The Red Kimona
1
This is a true story. Much
of it is on record in the
Superior Court of California.
If it contains bitter truths,
remember that I only turn
the pages of the past.
2
I cite you the case of
Gabrielle from the files
of this newspaper office,
with the hope that you
will help - rather than
hinder - the upward strug-
gle of such unfortunates.
3
Gabrielle, in the begin-
ning, a child - trusting,
believing - had committed
the sin of loving too well.
Ground in the mire, numb
with heartache, we find
her in New Orleans,
- - deserted.
4
Clara - the "girl"
next door.
5
"I hate to tell you, kid,
but - - Howard went
to Los Angeles to get
married."
6
"They're all alike. He's
coming back - or -"
7
"- - or he'd have
taken - those."
8
"I'm going to Los
Angeles."
9
In Los Angeles, she
traced him to - -
10
"Howard - speak to
me - - - -"
11
"Howard - forgive me -
I love you - -"
12
Through the dead silence
of interminable nights,
a woman, repentant, prayed
to the Almighty Judge for
forgiveness. Helpless, alone,
she awaited the third day
of her trial -
13
Mrs. Beverly Fontaine -
who has taken up
social service because it
helps her socially - sees
a new opportunity for
publicity in Gabrielle.
14
"Tell the court and jury
how you first met
Howard Blaine."
15
Home is any place where
a mother smiles at
children. Other places are
just houses. In one of
these lived Gabrielle.
16
"Where you goin'?"
17
"I was just going for
a walk."
18
"She's goin' to meet that
Blaine guy she's been
seein' every night."
19
"Go ahead - maybe he's
the marryin' kind an'
I won't have to feed
you any more."
20
"But don't you ever
come back here, if
it don't take."
21
Three words - I Love
You - sometimes as
beautiful and sacred as
a prayer - sometimes a
cowardly lie.
22
"- and we'll go to my
place in New Orleans
and be married."
23
"He took me to New
Orleans -"
24
"Mr. Mack is sort of -
in charge around
here."
25
"Another? I'm sorry
for her."
26
"I didn't know what to
do - I loved him so."
27
Then years of bond-
age - sorrowful -
sordid -
28
"That is all -"
29
"You shot Howard Blaine
because he was going to
marry another woman -
didn't you?"
30
"I had given him -
my life - -"
31
"This court is not
interested in your
romance - answer
my question."
32
"I loved him and I thought
he cared. If he had a
wife, I couldn't go on -
don't you see?"
33
"When I saw him buying
her wedding ring with
the money I - -"
34
Days of torture - a
hushed moment -
and then -
35
"NOT GUILTY!"
36
"I don't want to go
back!"
37
"Have you no friends,
child?"
38
"- nor any money -"
39
"- even my rings, the
lawyer took for his fee."
40
"That's what I want
to do - wipe out the
past, by service."
41
Terrance O'Day - whom
Mrs. Fontaine calls
"Freddy" on the theory
that it annoys him.
42
"My dear, I've finally
decided to take you
home with me."
43
"... charity vaunteth
not itself, is not
puffed up ..."
1 Corinthians, 13
44
"I want you to look
as interesting as
you can -"
45
"- for your sake, of
course."
46
"Don't be long, dear -
some of the ladies
actually gave up the
matinee to see you."
47
"Ladies - this is Gabrielle -
my poor little wounded
bird - Fleur de Pav�, as
the French say."
48
"I've been dying to talk
to you alone - I just
knew we would be
drawn to each other."
49
"You see I understand
so thoroughly - for I,
too, have been pursued
all my life!"
50
"My husband can't give
me any information
about these things -
he's like a babe in the
woods - - - he's a
traveling man."
51
"Now tell me - is it true
that all men - - -"
52
"- - - and do you poor
dears have to - - - -"
53
"My dear, you can't leave
now, - why, you're the
guest of honor!"
54
"You were quite a
sensation, my dear."
55
"I don't belong here -
I want to do some
useful work - earn
my redemption."
56
"What you need, my
dear, is rest - and
this environment."
57
"But I want to become
a nurse - please, please
help me."
58
"A worthy ambition my
child, and when I feel
it's time, I'll arrange it
all for you."
59
"Well - how do you
like the museum
by now?"
