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

N o r e m b e r, 1920 45 club. Cameron and Diana were paired as partners, through Marion's initiative, much to Cameron's pleasure. Again Wingate was present, and he was more than pleased to become Marion's partner, for he had suddenly discovered in her a new type, the ingenue type, yet the type of woman that one cannot play with, that forces a genuine struggle. He had determined to try his hand at capturing Marion and he looked upon her choice of him as a partner as evidence of the fact that he had already made an impression upon her. His flush of victory was short-lived^ however. At the eighth hole, the ball was lost in the rough, despite all the efforts of the caddy to find it. Marion volunteered to help in the search.' To her surprise she found the ball lying in the deep grass just off the green. She leaned over to pick it up and rising, felt herself suddenly caught in Wingate's arms. With a sharp tug, she wrenched herself loose, confronting him silently, but with anger blazing in her eyes. Wingate understood his tactical error. He tried to mollify her with the usual phrases he employed on such occasions, but it was in vain. Marion turned on her heel and left him, returning to the club, with the explanation that she had a headache and could not finish the game. Wingate, defeated, returned to Diana when the game was concluded, much to Cameron's disgust. The day was spoiled for all concerned, and an early return home was decided upon. From that day, Cameron found his path beset with difficulties. Wingate had centered his attentions on Diana and whenever Cameron attempted to see her alone, he found the dapper little gambler in his way. He began to suffer mental anguish ; in fact, he lost heart so completely that Marion could not fail to notice the change in him. Again Marion played the cards herself. One afternoon Cameron drove home in his car. As he entered the house, he exchanged a few words with Marion, who quickly noticed his dejected mood. "Something biting you?" she asked. "I have never had a chance to see Diana but that Wingate fellow is hanging around," he explained. "If there were only some way of getting rid of him." In the hours between this brief talk with her step-brother and the following morning, Marion laid her plans. She telephoned to Wingate asking him to call on her. When he arrived, he did not wait to find out whether she had forgiven the stolen kiss of the golf links. "You have forgiven me?" he asked. "Was it you that tried to kiss me that day?" she countered. "I was trying to think who it was." Wingate paid no attention to the snub. "May I take you to lunch some day?" he asked. "Why not today ?" Marion suggested. Wingate was delighted, but he decided to play safe. "I have an engagement this afternoon. Suppose we make it tomorrow?" "I might not be in the same mood tomorrow." Wingate thought quickly. His engagement for that day was with Diana, but the opportunity of snaring Marion was too great a temptation. "I can postpone my other business," he told her. "I'll meet you at twelve at the Commodore. Suppose we It left Marion alone, even more Cameron' have lunch at the Greenbrier. Will that suit you?" She nodded and extended her hand to him in token of farewell. As soon as Wingate had departed, Marion sought out Cameron. He was still noticeably gloomy, and to Marion's suggestion that he call up Diana, he responded immediately. He hurried to the hall phone, only to find that Diana's line was busy, just as Marion had expected. A moment later Cameron obtained an answer, and as Marion left the room, he was urging Diana to meet him that noon for lunch at the Greenbrier. With the stage set for her little drama, Marion hurried to the city, met Wingate and with him went to the Greenbrier. They chose a table near a window where they could be seen from all parts of the room. Marion played her part well. She responded to Wingate's advances with smiles and sharp repartee. Suddenly, she permitted Wingate to take her hand and press it. At that moment, Diana and Cameron entered. Wingate's glance strayed and he started in sudden surprise and alarm. Diana stood for a moment in the doorway of the restaurant, astonished and angered. Cameron, hurrying from the hat check room, stood beside her for a moment, recognized Marion and Wingate and entered the dining room. He had no intention of joining Marion and Wingate and hurried to a table in a distant part of the room. But Diana walked straight to the table where the other couple sat. She stopped, hesitated for a moment and then in a voice which mingled sweet sugary politeness with not a little bitterness, she remarked: "Isn't this a pleasant — surprise!" Assuming that she and Cameron might join the party, she accepted the chair Wingate proffered her, chatting politely as Cameron approached. The lad sat down, palpably ill at ease, but no more so than Wingate, who could think of nothing that would fit the situation. Under a sweet exterior, Diana's chatter went on. A shrewd look shot out toward Wingate from her deep blue eyes. Without warning, the daring coup she had suddenly conceived was put into execution. "You two are the first to know — " she said slowly, "That Cameron and I — are engaged !" As soon as the stupor of astonishment had passed, the other members of the party re-assumed their roles. Cameron was inexpressibly happy, but Marion could scarcely conceal her pain. As for Wingate — man of the world — he accepted his defeat gamely and within a minute was offering a toast to Diana and Cameron. The die was cast. Within a month the wedding took place. Not without regret did Cameron leave Marion and his home. Nor was Diana certain she had not made a mistake in thus acting under impulse. But both carried through their little comedy to the end and departed together after the ceremony, ready to patch up a mutual life of happiness, lacquered over a surface of misunderstanding and disappointment. In the months that followed, a shadow fell on the house of Rogers. First had come the sudden death of Marion's father. It left Marion alone, even more lonely than in the days following Cameron's marriage. No longer was there a man in the house of Rogers ; the two women left were drawn lonely than in the days following s marriage