The Washington times., 1936-08-06

payne.
Luana was thirsty from dancing
Besides, the more one drank OF It,
the more one forgot ones disap'
pointments and i'll luck. Her eyes
Sparkled like two sapphires under
its influence, and her soft laugh
rang out repeatedly.
This was just what Handsome"
wanted.
An hour passed. Two hours,
Over the treetops the young moon
rode high in deep blue sky.
They danced again and again to
the beautiful music Of the orches,
ira on q floor that was becoming
more crowded, so that Hand
some" could hold her closer to him
without its being noticed. Nor did
Luana herself seem to notice it,
and the crushing Of her orchids
Well, he would send her more to-
morrow. He would send her more
than flowers tomorrow. Some
thing more tangible. He would
send her jewelry!
I'm mad about you, Luana, "
whispered Handsome" Carew.
She smiled dreamily. His words
came family to her, like the obli-
cato to q song the leader Of the
orchestra was grooming. Every
thing was dreamlike in this setting
of perfume and music and moon.
light, with the floodlightS playing
on the fountains and a handsome
young man making love to her.
If it had been Jimmy Ran
dolph!
Where was he now? With Mrs.
Vandaveer, of course!
The slim fingers that held the
champagne glass frightened about
it's stem, so that suddenly it
snapped.
That's lucky, Luana. That's a
good omen for uS!" exclaimed
Handsome" as a waiter hurried
forward to remove the two broken
pieces and mop up the champagne.
Like a christening, you know! Or
O blessing on what I just told you,
you blessed, beautiful thing, you'll"
Had she known it, Jimmy Ran
dolph, as tense as she was at that
moment. had had q similar mis-
hap. He had broken a glass goblet
in the Florentine salon of the
Vandaveer penthouse and Shines,
the butler, was mopping up the
spilled liquid and removing the
broken pieces, just as the waiter at
the inn was doing for Luana. It
was a curious coincidence, even to
the phrase about the luck.
Was she lucky?
The waiter had brought fresh
glass and was filling it with more
champagne.
She said obviously, because of
the warmth in her veins: Nov
Handsome I think I've had
enough, thanks. I'm usually rather
-abStemious."
Nonsense, Luana. This is the
very first time you've come out
with me. It's got to be perfect" "
He leaned across the tiny table
that divided them and gave her a
long, meaning look. It made her
Self-conSciouS. She turned her
head away, staring out over the
grounds that were Illuminated with
bright lights here and there.
1T is perfect, Handsome. This
scene, I mean. It's-it's like a
song written in Persian Garden. "
"Omar Khayyam?"
She nodded her head. The lovely
line of her throat, like a long stem
holding a golden chalice, drew him
so that his heart beat faster at her
beauty. He told himself that he
desired her madly, that he must
have her, no matter how long it
took, and what subtlety he had to
display.
Omar Khayyam was a wise old
bird, Luana," he said softly. HE
grabbed what the gods offered, and
to the deuce with the conse-
quences.
She looked startled.
Haven't you read his Rubai-
yat?" continued Handsome" in
high spirits. Hes awfully appro-
pirate to us-to you and me-to
this evening, in fact" He raised
his glass. Listen to this sage little
bit Of advice from one who had
experienced many things 80.
"'Come fill the Cup, and in the
Fires of Spring,
Your winter garment of Re
pentance fling!
The Bird Of Time has but a little
way to fly
And 10! the Bird is on the
wing -"
"That sounds effective" Luana
commented crisply, but not raising
her glass; however, it's poor logic
in my opinion, for you can't deny
that even in this year of 1884 the
women get the heavy end of the
stick when they kick over the
traces. One has only got to read
the newspapers to know that"
And she thought of Gerald, and
the consequences Of her mad in.
fatuation that had caused her to
elope with him, much in accord
with the epicurean Khayyam
philosophy of pleasure first, and
what q moraSs it had led her into
Handsome" looked aggrieved.
Darn it all. you brought a beauti,