60
"These curtains must
be kept closed. The
sun fades the rugs."
61
"Well, Pansy, - it's like this.
The Queen sent me to
tell you she was havin'
a coupla dames to tea."
62
"Dames - ?"
63
"- LADIES!!"
64
"You heard me, Violet!
I said DAMES!"
65
"Mrs. Fontaine does not
allow her books to be
taken from this room."
66
"Now, Buttercup - you
know that's the bunk
- the Duchess don't
even know she has
a book."
67
"Don't mind old Hatchet
Face - she don't mean
to hurt your feelings
- - much!"
68
"Any other little thing
I can do for you?"
69
"Sure there's nothin'
else?"
70
"Sure?"
71
The publicity value
of being seen with
her protege was gone -
so Mrs. Fontaine sent
Gabrielle riding alone.
72
And for the first time
in twenty thousand
miles, the Fontaine
limousine headed toward
Ford territory.
73
To Gabrielle a new
manner of man
lifted from the common
clay, to stand like a
defending Knight.
74
"Well, I guess you're
through here! Madam's
gone on one of her trips.
Left this for you."
75
"You stayed longer
than most of them
- the bank robber
only lasted a week."
76
"I'm drivin' the Queen of
Sheba to Sacramento.
Be gone a coupla
months."
77
"Poor kid - life knocked her
for a loop, but I like her
a lot - an' I ain't braggin'
about my own past."
78
The County Hospital -
79
"Aren't you that Gabrielle
woman?"
80
"That notoriety-seeking
old biddy knows there'd
be trouble if I put you
in training here!"
81
No references - - - -
82
A job - a chance -
83
"Isn't that the girl your
husband defended for
murder?"
84
"Is Fred back yet?"
85
"If he is, he doesn't want
to have anything to do
with you."
86
"The Matron you want
isn't here any more."
87
Licked -
88
It is tradition that help
comes whole-heartedly
from the Sisterhood of
Sorrow. Clara answered
the call.
89
"I wonder if you know
how soon I can get a
train to New Orleans."
90
"Hey, - Orchid!"
91
"Have you seen Gabrielle?"
92
"She came here looking
for you - but I sent
her away."
93
"- - she's leaving on the
three o'clock train for
New Orleans."
94
"Do you know you drove
that kid back to the
streets with your two-bit
philanthropy an' your
society circus - -"
95
"You just happened to
be lucky - you got a
wedding ring."
96
"How dare you!"
97
"From now on, I won't
need your services."
98
"I'll tell the world you
won't! I'm going to
find her."
99
"The next train for
New Orleans leaves
in an hour."
100
Three days of anguished
travel - and Gabrielle
faces her Gethsemane.
101
Freddy arrives - -
102
"You don't want to run
away - I could be pretty
nice to you."
103
"Looks like an accident -
wanna stop?"
104
"Go ahead - haven't
time!"
105
"I've been expecting
her, but she isn't
here yet."
106
Faces - - white - splotched
with red - swimming in
the fog of the nights - -
but never the one he
sought.
107
"GABRIELLE!"
108
While Gabrielle -
109
Blaring bands - marching
men on city streets -
transports slipping away -
khaki columns on white
French roads. America
had entered the war.
110
"We must have more
nurses - helpers - the
Flu is blocking the
wards."
111
"Please let me help -
I'm strong now - I'd
do anything!"
112
"Ten more for Ward
Seven."
113
"Put her to work!"
114
"EXTRA! EXTRA!
NEW ORLEANS MEN
LEAVING FOR THE
FRONT!"
115
"Hear that? I'll be going
any minute now."
116
"Gabrielle, I love you -
won't you marry - - -"
117
"Not now - - - perhaps
when you come back -
and I've earned my
right to happiness."
118
"Don't you understand -
it's because I love you."
119
"I'll be waiting!"
120
You have seen the temp-
tations and struggles of
this modern Magdalen, and
though she won her redemp-
tion and found love and
happiness, - there are others
- countless others - -
121
"- - and it is toward these,
that we women must face
our responsibility, if we
would fulfill the duty of
true womanhood."
122
Remember the death-
less words of the
Carpenter of Nazareth - -
123
"He that is without
sin among you, let
him first cast a stone
at her."
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