The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-22
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Rns goes Co Miami. promising to send for her later, and Boots gets a jab ln q New York de- pertinent store.
 Russ does not write. Months pass and then word, comes that he has beeu killed In motor- boat accident.
 Too proud 10 ask her parents for help, Boots struggles on alone. She meets DENIS FEN WAY, young author, who intro- duces her to EDWARD VAN SCIVER and beautiful KAY CHILLINGFORD.
 Denis helps Boots get job in a book shop. Van Sciver, whom she has been avoiding, turns up again.
 CHAPTER xxxvI
 Boots faced Edward soberly across the small table. In corner, screened behind towering shrubs In green tubs, a string orchestra softly played.
 T don't honestly know" she confessed. T don't know what to say"
 Russ had ben dead for eight months now. Whenever she thought of him it was withva little tug of pain at her heartstrings. She knew now that what she had felt for Russ was merely attrac- tion.A If he had lived their life to- gether would have ben a mockery. Just the same, she was not ready to be Edwards wife. It wasn't right--it wasn't decent-that Russ, with his big smile and his hearty voice and his cheerful swagger, should be so soon forgotten.
 We could slip away and be married very quietly, d'you sec, Edward was saying ingratiatipgly. No publicity.'
 She made a little movement of dissent. You're rushing me so" she complained. T only said l would consider it."
 .nYou like me. don't you ?' Ed ward stared at her rather discon- tentedly.
 "of course do. But that's not enough"
 "Nonesense." said Edward tri- umphantly and with the air of set ting the discussion.
 The thought flashed into Boots mind that marriage with Edward would square off old scores with
 
 who had hurt her during that last : summer in Larchneck. Oh, but did all that matter? When she married it must be for love and love alone, not because her ring would make Sylvia Rivers open her eyes more widely.
 An, but what Edward didn't un- derstand was that liking wasn't enough to justify marriage. She had rushed pell nell into marriage before, unconsidering. like a child playing a new game. Her lesson had been brief and bitter.
 Edward had everything to rec commend him. she remained her self. Looks, money, family posi- tiGn. He had an equable disposi- ton. His big laugh rang out hear tisy on every ocacsion. What mutt ter then if her pulses did not race at his approach? It was madness to expect that racing of the pulses. Denis who stirred this response in her belonged to someone else
 L.s though divining her thoughts, Edward said carelessly, Saw Kay and Denis last night
 Her heart raced like wild thing: stopped; raced again. Her voice was very cool, uncaring. Did you really?"
 sUmmmm. At the Casino. Kay How did Denis look, cried her How did Lenis look, cried her hungry heart Was he thin and fine drawn, silent and aloof? Did he speak of me?
 Aloud she said, She's very good looking"
 Edward ate cavair with relish, nodding. He liked good food. good wines. He always had the best table at restaurant or night club. He had ringside seats at the fights, aisle stubs for first nights of good plays. If she married Edward she wouldn't have to worry about bills. She would have supple furs to wrap around her, sleek chiffons and silks, fine laces
 What's on your mind, loveli- ness?"
 She smiled at him. "Will Denis and Kay be married soon, do you think ?"
 Don't know. They said so last summer. Probably they'll just run down to City Hall some morning and do it without fuss :"
 Let them do it and be over with it, Boots cried within herself. that icy hand squeezing her heart Let them marry and send out cards and have a penthouse and cook and books and beds and the rest of it. Then I'll put him out of my mind forever. 1 won't be thinking of another woman's husband ~. Kay as young wife. dark, glow ing, beautiful: Denis bending over her, proud, disdainful of all others No, no, she couldn't bear it! She would be going back and forth to the Bay Tree every day and some day she would meet Denis on the street. Oh, better to be dead and buried than to meet Denis then!
 "We'd go abroad after we mar ried," Edward was saying fatuons- ly. "You've never been, little thing have you? We'd do Paris and Lon don and Vienna and Buda-
 She listened to him idly, as in a dream. She promised nothing but her eyes smiled vaguely and he ac- cepted this as half a promise.
 Later, in the shop, Frances Gawtrye said to her, He's really very nice lad. think you're lucky girl" Someone else had said that-who? One of the girls at Lacy's. But Frances was different. She was more worldly, more as- sured and she, too, thought Ed ward splendid.
 Insensibly Boots was affected by these various announcements. She was kinder to Edward, gentler with him, sweeter, so that he came to adopt a completely possessive air with her. By October when her year of mourning for Russ was al most up she had met his people, ben tacitly approved by them. The web frightened around her One warm, rainy october morn ing she was alone in the shop when a slim, middle-aged woman in bright blue raincoat walked in. She was silhouetted against the light and Boots came forward with the polite. mechanical smile reserved for customers. Her manner