The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-03
By MARY FENTREss

Limited Press Staff COrrespOndent)
 Monts, France, May 3-(UP)= Mrs. Wallis Simpson, under close guard by French secret service men, received by telephone today the news that she was free to marry the Duke of Windsor and, as the Duchess of Windsor, become a member of the British royal family.
 Now she awaited news that the duke who gave up throne for her, had started from St. WOlfgang, Austria, to join her at the Chateau de Cande here to complete plans for their wedding probably during the week of May "A.
 Herman L. Rogers, who with his wife is a guest at the chateau here they were Mrs. Simpsons host and hostess at Cannes, where she stayed after leaving London last December said that the duke would arrive tomorrow or Wednesday.
 News that Sir Boyd Merriman, president of the British divorce court, had granted the decree abso- lute that made Mrs. Simpson free was telephoned to her by the United Press from Paris.
 Rogers, who relayed the news. said that Mrs. Simpson felt she could make no statement until she had been advised officially.
 No celebration is planned" he said. Mrs. Simpson probably will play golf later today"
 She awaited also conference with the duke on their wedding. It has been agreed tentatively that the wedding ceremony shall be held dur ing the week of May "A, most prob- ably May 26, and that part of the honeymoon shall be spent at Was serleonburg castle, in lower Austria, with excursions to Italy and the Adriatic coast.
 Mrs. Simpson and the duke intend to remain quietly here until the marriage in order that their activi- ties shall not distract British at- tention from the coronation of the dukes successor, his brother, Genrge VI, May 12.
 Though she is leaving it to the duke to approve all arrangements, Mrs. Simpson is understood to favor simple ceremony in the big library of the chateau, with Jean Mercier, the peasant mayor of Ments, off, ciating, wearing his black formal clothes and the tri-color silk sash of mayoral office.
 Mayor Mercier, confident that his services will be asked, is all ready to efhciate and make the customary speech after the ceremony.
 T have been planning to retire from politics." he told me, "so this will be the climax of my career No other mayor of France has mar. ried a king in nearly two centuries.
 There was some speculation here about the mayors speech. He is something of an orator and k strongly in favor of big families.
 was received by Mrs. Simpson at the chateau here. I found hel wearing a new Paris creation just delivered-a Schiaparelli tailored black wool suit, fastened with 2 liver button, and a high neckee white crepe blouse, printed witt black knights and bishops of ches. set.
 She seemed quite happy in antici- patton of the dukes arrival. found her in splendid health. Slt had gained weight-as she desired for she has no tendency in plump. ness-and was very pretty.
 Mrs. Simpson complained of sev. eral things-that her telephone wire had been tapped" so that sht dared exchange only banalities witt the duke in their long distanc, talks; that people who did not know her, had nicknamed her "Wally' and that it was falsely reported tha the duke gave her emeralds he in herited from his grand mother Queen Alexandra.
 She said that she had never re ceived the jewels and, therefore had not returned them under pres sure from the British government and that moreover never had seer them. As for the "Wally," I wa. told the duke never called her any. thing but Wallis" She would no say what she called the duke. Thos, at the castle with her said that the, never had heard her address tn, duke in their presence-before tn, abdica ation--as anything but "Sir. His intimates usually call him David Nobody would admid they ever hae heard her call him "boysy" as sh, was reported to have done.