The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-20

ture of denial she went on blandly.
 ''The Yacht Club dance is an ex- ample. A certain young man-no names are to be brought into this, mind-had too much to drink. A
 young woman went sailing with
 him. He fell overheard. The young woman left her party-was seen to arrive home later with strange escort. All very reprehen- sible," continued Mrs Fernell, star
 ing at the round table draped with the lace cloth, an object whose ugliness 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 Fernell', Boots said with a sort of frozen childish hauteur, II did dance with Hardy Whitmore. 1 did go out on the veranda with him. But I didn't know he was drunk. I didn't go sailing with him, The same thing might have happened to anyone else there"
 "Ah, but my dear child. it didn't. There's the thing" said the older woman in sort of melancholy tri- umph. You must avoid even the appearance of evil - you should have known better. Our girls must be wise as well as protected, don't you seer"
 Boots stood up suddenly, tiring of this farce. Her color had ebbed now and her eyes were enormous in a 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 com- posed of the two.
 "No, but that is what you want ed to see me about, isn't it?"
 "I've known you mother for years" Alice Fernell began quickly and volubly. Its all very pain ful to me but there are cer- tain ethics ." She said a great many things Boots did not really hear. Her words echoed as if from a great distance "our girls .. ideals a very high standard of conduct ." The only thing. in the world Boots de- sired 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 Mir Riv- ers' office, Boots was thinking bit- terly. She doesn't dare to offend Sylvia. Isabel was right. I ann in had. Oh, how unfair how bit terly unfair.
 As she walked home through the sunny streets her head was swim ming in 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 would mt 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. it was ,n- tolerable. She wouldnt-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 af- ternoon train for Boston, to visit Aunt Nedda. Mother would be spared the pods and smiles of pre- tended sympathy.
 ''It will have blown over by the time she gets back" Boots thought Poor Mother. She was so proud and sensitive. The whole thing would be nightmare to her. And Boots could not bear the thought of the inevitable, interminable con versations. My dear, 1 think it's a shame. You're perfectly right. I wouldn't stand it for a minute"
 We'll, the very instant Mother came back from Aunt Nedda's find place for herself. She would show them all. Meantime. there was the town to face, with head high.
 ssWhat did Alice Fernell want, dear?" Mrs Raeburn was packing q shabby black bag. "I hate to go off in all this heat" she rambled on, not waitin for a reply. But Nedda sent me the ticket. She Said she wouldn't take no for an ans wer. Daddy"s so worried about the business. too-it just doesn't seem the time. But he says ] need the change. Did you see my dotted swiss dear? I laid it on chair half a minute ago and now it seems to have disappeared. thought I'd wear my gray on the train. It doesn show the soil
 ." And so on and so on. Boots was spared the necessity of ans- Wering the questioning about Mrs Fernell.
 rYou'll get along all right, child? Linda said she'd come in and do the heavy cleaning. I declare. l think I should have asked Florida Fleming to stay with you. She'd have been glad to. The meals at khe Inn are nothing wonderful and inc could have the guest room. It's khe coolest one in the house ." Boots shuddered inwardly at the khought of entertaining the volu- @ble Miss Florida at this difhftcult |11ne.
 eI'm glad you didn't. Honestly. m manage beautifully"
 eO11, I know you will. Have >1enfv of green vegetables. Daddy to eat much red meat this reather. His blood pressure =. |rrs Raeburn f1uttered about. fold @r hacking. And don't stay too '<4cii fn the sun. dear. I think you 'IrIs seessd too much time on the 'SS<sh. I was reading the other Sv some place that the sun reafy 1rnus affer a certain point .. |er fair brow was creased in wor- @M ~|