The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-15

Lib Lo.
II would look q bit boorish, II we
turned her down at the last min
ute"
II suppose So" Reluctantly,
Paul turned to go TO his dressing
room and change TO evening at
tire. Though must say" he said,
"the Countess di Marco lis not pre-
cisely lady for whose good opin-
lon would like awake nights and
worry"
why. PAUL. She's nice" be-
gan Ardath, but Paul had gone.
He uhdressed and bathed modify,
and told himself that he must not
quarrel with Ardath-he must not,
for he was all she had and she
was all he had. And as he told
hiineelf that, he stopped midway
In the act Of trowellng himself
and said, why, that's absurd! We
have everything freedom. our
whole lives TO do with as we
wish"
And then he thought OF the
petty things that had come in to
limit that freedom In the six
weeks that they had been at the
villa; the gaping, unsndurably
nosy tourists who lurked outside
the gates with cameras to take
pictures Of Ardath and himself;
the buzz Of comment that followed
them when they walked through
the town or appeared In any Of
the shops; the reporters who had
logged their every footstep on
that trip to Milan q fortnight ago:
the remarks that he overheard
now and then in the town; the
feeling 1t all gave him of living In
public, 80 TO speak, Of being fol-
lowed everywhere by the accumu-
lated busybodyness Of the whole
world.
He crossed 10 a cabinet In the
wall. took down bottle and
poured a drink, TO lift himself out
OF this depression. He had, he re-
Elected, been using this remedy
rather frequently of late. Oh, we'll,
the tourist season would be over
by and by. Or maybe, as time
went ON, people would simply get
used to the idea OF an ex-kinR
being around and would stop max
Ing such a fuss. He finished his
dressing and went to rejoin Ar
oath.
They drove down the road, sped
through the town and went TO
the gimCrack gilt-and -stucco Ca
sino. Twilight had not yet deep
ened TO night. and the Casinos
fcstoons Of lights looked harsh and
garish against the soft dusk. Long
rows Of expensive cars were
parked by the entrance. Paul
added hig car to the rest and led
Ardath inside.
The Countess oil Marco met
them In the vestibulc. She was
small and pert, with black hair
and alert eyes. A decade ago she
had been spoken OF az petite:
now, as the years inexorably add
cd successive incfements Of flesh,
she was more than a little plump.
In another decade she would be
openly and unashamedly fat
"Darlings" she said extending
hand 10 each. I'm 70 glad you're
here. Reggie Van THYME has come,
and hc has the most scandalous
collection Of songs for us. Do come
right mi"
They entered large room. At
one end, there was bar; at the
other, a raised dais where small
but energetic colorcd orchestra
was doing things to a torch gong.
A few couples were dancing
others sat Mt little tables, slipping
drinks; still others came and went
through the double doors that gave
on the game rooms; but most OF
the gucsts--of whom there were
at least flfty--were simply stand
Ing about In groups, chatting.
Ardath. Paul saw had been mis-
taken they we're not all people he
knew. He did not recognize many OF
them. however; they we're mem
beers OF the gay sporting set that
drlftcd from one international
capital TO another, from this play
ground TO the next, dedicated, APP
| W. JhBM
OF filling every minute OF life with
activity, whether the activity
meant anything In particular or
not. 10 that there could never be
one moment of boredom, OF soil
tudc, or Of reflection.
l
| A slim young man with an old
face disengaged himself from
20 group and came over to them.
The Countess di Marco slipped
an arm about his waist and said,
"Reggic Van Thyme - Mr.. and
Mrs. Paul Ferrone.' She said II
rather pridefully; not yet had tho
thrill gone out OF introducing the
former king Of Northumbfa M
plain mister"
Reggie Van Ewyne bowed. He
was Nh American, Of the type
known 10 The Sunday supplements
a. "ricii young playboy." Paul
knew him by rcpute; q gay young