merton of the movies-第55节

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　attentions；　she　appeared　to　be　just　the　least　bit　bold。　It　seemed　almost　as　if　she　wished　to　attract　their　notice。　He　hesitated　to　admit　it；　for　he　profoundly　esteemed　the　girl；　but　there　were　even　moments　when；　in　technical　language；　she　actually　seemed　to　〃vamp〃　these　creatures　who　thronged　about　her　to　profess　for　her　jams　and　jellies　an　interest　he　was　sure　they　did　not　feel。

He　wondered　if　Baird　had　made　it　plain　to　her　that　she　was　a　very　innocent　little　country　girl　who　should　be　unpleasantly　affected　by　these　advances。　The　scene　he　watched　shot　where　the　little　sister　climbed　back　into　the　motor　car；　leered　at　by　the　four　New　York　club…men；　he　thought　especially　distasteful。　Surely　the　skirt　of　her　print　dress　was　already　short　enough。　She　needed　not　to　lift　it　under　this　evil　regard　as　she　put　her　foot　up　to　the　step。

It　was　on　the　porch　of　the　hotel；　too；　that　he　was　to　have　his　first　scene　with　the　New　York　society　girl　whose　hand　he　won。　She　proved　to　be　the　daughter　of　the　old　gentleman　who　liked　the　improved　grape　juice。　As　Baird　had　intimated；　she　was　a　large　girl；　not　only　tall　and　stoutly　built；　but　somewhat　heavy　of　face。　Baird's　heart　must　have　been　touched　indeed　when　he　consented　to　employ　her；　but　Merton　remembered　her　bedridden　father　and　mother；　the　little　crippled　brother；　the　little　sister　who　was　also　in　poor　health；　and　resolved　to　make　their　scenes　together　as　easy　for　her　as　he　could。

At　their　first　encounter　she　appeared　in　a　mannish　coat　and　riding　breeches；　though　she　looked　every　inch　a　woman　in　this　attire。

〃She　sees　you；　and　it's　a　case　of　love　at　first　sight　on　her　part；〃　explained　Baird。　〃And　you　love　her；　too；　only　you're　a　bashful　country　boy　and　can't　show　it　the　way　she　can。　Try　out　a　little　first　scene　now。〃

Merton　stood；　his　basket　on　his　arm；　as　the　girl　approached　him。　〃Look　down；〃　called　Baird；　and　Merton　lowered　his　gaze　under　the　ardent　regard　of　the　social　butterfly。　She　tossed　away　her　cigarette　and　came　nearer。　Then　she　mischievously　pinched　his　cheek　as　the　New　York　men　had　pinched　his　little　sister's。　Having　done　this；　she　placed　her　hand　beneath　his　chin　and　raised　his　face　to　hers。

〃Now　look　up　at　her；〃　called　Baird。　〃But　she　frightens　you。　Remember　your　country　raising。　You　never　saw　a　society　girl　before。　That's　itlook　frightened　while　she's　admiring　you　in　that　bold　way。　Now　turn　a　little　and　look　down　again。　Pinch　his　cheek　once　more；　Lulu。　Now；　Merton；　look　up　and　smile；　but　kind　of　scaredyou're　still　afraid　of　herand　offer　her　a　bottle　of　Ma's　preserves。　Step　back　a　little　as　you　do　it；　because　you're　kind　of　afraid　of　what　she　might　do　next。　That's　fine。　Good　work；　both　of　you。〃

He　was　glad　for　the　girl's　sake　that　Baird　had　approved　the　work　of　both。　He　had　been　afraid　she　was　overdoing　the　New　York　society　manner　in　the　boldness　of　her　advances　to　him；　but　of　course　Baird　would　know。

His　conscience　hurt　him　a　little　when　the　Montague　girl　added　her　praise　to　Baird's　for　his　own　work。　〃Kid；　you　certainly　stepped　neat　and　looked　nice　in　that　love　scene；〃　she　warmly　told　him。　He　would　have　liked　to　praise　her　own　work；　but　could　not　bring　himself　to。　Perhaps　she　would　grow　more　shrinking　and　modest　as　the　drama　progressed。

A　part　of　the　play　now　developed　as　he　had　foreseen　it　would；　in　that　the　city　men　at　the　hotel　pursued　the　little　sister　to　her　own　door…step　with　attentions　that　she　should　have　found　unwelcome。　But　even　now　she　behaved　in　a　way　he　could　not　approve。　She　seemed　determined　to　meet　the　city　men　halfway。　〃I'm　to　be　the　sunlight　arc　of　this　hovel；〃　she　announced　when　the　city　men　came；　one　at　a　time；　to　shower　gifts　upon　the　little　wild　rose。

Later　it　became　apparent　that　she　must　in　the　end　pay　dearly　for　her　too…ready　acceptance　of　these　favours。　One　after　another　the　four　city　men；　whose　very　appearance　would　have　been　sufficient　warning　to　most　girls；　endeavoured　to　lure　her　up　to　the　great　city　where　they　promised　to　make　a　lady　of　her。　It　was　a　situation　notoriously　involving　danger　to　the　simple　country　girl；　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　d