The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-24
CHAPTER XVII

Connie was to win out once more in her plea for a second honeymoon, if not a trip around the world. at least part way.
 Please, darling" she coaxed Bret. Think what fun, just the two of us visiting every odd cor ner on the globe, seeing things through both our eyes, enjoying them together. Then we come back we can settle down to the serious business of living. You can decide what you want to do; where we want to live. But first let's have real honeymoon, please, darling!"
 It was difficult to refuse her when it seemed to mean so much to her, when he loved her so much. After all, a honeymoon was one thing that did not happen every day! He had promised not to let her money come between them. So finally Bret allowed himself to be persuaded.
 They booked passage for the luxurious Prince of Wales suite. Comics private pullman, a gift from her grandfather on her birth day, took them to New York. At the docks there was such a throng of reporters and photographers, such huge crowd of curious spectators eager for glimpse of the young couple, or possibly an autograph, that it was necessary to have police escort.
 This was Brets first experience as the husband of the richest girl in the world. He was not at all sure that he liked it. He said he felt as though he were some sort of freak on exhibition. He felt like fool
 "Oh, you'll get used to it." Con- nie assured him. Anyway it seems there is nothing one can do about it. I suppose people do think we are freaks of some sort. Just because of so much money. AS for the newspapermen, I used to get angry with them, too, but they are just doing their jobs, you know. We are news, and so they have to tell the world about us"
 
 Bret said he supposed she was right. Nevertheless he did not think he would ever get used to being public property. He was certain he never would enjoy it. He was glad now that they were going away; they would not be news in other countries.
 However he was to find that they still were, to the other pas sengers on shipboard. People stopped talking whenever the newly weds, whose romance was so strange and thrilling, approached on their daily promenade around the deck; they stared as they made their way across the big dining room to the captains table. When Bret and Connie played games, or swam in the big pool, or danced, there were whispered, though often audible comments, and always group gath cred as an audience. Once Bret opened the stateroom door sudden ly to discover a man eavesdropping outside.
 q almost pitched him over- board" he told Connie violently. Why on earth should people spy on us and whisper behind our backs and rubbbernecks? I think honey, if you don't mind, we'll stay close to our rooms during the remainder of the voyage"
 Connie said she did not mind. Poor Bret, he was getting a taste of the gilded cake in which she always had lived. She did not mind the way people behaved as much as usual; not only because she was used to it, but because it was impossible for her to mind anything as long as she had Bret.
 They were very happy during this second honeymoon. Perhaps they would never be quite so happy again. It may be that each realized this, in their hearts, and so made every moment perfect, shining one.
 It was fun, as Connie had pre- dicted, seeing and enjoying every thing together. In London they played at sightseeing, and the night spots. In Paris they were very gay, doing the rounds of night clubs and the Bohemian quarters; and Connie, to Bret's amazement, purchased trunkloads o4 gorgeous clothes of which he thought she had more than enough