The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-17

All curves and curlicues, its low,
narrow sides and two ends had as
background a faded blue surface
with golden embosSings and cary
ings round the edges.
But the high, curving frame at
the foot of the bed was the out
standing achievement Floating on
clouds in blue sky, her recumbent
limbs on q bed Of roses, was the ex-
quiSite carving of q young woman,
looking out at Toni with seductive
sweetness. She rubbed her eyes,
Was it dream?
INTERRUPTS THOUGHTS
The voice of Niklas broke into
her thoughts.
Pretty, isn't itP" There was
something catlike in his expires
sion.
worth all of $so,oOO," Lou
Steiner added. Il got it out of an
old French chateau for Nicky. I
paid $4,000 cash for it. The old
lady was proud as could be, but
broke. She had a title, too. Almost
the same story as yours, mar
quise!" He winked. Toni hated his
innuendoeS. But she was so thrilled
with the apartment that she had
no thoughts for Lou Steiner.
TITS gorgeous" said Toni.
"And my belief Is that it once
belonged to a French queen. Didn't
the old lady tell you something
about Marie Antoinette visiting q
relative of hers, and sleeping in
that bed?" asked NiklaS Of his
press agent.
"Sure she did. But people are
such liars when 1t comes to the
dollar!" Lou shrugged.
NiklaS looked at him severely.
That's the story-for our pur-
poses! The marquiSe inherited this
bed. When she lost her money and
T brought her to America to star in
LIE Chateau de la MarQuise, we
brought the bed with us, and that
goes for-let me See-the love seat
and-why not, Lou?-all the furni
ture in the salon.
VALUABLE ANTIQUES
But" said Toni, fearful
wouldn't people wonder why
since I possessed such valuable an
tiques, didn't sell them and get
money to live on, rather than sing
in night club?"
There's something in that
said the press agent, nodding.
"She was so devoted to heI
things she'd go to any length to
keep them! Family pride and all!'
suggested NiklaS.
IF they question you, Antoi
nette." said Lou, you can hint
you've mortgaged 'em to Nicky
But he permits you to use EN-
That's feasible"
CHAPTER XIV
Toni, lover of beauty, enjoyed
the full SAVIOR of beauty in her new
apartment.
It gave the strangest sense Of
unreality to = life. And yet she
felt that never before had she
lived more keenly, more wildly
than now, in these surroundings.
Wherever she turned, she was
stepped in beauty! It was like g
new birth.
There was no permanence to 1t
Well did she realize that.
But the very essence Of beauty
is its fleetingneSS, its evanescent
quality. She was living for the
day. then. And rejoicing in it.
Yet not living for the day only
Often she had the queerest sen
Sation Of tuning in on dead past
Not unhappily either. She had
lived in another generation. Not
in London. II the Court at Yer
Sailles, France.
ODD FEELING
She remembered the odd. rem
iniscent feeling she had expert
enced a year or two ago when din
ing one summer evening out al
Armenonville, in the Bots, in Paris
Here, under the tall. electrically
lighted old forest trees, the scene
Of the gay. modern restaurant
faded, and she was transported
back through the centuries to the
time of Marie Antoinette.
| Cavaliers Of the Court - knee
Observation-Disclosures held 70
mantle meetings under those trees
with powdered beauties Of the Ole
Regime. Indeed, she did not have
to close her eyes to see the en-
Chanting figure of a bygone day
:. hear the frou-frou Of quiltei
silken skirts. the gay voices.
Amid those furnishings. the va!
liable objets dart that Niklas hae
supplied, it was only to, easy, too
impractical, considering her diff
cult situation, t, slip back through
the centuries to another Antoi