The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-09-08
CHAPTER XVII

tble of light voices. Cigaret smoke
hung like lilac pail over every
thing. 1t seemed to the girl, in
her raw shyness, that there were
strange faces everywhere. Where
was Denis? She faltered on the
threshold and big-shouldered
young man in country tweeds
came forward.
YOU'RE Mrs. Lund? Denis told
me to look out for you. He's been
waiting for you-just been called
to the telephone" ...
After that it was easier. Some
one found her a deep chair and
put a long glass in her hand.
When Denis came in a moment
later his eyes sought her out.
Here, she's having tea," he
said rather rudely to the man in
brown tweeds. Didn't you
know" s'. .';-
Boots flushed unaccountably
but the young man Che was Ed
ward Van Solver whose parents
apartment Denis was renting at
the moment) grinned companion
ably at her and said that parties
were bad for Denis disposition.
Takes 'em too seriously" he
informed her, finding a hassock
and establishing himself at her
feet. ~. .rr .'..
Boots had a thin cup of hot,
delicious tea and crusty toact
with pate. She nibbled sailed
nuts and olives. And all around
them fashionably dressed young
women in amazing hats discussed
the latest play, the latest book,
the latest scandal.
"But, my dear, you don't
know the half of it :. :"
"Ah, but she dates, dates fright
fully if you ask me ~
"His stuff is absolutely putrid,
if you know what | mean. The
Nobel prize ;"
They frightened Boots. all
these clever people, Denis friends.
What would they say if they dis
covered she was lust a saleswo-
man in the chintZes at Lacy's?
She was glad that Edward Van
Solver stayed by her side as the
smoke thickened and the argu-
ments swirled all about her.
"I'm not clever like the rest Of
Them" he told her easily. ppm
in Wall Street; don't paint or
write or anything. Pm here un-
der false pretenses. Denis just
let me slide in"
"You were at school together?"
she hazarded It seemed to her
Denis had told her that.
Eyes" He nodded. "He was
head and shoulders over the rest
of us. Denis has real brains.
The rest of us Just plug along"
She slipped her tea thoughtfully
now. That exquisite girl with
the creamy skin and the delicious
English voice, with the frill Of
organdie flower petals calia-lily
white against the dead black of
her frock, was talking lightly to
Denis. Her smoke-gray eyes
travelled restlessly about the room
as she spoke. Once she laughed
and the sound was like tn tinkle
of silver bells. Denis smile rest
Led on her approvingly. Boots
envied that girl. She was so
cool and sure of herself. There
were blue shadows smudged above
her eyes and her dull brown hair
was swept back from her broad,
low forehead. ..':...- "
"Who is she?" she asked young
Edward. '...
'Kay?" He indicated the girl
with the organdie petal collar.
"Oh, she's been around quite a
bit. We knew her at Cambridge.
Her sister, Desiree, is married to
one of the young instructors in
chemistry. Kay's in charge, of
the Evelyn Amable shops here"
He mentioned name which
stood for everything expensive
and elegant in the world of cos
metics.
"She's very lovely" Boots said
family. You could see this girl,
moving in a little world of her
own, issuing crisp orders, being
efficient and charming and aloof
all at once. No wonder Denis
looked at her with admiring
eyes. . ..... ...... ... -
Smart girl" Edward Van
Solver affirmed, producing a
cigaret- case and .proffering one
to Boots. every good family,
too. Kent Derbyshire - some
thing like that. | forget which.
She does this for a, lark"
Of course she would, thought