The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-18

away. She did not deign to reply.
 Hes all right" Patty said briefly, with a whitening look at Ethlyn Tree. Someone said some- thing quickly to cover the silence and Ethlyn stared aDout her un- abashed.
 Well, think he was potted if you asX me-" she continued stout
 Nobody did, darling" Patty's tone was devastating. Several pairs or bright eyes were slanted inquir- ingly at Sylvia. There was malice in some of them.
 person can't have the sim plest accident around here" stated Sylvia pointedly, without having every old tabby in town tearing her hair about it."
 Well, I only thought" began Ethlyn. on the defensive, My heavens, didn't know he was the King or something! Anybody'd think there was a law"
 There is, dafling." Isabel who felt sorry for Ethlyn came forward crisply. We call this the No-Gos- sip Club, didn't you know? Any one who tells tales has to pay a
 "Honestly?" Ethlyn was appalled, Patty winked at her elaborately.
 Sure, couldn't you tell? We talk about nothing but birds and flowers. Bring your stamp book next time. We'll have more fun. "
 Ethlyn, squelched, relapsed into a sullen silence but the animated voices of the other guests, rushing into the breach, covered any aWk- wardness effectively.
 Ethlyn walked home with Isabel later. T s'pose that's the last time I'll be asked to her high ness's," she said. "Oh, well, I don't care. She burns me up, lots of ways. I was sold on the idea these afternoon shows of hers were marvellous, but I can't see much to them. Why does everybody get so hot and bothered about knowing her well?"
 Isabel shrugged. It was hard tc accept Sylvia's hospitality and then discuss her afterward according tc IsabePs simple code.
 "Sylvia's all right" she said vaguely. You've got toto un- derstand her."
 "Oh, understand her all right" 7" The baby face hardened a trifie, the red lips pouted. "She was rav- ing on all over the place when l blew in about how something should be done if girls like Boots Raeburn were allowed to run wild . Y. and all that stuff :"
 Isabel paled. "I didn't hear that. Whats wrong? Boots hasn't done anything"
 Well, sylvia's after her scalp and she'd better look out. Boots did go out on the terrace With Hardy last night, and he didn't show up again. It's all right with me. Boots is perfectly oke as far as I'm concerned. But she gets in Sylvia's hair. She'd better be careful"
 The girls parted at an elm shad- ed corner and Isabel tried to shake off the disquiet Ethyln's words had caused her. Sylvia had been a bit poisonous to Boots lately. There was no denying it. And Sylvia was influential in town. If she really started out to. do it there was no end to the harm she could do Boots. Even in this free and easy day when girls could do pretty much as they pleased, with in reason, an unsavory story about one of them could cause injury. Isabel knew that. Why, there had been that pretty little southern girl from New Martin the year before. Stories had got around about her she had been definitely dropped. She'd been blackballed in the two sororities she had wanted to join.
 Oh, but Sylvia wasn't mean enough to do that to Boots Rae burn, even if such a thing were possible. Boots grandfather had built one of the ffrst bouses in this town. She knew everyone. True. she hadn't any money. couldn't do many of the things the other girls did, but that didn't really matter. Everybody knew the Raeburns were fine people," That was what counted.
 "I'll go over to see her tonight" Isabel told herself, with determi- nation. Maybe she'd better make overtures to Sylvia"
 But when she arrived at home she found some New England cou- sins there for dinner and she for got Boots and the menace which hung over her.
 Sylvia dawled upstairs to her luxurious sitting room when the last guest had departed. There was grown on her narrow face; her prominent blue eyes were dilated hn e,kf yne over last nights happenings. Not all the fiattery she had received, nor her good score at contract had erased from her mind the memory of last nights defeat and humilia- ton. Just when Hardy's favor had seemed to her a tangible thing in her hands at last, he had slip ped away maddeningly. Further he had not called to-day to apol- ogiZe.
 Her anger grew and deepened as she bathed and dressed, making herself sweet and fragrant. With Sylvia, to think was to act, and when at last she was arrayed in frailest pale green draperies, silver slippers on her feet. she went to the telephone concealed in a mar row white and silver closet open ing off her dressing room.
 She called a number, her voice soft and fluttery and feminine, al- most timid in it's implications.
 Mrs Ferpell? Yes, it's Sylvia Rivers. No. never mind calling Jane. 1 wanted to talk to you. It's about = about the Junior Group. Mrs Fernell. know how particu- lar you afe. Something has-has cone up. Yes, I feel terribly about it. I can't explain over the tele- phone. but I'd like to talk to you Tomorrow? About II, then. Thanks so much, Mrs Fernell. Her