The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-08-17
BECIN HERE TO-DAY

tries not to be Jealous of tn
other girls in her crowd at Larch
neck, fashionable New York sub
way. Sylvia Rivers, richest giT
in town, dislikeS Boots and taii'
TO invite her to q big party a.
the Yacht club Boots accepts
last-minute invitation from Mrs
Waterman, socially prominent, to
a dinner at the club that same
night.
Quite innocently, Boots Is
thrown into an embarrassing SIT
uation by Harly Whitmore, one
of Sylvia's guests, who had been
drinking. He tries to induce
Boots to go sailing with him and
when she runs away, goes OFT IN
A boat alone and falls overheard
His rescue causes considerable eN'
element and Sylvia is furious,
She resolves to punish Boots AMI
n.alieiously repeats the story in
way to discredit the other girl
to Mrs. Fernell, prominent mem
Der of the Woman's club.
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER VIII
Boots faced Mrs. Fernell brave
iy She was smiling but it was a
desperate little smile. Il don't
know what you mean"
yes, | think you do, Barbara
dear" Boots had never liked Mrs.
Fernell. She was what Isabel,
with justice, called poison
sweet" There was usually a barb
hidden some where under her
Sugared words.
1T has been brought to my at
tention," Mrs. Fernell went on
swiftly and smoothly. As though
she had rehearSed it all before a
mirror. chat some of the Juniors
have been countenanclng - or
shall | say really entering into
drinking parties" At Boots
quick frown and gesture of de-
NAL she went on blandly.
The Yacht club dance is an
example. A certain young man
no names are to be brought in
TO this, mind-had too much to
drink. A young woman went
sailing with him. He fell over
board. The young woman left
her party-waS seen to arrive
home later with strange escort.
All very reprehenSible,' continu-
ed Mrs. Fernell, staring at the
round table draped with the lace
cloth, an object whose uginess
would have fascinated her young
visitor at any other time.
She did not look at Boots. The
girls face was scarlet now, her
hands clenched tight at her sides.
She was breathing deeply.
IF you mean me, Mrs. Fer
NELL" Boots said with a sort of
frozen childish hauteur. 81 did
dance with Hardy Whitmore. |
did go out on the veranda with
him. But | didn't know he was
drunk. | didn't go sailing with
him. The same thing might have
happened to anyone else there"
All, but my dear child. it
didn't. There's the thing" said
tie older woman in a sort of
melancholy triumph. You must
avoid even the appearance of
cvil-yOu should have known bet
ter. Our girls must be wise as
well as protected, don't you See?''
Boots stood up suddenly, firing
of this farce. Her color had ebbed
now and her eyes were enormous
in white face.
What you mean, Mrs. Fernell,
is that YOU want me to hand in
my resignation to the Juniors"
II didn't say that. > Now
it was Boots who was the more
composed of the two.
mo. but that is what you
wanted to see me about, isn't
it,"
'I've known your mother for
years" Alice Fernell began quick
ly and vOlubly. IT'S all very
painful to me but there are
certain ethics. :" She said a
great many things Boots did not
really hear. Her words echoed
as if from a great distance .
"our girls ideals very
HIGH standard of conduct. :"
The only thing in the world Boots
desired at that moment was to be
clear away from this stuffy room
with its silver framed photographs
and plump chairs, away from this
dreadful. SNUG woman with her
mOnOtOnouS voice.
John Fernell works in Mr.. Riv-
ers' office, Boots was thinking
bitterly. She doesn't dare to of
fend Sylvia. Isabel was right.
/ am in bad. Oh, how unfair
=: how bitterly unfair.
AS she walked home through
the SUNNY streets her head was
swimming in a kind of hot vapor.
Oh, she could fight the whole
thing, of course. Hardy would be
decent-tell what had happened
that she had been completely
innocent in the sorry episode.
But she wouldn't fight. Let them
talk about her as they would. She
hated the whole town, everybody
in it. The Juniors, indeed!
She felt as though everyone
must be looking at her, pointing
at her. There's the girl who
was dropped by the Juniors" Oh
1T was intolerable. She wouldn't
couldn't endure it!
There was just one small drop
of comfort in the whole terrible
affair-her mother was going
away. She was leaving on the
afternoon train for Boston, to
visit Aunt Media. Mother would
be spared the mods and smiles of
pretended sympathy.
at will have blown over hy the