Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-06
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story Of, Woman's Transformation.
BY MARION RUBlNCAM.
OUR TALK.

"And when, Esther asked, "arc yo,
, going to be marricd9"
/, ri don't know" | answered truth
fully. Francis wants il to be February
| He says we'll 90 to Paris first and ther
straight down To Italy. II will be warn
| there, and when we 90 North again wei
meet the Spring, and have fine weather
all the time.
"And this is january Esther ex-
claimed. my land, Enid, how about
/ your trousscau"?
"Why bother with one7' answered
1 81 cant afford the sort Of clothes I'll
have to wear as his wife, 80 II! wait
and get what need abroad"
MY land'' Esther breathed, entirely
overcome by all this.
And then,' | went on dreamily,
| thinking of the plans Francis had made
at tea the day before, 'then we'll go
into Holland, which is most lovely in
the Spring, and over TO England Well
be in London early in MAY, when Francis
says he likes it best J"
''He has been there before2'
ooh, oftent' | answered casually
Next summer Francis mother in To
lend us her house in Connecticut, and
over the hot weather we'll have our
real home decorated and furnished, ready
for next FaIl," !"
Have you picked one out already7"
Esther's little eyes were growing al
most large from excitement | had never
talked like this to her before
'Oh no, but Francis owns several. YOU
know" II WAS hard to keep certain little
worldly pride from my voice, and GER
tain amusement from my eyes as spoke,
watching the effect each statement had
on my sister-in-law. | remembered
how she had urged me To marry Mark
Upjohn---who owned house in q village
and an interest in some small businesses.
There was more than vanity in INV mind
now. however as gave Esther this
succession of imposing facts. had
purpose.
''The one he likes best" | continued
lis IN the East Sixtiea--I mean the
streets that run from Goth Street 10
Goth street ] explained, seeing that
she did not understand. It's near the
Park, and though It looks small, IT will
do quite we'll We shall do il in old
Colonial furniture"
Esther was hanging on every word now.
] gave a rapid sketch Of the place as
Francis described it.
Violet is TO have a little suite OF her
own on the third floor" | finished. "A
sitting room, bedroom and bath.
think shall cover the walls with yellow
damask, and have blue hangings and q.
much blue worked IN as possible. | al
ways think Of VI as being blue and gold,,,'
"You always had sentimental ideas
about the girl. Already Esther spoke
she had given her up,
ha4 t.yh IN ha
We'll, she summed it up after a
while, . ALI got TO say is YOU are awful
lucky, running off with a rich man Who'd
have thought it?' She looked me over
curiously. Strange what difference
clothes make in a womanl she went
on with SIGH,
'Clothes!' | answered. do YOU
think they make so much difference
It's not that mean. it's not the rich
ness of clothes that counts. Look at
Mrs. Baxter at home-shc has money,
and YOU know what she looks hke' Nts
the sort of clothes YOU choose, and the
way YOU hold yourself when YOU. wear
them. It's more than that, it's whether
your skin Is clear and your hair nice, ii s
whether your voice rs soft and your words
well chosen, whether your manner shows
! broke off. / hadn't meant to go in 10
q lecture. It's whether YOU love other
people and respect yourself. | ended.
II never had chance. Esther COM
planned, using the excuse of the weak.
Il guess may be, il Id spent Jim's money
for fine clothes, instead of making over
old house dresses from scent c-lieo-
| might-he mightn t." she hesitated.
Pound some other woman more at
trsctlve, ] finished brutally.
But there was no use going into details.
Esther was what she was because she
had chosen the careless way. Ii was
that at least she recongized
the difference between what had made
Of myself and what she had let circum-
stances make of her.
''Oh, he'll do If. too, sometimes.
Esther said suddenly You're in love
now, and SOS he, and you think Meade
will be faithful TO YOU all the time.
But men never are You're 80 or 81
now, though ! admit you don't look
more m 30-not that sometimes But
you'll be 40, and begin to lose your
igure, and get wrinkles-and there Il
'e some young chit come along
IF so, ! broke in, 1T wont be be