Evening Star Newspaper, May 16, 1937, Page 95

? May 16, 1937 F Ronny had not been such an opinionated dog-in-the-manger Evelyn Bray might not have accepted Clodagh d’Albe’s invita- tion; Clodagh was one of the Hollywood “film wives’” he objected to. But since it came right on top of their quarrel, Evelyn jumped at it. It would show Ronny that she was de- termined to take her place among the “‘stars.” Of course, as Ronny had pointed out, she had promised — but then she had never dreamed that Swenk would make her an offer. Ronny should have recognized at once that no actress could turn her back on such an oppor- tunity — the lead in the next Swenk *“‘Super”’ and a five years’ contract, it was terrific! She had expected Ronny to share her elation; but all he said was: “And you told him ‘nothing doing’ because you're marrying me in three months.” He was in an obstinate mood. It made him look terribly clear-cut and attractive. But she must show him that he was being silly. An actress simply couldn’t say ‘“‘No” to Swenk. When he took you up your career was made. “You and I have already agreed,”” Ronny added, “that you give up pictures when we marry.” “It’s just selfishness,” she flamed. ‘“You put yourself before my big chance.” “I put a happy marriage before every- thing,” he said with rising anger. ““You just don't like playing second-fiddle.’ *Quite!” he said fiercely. ‘‘Marriage to me means partnership. I want to be a husband not a mere house dog to a celebrity.” “It’s just as well then that Swenk made his offer in time,” she interrupted. ‘‘You're saved; I'll sign the contract on Monday." Ronny had said nothing to that, just turned and walked straight out of Ada’s house, leav- ing her more furious than sorry. When Clo- dagh had come sailing imperiously through Ada’s crowd five minutes later, and suggested the week end at her country place, Evelyn had accepted more to punish Ronny than from any liking of the star. As promised, Clodagh arrived in a car at Evelyn's flat on Friday evening to run her down. It wasn’t a small car, but with Clodagh, two maids, Claudy Erting, the agent, chauf- feur, oddments of extra baggage and John, it was overfull. Claudy said so, Evelyn looked it as she hovered by the door, even Clodagh noticed it. She said casually, but promptly: *‘John will go by train. Get out, John.” John Donkin got out. John Donkin was the man known to the world as Miss Clodagh d’Albe’s husband. There were two maids in the car, more luggage than was necessary, but it was the husband who got out like an un- wanted cat, without even a meow of protest. Worse, standing with sheepish meekness be- side the car, he muttered a diffident request, to which Clodagh answered largely: ‘‘Not got enough for the fare? How much — will five dollars do?” Evelyn could not help wincing. It wasn't merely the husband’s terribly undignified position, but at his almost cringing accept- ance of it; plainly he had got too used to the role of being a mere accessory to Clodagh d’Albe, “star.” to mind. She had a vision of Ronny standing on the pavement, a mere “left behind,” while his famous wife drove off, and her heart rebelled. But it didn’t follow, Ronny would never take things so meekly — or would he? Clodagh's cottage was a haven of top-notch gaiety, and Clodagh was the natural center of its lively, cocktail merriment — but John Donkin wasn’t. John Donkin just didn’t figure. When someone at dinner that night asked, “Where’s John?”’ Clodagh pettishly broke off her conversation to say: “Isn’t he here? 1 guess he missed his train or took a slow one, or something like that.”’ Something like that was good enough for her husband. When, about eleven, Evelyn went to fetch something for Clodagh from the dining room, she found John Donkin snatch- ing a meal of biscuits and cheese from the buffet. He was both scared and apologetic at being caught, even when she expressed her regret for taking his seat in the car. “Oh, 1 assure you, it's quite all right. . . I mean, I’m quite an old hand at this sort of THIS WEEK Hovse Dog 72 band The Hollywood version of an old marriage problem by DouGLAS NEWTON thing. I'm often late like this. There isn’t a decent train after mid-day, you see, and Clo- dagh sometimes forgets to send a car to meet me at the station. Oh, it’s not a bad three mile walk, except when it’s raining like tonight. . . Dinner? No, but that’s all right, I always make a ‘do’ of it like this — can’t bother the servants at this time of night, you know. Up- sets Clodagh so. . .” It was really ghastly, his apologetic accept- ance of it all; he had lost all sense of the in- dignity of being a mere cipher in his own house. Donkin simply did not count as a human being. Clodagh had all the Hollywood fame, position and wealth, and he was her parasite. Even when he expressed a desire to do some- thing he liked to do she waved him aside. They had decided to take a run to the Ripe Hammer Ponds on Sunday, and it was clear to Evelyn that John Donkin wanted to go, too. It was he who planned routes and made ar- rangements in his diffident way, but Clodagh remained simply unaware of his eagerness. Someone, she said, had to remain in the house in case. So John was once again the “left behind.”’ The memory of his dejected accept- ance of the role poisoned the pleasure of Evelyn’s outing. Hlustrated by C. R. Chickering It seemed s0 horrible and unnatural to her that habit could have reduced any man to such spinelessness. He didn’t seem to have a spark of manly rebellion left. . . . As Evelyn cut out from bridge that night, Clodagh asked her if she’d go to John’s “den’’ and ask him to order her some more bath salts. Evelyn found the man who was down to the level of bath salts sitting in a shabby little room solving a newspaper competition. “‘Something to do,”” he muttered sheepishly. “I’ve quite taken to it as a hobby lately — always a chance of winning a big prize, you know. This paper offers five thousand dollars! What couldn’t 1 do with that?” he sighed. “Not that there’s much hope for a man like me, though I did win fifteen dollars at a cross- word once. . . Bath salts, tell Clo I'm really frightfully sorry. It must have slipped my memory when I made up her cosmetic list. . .” Evelyn felt heartsick as she listened. The thought of this man reduced to solving news- paper competitions as his only hope of mak- ing enough money to be free, was too ghastly. ‘““THAT STRONG, SILENT RONNY OF HERS WAS AIRING HIS VIEWS ABOUT ‘FILM WIVES'" 4 Magazine Section 9 Was that what the “‘kept’” husbandsof ‘“‘stars” came to? Why it was even worse than Ronny had foreseen. . . Anyhow, thank heaven she had not actually signed anything with Swenk. She left John Donkin in a hurry, but instead of returning to Clodagh went to her room — she must write Ronny at once. On the following Tuesday evening Mr. John Donkin was greeted by a highly nervous and anxious “‘star” when he entered their Hollywood apartment. And not only was Clo- dagh’s attitude remarkable, John Donkin’s was even more so — he strutted. “John,” she cried. “You've done it!” ‘“My dear,” he beamed in the manner of a master, “‘don’t I always? Don’t you know by now that the best thing that ever happened to you was to take me for your boss?”’ “Yes,” she nodded, ‘“you’re a ruthless monster, but you always win. Swenk gave you the contract?”’ ! “Swenk had no choice. The girl turned him down as I knew she would. You can thank e L S ) s 2 | B i¢ T Tt11¥%¢% M TEREREE your stars that I saw what his game was wnen I caught him talking to Evelyn at Ada’s party, and then had the sense later to slip across in time to hear that strong, silent Ronny of hers airing his views about ‘film wives'’. . . . Swenk did not mention Evelyn Bray, but I could see he was sour at her refus- ing him, and you can be sure I made the most of that to clinch things for you — the lead in his next ‘Super’ and a new five year contract. So you see our little week-end comedy was worth while after all.” ; “You’re a wonder, John darling,” Clodagh cried, her arms round his neck. “Yet I did so hate treating you like an unwanted dog, and I even feel mean about fooling Evelyn.” “Don’t worry about her. Ske and Ronny will be only too happy over their escape.” “Escape!” Clodagh laughed, kissing him. “As if you and I want to escape, as if any couple could be more completely happy — ours is the perfect Hollywood marriage.” “Quite perfect,” he smiled. “But they wouldn’t believe it.” The End