Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-20
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story cfa Woman's TransformatSon
BY MARION RUBINCAM
FyCITFD PLANS.


/ was plunged into a perfect whIrl
pool Of excitement from the day after
myrrturn home.
AS he had promised, Francis brought
his car around the next afternoon 70
take me to his Mothers to dinner. We
fingered for perhaps a few moments IN
nv little living room, for there were
80 many things TO talk about-and II
was charming 10 talk while francis
heldmy hands or his arms were around me.
| had already put on my best satin
dress-noticing with some concern that
N was wearing out and that no amount
of mending and pressing and sponglng
would quite overcome the increasing
shabbiness. However, when / had care
fully dressed my hair, and had even
waved ii slightly felt / could lace his
mother with more assurance with my hair
waved felt satisfied with my appearance
And YOU ook lovlier every time i
see YOU" my lover said after had greet
cd him.
We'll take little spin first" Fran
els announced as he got into the car be-
side me.
/ leaned back in the luxurious car
with a sigh of pure content and happl-
ness. Aside from the wonder OF having
Francis himself, there was always the
wonder of being part of this luxury, this
beauty, this ease OF hfe.
This is Your car if you want it, Fran
us said as we drove along. u can get an
other for nv own use, or else have Grace
drive me TO the Office In this every day, +,
and come home IN a taxi.
Don't get an other car" / said, aghast
Al such extravaganza. "I'n come to the
office for YOU every afternoon.
Francis laughed mdulgently.
80 YOU think, my dear, and so you
viii for few months. Then you'll find
there are so many calls and luncheons
and teas that you'll not have time for
poor me.
/ turned TO protest Then ] thought
over what he said
'Iuncheons, and teas with your friends!
VIII they like me! I've so much to learn
about the social part OF 1t, Dear-I'm
rather frightened about that
''You needn't be. And Mother will
help YOU in that-yes, she will, don t
look incredulous. She'll begin on you
tonight"
He stopped the car before a house
on Sixty-ninth street, recognized it
as one we had looked at casually be
fore. Once one of the brownstone fronts
that deluged this part of the city, this
special house had been done over In a
most artistic way. Red brick made new
front, and better-looking one, and larger
windows with loaded glass panes gave it a
cheerful air that the other houses did not
possess. 1t was only few doors from Fifth
Avenue and the Park.
''Your new home, madam Francis
announced, helping me out of the car
| gave a little gasp of excitement
/ knew, Of course, that we were to have
this place-but ! did not know how much
II had been done over. My excitement in
creased as we went into 1.-THE ornate
woodwork had been ripped out and re-
placed by a simpler style; the freplaces
had English mantels of a centuTy-old
period; all the woodwork glowed with
IVORY white enamel.
THAT all wanted TO do to the place,
he said. when we come back, you car
choose the color combinations, the paper:
and hangiugs and all the rest OF Il. Looi
here-thIs is our suite. DO you like lt!
] turned to him, and nodded my head
could not trust myself to speak at JUS
that instant. For there were some thing
that were beyond words, and some form
Of happiness that could only be e1)resse {
IN silence.
Mrs Meade had evidently made ul
her mind to make the best of situation
she would not have chosen and TO do !
gracefully. And for this / admired her I'M
mcnsely.
She kissed rue affectionately, and tool
\ me into her room, where for an hour w
went over the list of people who wer'
20 Ge invited 10 the wedding which wa