Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1943)

DID any girl ever have a less romantic declaration of love, I thought happily, did any girl ever have her lover say he made her life a hell because he loved her so? I didn't care. This was Riley Sloane — not the Riley that millions knew. The one only I knew. He helped Carlotta and me get breakfast, all of us laughing hysterically. Every time our hands brushed or our eyes met, I felt like singing. We sat down at the table finally, with the sun streaming in and the New York Symphony from the radio filling the room with sounds that echoed in our hearts, and tore into the scrambled eggs like hungry animals. ". . . and I'm going to finish up 'Lost Melody,' " Riley was saying, "and while I'm doing it, I'm going to court my girl. A real courting with flowers and candy and holding hands at the movies. I'm not going to give these wolves around here a chance to say we got married the minute I was — free." "I'll have a trousseau and a real wedding with Carlotta as maid of honor and — " The music stopped abruptly. A man's voice cut into mine. We sat like statues as it went on — that tense, devastating, unbelievable voice. "Pearl Harbor has been bombed by enemy action. Stand by for further bulletins." How can I describe what happened then? It happened, one way or another, in every home in America. How we stared at one another with disbelief, then with horror and shock and rage. How we stayed glued to the radio the rest of that day and far into that night, listening to the words and acts that etched deep into history on that tragic December 7, 1941. Of all the events of that day burned in my memory, perhaps the clearest is seeing Riley pace the floor and saying — not with drama, but quietly and simply — "I'm joining up. As soon as I finish the picture, I'm joining up, any way they'll have me." Was I to love him only to lose him so soon? He took my hands. "I made a mess of the past, darling. I've got to earn the future. I know now you don't deserve happiness unless you work for it. I'm going to deserve our happiness together." "I'm joining up, too, Riley," I said. "There'll be work for nurses." \A/E are both in the East now, with our *™ units. Riley is in the Marine Corps, just another Marine corporal at a Southern post. He will probably be embarking soon for overseas duty. And so, probably, will I. My unit thinks of the girls like ourselves who lived through Bataan and our own courage is greater because we remember them. I have seen Chris once. He, too, has changed. He had told me once if our country went to war, he wanted to be of service in his profession. His work is selfless now and his only ambition is that it be good. I know I never really loved ham and never could, but I respect him deeply. We see each other on leave, Riley and I. And when we do, our love is a shining sword that gives us strength to be apart, and joy — never sorrow. Before the date of embarkation comes for either of us, we will be married. We will have earned our future. I don't know what that future will be. But I do know, whatever it is, our love will never die. The End. DEARER TO KISS a girlish Satin-Smooth Face BEDTIME CARE FOR DRY SKIN Cleanse your face and neck exquisitely with Jergens Face Cream. Remove the cream. Now apply a light film of fresh Jergens Face Cream; leave on overnight. In the morning, smile at a fresh, smooth skin. New "One-Cream" Beauty Treatment helps smooth away aging Dry -Skin Lines Now your skin easily has the all-'round care it needs every day for a young, fresh look, an inviting smoothness. One new cream — Jergens Face Cream — takes care of your skin completely. It (1) cleanses expertly; (2) helps soften your skin; (3) gives a well-groomed base for powder; (4) acts as a Night Cream that helps to shoo away those aging dry-skin lines. Skin scientists make Jergens Face Cream — the same who make Jergens Lotion. 10ji to $1.25. Use Jergens Face Cream daily. You won't need any other cream. ALL-PURPOSE CREAM . . . FOR ALL SKIN TYPES .^^S j^^. race Cream £;J prtfj FOR A SMOOTH, KISSABLE COMPLEXION ^< i., --^ • BUY WAR BONOS AND STAMPS • FEBRUARY, 1943 81