Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-03
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story of 4 Woman's Transformation.
BY MARION RUBINCAM
RESPITE.
Protected by George Matthew Adams
CHAPTER LXXI

The DAYS that followed were. on the
whole quiet and happy-a respite real,
Iv. from our summer of hard work, anC
brief rest before the serious events
which were TO follow.
Vi settled down to her studies, find
ing her college work even more difficult
this fine than before.
1T would not matter so much,' she
said one evening. when ] urged her tc
go to bed instead Of sitting up late study
ing. 1T wouldn't matter so much If
could stay on and finish the term-untll
June, that Is. Then | would not take so
many things this time. But as we don
know yet that ] can 60 on after the mid
winter exams, why, | want 10 crowd in
everything can. There'll be time enough,
she added gloomily, to 60 10 bed early. |
wont have lessons then 10 keep me up p
Tn going to get position, SAID
suddenly.
1t was a new idea Now this NAV seem
strange to the womanwho has been brought
up to independence. But / was not.
knew that as long as Jim and Esther had
q roof over their heads, that home was
mine too-and that my presence was al
ways welcome and my cost more than paid
by the service | gave.
WHIST would you do?" Vi asked, lay
ing aside her books for the time.
II can't do anything but keep house
and do embroidery and darnlng, /
answered rather sadly.
"I'n get a position too, when this
term ends-I don't know what, the girl
said. But I'm young and lots Of Offices
vii take me In and train me for Office work
OF some sort. can be telephone opera
tor. OF clerk, or assistant in a dress
making establishment such places pay
small salaries while teaching the trade
I've been asking about il. =
''At least I'm proficient housekeeper
! said.
''If you go off become housekeeper,
then you wont be here with me, and It S
no U aging on In the city if haven't
you with me.
1T did seem puzzling situation.
'How is our money holding OUT"
Vi asked, closing big book.
We had allotted a sum for each week
so it would stretch until February and
cover all Necessary expenses.
Not so we'll" / answered. 1.-TWO
You see, must get position, OF work
of some sort that viii bring little money.
vi had an idea.
Lets ask Helen" she said
So it was slttled for the evening Helen
was so practical, so full of new ideas, so
sure, that the very thought of her cheered
us up. Vi gave tired little sigh, pushing
back her gold hair from her foreheaa.
Her cheeks were less pink these DAYS. her
blue eyes sometimes had faint shadows
traced under them. But she was even
prettier so.
"W II, its funny life, she observed.
Here We are as coy as can be apparent
~, but We don't know what were going
TO do when our M rey run out, nd !
don know from day day what Is
going to happen to Bud, and there's
mother miserable because Of father. and
Laura doesn't seem as happy as she
thought, and my last letter from James
made me cry"
'Never mind, ! consoled her. "WeU
meet each problem, as it turns up. Mean
time, there S the danceSaturday You must
look fresh and pretty for that
] did an extTaVagant thing, and |
dared not tell Vi until the day of the
affair. In spite of our rapidly decreasirg
capital, | made each Of us new dress.
Helen was an eager helper
Your dresses of last winter were worn
rather badly" she said 'At least they're
'iig nSCohd DeSt t1ils st1tson uGSe things
were bargains, weren't they?"
She looked over my materials, taking
pleasure in their low price as only woman
can. ! had found remnants at yery little
in some Of the shops, and from them we
made for Vi frock of lowered chiffon
that combined the two most becoming
colors for her-blue and rose-with 8
girdle of corn yellow the shade of her hair
For myself, | bought bronze color
satin, and made it draped high on one
side. and cut little low in front-and
with a train, since they were wearing
them that season.