The Washington times., 1923-12-29

gone to Paris and INDUCED In an
orgy Of clothes. She looked back
upon that wholly feminine reve--
sion, when she had avoided every
one she had ever known, as one
% the completely satisfactory cpl.
sodes OF her life. Even with un-
restored youth and beauty, and
a soberer choice Of costumes, she
would still have experienced q
certain degree Of excited pleasure
in adjoining herself.
In Her BOudOir
She had always liked the light
freshness Of ch:ntz In her bed.
room, leaving luxury to her
boudoir; her stay was to be short,
and her bedroom was as largs
ns two ordinary rooms. She
spent many hours in It, when its
violet and white simplicities APP
pealed to. her mood. Today Il
was redolent Of the llacs Claver-
ing had sent her, and through
the open windows came the sing.
ing Of birds In the few trees
still left In the old street.
She loved comfort a. much a.
she loved exercise, and after her
careful toilette was finished and
her maid had gone. she settled
herself luxuriously in q deep chair
before her desk and opened ons
Of the drawers. The European
mail had arrived yesterday and
she had only glanced through
half OF It. But she must read
all OF those letters today ana
answer some Of them before the
sailings on Saturday.
The telephone on q little stand
at her elbow rang. and she took
the receiver from its spreading
violet skirts and raised It to her
ear. As she had expected, it was
Ciavering. He told her that he
had promised Cora Dwight the
evening before to ask her per-
mission to announce their en-
gagement.
For a moment che stared into
the instrument. Then she said
hurriedly, almost breathlessly:
Nod rather not. hate the
vulgarity Of conGratulations-pub
licity Of my private affairs. I've
always said that when one mar
rios a second time the decent
thing to do is to marry first and
tell afterward."
But they guess it, you know"
''That is quite different" 1t
was Madame Zattiany who spoke
now and her tones were deliberate
and final. "Quite different thing
from being congratulated. and tor
mented by newspapers" She dis
missed the subject. "I shall be
free two weeks from today. What
do you think Of that?'' Her voice
was both gay and tender. Judge
Trent viii see at once about en-
gaging my stateroom. Don't tell
me that that play Of yours viii
prevent you from following shortly
after"
mot a BIT Of It. We shah only
be gone two months, and even II
Hogarth succeeds In placing 1t
with his manager as he expects.
It might be several months before
rehearsals."
Then 1t all fits In quite charm
ingly. You are coming to dinner
tonight?"
"well. rather"
mind you como early. have
many things TO ten you"
9TH not be for that III come
early"
Mary smiled and hung up the re.
ceiver. She would have to let
him return to New York for time
possibly. But herself, she would
90 on to Vienna. No doubt about
that. '
She returned 10 her letters.
Those that required answers she
placed IN q separate heap with q
penciled note on the back, for she
was neat and methodical: she evan
slit the envelopes with . paper
knife that was always at hand for
the purpose. ana the envelopes
were dropped at once into the
waste basket.
The contents for the most part
were expected, and related TO her
work in Vienna, the disposition Of
moneys she had sent over. and the
usual clamoring for more. But
when she had read half way
through q long letter from Baron.
ess Tauersperg. In whose capable
hands she had left the most impor-
tant Of her charities, she involun-
tArfly stiffened and sat forward q
little.
Several pages Of her friends let
ters were always devoted to bust
ness, the rest to gossip. In return
Mary enlIvened her own letters
with many Of her American adven-
lures, although she had made no
mention OF Clavering.
"T need not ask If you remember
Hohenhauer." continued Frau Won
Tauersperg, although. I suppose.
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