SOUL MATES OF THE SCREEN

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 283, 30 November 1925, Page 16

SOUL MATES OF THE SCREEN

By GAYNE DEXTER.

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS: John Worth, the famous Hollywood producer, has raised to the dazzling heights of stardom. Gloria Kaill, whom he marries, only to find that her lore is given to Russell Blame, known all over the world as a great lover of the screen. Gloria has been pleading with her husband to divorce her. He declines. Then into the room comes beautiful Rhoda Mirande, whom Worth intends to boom as a new star. He takes her to a ball at the Hotel dcs Artistes to introduce her to screenland's colony. CHAPTER 111. On Hollywood's little world had descended this unlisted beauty. And that baffled, just as age and oriffin eluded. Twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five —impossible to weigh youth and artifice, contrivance and sophistication in a face completely white, mystic, worldly, una wakened. Foreign," obviously exotic: this more puzzling still, for rubadub announced these Continental stars, and her advent was unheralded. Well, Worth accompanied her, and he did things differently. Reminded of Blame and Gloria Kaill, attention swerved momentarily to observe how Gloria accepted her substitute. Again Rhoda, moving sheen and moon-red crown, enticed. Lightly poised at Worth's arm she advanced—her step no step, but an instinct of allurement. Little escaped Worth. What part he played in Rhoda's debut was slight compared with her fulfilment. Having set the stage and chosen the audience., at once critical and susceptible, his work was practically finished, he a spectator privileged above others to enjoy the performance. Friends beckoned him to join their parties, but shrewdly gathering in people and places, he chose a table where already sat Douglas Vaughn and a girl Worth did not recognise. He liked young Vaughn; Hollywood had made of the boy neither fool nor mieatitrophe. Ears caught a name in introductions; it spread as fast as scandal. Rhoda Mirande. Parisienne? Viennese? Her voice overheard in conversation with Vaughn and Kathleen Glyn (who played *bits' when she could get them) rang purely, accentless. She epoke a language perfectly acquired. . Eyes obsessed Rhoda. In motion, she had not noticed them; but, seated, glances latticed And bent'about her. Even at this table' Kathleen' Glyn was a disturbing little battery of worship and amazement. To-night" Kathleen would parade with the Thirteen; Baby Stars of 1926; thirteen all chiffon, *1I ath'rill at predicted stardom within one year, although three years constituted a closer guess. Kathleen**" immediate concern, however, was hitherto unnoted angles and awkwardness of. her hands. Why couldn't she accept a cigarette from Worth'js case as a favour to the _case, instead of to herself! I-Hioda did. Kathleen-, merely -took a cigarette. Vaugiin eat directly opposite. After a- few words of greeting, he withdrew into himself and traced/patterns on the cloth. -; ; 'He yet regretted the intrnsiori. 'Of cotirse Worth's company brought distinction, but the* attention his companion attracted was'notoriety. Moreover, Gloria Kaill and Russell Blame occupied a table separated only by a giantic palm. Confound it! Because Worth desirej to challenge his wife why should he be' involved in a public spectacle? Vaughn's attitude : puzzled Rhoda. All screen women, few screen men interested her, and of the few, Doug —whose name in a cast meant nothing, who received thankless parts, "but executed them healthily— was cleanly lined in her mind. Firm-lipped, happily irregular of features, with a generous rectangle of thought between temple and temple, forelock and hrow, Doug missed quick success by a flapper-verdict: "He always reminds mc of my big brother." Directors said, "No sex appeal." Which pleased Vaughn. He was sorry to. be only an actor, but "no ccx appeal" was a regenerative eign. Rhoda contemplated him. Curbed, impatient though he seemed, she yet was tempted to. lean forward and tap him, then to listen for the clean chime which such a tap would evoke from pure Venetian glass. Once she surprised his glance and was chilled. His eyes held the same antagonism for her that fired in her own when,' through a cleft of palms behind Vaughn and across Gloria Kaill's white blade of shoulder, Blame fixed her. And at that table Blame betrayed himself. '■'A comet. A comet among stars," he breathed aloud. "One flaming star and a fiery train; a mystery suddenly upon us " ''Stop talking in substitles," Gloria Kaill interrupted hotly. "Ever since she came Ln, you've been staring at her. If this party doesn't suit you why don't you butt into Worth's." Gloria always referred to her husband as Worth; now she gave the name unpleasant emphasis. Peggy ' Pelt" who, " with "an owlish scenario writer completed the table, boomed. "Sure, Russ. Jack Worth will be glad to have you. He's a kindhearted goof who likes finding new toys for other people to play with." "She interests mc professionally as a different type, that's all," Blame disclaimed loftily. '-'And please, Peggy, Temember where you are. That voice of j yours carries terribly." I "You're afraid the comet will judge j you by your friends," Peggy laughed at him. But pain, akin to a hot coal, burned under her heart. Twelve months I ago a director had killed himself bej cause of Peggy, and since that tragedy I and scandal she often laughed in pain. i "Now tell mc to act like a lady, Russ I Sure. Fine until the world finds out j your father' 3 a railroad porter instead ■ of a railroad president. Then it's time to.act natural, talk as your old man talks. The best way I know to get back to the simple life is by having some nut j suicide on your door step, because a j coroner sure can peel off the paint. Rug- ! sell, if ever you so through that j Well, nover mind. I hope you dem't. But j ston piekinc , on mv nartv manners!" j Clloria examined the tip of her peri fumed cigarette. They smouldered to- ' sretiipr. When the orchestra repoimnencprt. Worth danced with Rhoda. Vaughn' with Kathleen Glvn, rnto turbulence, for music no longer crooned or caioled. but whooped of drums and sea-sick saxophones; and feet leaped in time. Kathleen, nestling her brown head close to

