Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

'Twas Ever Thus (MOROSCO) A. Lincoln Bender In the cave-man days the mold for the course of events for the remainder of time was cast. In the prologue of this story is told the love affair that set the first milestone for the world. The second — the actual story — is the next, happening during the Civil War. The unchanging work of the mold is shown in the result. This story is based on the Morosco picture of the same name, which features in the cast Elsie Janis and Owen Moore. PROLOGUE. X his skin-lined cave sat the cave man and his daughter. The early un shone in all its splendor upon the oiling plains and craggy cliffs about, iappy they were, those two, in their olitude. She was a slip of a girl, with lowing hair, strong, white teeth, and ;ambs covered with long sinews that howed both strength and beauty. Suddenly her father raised to his full ■.eight, grasped his club, and, with a esture of love, set off. From behind neighboring rocks :i tepped a man, clean cut and muscular. jNoiselessly he approached the cave ,irl, encircling her waist, and endeavoring to kiss her. But the wild young ui hing was too wary, and, with a twist • ng movement, she was out of his arms, : nd into the inner recesses of the cave. jjtWrom behind the protecting skins, she scratched him, wide-eyed. • Glancing back, the man moved off. 'From her hiding place the cave girl • rept out cautiously. Once more the man came back. This ce+jJme he had in his hands a wreath of iilhe wild flowers of the fields. Care; ully he laid it on the rock-lined enrance, and made off, smiling. The cave girl, prompted by curiosity, : vent to it. Then, in anger, she tore : t up, stamping her foot, r Watching, near to the cave, the young ellow leaped forward and grasped the om|irl in his arms. Struggling, beating at ai^im, crying out in terror, the wild -jung girl tried to prevent her capture, t was to no avail. The young man vas strong ; he was love mad ; he would ot be denied. The cries carried to the ears of her ither, the chief of the cave men. ilVith a wild yell, he assembled all his "ollowers and gave chase to the one .vho had dared steal his daughter. Into his own cave city staggered the man and his burden. A command sufficed to bring his colleagues to his side. Bravely they met the invaders. The girl stood, rocking in fear, behind them. With a cry of rage, the father attacked the kidnaper. Like two wild animals they struggled, until, youth in his favor, the young fellow threw the cave man into a crevasse. The exertion was too great, and he collapsed to the rocks. Love now in her heart for this brave young fellow, the cave girl approached and stroked his face and kissed his lips. It was all he needed to restore him to himself, for he rose. Pointing to the crevasse, she ordered him to bring up her father. Carefully he lowered himself and rescued the man. An instant later the girl was in his arms, crushed to his breast, and the father looked on with pride in his eyes. 'Twas ever thus through the age of man ! THE STORY. The dull rumble of the cannon had been silenced. The Grim Reaper was still making his rounds among the wounded, but North and South were once more brothers. In the old town hall of Clifton Springs, in old Virginia, lay Joe Allen, wounded, but recovering. He was from the North. Chief among the physicians who had ceaselessly given their attention to those poor, sick men was young Doctor Warren. Quite a friendship had sprung up between these two men, but to old Colonel Warren his son's kindness was a bitter pill to swallow. "My boy," he said, "I can't understand how you give aid to those hanged Yankees !" His son smiled. "They need it," he said shortly. Joe Allen was recovering slowly. In the old Northern home his sister Prudence longingly awaited his return. Finally she decided to go to see Joe. In the Warren household joy had visited in the form of a letter. "Here," cried old Colonel Warren. "Remember Jean, my boy, Jean Harkness, of Kentucky?" His son glanced up. "Yes," he answered, "what about her? Is she married?" "No, not yet," smiled the old colonel. "She has written to say that she is now planning to spend that long-deferred visit here." Doctor Warren shrugged. "I guess she will like it," was all he said. Into his father's heart a pain came. His whole desire was to marry his boy to this vivacious Jean. From the time that the two were little children he had set his heart on it. And now? "Well, aren't you glad?" he demanded of his son. "Oh, yes. I'll do my best to entertain her," he said dispiritedly. "Now I must get down to the hospital." He picked up his hat, crammed it on his head, and walked out. "Hum," murmured his father. "That doesn't look very promising." At the hotel of Clifton Springs a pretty girl had registered. The guests stared at her dark beauty and decisive little ways. "From the No'th," they all exclaimed, as she inquired the direction to the hospital. When Doctor Warren entered for his morning examination, he was surprised to see Joe Allen deep in conversation with this pretty girl. Not only surprised, but delighted as well, for the first sight of her had caused something to flutter in his heart. "My sister, Prudence Allen, doctor.