Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-21
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
h Ssory ois Woman's rranssbrmatisa.
BY MARION RUBINCAM.
WE HEAR FROM ESTHER.
Chapter LXXXVI,

Aftor Francis left-for l made him
leave after time-l went out mcchani-
caliy 10 the kitchen and began getting
dinner for Violet and myself. There was
ALWAYS thAt--or some other task to do.
Physical work is probably one of our
grcatcst blessings If we only knew 1T.
The morn act Of preparing meal had been
comfort TO me in times Of sorrow, and
relief from anxiety.
And now In my great happiness 1
went through the motions without think
ing what Twas doing.
He had said, II love you over ana
over with all the fcrvor Of n young lover.
And when / asked him why he loved me,
How could help III How could
anyone help it7 You are the most unsclf-
18Th little woman in the world
"Oh nor / protested quickly.
ooh yes," he insisted, and laughed.
IL know a little the life you led with
your family. mean life OF unaPpreciated
work. Few women would have done even
that" -
Jim was supporting me
slf YOU call IL that" he said quietly.
el fancy YOU gave much more than you
r,t Indeed. don't have to be very
c,cvrr TO know that, for it's your dis
position 10 give everything and you ap-
parcnty got nothing IN return.
81 lived there"
"If YOU call il livingr'
'1t WAS pretty awful" / agreed
"Rut | knew nothing better then, so |
suppose didn't mind. And as for using
nv money for Violet and her college, that
was, il anything. a selfish act of mine
Look what got out of it
IL would never have know you other
wr~," he said.
sJ,nci.r' / cried aghast. ''Think
how dreadful that would be! Not to
have known you
And then laughed and we both laugh
ed at this foolish talk. But he came over
and took my hands and held them.
"They never liked me, they thought
was queer" said, thinking of our little
town of Henly Falls.
Naturally. since they could not ap-
prcciate you.
You make me feel like new per
son, | told him Then, wanting TO contide
in him and tell him everything, | went on:
II thought IL was my fault WASH Z
like those other people, | never seemed
to like what they liked, i never seemed
o. think the same way they did. 80
was "uecr
Never mind" he answered. "Thst
-.
or village The number of people are so
limited that there are fewer chances OF
finding the real comrades and friends, the
pcople with similar tastes-unless of
course YOU happen TO be cut more or less
in the same pattern. Here at least there
are enough people so YOU can be sure OF
finding those YOU like.
''Or love" / added shyly, and raised
his hand ~ my check
''Or love- he echoed, and put his
arm around me.
I went over and over this IN my MIND,
while | nut on potatoes to boil, and
Inspected the milk left in the bottle in
the miniature ice box, and decided on
a dessert for our dinner.
| brought out the china from the
shelves IN the little kitchen. and carried
q IN on our pretty black lacquer tray
and began setting the table IN the living
room.
Once / stopped and looked out the
window. up the cold, bleak little street
Here | stood AZ the closing of one life,
and the beginning of another Against
great deal OF encouragement had strug-
ged up from an existence that was un-
speakably miserable, TO this
NV ewes wandered around our little
living room The candles were lighted
on the tiny mantel and threw golden
hickering light over everything. The
lamp with its yellow shade Illuminated
the table, set with dainty doilies and
our attractive china 1t was all very
inexpensive, and perhaps not appealing
20 some people-but a little heaven 10
Violet and myself. My thoughts flew
on
to this' And now | was going on to
something better. new life. a life so
much more wonderful that | could not
AZ this moment grasp il, was opening
up be.ofe me. And what ] had done, any
woman could do. Eve. woman's destiny
i IN he. own hands, If she has buth
courage to take II up.
The opening of the door started me
out oi nv dream. and i realized sud-
denly that / was shamefully neglecting
the dinner ] hurried 10 the kitchen
To inspect the things that were cooking,
and turned TO look at vi, who was coming
IN.
Her face had been white for DAYS, and
the blue shadows under her very blue
eyes made her seem so delicate as to be
almost unreal.
''Tired2" ! asked, trying to make my
voice casual.
Yes" she said drearily. al stayed
late for some extra work. / think I'll
hsve a hot bath and put on a kimono
and eat dinner that way"
''Oh YES here's letter from Mother,
she said, coming TO the kitchen, pulling
out hairpins as she walked She hand
ed me the envelope and went back to
undress, shaking down her fluff of golden
hair.
Tomosrow-Bud