Pauline

was far less scandal and gossip.

Wishing to be alone for a change, we took a charming villa in a quiet section of the city. Close to the river Danube, we found it a delightful spot, and here we spent several weeks, and they were, I believe, the most pleasant I had ever experienced.

We journeyed into Bulgaria, stopping here and there, enjoying the country and its restful climate. But now Ferry became restless. Something was on his mind. “I'm worried,” he said in answer to my questions. “Today I saw an agent connected with the secret police of the Austrian government.'

'But what shall we do?” I asked, now a little worried. We had done nothing to arouse the dislike of these people. I expressed my thoughts to Ferry. “You don't understand,” he said. “It is not what we have done; it's what you haven't done.'

'Me?” I asked, surprised.

'Yes,” he answered. “Yon don't know it my dear, but our friend, the emperor, was disappointed with your sudden departure from the summer palace, and he's not one to be brooked in his desires. Tomorrow we leave for Rumania. I have friends there.'

That night, lying in each other's arms, we talked of all this.

He told me of a wonderful people he had met in the mountains and how I would love them. They were Gypsies, he said, and though they were known outlaws and were almost constantly sought by the police, they were a friendly, kind, and generous people. He had met them while busily engaged in writing a book, and though he had been held somewhat apart from the group, one day he rescued the young son of one of the chiefs of the tribe, and as a result, he had been accepted as a “blood brother” and was always welcome. “Besides,” he said, holding me close and kissing passionately my lips and eyes, “you will find them the greatest lovers in the world.'

I laughed. “And what would I do with lovers?” I asked. “Haven't I you? And did I not run away from wealth and royalty so that you alone would possess me?'

'And didn't you give me Rose?” he countered. “Did you not allow me to satisfy my desires between her snowy thighs, just to make me happy? Oh, no, dear, it is my turn now. Once we get into the mountain fastness of these people and are conducted to their camp, I want you to indulge yourself to your heart's content.'

Then he gave me a detailed description of their mode of living; their habits and loves; how they lived and openly practiced free love; and how I would be expected to adapt to their methods of living. He told me they were the most beautiful people on earth; how, contrary to popular belief, they practiced sanitation in all its phases; and how upon entering their fastness one must sacrifice himself, or herself, to some member of the opposite sex, as this was the only manner in which they could be positive of one's loyalty to them.

Strangely enough, I began looking forward to visiting these people. There was a certain amount of hardship one must endure before entering their fastness, he said, but after that, it was the nearest approach to heaven he had ever known.

And so I found myself eager to get under way; something about the whole affair interested me. I cared nothing for the so-called hardship. He did not say what this entailed, so I paid it little mind.

Three day's travel by cart and stage brought us close to the river Danube, an area that is famous for its delightful climate. Safe in Rumania at last, we felt more secure. We had shaken off the police-forever, I hoped.

Two days travel by the most primitive carts brought us far into the mountains, and here our drivers refused to go further. They shook their heads and gazed off toward the distant hills; nothing we could offer would entice them further.

'We will leave our baggage here,” Ferry said, “and take with us only the clothing we are wearing. Come.'

We made our way on foot. I had faith in Ferry; I knew he would never sanction this trip were there any possible danger connected with it, and since I had agreed to do and say everything he suggested, I followed him up the steep paths through the dense wood. We had started early that morning, and it was mid afternoon when we were suddenly confronted by what I believed to be the most bloodthirsty creature I ever had the misfortune to meet.

He came forward and I had the opportunity to study the man.

Large and slightly darker than I had expected, he had black, curly hair beneath a wide leather hat, and great gold rings in his ears. He had a wicked cast to one eye. Overall, he was the most murderous-looking person I had ever seen.

'Be not afraid,” reassured Ferry. “He is but one of the guards, and as soon as he learns our business here, we will be conducted further into the wood where we will meet an escort who will take us directly into their camp.'

The brute-for that's what he looked like to me-asked many questions, and finally, having been convinced that we were not police, he conducted us along the path to a clearing in the dense forest. Directing us along, he pointed out the path we must follow. Without warning, we came to a bend in the wooded path and here, directly before us, was a stream.

Ferry saw the look of mystery in my eyes. Laughingly, he said, “This is the first hardship I referred to,” and nodded toward the water. “We have got to cross it.'

I had hardly expected this. I said. “But it's deep, darling! How shall we ever cross without wetting our clothing?'

He laughed and kissed me. “One doesn't cross without wetting one's clothes, my dear,” he said. “If we were to enter the stronghold of these hospitable people wearing dry clothing, we would be laughed to scorn, and I wish to impress them with your willingness to comply with their customs.'

I looked down into the water at my feet. It looked black, and I could swim but little. Ferry, I knew, was a good swimmer, so there would be no danger of anything happening to me. I recalled the delight I had had back home, and how I had often gone into the pond fully dressed. I recalled how one Sunday, returning from my singing lessons, I was overcome with the desire to go into the pond, and how, without waiting to remove my little jacket, I splashed my way in! The thought thrilled me! Why not? It was dreadfully warm, and the water would feel good on my body!

All these thoughts passed through my mind in a flash. Raising my eyes to his, I said, “Very well, my dear. I am ready when you are.'

'Can you swim?” he asked. When I told him that I swam very little but was not afraid of the water, he said, “That will make it ever so much easier. I'll go first, and then I'll assist you down, and by resting your fingertips on my shoulders, I will be able to get you across. Ready?'

Nodding my answer, I watched as Ferry turned and dove in. It was all very unusual, I'll admit. We were like two wild children bent upon doing something devilish, and I, for one, was as eager as any child could have been. Coming up and shaking the water from his hair, he came back to the steep bank directly beneath my feet.

'All right, honey,” he said, smiling up into my eyes. “Lower your pretty little feet and I'll help you down.'

'You won't!” I cried, a daring thought coming into my mind. “I'm going to jump! Catch me!” and without another thought I leaped down! I thought I would never come up, but at last I did, and then I found Ferry's strong arms about me. Happy, my eyes bright with the novelty of the thing, I laughed and shook the water from my hair. A moment or two later we were across and standing upon the sandy bottom near the opposite shore. Turning to look at the far side, I saw the villainous-looking creature we had first encountered staring at us. Raising my arm and waving to him, I was surprised to see him smile. I had thought him incapable of smiling, and after gazing at us for another moment, he turned and walked out of sight.

Standing tittie-deep, I unloosened my hair, letting it fall about my shoulders. “Like it?” asked Ferry, smiling and coming close by me.

'I love it!” I cried, kissing him rapturously, “I could stay right here forever and ever! Oh, Ferry!” I cried, “I'm going into every creek and pool I ever see! No matter what the occasion or what manner of dress I'm wearing.'

You have heard of a person having a fetish? Well, going into the water fully dressed had become a fetish with me. Then and there, standing in that unknown stream, I had become a slave to my strange desire!

I told Ferry of it. He said, “You'll have plenty of chances, my dear. Remember, we've got to return through this same stream.'

Climbing out and standing upon the sandy shore, my thin clothing clinging to me, I looked a sight, every line and curve of my standing stood out in bold relief. “You might as well be naked, my dear,” Ferry said.