The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-28


 NEXT: Home blcachcs arc good two years-had had a child! As it was. everyone treated her like a child, still. She was told to run away and play when she spoke of anything more serious than a so- rority tea. It was humiliating, maddening. Russ would free her from that sort of thing. All this raced through her mind as she watched the lean brown hand of Denis Fenway reaching for cig aret in the pocket of his flannel coat.
 He looked up at her. keen. ob- servant glance. Don't want to tell me, eh?"
 "No,' she Stammcred, all confu- sion. II don't think SO" She looked away, struck by some flash of insight in those narrow dark blue eyes.
 "How--how old are you?" she blurted out suddenly, scarcely re- alizing what she said.
 "1m 27," he told her gravelv, "Why?"
 "I just wondered.' Just q few years older than Russ, she was musing. You've done lot. been successful, haven't your"
 He shrugged modestly disclaim ing this view. i've been lucky finished college earlier than most people. I had-breaks. A first novel at "A. It happened to sell. I met the right crowd in New York; my stuff began to go we'll"
 Boots cupped her chin in her hands. Her heart-shaped face, framed in it's gilt halo, was very serious. Her brown eyes, faint,y flecked with amber, stared straight past him.
 Do you honestly think that breaks are what count? ?" she de- manded. Do you think life is mapped out for us or that we make our own decisions ?"
 Age-old question, age-old prob lem? The young man, thus gravely challenged, gave her a fieeting glance.
 "I don't honestly know" he said. q think luck has a lot to do with it. You meet me this morning. we have a talk - maybe the whole course of your life is changed. If you hadn't walked early perhaps WOulu DS
 "Ah, but we haven't said any thing that matters. really" Boots offered shyly. "I haven't asked ad- what?"
 He shrugged his shoulders.
 "I mcant-if you had asked me! Then I should have told you pre- cisely what l thought, pulling on my old gray beard. and you would have gone home strengthened. :. comforted ." His eyes had the ghost of twinkle in them.
 You're laughing at me-" Boots said, affronted.
 "Oh. but I'm not. Honestly"
 A silence fell between them. The blue waters Tapped the shore. Far out gulls wheeled and swoop- ed. On the deck of trig little launch. riding at anchor just be- yond the point, a sailor in blue jeans appeared hoisting a flag. It was very quiet and peaceful. Life and it's troubles seemed far away.
 How could I get a job?" Boots demanded abruptly. I'm ignorant. l haven't any training. But I'm young and strong and willing. I'm anxious to learn. What could do"
 Are you serious?"
 Slim and sunbroWned, with her curls spiraling around her flushed face. her small hands locked 'around her knees, she looked up and nodded.
 II don't know" he muttered half to himself. There ought to be something we could dig up for you. Library work book
 "Oh. If you could!" she told him, passionately. She got to her feet. "I must be getting back" she told him with a nervous laugh Its past seven. They'll think I've been kidnapped"
 "Tll call you" he told her. erect beside her. "I'H let you know. Something may turn up ."
 She didn't dare to say to him: If I don't run away and marry within week I'll take you up on that. But her slim fingers lost themselves in his big clasp and the smile that she gave him was com tude. the dawn of liking, hopeful ness.
 Denis Fenway stood looking af- ter her before resuming his walk.
 Pretty little thing" he said to himself, striking at the rocks with his stick. "Wonder what she's worried about. Some fool kid or
 He wondered why the thought vaguely annoyed him. Why shouldn't this golden-haired child with the enormous eyes and the sweet husky voice be interested in one of the clubs roundabout? I'm going home next wek. it's none of my affair."" he told himself hardily: He would be in Carmel this time next week. deep at work In the big raftered living room of his beach house there. He would have for gotten all about Boots Raeburn and the way her velvety dark eyes looked, spangled with fresh tears.
 He told himself his interest in her was purely academic. When he went to town for lunch he would ask Abbot Fairman if there were any openings in his office. She seemed a bright child. She had pleasant personality Russ Lund watched him from ledge of rock, black hatred in his heart.
 What had Boots been talking about for so long to that writer bird? And why had she come out tre ise Continued,