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

46 Photo-Play Journal more closely together. Meantime in another household, the honeymoon was drifting behind storm clouds. The worldly Diana, flattered by the attention of Wingate, who, despite the marriage, had not relaxed his efforts to win the affection of the newly wedded bride, spent her time more often gadding with other men at social functions than with her boyish husband. And it usually happened that Wingate was present at most of the affairs that Diana attended. Even Marion sensed that something was wrong and her suspicions were confirmed when Cameron told her on the occasion of one of their frequent meetings that things were not going well with the newlyweds. With four persons dissatisfied with their personal relations with one another, it was obvious that a crisis would soon occur. The time and place were supplied by Mrs. Spaulding, who held a house-warming at Grotto Oaks, her new country estate. Diana and Wingate were, of course, invited, as well as Cameron and Marion. And it so happened that unhappy husband slipped away from unhappy wife, and unhappy Marion found unhappy Cameron, while unhappy Diana sought out the undaunted Wingate. Wingate, thoroughly convinced now that Marion had deceived him in her apparent interest in him, had renewed his campaign for Diana. He found her, and they wandered off to a sequestered spot near the river bank. There he told her of his love for her, and as his passion grew more intense, Diana felt herself succumb. At last his arms embraced her. She yielded and he held her in a long and passionate kiss. Restraint disappeared as Diana almost hysterically cried: "I can't stand it any longer. Take me away with yon — soon !" At that moment, Marion and Cameron passed the flower bedecked path near the river. Only Marion saw the two lovers. She barely restrained a cry, and Cameron, in fact, asked her what the matter was, for she was horrified at the sudden revelation of Diana's abandon. Only her love for Cameron made her tell an untruth: she had pricked her finger with a thorn, she said ; and she hurried off before Cameron could ascertain the ugly truth. Nevertheless Cameron was not so foolish as to have no hint of Diana's unfaithfulness. He told her that evening his thoughts, but she berated him for not keeping such suspicions to himself. To all appearances, however, hostilities were suspended, as Diana and Cameron joined the crowd in the Spaulding ballroom that evening. Mrs. Spaulding had an announcement to make. "We have tried every variety of amusement of the usual sort," she said. "This evening we are going to do something a little different. We are going to hold a stunt race and there will be valuable prizes for the winners. The first prize I hold in my hand." She exhibited a diamond pendant. "Each lady and each gentleman will be given an envelope containing a number and instructions. The object of the race will be to comply with the instructions, and as the same numbers will appear in two different envelopes, one of which will go to a gentleman, the other to a lady, each of you will have, I hope, a charming partner on your quest." There was a flurry as the crowd listened to the instructions. Marion and Wingate, Diana and Cameron waited patiently in the line as the envelopes were distributed. Marion drew her bit of paper. On the outside was marked : "Lady No. 5." She watched Diana and Wingate. Each received their instructions. Diana, Marion noted, was strangely excited. Wingate took his and thrust it hastily into his pocket. A gong was tapped. The race began. Marion looked about for her partner, but could not find him. She even asked Wingate if his envelope bore the number 5, but he only smiled sarcastically and said, "No, my number is the lucky seven." Still seeking her partner, Marion wandered outside the big house. She turned toward the driveway, looked back, and stood stock still. A light shined in an upper window. In the dim moonlight below, she saw Wingate. Above, leaning out of a window was Diana. The woman threw down a suitcase which Wingate caught and placed on the ground. Appalled by the significance of what she had seen, Marion hurried back to the house. Up the stairs she hurried to Diana's room. She slowly opened the door and felt for the electric switch. A pause and lights flooded the room, catching Diana in the act of tossing a hat box to Wingate. Diana was trapped and had no reply to make as Marion turned on her. "Think of what you are doing, Diana," she cried. '"You are disgracing yourself and Cameron." "What's that to you," Diana replied. "What's your complaint ? Won't it leave Cameron for you ? He seems to enjoy your society more than mine." Marion was stunned at her helplessness. Mechanically she picked up Diana's envelope which lay on the dresser table. "Go across the river," it read. "Get basket of apples from Blake's orchard." For a moment Marion was undecided as to her course of action. But as she saw Diana go toward the wardrobe and take from it a raincoat and rubber hat large enough to conceal the wearer's features, she realized that firmness alone could meet and conquer the audacity of her antagonist. She turned on Diana. "If you go downstairs now, I'll tell Cameron. He'll stop you and thrash Wingate." Diana paused, and let the coat and hat fall to the bed. Marion picked them up and without waiting dashed from the room . Plans formed in Marion's mind as she hurried through the house and across the lawn. She must get rid of Wingate before Diana became defiant, she knew, and with that purpose dominating her, she hastened to the boat landing on the river. When she came to a dark spot, she donned the raincoat, covered her face with the hanging peak of the rubber hat, and ran toward the landing. There, as she had expected, she found Wingate. He was excited and nervous, and did not wait to greet her. "Take the tiller, and I'll work the engine," he told her. "And speed up or we'll never make that Westport express.'' Marion was astonished, too astonished to protest when he took her by the arm and hurried her into the boat. He started the motor and pointed to the wheel, which he urged her to take. Marion regained her composure admirably. She was even thankful that she had accidentally been mistaken by Wingate for Diana. Silently, without looking toward the man, she steered for the opposite bank. When they arrived, she jumped to the little dock. Wingate stood below, tugging at a great portmanteau which he tried to lift up to the landing. With utter coolness, Marion decided the moment had come. "Better leave that in the boat ; you won't need it," she remarked. He started. "Marion?" he cried. "Oh, hell!" "No need for violent language, Wingate, dear," she smiled, throwing back the hat. "If you hurry, you'll catch the train." He fumed and cursed, even threatening her, but she remained calm. "You can go back to — Cameron," she suggested, "but 1 wouldn't advise it." She returned to the boat, with the man at her heels, frantically demanding more details regarding the episode which had resulted in her impersonation of Diana. The boat began to slide smoothly through the water. Wingate was still cursing ; Marion still smiling that exasperating smile which was driving him mad. Less than two wreeks later, after the miserable failure of her effort to run away with Wingate. Diana calmly met her husband and asked him for that which she desired the most — her freedom. And Cameron was not loath to grant her her heart's desire. He came the following day to his old home, his hat in hand. "I'm giving Diana a — a divorce." he told Marion. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I'm not so sorrv." he told her. "I know how you save^1 Diana from herself. She told me. He sat down beside her and looked gloomily into the fire. "Will we see you, sometime, mother and I?" she asked. "Guess so," he smiled. "I've decided to live here."