The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-11
SYNOPSIS

Hurt and liun,iliated, Boots
 accepts the attentions Of RUSS LUND, swimming instructor. MRS RAEBURN returns from a
 trip out of town and Boots drends her mothers hearing
 what has happened, On impulse she marries Russ who takes
 her to live with his brother and
 his wife. Russ has no job and
 apparently no ambition. Soon
 Boots begins to see him as he Is.
 Russ goes to Miami, prOmis- ing Boots he will send for her later. She gets a job in big
 department store. After n few
 months she has an attack of in-
 fiuenza and Is befricnded by
 DENIS FENWAY, young author.
 CHAPTER xXvI
 Boots faced Denis Fenway across the expanse of a white cloth. There were dropping pink roses in q silver vase but Denis had set this vase aside so that he could see her better. He was smil- ing. What nice smile he had. she thought idly! And yet she ..hadn't in the least liked him when she had first met him. He had seemed so superior-"snooty ! she had called him to herself.
 "So you're going back to work to-morrow
 "I want-I'm terribly anxious to pay you back" she said, her voice thickening treacherously. She winked back the tears-it seemed to her that she was such a fool lately. always weeping about no- thing at all. But Denis seemed not to notice, she was glad to observe. He was snubbing a cigaret out in the heavy hobnail ash tray.
 'I wish you wouldn't worry so ! much about that" His matter-of factness was heartening. He never asked questions; that was one of the nice things about him. Other people did-the nurse, even the doctor, Mrs Mooney and the girls at the store. Everyone was so curious about her affairs. Not Denis. He accepted things as they were. He knew that she had mar ried Russ, had broken with her family. Lois hadn't told him. He hadn't seen Lois. He had told her that Lois and Dr Hart were hav- ing a year in Germany. So he had mt known q thing about-about her marriage.
 ''But you saw me that night. coming out of the Willowmere, !" Boots persisted. "You-I know you weren't thinking pleasant things about me that night"
 The veil that sometimes came over Denis dark eyes shut down at that moment She was sorry she had said the words. he had n feeling she had hurt-perhaps of fended him.
 "Yes, I saw you" He looked away and his air of cold aloofness hurt her. There was always some thing puzZling about Denis. When yon warmed to him, in simple friendliness, he was very likely to freeze toward you in this fashion. You don't know what you had said or done that was wrong.
 Yet she persisted. determined to turn the knife in the wound, de- termined to know what his reac- tions were.
 Tt was the next day. We've were married,' she said faintly. was staying with his people in Astoria.''
 His warm smile flashed over her again. It was as if the sun had come out. There was some thing almost apologetic in his manner now.
 s.As if you needed to explain that" he said. But she was glad, just the same, that she had eX- pleined The veil fled from Denis's eyes, There was afwarm, friendly note in his deep voice again.
 Glory and Lou had accepted the facts of Russ's death with their usual apathy. rousing themselves only to ask if Russ had left any insurance. He hadn't. Denis had paid the bills and Russ rested in a little Florida churchyard, some day, Boots promised herself. she would go to his grave. She could not bear to think of Russ, so full of life, being stilled forever.
 She was breakfasting this par ticular December Sunday with Denis at the Lafayette. French walters moved deftly to and fro, absorbed in the intricacies of their service. Denis had ordered for ; them both: eggs Benedict, mush- IOOllcy CIiSD OI OdttShSo toast in a twisted napkin, pots of steaming coffee.
 Boots was thinner, was definitely more mature. Her pale hair made a fluid halo underneath her old blue hat. The collar of her blue coat framed her face.
 Tomorrow there would he the salesbook at Lacy's again. the thousand questions and the push ing, frantic, buying women; the scent of cheap perfume and face powder and human bodies. all jumbled together.
 Denis had moved into the apart ment. Boots had not seen 1t yet She was to see it this afternoon when, Denis said lazily. lighting his cigaret, some people" were coming to tea.
 Why not come right along with me now?" Denis was arguing lightly. "Why not come back to the apartment and help me to choose some flowers on the way and see that the cushions are pumped up properly, and tell Hong how hot the water must be before the tea is made?"
 s+F I3uI bOOlS was dQdHldHt. NV SnC protested, she must get back to her room. She had a thousand things to do before tomorrow. Things to press
 So Denis put her into a taxi and having paid the driver, stood on the corner, bareheaded in the bril- liant December sunshine. as she drove away.
 ssf1e's oh, I don't know nice" Boots murmured. ineloquent t ly. peering back at him through the square of glass in the rear of the cab. Already, she thought, Denis had forgotten her. The lights had changed from red to green for crosstown traffic and his tall lean. elegantly dressed figure lost itself In the drift of pedestrians passing by. An, but why shouldn't he for ret her the instant she passed from lis sight, she thought, with new