Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-24
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story Of a Woman's Transformation.
BY MARION RUBINCAM.
Protested by Gcorxs Matthew Adams.
Wis TRIAL.

Wis TRIAL.
Chapter XXXV1
The curious transformation went on
o. the winter progressed. Helen, who
had started ~ Wis friend and whom
l Looked upon at first AS mere girl
gradually became a real chum to me
To her | owe the fact that / dropped
more than 20 years that one winter
Lett To myself il would have come very
slowly-pcrhaps too slowly-but again
am running ahead of my story.
''You arr bony," she would tell me.
Put fnsh,onably dressed bones are no
longer parts of awkward anatomy. The
thin woman properly dressed rs slim,
p,rl,sh, youthful, slender something ro-
mantle like thatl'' She ended her speeches
often by waving her hand in the air.
Don't bend over so" she would say
again. Keep your chest up. Try these
exercises"
Impulsively she would jump up-we
usually sat IN her tiny restaurant-and
pushing aside the tables, she would 90
through whole list of exercises.
And eventually | began to practice
the exercises too-mornings after / fin
ished the little bit of housework.
"Now, | am the awkward type" she
went ON. put me IN conventional clothes
and Id be as plain as pipestem. That's
why 60 in for smocks and short hair
makes me different, at least
you are so full of possibilities, you
make me dissy, she would run on, shaking
a long hony finger At me, her fine eyes
squirting again as she looked at me.
"touv done wonders already. You walk
better, stand better, sit better-that'
the test, YOU know Probably YOU will have
% learn to dance. That Will do a lot.
had heeting vision OF EstheIs
fNrc at such An idea. And / rebelled 1t
onoc against Esther.
I'm learn To dance next winter" i
psomrsed.
You must look sophisticated and
fashionable and convcntional-you know,
bit like the young society matron. Mar
eel your halr-that will do the trick.
But of course, your mind will never
b. sophistical. You arc the dear and
adorable old aunt always. You'll always
love Ia make other people happy, and 90
unsclfsh things You'll always be sur
pr,scd and little shocked nj the ruthless
ness of this world. so that's where the
dramatic climax will come IN. Under this
suavc appearance of the woman of the
world, YOU are 90 remain AS sweet and
sImple ~ any little country girl. | tell
YOU, the combination will be irresistible y
laughed az her Yet so il worked
QUITO an extent.
Yet really We lived very quiet and
s,mple life. Our most exciting adventures
were long walks through the city and the
surrounding suburbs We had 10 spend
50 much on our cothes and our little fiat,
that we dared not take more for pleasures.
Vet every day was a joyous adventure
IN life for me and joyous delvlng into
knowledge for Vi.
But AS ! grew younger under the
freedom ! now enjoyed, Vi grew older
and more thoughtful.
VI was IN and love can make a
woman old before her time. or il can keep
her young far beyond her youth. Wis
affair was not running happily.
Bud wants me 20 90 TO the theatre
Saturday night and 10 q dance AT a hotel
after IL VI said one afternoon | had
come hack from a talk with Helen. and
was taking of my pretty furs.
But that's delightful, dear. | said
Why do you pull such long face bout
n9'
Its NJ the" she mentioned fash
lonable hotel And I know it will cost
nearly $40 for what We have TO eat and
irInk there. And Bud won't spend less
than So each for theatre seats.
1t Is lot, agreed
~ lot Fourteen dollars al least for an
evening. And Bud only makes SIS week
lie can't hive on 81 the rest of the time
Her face was little thin and not as
prcttllv pink a usual And her ewes were
sombre. Vi had a vistful expression some
times that cut me sharply when ! saw it.
W course / liked our George-he was a
tall good looking. essentially honest chap,
and he sdOrcd Vi But he had weaknesses !
he brought out All the motherincSs there
was n the girl and suspected that some /
times be caused her a great deal of pain
by his little thoughtle- acts and by his /
occasional extrava gance
II sand ] wouldn't 20, she said
Tell him 10 rome down here instead, |
and We Il invite Helen, and he can bring /
Pete and anyone he wants and we'll |
have a party here.
Violet went downstairs 10 telephone |
Helen had a phone. and we had .
kew 10 enter her room whenever We want |
ed 20 use n, and we shared the expense /
OF IL.
She came up a little later, her face
dead white.
He SAYS he's already asked anotha |
girl, and cant get ont of II now She !
handed me a letter. picked up In the hall /
a. she came upstairs.
This Just came
opened 1t, recognizing Esther's hand
writing.
Why" / exclaimed in surprise Laura
engaged 10 Charlie" ! broke off fright
ened by the increasing pallor in Wis
iace. | wished ! had not said wh at ! did
For without word, Vi turned and
went into the bedroom. closing the door
IL was a trial, having the news Of Laura's
happiness come Just when ii did