Picture Show (Nov 1919-Apr 1920)

The Picture Show, December bth, 1610. HER DOUBLE LIFE (Continued from page 6.) slunk oft home, an ugly shadow of anxiety brooding on her lovely face. She folt desperate. Yes, but it was one thing to talk about doing something desperate, and quite another thing to find the desperate thing to do. How could she make money, lots of money, quick ? "I* shall havo to have another shot at Aunt Elizabeth," she decided. " Hut I've not much hopes of her playing up again so" soon." However, nothing is dOno without trying. The next afternoon saw Bethia making herself exceedingly charming to her relative in tho handsome drawing-room of her house in Dorchester Square. Bethia looked lovely — she had taken pains to do so ; but she had to conceal her impatience that there was another visitor, who showed no signs of taking his departure, and whom Aunt Elizabeth was not at all anxious to get rid of. There was, therefore, no chance of a private interview, and you cannot ask even your aunt for a loan of sixty pounds in the presence of callers. There was a curious, almost pathetic likeness between the beautiful young girl, glowing with health and life, and the white-haired, faded, still handsome old lady. Aunt Elizabeth had never been so strikingly good-looking as Bethia, but it was certainly from her mother's people that Bethia got her classic noso and dazzling complexion. . The caller was a Mr. Whisby, and it was soon evident that Aunt Elizabeth was greatly taken up with him. He was elderly and stout, a putty faced little man, with small eyes, which ho kept fixed on the old lady's face. Aunt Elizabeth informed him that Bethia was her counterpart at that ago. The statement had tho effect of transferring Mr. Whisby's eyes from Aunt Elizabeth's faded charms to Bethia's fresh youth. Aunt Elizabeth was affability itself, but there was no hope of being able to ask her for help, so she had to retire with her mission unfulfilled, but with an invitation to dine on the following evening and to meet Mr. Whisby again. Her aunt's maid, a usefully communicative person, told Bethia on tho way to the door that Mr. Whisby was a millionaire, a Canadian and — single ; a world of meaning behind this item of information that Bethia duly assimilated. Sho decided to look her very loveliest at tho dinner party " Always blackest before dawn, thought Bethia. " In somo ways it would .be rather a refreshing experience to bo an old man's darling ! How shocked Harry would be to hear me ! " Confetti. THERE was nothing else for it. George Battersby had to take tho first boat for New York, and only just time to pack and get off. A misread cable, a hastily concluded agreement made by tho American representative of his firm, had led to a tangle of misunderstanding which demanded the presence of a principal to straighten out. ' So now, however bis own private affairs might call for his attention, George was off out of tho^eountry on an errand that waa certain to keep him aw ay for a fortnight or tlxree weeks. The worst of it was that he still hadn't seen Harry. And as his taxi landed him at the dock gates, ho was wishing most earnestly that he could havo seen her, just once, before starting, as a reminder, after the hateful thoughts that ho had rejected about her, that she was still true and sincere and wholly his. Ho was thinking about it all the time, as ho made his way along the crowded dock to whore tho Albania was berthed. The Wauronia, another of tho same line, sailing to Australia, was l>eing loosed from her moorings ; as ho passed, George took in the tense moment of irarting, tho littlo crowd leaning over the rail • >n the upper deck, tho friends calling last goodbyes from the shore, tho flutter of handkerchiefs from those already too far apart for speech. Very slowly the huge liner glided away from kite side ; George found himself watching tho I ices looking down as she passed. A woman at his sido tossed a shower of confetti aloft ; more showers followed, amid laughter and cheers. " Horry ! " i feorge shouted aloud in his amazement. Jt was Harry. Sho was leaning on the rail, gazing down at him. Harry herself ; and there was a look of the deepest misery on her face ; a tragic, inconsolable look. George saw "that at a glance. Then, with an obvious effort, sho tore her trouble -filled eyes from his face, and continued to gaze away over the people's heads. He noticed something else : a scatter of red, w hite and blue disos among tbcfolds of the light veil that floated from the back of her head. More, Ted Lambert at her side, his hand on her shoulder, with an air of proprietorship, smiling, triumphant, looking into her face, speaking to her, while her eyes remained fixed on somo point far beyond the crowd. George's throat failed him. A hoarse whisper wa3 all that came of his cry of recognition ; then tho great liner moved7on, and a hoat slung on davits shut out the sight of her. " Didn't look any too happy for a bride, did she 1 " observed a bystander, turning away. A car with favours in the windows pushed its way out of the gate : George saw the favours : he missed the camera-man inside, going away well pleased with tho climax of several days' persevering rehearsal. It was great to have coupled the scene with the actual incidents of the sailing of o. liner. Tho film would be a great success. With a dead, heavy feeling at his heart, George went on to his ship. " Harry a bride ! Ted Lambert's bride ! " And it was all true that Delia had wanted to toll him. And that waa the thought that he had to take with him on his voyage. He felt that he wished never to come back again. And the Wauronia stole silently out to sea in the wake of the fu^sy little tug. " That was pretty good," said Lambert. "You got it first rate, the real thing. But " — his voice