merton of the movies-第50部分

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rl；　yet　not　even　her　mother　frowned　upon　it。

The　mother；　indeed；　frankly　urged　the　child　to　let　all　of　these　kind　gentlemen　make　a　lady　of　her。　The　brother　should　have　warned　her　in　this　extremity；　but　the　brother　was　not　permitted　any　share　in　these　scenes。　Only　Merton　Gill；　in　his　proper　person；　seemed　to　feel　the　little　girl　was　all　too　cordially　inviting　trouble。

He　became　confused；　ultimately；　by　reason　of　the　scenes　not　being　taken　consecutively。　It　appeared　that　the　little　sister　actually　left　her　humble　home　at　the　insistence　of　one　of　the　villains；　yet　she　did　not；　apparently；　creep　back　months　later　broken　in　body　and　soul。　As　nearly　as　he　could　gather；　she　was　back　the　next　day。　And　it　almost　seemed　as　if　later；　at　brief　intervals；　she　allowed　herself　to　start　for　the　great　city　with　each　of　the　other　three　scoundrels　who　were　bent　upon　her　destruction。　But　always　she　appeared　to　return　safely　and　to　bring　large　sums　of　money　with　which　to　delight　the　old　mother。

It　was　puzzling　to　Merton。　He　decided　at　lasthe　did　not　like　to　ask　the　Montague　girlthat　Baird　had　tried　the　same　scene　four　times；　and　would　choose　the　best　of　these　for　his　drama。

Brother　and　sister　made　further　trips　to　the　hotel　with　their　offerings；　only　the　sister　now　took　jams　and　jellies　exclusively；　which　she　sold　to　the　male　guests；　while　the　brother　took　only　the　improved　grape　juice　which　the　rich　old　New　Yorker　bought　and　generously　paid　for。

There　were　other　scenes　at　the　hotel　between　the　country　boy　and　the　heavy…faced　New　York　society　girl；　in　which　the　latter　was　an　ardent　wooer。　Once　she　was　made　to　snatch　a　kiss　from　him　as　he　stood　by　her；　his　basket　on　his　arm。　He　struggled　in　her　embrace；　then　turned　to　flee。

She　was　shown　looking　after　him；　laughing；　carelessly　slapping　one　leg　with　her　riding　crop。

〃You're　still　timid；〃　Baird　told　him。　〃You　can　hardly　believe　you　have　won　her　love。〃

In　some　following　scenes　at　the　little　farmhouse　it　became　impossible　for　him　longer　to　doubt　this；　for　the　girl　frankly　told　her　love　as　she　lingered　with　him　at　the　gate。

〃She's　one　of　these　new　women；〃　said　Baird。　〃She's　living　her　own　life。　You　listenit's　wonderful　that　this　great　love　should　have　come　to　you。　Let　us　see　the　great　joy　dawning　in　your　eyes。〃

He　endeavoured　to　show　this。　The　New　York　girl　became　more　ardent。　She　put　an　arm　about　him；　drew　him　to　her。　Slowly；　almost　in　the　manner　of　Harold　Parmalee；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　she　bent　down　and　imprinted　a　long　kiss　upon　his　lips。　He　had　been　somewhat　difficult　to　rehearse　in　this　scene；　but　Baird　made　it　all　plain。　He　was　still　the　bashful　country　boy；　though　now　he　would　be　awakened　by　love。

The　girl　drew　him　from　the　gate　to　her　waiting　automobile。　Here　she　overcame　a　last　reluctance　and　induced　him　to　enter。　She　followed　and　drove　rapidly　off。

It　was　only　now　that　Baird　let　him　into　the　very　heart　of　the　drama。

〃You　see；〃　he　told　Merton；　〃you've　watched　these　city　folks；　you've　wanted　city　life　and　fine　clothes　for　yourself；　so；　in　a　moment　of　weakness；　you've　gone　up　to　town　with　this　girl　to　have　a　look　at　the　place；　and　it　sort　of　took　hold　of　you。　In　fact；　you　hit　up　quite　a　pace　for　awhile；　but　at　last　you　go　stale　on　it〃　〃The　blight　of　Broadway；〃　suggested　Merton；　wondering　if　there　could　be　a　cabaret　scene。

