The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-26
SYNOPSIS


 She meets DENIS FENWAY young author, and EDWARD VAN SClVER, wealthy and so- cially prominent.
 Months pass and Russ does not write. Then word comes that he has been killed in a motor. boat accident.
 Through Denis Boots gets a job in a book shop. Denis calls late one evening and asks Boots if she Is going to marry Edward. He takes her in his arms and then apologies.
 She goes to see her parents and finds they need money bad- ly.
 CHAPTER XXXIX
 Boots went back to the little apartment she shared with Fran ces, and which Frances had oc- cupied alone before her coming, Briefly sLe explained the situation. Frances was all sympathy. all uu- derstanding. Naturally Boots want ed to be with her people if they the gay and colorful room in which she had been so happy. By contrast with the shabby house in Larchneck it wore a particularly inviting air. All the soft hued lamps wer lighted. Frances, in vivid pajamas of vari-colored silk. toasted bread before the fire.
 "Tm sorry, honey. l guess there's nothing else to do."
 Frances cooked her bird-like dark hea up at her.
 Boots had her bags packed, The furniture all belonged to Frances. There was flower print on the bedroom wall, one Boots had admired and Edward had bought for her.
 "Pll take this," she said It'll remind me of our good times." 6 Her old room with it's wide windows looked sparse and shab- by now, but it had a welcoming air. Miss Florida had put an ivy plant on the hanging shelf and Mrs Raeburn had put up clean curtains. They were so glad to see Boots that 1t hurt. She was ashamed that anything she might do would so affect anyone. Her father turned in his chair to see her come in . She kissed his thin, faded cheek. Presently, the doctor said, he might try to take a few steps but for the moment his post was here by the front window, watching the world go by.
 It was strange taking her place again in thG old, familiar world; seeing the same faces; hearing the same voices; realizing the old order of things still prevailed, no matter what her personal earth quake had been. Showers were still given for engaged girls. jealousies and rivalries were still rife in club and sorority. The Thanksgiving dance, now impend- ing, embraced a host of small storms and quarrels and misgiv- ings, Isabel told her about it all. Isabel now belonged to the old girls"
 Sylvia Rivers, Boots learned, had been abroad. She would be back "any day now" The thought of Sylvia left Boots unmoved. It seemed ages ago, centuries, that she had envied Sylvia, had hated 4 and resented her. She went back and forth to the city every day. On tho train she was absorbed in her newspaper and her lists. Some times Edward drove her home and was tender and interested and con- cerned all the way. She didn't see Denis. Although she longed to have news of him she sedulously avoided mention of his name. That was a madness, she assured her. self, that she had put behind her. ''Why do you do this?" Ed ward complained one night when he found her particularly white and tired. It had been a long, tiring day at the Bay Tree. Fran ces had been kept at home with < q sick headache and several spe- cial orders had come in along with a really unsual press of business.
 .Why not marry me and step right out of it all?" Edward urged with impatience.
 Boots could not--would not ex- plain the situation at home. Her pride would not permit it. To have Edward offering to subsidize her parents would be most humil- iating. Besides, she felt definite z ly that this was not the way out marriage. She had slipped into 1t before as a means of escape from life that she hated She was more mature. more sturdy now; she would not make that mistake again.
 So she put him off. Not just now, she said. And Edward had to be content with that.
 The coal bill. the light bill, gro- ceries-it cost so much to live! The old house absorbed her small sti- pend greedily while her mother bewailed the necessity daily, al most hourly. On the last day oi November the old boiler collapsed and Boots, in despair. summoned the local furnace man who had al. ways served them.
 He spent an hour in the base. ment figuring, considering. A new boiler would be $200.
 we can't pay it." Boots sait with the calmness of utter des pair.
 ssI'n take your note. Miss Boots said MT Derringer who knew thu family we'll.
 The furnace was repaired ant $ Boots signed the note. She GU down on lunches. She mended hel worn stockings painstakingly. Sh' ragged inwardly at the knowledg' K that her frail mother travelled ove to the Exchange with the dozen of rolls in trays. How did peopl' get money? She marveled. It seem cd to her that they had never hat enough, really, but things hat never been so bad as this. Sh, looked about her at the people the, knew. No wonder most of the hus bands and fathers looked tired ant married with the strain of it.
 
 Life was quiet in the big house Occasionally Isabel ran over fo an evenings gossip. Once Johnn. came in. rather embarrassedly. t. call. But he was obviously awe' by Boots new status and wen away. Boots found, moreover. tha she had litle to say to her contem poraries now. They seemed t' move in a different world.
 She passed Mrs Fernell on tn street one Sunday afternoon ant fhe older woman bowed cordially She seemed to wish to stop ant chatter but Boots went on her wa. coo1ly. She was not to be drawi