The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-13
COPYRIGHT 1854
 6y MEA JkRNfcf INC.

tOLLCW tS NCLtJ -NtIhtfty U1e0 '0'"'
 "Really?" he said idly. Boots could have killed him for it. And ''really!' he said again.
 "Denis," interpolated Lois Hart, facing the girl. lis just back from England. On his way to Califor- mia He," said Lois impressively writes"
 "Oh.' Boots forgot momentarily her distrust of the stranger. her uneasincss. Do you, really?'
 The young man waved his achievements aside airily. He was very good looking, Boots thought, if you admired that rather super cilious type. He had long, narrow. gentian blue eyes, put in with smutty finger. His eyclashcs were ridiculously long. They fascinated one. lis black hair fitted him like a silkel cap
 Just the same, she didn't like him. She resented him. Maybe it was partly because tonight she was feeling lost and hurt and out of things: at any rate. after d few minutes of this wandering. dcsui. tory conversation she said she must go. She hadn't left a note for the parents They would be at home any minute-they would wonder.
 Lois. who knew how the casual cominos and goingS of Larchncck' $ younger set were managed. rather opened her eyes at this, but she did rot protest. Denis would walk down with Boots. she said.
 "No. oh no. I'll just slip through the hedge" Boots Rae burn. noted in Larchncck for her smooth line, her ease and poise was actually stammering and flush ing.
 Somehow she managed to get away. Her cheeks were very hot He might have insisted on accom- panying her. she thought rc3cntful- ly He might have
 The house was still dark and si- lent when she let herself into ii. She. switched on q lamp in the sit ting room and went upstairs to heI room. It was q big. wide apart ment, shabby and comfortable.
 For the thousandth time Boots thought enviously c. tne rooms of the other girls. Isabel. with her begged maple and candlcwick spread and the big satin puff. hand quilted. And Sylvia Rivers whose sitting room had been done by a famous decorator from the city. all in pastels with modernistic fur niturc. No, it wasn't fair. Life it.
 was not fair.
 She ran water into the tub in the big, staring white bathroom. she scrubbed her teeth meticulous- ly, and stared discontentedly at her unhawed skin in the mirror. What good was it, she demanded pas of herself, what earthly good was it to be pretty and grace sul and well behaved? It got you preciSe.y nothing. |. Old Mrs Waterman had undoubtedly asked her, at the last minute, to fill in Mrs Watermans table would be full of stodgy old people and across the room, accompanied by shrieks Cf laughter, would be Sylvia s group. Hardy among the rest.
 She flung back her golden mane like wild, young. resentful mare.
 No good thinking Of all thIs now. She would go. wear her plaid orGandie. her old slippers do f h Sbo nnnld
 She was asleep when the par cnts came in, 10 minutes later, one arm flung across her face. sleeping the untroubled sleep of child
 Another bright, hot breathless day daMncd. Boots woke to a feel ing of gayety and hopefulness might happen it was sure to be a splendid party <. . what an idiot she had been to grouch about things yesterday. Everything went more smoothly on this hot morning. At II Mrs Rae burn, bound for the stores, dropped Boots at the clubhouse gate. Shouts and splashings were heard above the sound of player piano. Boots sprinted lightly up the stairs. It was delicious to be alive, young, happy to-day. Delicious to slip into her still-damp shabby suit, run a comb through her fair hair, pressing the waves damply down before donning her cap. Sylvia Riv- CTS and her open snubs were for. gotten. It was enough to-day to have the great, sunny worlT to play in and the blue Sound and the narrow pool with its spring. board and diving stand.
 It was too early for the crowd" although the girl saw one or two familiar faces and waved gaily to a few of the high school set who already seemed just kids" to her. Nothing could bother her. nothing upset her. she told herself gaily. To-day was wonderful. There was a special feeling in the air of hope and promise. The dance tonight would be wonderful, too. What matter if she were to be among the oldsters? Hardy would see her. He might even single her out.
 She dove and swan in solitary happiness. Afterward she stretched out on the hot white sand and lay there Tn that blissful state of sus- pension which is half waking and half sleep. thinking her own thoughts.
 She must have actually fallen asleep, although she hadn't intend- ed to do so. because the sun was blazing down in the intense heat of midday when she heard her name.
 She came out of a dim. foggy dream. unstirring.