altered to one of alarm — ,l I say, you needn't go on lookine so. You give a chap the blues ! " " It was the real thing," whispered Harry, in a shocked voice. " He was there, looking at me. George Battersby ! Didn't you see him 1 " "' You're dreaming," said Lambert. "Why, ho couldn't be there. Nobody knew. We didn't know ourselves about getting the scene taken on board the Wauronia until this morning. You're getting nervy.'' "" It was George. If I had made any sign to him, it would have ruined the film. And — now I have broken" his heart," murmured Harry. And then she laid her head upon her arms and began to sob quietly. " But — you mustn't cry ! Listen, please ! We shall go back with the tug in a few minutes. If it was Battersby, we shall surely find him. I'll try at every hoWt in Southampton till I find him. Wo can't miss him ! And I'll mako him understand." " Ho could nover understand now," said Harry despairingly. 'Mean nevermakehimsee now that I never meant to deceive him — and how tho thing kept piling itself on to me r-" "Well, if you feel that way about tho chap/' argued Ted, "doesn't it show that he-3 not really the right chap for you ? Look at mo now. I can understand everything you say and do, I could feel that you were unhappy about somi thing before ever you spoke." Lambert toot her hand that was clutching a damp wisp of handkerchief and held it tenderly. . • " Oh, please', please don't I " begged Hairy in fresh agitation. An old, hurt look passed across Lambert'* boyish face. The scar on his brow showed out strongly. " Well. 1 won't ! " ho said, mastoiing bin 9 H with an effort. " But — you'll understand, *OBf*t you ? When I tell you that I can never a^aiu play opposite you in scenes like this '! Harry, it's too real to me — you will understand, tyon't you ? " Harry sobbed anew. " You know — there never— never could ba anybody else but George," sho said. Lambert looked away to sea till he had his feelings in Icasb, then ho went on in a rnatt'.rof-fact voice. " Look 'here, I'll make old Hellows release you from the rest of your contract if you like I " " But — oh, no ! No; I can't give it up jet ! " she cried. " I am about to ask him to renew it once more. You see, it's father now. His health has been failing for ever so long ; now 1 1 •; doctor has ordered him abroad for tho winter. ' " And it's up to you to find the money 1 Well, I do call that too bad." . " 1 thought if I could have a good part in the next film, it would about cover the cost — and perhaps I would go too. He would want a company — and it would bo so restfu! and tiii ,-eaway from all the worry and anxiety — and Bethia " "That's a splendid plan," said Lambert " I know the Boss will jump at it. Anil I 11 find Battersby for you as soon as we land, and mako him see reason." Needless to say, Battersby was not to be foiuikL, though Ted sought him diligently. Mr. He'lows readily gave to Harry the lead in his forthcoming production and at a fee that wo'.-.ld have brought a glad light to her ey es any other time. She thanked him. nnd received his compliments on the success of the steam-; r scene, with a frosty smile and wan satisfaction. There was just one grain of comfort. That would be going home to tell her father that the winter in the South of France would be an accomplished fact. She dared not think about, George, whose white face, blazing with indignation, haunted her eyes. He was not likely to come to her. She could not go to him. Sho would try not to think about him. And she would not let herself think about Ted Lambert. She would just get right away w ith her fatly r — the new contract woidd be at an 'end in a few weeks' time — and try not to think about anything. She went home to the tired, prematurely aged man, sitting alone at his interminable chess-board. Another fine instalment next Monday J ALICE BRADY. ALICE BRADY is the daughter of the well-known theatrical manager, William A. Brady, and her mother, Grace George, is, of course, the well-known actress. Her father did not wish her to go on the stage, but the dramatic instinct born in her asserted itself. Immediately sho finished her schooling, she took tho matter into her o\y" hands and got a job in musical comedy. Her success was immediate. Later on sho played lead in " Tho Balkan Princess." Very Versatile. ALICE BRADY is very versatile in her art, and she has played all sorts of roles, ranging from light comedy to heavy t ragedy. However, Alice wanted new worlds to conquer, and decided to y>lay in pictures. She speedily established her position on the sereon, and has played in a very large number of photo-plays. .\lioo Brady dances well and sings magnifie.-ntly. Sho is tall, standing over live feet six niches, and sho has brown eyes and brown THE YOUNG LADY WITH MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. hair, and a beaxttiful complexion. Her; age is twenty-three. What Upsets, Alice. ALICE is d very amiable and loving young lady, but there is one thing j which never fails to upset her, and that >s when people suggest that her success is duo to tho influence of her father. She is proud of the fact that she has scored a triumph by her own exertions entirely, and, in fact, in spite, rather than on account, of her father's interest ; for it was in direct opposition to his wishes that she ever entered into t beatrical work. She is a Great Worker. ALICE BRADY has very littlo time to herself, for she is a great worker. Early every morning sho goes to the studio, and she is there until lato in tho afternoon ; and then she goes on to the theatre at night. " Aren't you tired," she was once asked ■ '-' after working all day at the studio ? " " No, not in tho least," replied Alice. " Yon Bee, I l ive my work, and when one is really fond of one's work, it is quite impossible to get tired."