Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-23
SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story of 4 Woman's Transformation
BY MARION RuB1NCAM.
ITRY AN EXPERIMENT.
Chnnter lX.

Chapter TX.
The events of that week and the few
weeks following only deepened the feeling
that Violet and must get away from the
sort of life we were leading. OF course,
the decision that Violet could 90 to college
practically decided things for her, and left
me free TO turn my mind TO myself
And what was 10 do?
Life on the Haipes farm was slowly
becoming intolerable.
had attained the first stage OF growth,
which is discomfort. Discomfort has been
called divine, II is only so when IL leads
to sincere efforts towards betterment
But many men and women never
progress bevtnd this first stage of dscon-
tent. Again and again, when had lew
moments to spare, | returned to the mr.
ror IN my room, trying TO decide what was
wrong with myself and wondering what
could do to correct it. Tan YOU imagine
the helpless feeling Of woman who
knows she is wrong in every detail OF her
appearance, but has not the knowledge or
skill to improve herself2 ] think now there
are few things more pathetic.
No, there is one thing more pathetic
that is the first blundeTing attempts nj
rejuvenation.
II declare there's SO much to do, l
don't see how we are going 10 get through
it all, was Esther's remark every morn
ing. The warm days were upon us now,
the first lovely, fresh spring days. Jim
havin' the garden plot pl9ughed up today,
and then it'll be narrowed. Well have to
do the raking; he cant spare the men;
You put the seeds away last year will
YOU get them2"
Obediently | went UP TO the garret and
into the back room, unfinished, as all these
rooms are-that is, there was no plaster,
no ceiling, the shingles alone formed the
roof and there was no floor, only loose
boards laid down to walk over and TO hold
the trunks and the inhumerable collec-
tion of odds and ends that all New Eng
land farmhouses seem To possess.
This huge room was we'll filled Most of
grandfather's furniture was in IT, badly
battered up indeed Esther always meant
to throw IT away; then she decided 70 sell
it. The pieces were mostly antiques, and
she knew the prices they were bringing.
On the rafters were hanging some % the
seeds-the corn we had saved and dried,
for instance.
There, too. in a trunk, we kept some
material never made jlp-the white ma
terial that was TO make Violet graduation
dress | took this with me, and some white
dotted swiss left from a dress had years
and wears ago. The material was perfectly
good.
'You can make Yourself a new dress
from IL To wear TO the Commencement
exercises. " Vi suggested, when | took the
stuff in 10 her. "Hdre, let me drape it
around you.
She threw length of the goods over my
shoulder. and with some pins, made some
imitation of the form of dress.
"Iour mother wants the seeds, | can I
stop, protested.
But Vi was determined.
There's plenty fdr dress, if the skirt
ism I too full i" she told me. And you look
so nice, Aunt Enid Why do YOU always
wear blackY
1T saves washing and it's becoming to
my age, | answered.
Nonsense Vi answered Il don't
believe YOU re old think YOU only feel
that wav. because mother and Laura keep
telling YOU so. As for washing, there are
three women in this house TO do the work,
and help some too
/ looked in the glass OF course, the
fresh white made my skin look darker
than ever, but som chow | did not look 30
old-or so | thought. | decided TO take
the stuff and make II up.
Then there's my blue sash-wait, and
I'll pin If around YOU" Vi suited the
action to the word "and we'll turn in the
neck a wee bit Wait till take off your
collar Well put some lace around-so."
While | stood there, she worked out her
inspiration with rii Pbons and lace and pins
OF course was battered was so inter
estad | even forgot the garden seeds and
Esther working ale ing getting dinner.
My hair loolk Ks so funny" l said
presently ] wore Il combed back from the
face and made into firm knot on top OF
my head-so it wo Ild stay all day.
How did YOU ,lse TO wear it," the girl
asked, all interest in her work
Parted at one side, and very fluffy, "
/ told her, and a blue bow in the knot
Interested and curious, | pulled down
my hair ! tried tb comb it as | had when
/ was a girl. II was stiff from having been
brushed one way f pr years and it refused to
fluff The knot, made with unaccustomed
fingers, was stiff a nd ugly The blue bow
Violet made and pinned at the side was, of
course, unsuitable But she was too young,
and ] was too inexperienced, to know that
Esther came into the room suddenly
| must have looked ridiculous