The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-21
Ring wit6out a country ! :s;.. T. |.

had hurried upstairs TO change their
clothes for motor trip to Juan les
Pins or some place.
There were dozens Of villas
along the coast, and Paul and
Ardath had dined, teaed, danced,
lunched and gone to costume balls,
1t seemed, in each one Of them =.
and had, in turn, presided at similar
functions in the Villa San Margarete
in return. There were half a score
Of casinos, night clubs and similar
attractions within two hours ride
Of the villa; Paul was familiar with
all Of them by now, knew them TO
the distraction Of boredom, could
remember in his sleep Just how the
head waiter in each one flourished
his menu card, Just how each exile
FROM Broadway blues singer rolled
her eyes, just how each trap
drummer tossed his sticks in the
air and caught them again.
Aren't we," he asked Ardath one
afternoon, as they emerged from
their dip in the sea and made
their way to the villa, aren't we
seeing Just a little more than we
really need to Of these people"
She did not answer until they
had reached the door Of her dress
ing room. She let him follow her
in, and tossed her beach robe over
a chair.
Dearest, need we go all over that
AGAIN." she asked YEARLY. I'VE
can't vegetate here in solitude, you
know. And these people are nice.
You used to like them back in
Northumbra."
He had, indeed, Paul reflected.
The contrast which they gave TO
the amending stuffiness of palace
life had seemed infinitely refresh
ing. But now -.
II know" he said. And yet -
must we see them all the timer"
She removed her bathing cap ana
inspected her couture carefully.
Would you prefer to go to Paris
and mingle with the guests of the
Due de Montmiral?" she said. Paul
flushed, remembering the mortify-
ing outcome of his last effort to
transfer his allegiance 10 a more
serious class Of society.
after ALL" she said, there's no
harm In these people. Is it such
a crime to get little pleasure in
life? Is it wrong to be light
hearted?"
Paul frowned thoughtfully.
There is harm in some OF
them he said. Reggie Van
Twyne's little excursion to that
waterfront dive in Marseilles last
week wasn't exactly the essence OF
childish innocence. And those two
ballet dancers the countess has"
oh" she cried angrily, cant we
| be little broadminded?"
And so it went; an argument
that hurg on, like sullen thunder
cloud that will not break, to darken
all the rest eli the day for them. For
they did not seem to be able to let
an argument drop, these days. Now
and then they had an outright
quarrel There were reconciliations
afterward, of course - fever1sh |
reconciliations, in which they
strained to each other, exhausted
their vocabulary of endearments,
and tried pathetically in a frenzy |
of love-making to reassure them
selves that everything was as 1t had
been. But everything was not as
it had been, and it grew harder each |
week to disguise the fact.
1t was about this time that Paul
fell into the habit OF spending a
night on his sloop now and then.
The first time he did it followed a
more than ordinarily heated spat |
with Ardath; sulkily, he collected
sleeping garments and toilet arti- |
Giles and went down to the snug |
little cabin of the Irene. He awoke |
the next morning, feeling unac-
countably free and lighthearted.
He tried that remedy rather |
often, in succeeding weeks. Ardath |
seemed puzzled, at first, but she |
never uttered a word of protest.
Paul began to suspect that as long |
as she was left free to guide them |
through the tortuous maze followed |
by the Countess di Marco and Reg
gle Van Thyme, she did not care
greatly what he did. And his boat |
came more and more to seem like
a haven to which he could escape |
at intervals and renew his strength.
1t was after one of these nights on
the Irene that Paul unintentionally |
brought about one of their sharpest |
quarrels.
The morning was bright an3 fresh.
His body was tingling from his
plunge in the bay; and he strobe up !
to the villa whistling cheerfully,
feeling that life was simple, after all.
He went to Ardath'S bedroom. She |
was propped up among the pillows, |