The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-03
CHAPTER VI

Ck4AE 1Ge6 VI
 Long after Pats had gone to bed in 8 lovely chintz hung room she heard the rhythmic tap-tap of the keys. Don had said he sup posed he could call her darling. It was a pitifully small thing to re- member on her wedding night but the casual word of endearment had been magic on his lips.
 A week followed, long hay days, hushed starlit nights. Don was ab- sorbed in his work and Pats, for the moment, blissfully content. She was Don's wife and that was enough. She slept and walked and dreamed. Mostly she dreamed of the day when she could cast aside her hideous disguise and Don would love her because she was herself. Often she nnarveled at his blind ness. He was, it seemed, almost un- aware of her, absolutely without curiosity concerning the woman he had. married. Behind Pats bedroom door her mirror told a story of fragrant, beautiful youth but the mirror had no way of telling secrets and the makeup box lied convinc- 1ngly.
 After ten days of luxurious peace and quiet they went back to the Avalon. Driving down, Don said, ''You must dress little better, Patricia" And at her startled up- ward glance, he added Heaven knows you're a relief to my eyes just as you are. I'm so fed up with women who trade on their beauty And Pats made a mental VOW. Never once would she bring herself to Don's attention. Glorified secretary or convenient wife, her job was clear.
 Don added another room to his suite. It was 8 front room open- ing from the living room and also into 2 narrow hall which connected with the main hotel corridor Pats sighed over the accumulation of fan mail and engaged a quiet young man as secretary. Pats dreaded the first meeting with Rosie but when she appeared her reactions were tempered by a crying need for cash. She completely ignored the sudden marriage and, after scornful look at Pats, begged Don for loan. When he had generously responded she proved conclusively that Pats as his wife was to be considered lightly, if at all.
 Take me to dinner, Don," she pleaded. T haven't had any fun"
 Not 8 chance" he broke in firmly, ''I'm dining with my wife. Run along now and don't bother us." Pats, snubbed and ignored, thrilled to his careless words.
 After a bewildered moment Rosie went. As the door closed behind her Don laughed. worked like ci1axm," he said. T had the right idea" Going to the telephone he ordered dinner to be sent up. Sev- eral times he chuckled. You're as good as girl insurance" he added.
 The next day Pats took up the matter of clothes. It was extremely difficult, but when the new Ward- robe was assembled she had to ad- init that it more than answered the very special requirements. The ma terials were elegant and rich, the colors chosen for their unbecom- ingness, the styles deliberately ruin- ous. Green was dismally unsuited to her sallow complexion, so green was the dominant note.
 The gowns were severe, they were middle-aged, the waistlines wrong, the necklines too high, the skirts too long. Footwear was a problem since her feet were slen- der and arched, but her adhering to the so-called health shoe she as- quired as wretched an array of slip pers as she could possibly wear. Evening frocks were modest in the extreme for she dared not display the smooth loveliness of her back and shoulders.
 The hats were not so bad in themselves, but she wore them with an absolute disregard for styles Small fiat models, designed to be worn over one eye, Pats sat fiat on the top of her head. It became a game, a despicable game, of seeing how impossible she could appear without seeming to do so.
 It was a strange life. She went everywhere with Don and was in-