The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-08-17

: ticket. She said She "outuh
. take no for an answer. Daddy's
so worried about the business,
too it Just doesn't seem the
, time. But he says | need the
change. Did you see my dotted
swiss. dear? | laid it on a chair
half a minute ago and now it
seems to have disappeared. |
thought I'd wear my gray on the
train. 1t doesn't show the soil.
e. :" And so on and so on.
Boots was spared the necessity
of answering the questioning
about Mrs. Fernell.
You'll get along all right,
child? Linda said she'd come in
and do the heavy cleaning. l de-
clare, | think | should have asked
Florida Fleming to stay with you.
She'd have been glad to. The
meals at the Inn are nothing
wonderful and she could have
the guest room. It's the coolest
one i'm the house.
Boots shuddered inwardly at
the thought of entertaining the
voluable Miss Florida at this diff
ficult time.
I'm glad you didn't. Honestly,
III manage beautifully
"Oh, | know you will. Have
, plenty of green vegetables. Daddy
; oughtn't to eat much red meat
: this weather. His blood pressure.
/. E" Mrs. Raeburn fluttered
about. folding. packing. And
/ don't stay too much in the sun,
dear. | think you girls spend
too much time on the beach. |
was reading the other day some
place that the sun really harms
after q certain point. Her
fair brow was creased in worried
lines.
Don't worry. darling. Every
thing will be all right. I'll stay
away from the beach if you want
me to-" said Boots alphabetically.
"Why. baby, | wouldn't think
of it. Of course you must have
good time. | only wish you
could get away to the mountains
this year. The change would do
you good. You've been looking
| don't know-kind of washed
out" said the older woman.
At long last Boots waved good
by to her as the eastbound train
moved out. She turned back to
the battered sedan. The thoughts
which all afternoon she had been
keeping at bay swooped about her
now like so many birds of i'll
omen. They frightened her. What
was she to do? 1t seemed to her
that the shadow of disgrace hung
over her blackly. And she had
done nothing to deserve it. That
was the cruelest thought of all.
The day grew hotter, grew
breathlesS. Curtains hung limp in
the lfeleSs air, lawn sprays play
ed everywhere, shades were
drawn against the pitiless, bat
tering sunshine. In the silence of
the darkened house the phone
rang shrilly. Boots, emerging
from the shower with yellow head
still damp, her thin dressing gown
clutched around her, went to an
Swer it.
Eyes. Yes. Who?" Her face
altered imperceptibly, as did her
voice. Hardy? Why, yes. yes
guess so. No-not right away.
Half an hour"
She flew to the closet, Snatched
a fresh print from its hanger, be-
gan hurriedly to dress. 1t seemed
to her that her fingers were all
thumbs today. Her hair, usually
so tractable, refused at first to
assume its usual gentle waves.
Then she broke fingernail and
jagged a stocking, causing her to
abandon the only decent pair she
owned. Oh, well, why dress up
for Hardy? She compromised on
white sockets which everyone
wore, anyhow. Her slim Furnished
legs were like copper.
She wondered vaguely why she
wasn't more excited. Hardy Whit
more was making a formal call
upon her-the first he had ever
made. And she couldn't, some
how, feel that it meant very
much. She had been stunned by
the blow of the morning. Mrs.
Fernell, she told herself, had
killed something in her. She
would never really trust anyone
again.
When Hardy's long, low, sleek
black car drove up she was on
the porch, apparently deep in the
pages of a new magazine. She
managed the most casual greet
ing. She lifted her hand and let
it fall. She said, "Hi" in a mat
ter of fact tone.
Hardy was palpably embarrass-
, ed. Why, Boots wondered idly,
had she been so thrilled last year
and the year before that to have
even a smile from him? True,
he was exceedingly good-looking.
He had charming manner. But
today she could look beyond that,
see that he was idle as well as
charming and that already there
were lines of dissipation in that
smooth. handsome face.
Today he was immaculate in
white flannels. His crest of fair
hair CLEANED from valiant and re-
] cent brushing. His preposterously
long-lashed eyes were fixed upon
her, almost appealing.
Gosh, but I'm sorry about the
other night" he began without
preamble. Boots lifted her eye
6rows with an air of nonchalance.
Her attitude seemed to say, "The
other night? But what about it!
simply can't recall. :"
K NT