The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-25
ExI1z 1E ts1eczh0dk:s By Mabel MsElIiott \ 0 lass. NEA senies. Ine.
0 Iq5s, NEA seMlss. Lne.
SYNOPSIS

cQntGuoou with the useless round
 of social activities that make up
 her life. She rides 1aily with
 MICHAEL. HEATHEROE, who
 runs . riding club.
 SALLY MOON, local coquette,
 alec enroIls at the club for riding
 lessons.
 ZOE PARKER, Katharine's
 friend, sent to Europe to forget a
 love affair with GIBBS LARKIN,
 returns. She persists i'm seeing
 Gibbs in spite of her parents
 objections.
 Katharine, riding with Michael
 is thrown from her horse. Shock.
 cd but not seriously injured. she
 is taken to the home of VIOLET
 MERSER who years before was
 in love with Katharine's father.
 Mrs. Merser feels drawn to the
 girl.
 CHAPTER XII
 Isabel, the inanicurist at Miss Betsys Beauty Shoppe, bent soli- citiously over Katharine's hand. Want them a little shorter, don't you?"
 Katharine nodded. Sally Moon was in the next booth, with it's rose colored curtains swinging be- tween painted white posts. Katha- rine could hear Sally's laughter as she gossiped with Miss Betsy
 "Why have you got that string / tied around your finger?" Katha- rine asked the little manicurist idly. Isabel, who had waved brown hair, plucked eyebrows and a con- fiding air, glanced up, dimpled and smiled.
 'sBill put it there on my birth day." she confided. "Bill Chance you know. him, Miss Strykhurst. He drives the express truck. Big fellow with broad shoulders. told him I'd keep it there till he put a sure enough ring on it. l. say the craziest things" she finished with an innocent, upward sweep of mas caraed lashes. I'm just nut.''
 You're going to marry him then?" Katharine stated, rather than asked. Isabel had been do- ing her nails for years. Katharine felt almost an affection for the art less little creature.
 Well, yes, guess so. We were playing with the ouija board last week and I asked ouija; When will you believe it, Miss Stryk- hurst. that thing ran around to October 4? was just about knocked silly. october 4. Imagine that!"
 Katharine smiled. From the booth Sally Moons high laughter sounded again.
 She's a very popular girl, I hear" Isabel murmured with shrug in sally's direction. "The men just go running =
 "She's attractive" Katharine conceded, concea1ing her instinc- tive dislike with an effort.
 "Well, but about Bill and my self' Isabel pursued, getting back to her favorite topic. ..'You know. when l told him about ouija he acked funny, kind of. Said he didn't believe in monkeying with fate or something like that. Men are so sort of queer. It's like they had no intuition or something. Now take me. always want to know about the future. Why, there. was a fortune teller up at Playland and she had me down to a T. De- scribed my first beau and said I was going to get a letter and would you believe it
 There was good deal more of this, but Katharine did not hear it all. Sally Moon a riot of scal- loped waves and escaping sausage curis, emerged presently from the booth. in the crispest of yellow linens with fyaway scarf. She met katharine's eyes and both girls bowed rather stiffly.
 Gee, that's a pretty outfit" Isa- bel commented enviously as Sally fiuttered out of the door to take her place at the wheel of her wait ing car. "Bet that cost aplenty. That's what always say. No wonder these girls have all the breaks. clothes and cars and all--- tearing around like nobody's busi- ness. don't mean you, of course, Miss Strykhurst." she finished briskly, at a warning nod from her employer who was putting the stopper on a mammoth bottle of ,liquid shampoo.
 Hear you took tumble last sweek." Isabel went on after an in- tervai during which polish was ap- piled deftly to the nails of Katha- rine's left hand. Read it in the paper. Gosh, was all upset. be- lieve 1t or not. I said to myself, Miss StrykhIirst is the incest one of the whole bunch in town. It'll just be shame if she's going to be badly hurt.,'
 Tt wasn't anything Katharine said.
 But that tall fellow who comes down from the riding club, he sure is one good-looking chap" Isabel chattered. T said to Miss Betsy just the other day, believe you me. If had the money and the outfit I'd be taking lessons from him my self. He reminds me of Gary Cooper-sort of--oflly younger"
 Katharine said. Hes really very. nicc."
 'sally Moon thinks so," Isabel n1urmured with glance over her shoulder. "She came in here one day last week for a set; she was just going on great rate about him. Gaga, I call it."
 Katharine might have been en- tireiy absorbed in examining her nails. for all her expression told.
 They look lovely. Thank you. Isabel" She tipped generously.
 Thank you, Miss Strykhurst. Oh. you oughtn't to -- really you shouldn't. Although I won't say it won't come in handy. I'm saving for new dress for the pacnic next week. Bill hasn't asked me yet but I'm sure he will. The Elks' Club. He doesn't belong but his uncle does"
 Life, thought Katharine. was comparatively simple for girls like Isabel. Doubtless she would marry her Bill in due time and settle down to a life of saving and babies and quarreling and making up. Isabel was frank in her adoration