The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1931-12-21
Laughing back over his shoulder

sASsssA 1881.
Laughing back over his shoulder
Denny returned to his table.
Mrs Coates lived in a handsome
white stone house on the Champs
Elysee. There were about dozer
people at her party.
Venice soon became separated
from Guy and found herself shy anc
silent as of old. She sat on 6
formal Louis Quinze sofa san.
wiched between a brittle, youne
English divorce and an elderl,
American. The divorce spoke
crdsply of her first husband one
moment, her third the next and o.
Raymond, whoever and wherever
he might be- Venice smiled at hei
sallier and wondered what sht
should interpolate. She could think
of nothing suitable, so she contin-
ued to smile. I must look like the
Cheshire cat, she reflected uncom-
| fortably.
There's someone I must speak
to-" Venice said. She had decided
to repair to the room where she
had left her wrap. Starting to-
wards the door she collided with
a young man just entering. It was
the Marquis Rene de Thenardier
"Ah, Miss Muir! But you are
not leaving?"
She smiled with genuine pleas
ure.
"Of course not, Marquis"
"Come and sit with me-"
He led her to an oriel window
and they made themselves COM
Portable on the wide velvet seat.
Are you an old friend of Mrs
Coates?" he asked.
mo. Guy and I met her that
evening at Cio's when we met
you"
You and Guy-you love him?'
ooh, no. We-we're old friends. -
"You Americans! I cannot under
stand it. A pretty girl, a handsome
young man. They are inseparable
They do not love. They are old
friends. How can it be natural?'
"a man, girl They go about
together. They must be in love, .
Venice retorted.
'Mais oui Certainement."
TITS no, use. Anglo-Saxon and
Latin morals will never tally, Mar
quis."
my name is Rene. And yours
Miss Muir?"
Venice"
Venice! All, beautiful. That city
OF velvet canals and drifting gon-
dolas"
Twill you and your Guy come to
a little party of mine next Tues
day?' he asked.
"He's not my Guy but we'd love
to come. Here he is now"
Hello, Rene. You and Venice
seem to be doing nicely together
What is doing nicely'?"
Guy squeezed in beside Venice on
the window seat. Progressing" he
suggested.
1T am, said Rene, "but Venice
she is not"
How do you know" asked
Venice.
"Ah, the heart tells"
"Oh, DEAR" sighed Venice. %
don't know how to play battledore
and shuttlecock with these French
men,"
"I'll tell you" said Rene.
"You bet he will" laughed Guy
you'll give me my first lessor
Tuesday, Rene. He's asked us tx
a party, Guy"
'Tine. Rene's parties are Away.
excellent"
THANK you Guy. And now
suppose I must pay attention tx
our hostess With his charming
bow he was gone.
Venice gave a small, relieved
sigh.
i've had an awful time she
confessed. Even new background
doesn't seen to stimulate me- wa:
simply tongue-tied sitting on thai
sofa over there with an American
and an English divorce who KEEP
talking about three different hus.
bands and some one named Ray.
mond."
"Oh, Lita Chase. Raymond's tx
be the fourth. She's enough to tx
any ones tongue. Well, let's go.
In the gaps between her engage.
ments with Guy, Venice knew q
gnawing boredom and lonliness.
"A letter from Molly received the
day before Rene de Thenardier's
party upset her miserably.
June 18th.
Dearest Venice:
I'm not going to say much about
Aunt Trudy except that I've cried
until my eyes are red and am
thinking Of you. Words are so silly
at such time. but pretend I'm
squeezing your hand with SYM
pathy.
I'm going to be operated on
within the next few weeks. Sup
pose I could walk and CAD about
like you and have beaux and see