The Picture Show Annual (1928)

90 Picture Show Annual He took her face between his hands and kissed her on the lips. Then he smiled into her eyes before he turned away. " I'll see you later, dear," he said as he went out of the room. And Peggy went on with her toilette with her heart in a flame. Lionel Hickman was the star in the latest production at the Pioneer Studio. Peggy and three other girls had had chief parts to play, but there had been no special star, and it had been left in doubt as to who would be introduced to the audience on the trade-show night as the leading lady. Mr. Greasby, the producer, had taken four girls who had no stage reputation behind them and trained them himself, and the result had pleased him enormously. Peggy Brandon he considered was h»s gfeatesi iUCCSSS. because Peggy was a natural ai tiste. She had been just an extra girl when he had first set eyes on her, but it had interested him to discover that besides her personality she was a worker. She had been quite eager to learn and so quick to grasp anything that she had won his esteem and approve!. She had learned to ride a horse and drive a car ^7,<i d ' lso to swim, and she was fearless too. He remembered when he had told t0 <j asn f orwar J during one of the an d cat<J h hold of a restive horse- she h* _ r*i\ nes itated a moment, as almost any other girl ■nignt have done. Mr. Greasby had quite made up his mind that Peggy was worth a dozen of the ordinary girls at the studio, but he was not anxious for her to find it out—not before he could help it. Her salary would go up quite soon enough, he was quite aware of that. But Peggy was not worrying over money or anything like that just now. Lionel was her hero; she considered it had been a tremendous privilege for her to act with him. That he thought a lot of success she felt was quite natural. Success was, as he had said, all that mattered in the film world. Lionel took her home that afternoon in his two-seater car, and he held her hand longer than usual when he said good-bye. " You must have a pretty frock for the night, Peggy," he said playfully. " Something with gold on it. Gold looks so well on the stage." Peggy nodded her head happily. " Gold it shall be," she said, glancing up at him and smiling roguishly. " Would you like to help me choose it?" " Nothing would give me greater pleasure. Let me know when you think of getting it and I'll come along and take you. Good-bye, little girl." He smiled into her eyes while his lips framed a kiss— then he released her hand and started his car. She watched him speed down the road before she opened the gate of the house and entered. In her heart was running a melody, a song with a happy refrain—" He loves me—he loves me—he loves me." Nothing mattered to her quite so much as that—for he was the one man in all the world whom she wished to please. As she opened the door of the house with her key her sister came from the sitting-room into the passage, dressed for the street. " So you're back at last," she said ungraciously. " I'vf been waiting to go out and wondered when you were coming. Jackie has been so tiresome to-day that I thought I would not take him—children are a tie," she added, somewhat impatiently. Peggy smiled. Jackie is a darling—none of us could do without him. I'm sorry I'm a bit late, Janet, but I was kept longer than usual. We've finished the film, and Mr. Greasby is delighted with me. I ought to do well now. I've had my chance." Janet frowned as she pulled on a pair of shah^ , '+ owr| kid gloves. " G!i well ! Now you're back >o.-. might tidy up things a bit. I ve left Jackie s milk on H , e stove George and I may go to the pictures, and • f 1 we J 0 we sna ll be late, so you need not sit up. She passed her sis*-_, as s h e spo lce, and closed the front door behind V cf w ; th a bang . eggy telt a sudden chill of disappointment rush over her as the echo sounded through the house. Janet did not seem a bit interested or pleased to hear that she was considered a success. It made life rather lonely Her thoughts were interrupted, however, at that moment by a child's voice. " Mummy ! Mummy ! I wants you " It was Jackie calling from the sitting-room. Instantly Janet was forgotten as Peggy hurried into the room. A small boy about three years of age stood by the table on which were a few toys that had been put there for him to play with, but were too far away for him to reach. He gave a whoop of delight, however, when he saw his auntie, and dashed forward. " Tome and play with me," he said delightedly, in his high baby voice, as he hurled himself into her embrace. Peggy's arms went round the sturdy little form as she caught him to her. " Auntie has come to play with you, Jackie," she said. His soft, baby lips were pressed to hers, his chubby arms clasped round her neck. The sunlight came back into Peggy's heart as she held the child tor a moment before seating him in his high chair at the table. If Janet were unkind sometimes, her child made up for her lack of sympathy. Four years ago Peggy and Janet had been left orphans. Their mother had died when Peggy was thirteen and Janet five years older. Mr. Brandon was an invalid. He had a pension he had earned during the war, and he had expected after his wife's death that Janet would stay at home and take her mother's place. But Janet had learned to be a shorthand-typist ; business attracted her. And so it was Peggy who, after school hours, had attended the house until she was old enough to leave school and give up her time entirely to her father and the home. The father and the younger daughter were devoted to each other. Peggy had enough imagination to see her father s