The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-10
tant table, smiling brilliantly at a

tant table, smiling brilliantly at a
passerby.,
\ All in all, it was scarcely a sat-
isfactory meal. The food was eX-
quisitely cooked and served. tempt
ing Gypsy's appetite. Napery. sill
yer and china were of the finest.
An orchestra played, unseen, and
the clack of gay tongues lent an
air Of festivity. Spring hats, silver
foxes, costumes fresh from their
Paris boxes, pleased the eye. And
still Gypsy was not happy. She had
been feeling, these tranquil weeks,
that she was q very lucky person.
Why, she had everything; a hus-
band who adored her and who was
good looking, intelligent ambitious;
a comfortable little apartment;
good friends; q loving family
and, crown of all, the promise Of
a child. Now she experienced the
feeling that the scales had moved.
Lila's side was in the ascendoncy.
Could 1t be that she was jealous OF
Lila? But that was absurd.
She frowned 1t down. But the
thought persisted. Lila's entire
background, her smooth. beautiful
ly ordered existence threw into
sharp relief Gypsy's own struggle
with stewpans and laundry hamp-
ers and bathroom shelves.
"Seen Marko?" Lila asked idly,
slipping her tea.
Gypsy felt herself flushing, the
color flowed into her face. She
could see herself in a mirror just
beyond; a girl with u plain blue
hat covering her brown curls.
mot lately" she said evenly. Il
finished some library work L was
doing for him but not since
then. That's several months ago"
"He was asking for you" Lila
contributed. "Orly last night. He
said you hadn'. been well. He was
so sweet. You know how Mako
is." She looked at Gypsy curiously,
as though expecting condolences.
But Gypsy only agreed tipedly.
Mako was kind--was generous
but somehow you felt, always, there
was some motive other than SIM
pie friendliness behind all of this.
Perhaps merely because the man
liked to be considered q sort of god,
kindlier and better than his fell
lows.
1--WE saw a lot of him in Palm
Beach," Lila said languidly. HE
had that woman there. But none
of us paid any attention to her."
what woman?" Gypsy was
stung into attention.
"That creature who worked In
his office several years ago" said
Lila, smiling family as II at some
amusing memory "She's dreadful,
sreally. but one accepts her--be-
cause of Marko."
"You mean she-they -.
Gypsy stumbled, unable to frame
the ugly words.
"Well. you can call her a COM
mon law wife, II you like" said
Lila with disagreeable laugh.
Hes been taking her places for
four or five years. ! suppose that
gives her a sort of standing. What
Mako can see in her nobody
knows. But it's just a, phase
1t will pass :"
Gypsy was sickened. Mako
could do anything-could, in the
coarse phrase OF the hour, "get
away with anything" because he
was rich and powerful. Eyes would
be turned askance on less success
full men, but Marko could do no
wrong.
The room suddenly seemed
changed. The chattering women
had a sinister air. Everything wore
an oyertone of ugliness. What u
world, thought Gypsy! What a
| topsy -turvy world for q child to be
born into! Thest days. almost any
thing could send her into a passion
of tears and I.ila's words had
touched q hidden spring OF fears
In. her inmost being. She longed
with all her soul to be safe AZ nome
in the little haven she ana Tom
had made. ,
Don't you feel well?"
She stammered something. she
couldn't be III here--the room
swayed and whirlcd around her ana
there was n black pit yawnlng 10
receive her. The waiter spranB 10
attention, pouring her y glass OF
water. A..
"i'm 30 sorry" The mists had
cleared away and she was seeing
everything In NV true light again
ITS stupid OF me. felt g'ddy Tor q
minute"
"Quito all right" But there had
been. for the instant. q HASH .!
something Hike pity ana contempt J.
w fdla'R glance. "if you woule y"
W. Alupld as 20 DO having n bhnyi
Thai glance hnd said, palmer INA"
DlhlHl ....i ..as