautiful memories for him. He brooded over it now, for an instant. Harlan and Gertie Morrison after all these years. Too bad. It had a particular significance to Cleveland Brown because he had 1 een at their wedding, ten years ago. Just after he came to Hollywood. Harlan was the property man, then, at the old Filmograph and Gertie — little Gertie — was the telephone girl. Harlan was such a fine, clean, upstanding youngster. Though he had not dreamed Harlan was some day to be a great matinee idol, he had always remembered how he looked as he stood there in the little church, in his much-cleaned grey suit, with Gertie beside him. The look on their faces as they turned to each other after the minister had pronounced his benediction was one of the things that had remained with Cleveland Brown. Sometimes, when it came to him, he had almost believed that there was such a thing as a real, faithful, eternal love between a man and woman. He hadn't seen much of Harlan and Gertie in the last five years. Too busv. J ORANGE BLOSSOM RINGS s^mboli^ WeddingpNentiment WITH their delicate and significant design, Orange Blossom Rings breathe thousands of years of love and romance. Forever enshrined in the heart of a bride are memories of her be trothal and marriage. How fitting that the Orange Blossom ring should symbolize, in permanent fashion, those dreams. Only the genuine Orange Blossom ring is worthy of gracing the the finger of a bride. The Traub trade mark identifies it. Sold by better class jewelers as low as $12.00 >: TRAUB MANUFACTURING CO., DETROIT, MICH. New York, 576 Filth Ave. Windsor, Ont. San Francisco, 704 Market St. Every bride-to-be will be interested in our brochure entitled "Wedding Ring Sentiment." This traces trie story of the wedding ring from the earliest time to the present day. You may have this book for the asking. Traub Mfg. Co., Dept.D, Detroit, Mich. Gentlemen: Please send rac, without any obligation to myself, your brochure entitled "Wedding Ring Sentiment." Name Address Citv State . enuine TRAUB Orange Blossom Wedding and Engagement R I N C S Bear this Mark piini iiriinnhgwii^ When you write to adrertlsen please mention photoplay MAGAZINE