Doug's chest, followed the silver figure —a flash in a forest now—and sighed infinite dissatisfaction with virtues -that had enlisted her among , the Thirteen Baby Stars. "Gosh! Why wasn't I born like that!" "Good Lord, kid.: no! She made mc feel just as patchouli smells." Vaughn growled. "What time is your mother coming for you?" "Oh, blow mother! She's always chasing mc." Worth confirmed the doubt which beset Rhoda. "Eyes! Eyes! Eyes! You never knew people had so many before, did you? You'll worry awhile and then forget them; but they'll always spy, because you belong to them, as much as public property as morning. You don't own yourself now. - ' he explained. Truth stalked with travesty to-night. The thirteen Baby Stars twinkled and dimpled. Somebody sang. Buck Stromboli tried to: nobody listened. Ukeleles sprung from nowhere and verandahs echoed a rival chorus. ''Ma n'atu sole, ochiv bello, ohine." Buck carolled in his native tongue. While Peggy Pelt in her?, "So ?all out twenty policemen: Send for a coffin an" a hearse, 'Cos I shot ma Johnny in the waist' oat, An" he's sorn to another universe.'" A hundred yelled the refrain. "He was her ma-a-a-a-an. But he done her wrong!" Buck swore to outbellow them. "0 sole mio! Sta nfronte a te!" But Peggy won. Her song of songs involved twenty hectic verses, all about vengeance and a wayward negress who 1 was crossed in love. It had none of Buck's dignity. She was a wild-haired imp prancing on Blame's table, more vibrant than the ukelele strings her fingers twanged. Her performance ended, she leaped over Gloria Kaill's head, crashed through the dividing palms, and, by long practice, landed in a curtsey at Worth's chair. "How's that for "an entrance, Jack?" she demanded. "Now if you worked in my pictures you'd have to bean mc with this uke or a custard pie. That's a sure-fire-laugh." Rising, she seated herself on the table-edge and tossed her head, happy to be here. "Do you mind if I butt in, Jack? My gang gives mc a pain. Gloria's mad with Blame and joy flows like castor oil." Then, laughing to Rhoda, "Please miss, my name's Peggy Pelt. You may as well get used to mc now, because I'm a friendly sort of measle —sure to afflict you sooner or later—'Lo Doug. 'Lo Little Baby Star. You should have been in bed long ago." A ballet Russe twirled exquisitely, biids of rose and violet warmed to flower by spote and colour-wheels playing from the mezzanine. Skeletons escaped their cupboards when writers impersonated stars as they used to be. Dead histories shrivelled pride; for dignity of labour cannot exalt dish-washing and barbering if he who started thua has grown to boast family crests and ancestral estates. Moments of laughter and tears, and Peggy hilariously proclaiming that murder will out. PAoda watched through a chimeric haze from wh?ch man-shapes emerged to stand or sway as they lightly took her hand in presentation, or kissed her fingerstips excessively gallant. Peggy could not be positive, but if Rhoda's eyes did not laugh, well "Count your rings after they kiss your hand. I know thie bunch," quoth Pewy- . , ~ , Little Kathleen experimented with her own finger-tips to her own lip 6, -while Va.jghn exhaled cigarette smoke with unnecessary force.

Elation filled "Rhoda; hut fully as she desired to abandon herself, the role imprisoned. Inclination must be restrained, a bored AH Balm in the Cave of Forty Thieves. This irked until restraint grew natural, as more and more she absorbed the character or her clothes. Eyes, which had disturbed before, receded; not that they no longer watched; merely that their espionage, once discovered, puissance. She could meet all impersonally —all save Blame. And why he should goad Rhoda could not say. Yet she moved ever conscious of his surveillance. His eyes found her in throngs, stormed her when she sat, lodged so deeply that furious spots would kindle her cheeks. She felt impotent; at times shuddered inwardly as though wet lips pressed her nape. For creating Blame and refusing Vaughn, her own sex was contemptible; and while she repelled one. the other ignored her. Eloquent passion and dumb hostility completed the picture of two men her vision framed. (To be continued daily.)