Elinor (Norma Shearer) attends a Bohemian party at the apartment of Templeton Druid (Ward Crane).
(“The Valley of Content” screened as “Pleasure Mad.”)
THE
Valley of Content
By BLANCHE UPRIGHT
A. L. BURT COMPANY
Publishers New York
Published by arrangement with W. J. Watt & Company
Copyright, 1922, by
W. J. WATT & COMPANY
Printed in the United States of America
WITH LOVE AND DEVOTION
I DEDICATE THESE PAGES
TO
Marjorie Rambeau
MY BELOVED INSPIRER
THE VALLEY OF CONTENT
CHAPTER I
Over the immaculate, freshly ironed white cottoncloth on the little table set near the windowin the kitchen-dining room of the Bentons’ tinybungalow, a paper-shaded lamp glowed rosily. Fromits tempered rays, the plated knives and forks andspoons, polished to a shine that forgave the nickelspots of usage, caught a pinkish tinge, and the bowlof wild roses from its place of state in the center ofthe table returned blush for blush.
But neither the rosy light, nor the roses themselveshad anything to do with the bright flush thatadorned Marjorie Benton’s face as she arose fromin front of the oven of her brightly shining kitchenstove. She felt of her burning cheek with the backof her hand. The twittering remonstrance of hercanary in its cheap little brass cage, disturbed by themetallic clang of the closing oven door, turned hergaze in his direction. She shook her head ruefully.
“More cooking for women and there’d be lessrouge, eh, Andy?” she asked, and an understanding“tweet-tweet” was her reply. Her