The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-08-21

days, 81 thought l might really
do something. But Mother doesn't
seem 10 want me to. She's very
old school, Mother is. She says
girl ought to stay at home un-
til the right man comes along.
What did you say" as her hos
tess choked violently over her
glass.
Nothing. Went down the wrong
way" muttered Frances George,
suffering and mo3ping her eyes.
What she had said, involuntarily
and with horror, at Boots de-
scription Of the program which
had been laid out for her was,
"In this dav and age"
Gwen created a diversion at the
moment by falling down and
barking one plump knee. By the
time colorcd Louise had brought
the mercurochrome and peace
had been established Boots dis
covered it was three o'clock and
time to see to her marketing.
81 must go. You were grand
to ask me and l feel better al
ready" She meant it. The old
er woman's tter-of-fact accept
ance Of her situation had helped
her to see it more clearly.
81 wish | could do something,
really" Frances George told her
sincerely. <'When YOUR. mother
gets back perhaps - we can cook
up something for you to do. l
could give you a letter to some
friends. on :Womanhood, : the
magazine, you know"
ooh, would you, honestly? I'd
never be able to thank YOU"
Boots was almost incoherent.
"Well, we might see what could
be done, anyhow" said Frances
iiudicially. She had Gwen on her
lap now and was tousling the
brown curls absently. 1t was just
shame, she told hersef, after
Boots had gone, that those ter
rible women were able to do such
a thing to a child like that. Why,
that morning Boots had had a
wounded look in her eyes. She
was like some wild creature stalk
ed from ambush.
when you grow up, lamb-pie, -
she muttered into the ear of the
small one in her arms, "we're 60
ing to manage differently for
you"
Boots went back to her tasks
in more cheerful frame of
mind. But it was lonely the next
few days. The telephone rang
only once or twice and then it
was the cashier at the market,
: asking for an order. Johnny
went to the mountains and Hardy
called to say he would be at the
family's Maine Camp until Aug.
ooh, we'll" Boots said, hanging
up, 81 wouldn't have seen him
much anyway. That was just a
flash in the pan"
When she went to the club she
avoided "the gang" coolly. Pride
held her back and she imagined
Sights where sights were not.
Isbael wanted to talk to her one
day but she brushed by with such
la strained and artificial smile
that her friend withdrew, feeling
Iinexplicalv hurt. She fell into
the way of choosing odd hours
to swim, times when only "the
kids" with their nurses were on
the sand or old ladies, mapping
with their crocheting, under the
awnings.
In this way she came to see
rather a lot of Russ. He was al
ways there, big, souare-shoulder-
ed, smiling. He didn't bother her.
He talked a little, fragmentary
bits of idle conversation which
didn't require an answer, and
Boots found him oddly restful,
sympathetic. His mood fitted
hers. She did not realize that
the man was watching her keen
lily, measuring her moods. ada0t-
ing his stride to hers. Thus she
fell into the way of accepting
him as a friend, telling him little
amusing things, watching for his
big smile and his hearty laugh.
And it was summer - warm,
glorious, impetuous summer when
Young things grew and flourish
ed under the sun and of nights
the white moon shone down on a
world embroidered with a tapes
try of beauty. The. hiue stalks
of delphinium in the garden were
ghostly in the moonlight, the
roses had never seemed so lux
,,.;nnt Thnrn WAS scent eYcrY-