〃Exactly；〃　said　Baird。　〃And　you　get　to　thinking　of　the　poor　old　mother　and　little　sister　back　here　at　home；　working　away　to　pay　off　the　mortgage；　and　you　decide　to　come　back。　You　get　back　on　a　stormy　night；　lots　of　snow　and　wind；　you're　pretty　weak。　We'll　show　you　sort　of　fainting　as　you　reach　the　door。　You　have　no　overcoat　nor　hat；　and　your　city　suit　is　practically　ruined。　You　got　a　great　chance　for　some　good　acting　here；　especially　after　you　get　inside　to　face　the　folks。　It'll　be　the　strongest　thing　you've　done；　so　far。〃

It　was　indeed　an　opportunity　for　strong　acting。　He　could　see　that。　He　stayed　late　with　Baird　and　his　staff　one　night　and　a　scene　of　the　prodigal's　return　to　the　door　of　the　little　home　was　shot　in　a　blinding　snow…storm。　Baird　warmly　congratulated　the　mechanics　who　contrived　the　storm；　and　was　enthusiastic　over　the　acting　of　the　hero。　Through　the　wintry　blast　he　staggered；　half　falling；　to　reach　the　door　where　he　collapsed。　The　light　caught　the　agony　on　his　pale　face。　He　lay　a　moment；　half…fainting；　then　reached　up　a　feeble　hand　to　the　knob　of　the　door。

It　was　one　of　the　annoyances　incident　to　screen　art　that　he　could　not　go　in　at　that　moment　to　finish　his　great　scene。　But　this　must　be　done　back　on　the　lot；　and　the　scene　could　not　be　secured　until　the　next　day。

Once　more　he　became　the　pitiful　victim　of　a　great　city；　crawling　back　to　the　home　shelter　on　a　wintry　night。　It　was　Christmas　eve；　he　now　learned。　He　pushed　open　the　door　of　the　little　home　and　staggered　in　to　face　his　old　mother　and　the　little　sister。　They　sprang　forward　at　his　entrance；　the　sister　ran　to　support　him　to　the　homely　old　sofa。　He　was　weak；　emaciated；　his　face　an　agony　of　repentance；　as　he　mutely　pled　forgiveness　for　his　flight。

His　old　mother　had　risen；　had　seemed　about　to　embrace　him　fondly　when　he　knelt　at　her　feet；　but　then　had　drawn　herself　sternly　up　and　pointed　commandingly　to　the　door。　The　prodigal；　anguished　anew　at　this　repulse；　fell　weakly　back　upon　the　couch　with　a　cry　of　despair。　The　little　sister　placed　a　pillow　under　his　head　and　ran　to　plead　with　the　mother。　A　long　time　she　remained　obdurate；　but　at　last　relented。　Then　she；　too；　came　to　fall　upon　her　knees　before　the　wreck　who　had　returned　to　her。

Not　many　rehearsals　were　required　for　this　scene；　difficult　though　it　was。　Merton　Gill　had　seized　his　opportunity。　His　study　of　agony　expressions　in　the　film　course　was　here　rewarded。　The　scene　closed　with　the　departure　of　the　little　sister。　Resolutely；　showing　the　light　of　some　fierce　determination；　she　put　on　hat　and　wraps；　spoke　words　of　promise　to　the　stricken　mother　and　son；　and　darted　out　into　the　night。　The　snow　whirled　in　as　she　opened　the　door。

〃Good　work；〃　said　Baird　to　Merton。　〃If　you　don't　hear　from　that　little　bit　you　can　call　me　a　Swede。〃

Some　later　scenes　were　shot　in　the　same　little　home；　which　seemed　to　bring　the　drama　to　a　close。　While　the　returned　prodigal　lay　on　the　couch；　nursed　by　the　forgiving　mother；　the　sister　returned　in　company　with　the　New　York　society　girl　who　seemed　aghast　at　the　wreck　of　him　she　had　once　wooed。　Slowly　she　approached　the　couch　of　the　sufferer；　tenderly　she　reached　down　to　enfold　him。　In　some　manner；　which　Merton　could　not　divine；　the　lovers　had　been　reunited。

The　New　York　girl　was　followed　by　her　fatherit　would　seem　they　had　both　come　from　the　hoteland　the　father；　after　giving　an　order　for　more　of　Mother's　grape　juice；　examined　the　son's　patents。　Two　of　them　he　exclaimed　with　delight　over；　and　at　once　paid　the　boy　a　huge　roll　of　bills　for　a　tenth　interest　in　them。

