The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-29
SYNOPSIS

pass and then COneS WOru tilut he has been killed in a motOr- bDat accident.
 Boots meets DENIS FEN WAX, young author and ED- WARD VAN SCIVER, wealthy and socially prominent. She Is in love with Denis and jealous of beautiful KAY CHILLINGFORD
 Roots gets n job in book store and goes home to live in order to help her parents finan- ciHIly. On Christmas Eve Denis calls, but Boots tells herself she must forget him.
 CHAPTER XIII
 Boots wakened in the gray Christmas dawn, having slept bad ly. in sfatches and tormented by dreams. Presently half-hearted sun came through the clouds and she walked to church beside Miss Florida, along the frost-rimme pavements. The well-worn family sedan had collapsed in line of duty some months before. The Raeburns walked now, whatever their destination.
 1t was really the first time since Boots return that she had ven- tured out into the village com munity life. Several people nodded ico Isabel whispered swiftly, You're coming to my tea this af- ternoon, without fail?"
 q don't know. I'm expecting a ' caller from town"
 Isabel dimpled significantly. "Bring him along. I'm dying to meet him. She squeezed her friends arm with the old warm pressure. i've heard about your young man." she said with arch ness.
 Boots said perhaps she would come. She didn't know, really, what Edwards s plans would be. He was dining with the family and would drive out later. Edward was solid, satisfying fact to have in ones life. He was all reliability and honest worth.
 When he did arrive, smiling and big and hearty. with his resound- ing kiss and his own particular scent of Russian leather and heather-soaked tweeds, Boots men, toned Isabel's party. Edward was interested. Yes, he'd like to go, he said. Not for long, though, because he wanted to have his girl to him. self. He had a lot of things to talk to her about
 "These are too lovely" she told him, touching the pearls with a caressing finger. She had already thanked him for them. Edward s laugh boomed out reassuringly. She should have finer things than those and very soon, too, he as sured her.
 "Seen Denis?" he asked after q moment. She steadied herself to reply. '.Yes. He dropped in last night"
 Flows the old boy?"
 'sDh, all right, I guess" Why mus he remind her of Denis at this moment? But he was finished with that topic, for the time, at least. It was of their plans he wished to speak. Could she be ready by January 7th? There was ship sailing then-just the trip he had planped' for her.
 Boots laced her slim fingers, un- locked them. When she looked up, she was smiling. This was the best way out of her difficulties, surely. And the sooner it was done the better!
 "All right. The seventh"
 "You darling!" Edward was rarely demonstrative but today his voice trembled. He took her chin between thumb and forefinger. tilt ing it gently. =,
 "You won't be sorry" he told her. We'll go places and do things. I'll be proud of you"
 Her mother came in and there were effusive thanks for the game and the jellies and the fruit ! cake and the avocados. Boots, sit ting apart, admired his manner with the older woman, his quiet difference.
 Hes good. He's kind" she as- stired herself, What more does any girl want?"
 It would be a haven for her. this safe, wise, honorable mar | riage. Sylvia would never look past her unseeingly again, nor would Boots mother worry over bills The girl cluns to these thoughts. They steadied her.
 Presently she and Edward went for . walk in the chill air. The carly morning promise of sun had faded and a slow fog was seeping in from the shore. The horns blew unceasingly. ..,
 sFunny. Christmas weather!" Boots shivered in her coat, hud- ding the fur collar closer under her chin. She had an indefinable sense of unrest. Her nerves were stretched at high tension.
 "You're cold" Edward gave her d concerned look. Better take you back" He had one big. gloved hand under her elbow piloting her, The sidewalks were filmed with the faintly oily dampness the fog al ways brought. They stopped at an Intersection and car zoomed past them with eerie quiet in the gray swirl of mist blowing in from the Sound.
 "This-this is terrible, the girl said on a note of hysterical laugh, ter. T never saw such fog. Ana on this, of all days"
 People loomed suddenly close 10 them as they crossed. A fathsr steered two red-capped and init tened children, chattering excited
 .Good thing we didn't drive, '' Edward muttered. You can't even zee the turn" A headlight flashed close to them and was instantly swallowed up in the mist.
 Presently, Boots thought, chat fering with relief, they would turn in at Isabel's doorway. All this darkness and dimness would be sw wallowed up in the warmth oi candlelight and freight. There would be reassuring laughter and brimming cups.
 .I don't know why I mind this eo.' she said on a shaken note but TI do. It makes me terribly nerv' ous."
 Careful there!" She hadn't even enen the curb. Houses. shrubs fences, gates-all were swallowed 1Ip in the horrible. all-envelopini ! <fayness and blankness. She heard ! inc shrili sound of brakes; saw Edwards arm flung up to shielc ] Ter, It seemed then that she Wal dipping. slipping. slipping down
 when she came to she was on [ lark couch in a brightly lighted
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