The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-08-10


She stretched out on the hot,
half-waking and half-asleeP.
marded passionately of herself,
what earthly good was it TO be
pretty and graceful and well De
haved? It got you precisely
nothing. Old Mrs. Waterman
had undoubtedly asked her. at
the last minute, to fill in" Mrs;
WATERWAYS table would be full
of stodgy old people and across
the room. accompanied oy
shrieks of laughter, would be
Sylvia's group. Hardy among the
rest.
She flung back her golden
name like a wild, young, resent
full mare. No good thinking
of all this now She would go,
wear her plaid organdie, her old
slippers do the best she
could.
She was asleep when the par
ents came in, 10 minutes later,
one arm flung across her face.
sleeping the untroubled sleep OF
childhood. .
Another bright, hot, breathless
day dawned. Boots woke to a
feeling of gayety and hopeful
ness. Anything might happen
. . it was sure to be a splendid
party what an idiot she had
been to crouch about things yes
terday. Everything went more
smoothly on this hot morning. At
II Mrs. Raeburn. bound for the
stores, dropped Boots at the club
house gate. Shouts and splash
ings were heard above the sound
of a player piano. Boots sprinted
lightly up the stairs. 1t was de-
licious to be alive, young. happy
today. Delicious to slip into her
still-damp shabby suit, run a
comb through her fair hair, press
ing the waves damply down be-
fore donning her cap. Sylvia
Rivers and her open snubs were
forgotten. 1t was enough today
TO have the great, sunny world to
play in and the blue Sound and
the narrow pool with its spring
board and diving stand.
1t was too early for "the
crowd" although the girl saw one
or two familiar faces and waved
gaily to a few of the high school
set who already seemed '.just
kids" to her. Nothing could
bother her. nothing upset her, she
told herself gaily. Today was
wonderful. There was special
feeling in the air of hope and
promise. The dance tonight would
be wonderful, too. What matter
if she were to be among the old
sters? Hardy would see her. He
might even single her out.
She dove and swan in solitary
happiness. Afterward she stretch
ed out on the hot white sand and
lay there in that blissful state of
suspension which is half waking
and half sleep. thinking her own
thoughts.
! She must have actually fallen
! asleep, although she hadn't in
tended to do so, because the sun
was blazing down in the intense
heat of midday when she heard
her name.
She came out of a dim, foggy
! dream. unstirring.
"My dear, we had a good laugh
out of it. Mrs. Waterman called
Mother and said who could she
/ get at the last minute. Mother
said, Of course all the crowd was
! snOken for. Then Mrs. W. Brood
ed for a bit and said she'd try
the Raeburn girl. She didn't think
she had much fun and they
were such fine people-all that
rot. And. my dear, if she isn't
going"
Boots Law still as a statue. her
heart hammering. hammering in
her breast. She felt a little sick.
She did not stir.
There was a general burst of
laughter and the gay, incense
ouent voice went on. Patty's
voice.
ut will be riot. I can Just
see Svlvia's face when she sees
her with the graybeards-"
"We'l. ! think it's a shame.
think Boots is pretty SWELL" said
/ Isabel loyalty. "Just because
they've lost all their money and
she can't keep up with the
crowd"
: If she hadn't been so desnerate-
/ ly sick, if her head hadn't been
whirling and her heart pounding
like a wild thing Boots would
= have blessed her for this. Instead
she Law there, transfixed, unable
to move hand or foot.
ooh, can ali that stuff" she
heard boys voice. unrecognized,
say disgustedly. "You women
/ Then the groun drifted away
She wished that she might die
Only that. To be engulfed in
some blessed. all-enveloping. TIC
lpass out of life painlesslv. def
nitely, once and for all. That wa!
Ins