Now　came　the　grasping　man　who　held　the　mortgage　and　who　had　counted　upon　driving　the　family　into　the　streets　this　stormy　Christmas　eve。　He　was　overwhelmed　with　confusion　when　his　money　was　paid　from　an　ample　hoard；　and　slunk；　shame…faced；　out　into　the　night。　It　could　be　seen　that　Christmas　day　would　dawn　bright　and　happy　for　the　little　group。

To　Merton's　eye　there　was　but　one　discord　in　this　finale。　He　had　known　that　the　cross…eyed　man　was　playing　the　part　of　hotel　clerk　at　the　neighbouring　resort；　but　he　had　watched　few　scenes　in　which　the　poor　fellow　acted；　and　he　surely　had　not　known　that　this　man　was　the　little　sister's　future　husband。　It　was　with　real　dismay　that　he　averted　his　gaze　from　the　embrace　that　occurred　between　these　two；　as　the　clerk　entered　the　now　happy　home。

One　other　detail　had　puzzled　him。　This　was　the　bundle　to　which　he　had　clung　as　he　blindly　plunged　through　the　storm。　He　had　still　fiercely　clutched　it　after　entering　the　little　room；　clasping　it　to　his　breast　even　as　he　sank　at　his　mother's　feet　in　physical　exhaustion　and　mental　anguish；　to　implore　her　forgiveness。　Later　the　bundle　was　placed　beside　him　as　he　lay；　pale　and　wan；　on　the　couch。

He　supposed　this　bundle　to　contain　one　of　his　patents；　a　question　to　Baird　when　the　scene　was　over　proved　him　to　be　correct。　〃Sure；〃　said　Baird；　〃that's　one　of　your　patents。〃　Yet　he　still　wished　the　little　sister　had　not　been　made　to　marry　the　cross…eyed　hotel　clerk。

And　another　detail　lingered　in　his　memory　to　bother　him。　The　actress　playing　his　mother　was　wont　to　smoke　cigarettes　when　not　engaged　in　acting。　He　had　long　known　it。　But　he　now　seemed　to　recall；　in　that　touching　last　scene　of　reconciliation；　that　she　had　smoked　one　while　the　camera　actually　turned。　He　hoped　this　was　not　so。　It　would　mean　a　mistake。　And　Baird　would　be　justly　annoyed　by　the　old　mother's　carelessness。




CHAPTER　XVI

OF　SARAH　NEVADA　MONTAGUE


They　were　six　long　weeks　doing　the　new　piece。　The　weeks　seemed　long　to　Merton　Gill　because　there　were　so　many　hours；　even　days；　of　enforced　idleness。　To　pass　an　entire　day；　his　face　stiff　with　the　make…up；　without　once　confronting　a　camera　in　action；　seemed　to　him　a　waste　of　his　own　time　and　a　waste　of　Baird's　money。　Yet　this　appeared　to　be　one　of　the　unavoidable　penalties　incurred　by　those　who　engaged　in　the　art　of　photodrama。　Time　was　needed　to　create　that　world　of　painted　shadows；　so　swift；　so　nicely　consecutive　when　revealed；　but　so　incoherent；　so　brokenly　inconsequent；　so　meaningless　in　the　recording。

How　little　an　audience　could　suspect　the　vexatious　delays　ensuing　between；　say；　a　knock　at　a　door　and　the　admission　of　a　visitor　to　a　neat　little　home　where　a　fond　old　mother　was　trying　to　pay　off　a　mortgage　with　the　help　of　her　little　ones。　How　could　an　audience　divine　that　a　wait　of　two　hours　had　been　caused　because　a　polished　city　villain　had　forgotten　his　spats？　Or　that　other　long　waits　had　been　caused　by　other　forgotten　trifles；　while　an　expensive　company　of　artists　lounged　about　in　bored　apathy；　or　smoked；　gossiped；　bantered？

Yet　no　one　ever　seemed　to　express　concern　about　these　waits。　Rarely　were　their　causes　known；　except　by　some　frenzied　assistant　director；　and　he；　after　a　little；　would　cease　to　be　frenzied　and　fall　to　loafing　calmly　with　the　others。　Merton　Gill's　education　in　his　chosen　art　was　progressing。