Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-23
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story ot Woman's Transformation.
ny MARION RUBINCAM.
LOOKING BACKWARD.

about So that mail reacQeu us spaSfnodlcai-
lv. We had gone straight to Paris from
the boat, and spent only week there,
seeing only few of the fascinating bits
of the CITY and spending most of the time
shopping since had to get warm weather
clothes.
Then we had gone to Italy, and the
charm of that country took such hold
upon me. that | felt ! must be almost
a new person when j left il. for | had
absorbed ~ much of its beauty, 80 much
of its romance Then north again, going
slowly, and stopping often in the cathe-
dral country of France. Then again to
Paris. when We received some long-deiay-
ed mail. and on into Holland.
And it WAS at The Hague that | found
Niolets letter telling me the happy ter
mination of her affair and other important
news Ii was very nearly June then
Francis and ! had been married three
whole monthsl
"Of course YOU wont be bit surprised
10 know that Bud and are engaged again,
she wrote Both YOU and Uncle Francis
have known all along it would happen
and never denied it would except to
Bud himself But felt that the few months
| kept him from knowing were good for
him-he thought il was only whim on
my mart: he didn't take IL seriously at
ali The concerted child never thought
| could help being in love with him.
well. couldn't. But after two months
be WAS very doubtful and, IN properly
humble frame of mind. So then | grac-
iousk recons;dercd what | had said be-
fore. and now we're engaged again. And
tins tune it's forever-untii we are mar
red
You were right and 20 WAS Helen, in
What vou said sometimes-that Bud was
too sir, Of me. But now he knows An
indepcnCicnce of mind that he never sus-
pec,ei In me before, and | believe likes
me much more for IT. As for myself, |
appreciate being engaged more, too, since
denied il 10 myself these last few months.
Helen says it's always so--we appreciate
things more when we've been without
them for a long time That s why she's so
happy now. for she and Toby are to be
r,srrred this week-snd YOU just ought
20 see them, They're worse than Bud and
/"
There wss p = on the letter that
made me laugh
You should see my ring-s regular
large diamond
Francis laughed at tins, too.
They say AT the Office Bud is doing
very good work now, so | suppose he's
been steadied IN all that affair of the
robbery. When ! get back, we'll give
HIM a raise"
But they shouldn't marry on his
salary, even so."
No, well Try to bold our young Yio-
let until wear after she's through col
lcgc-she1l be II then, % when you
have gwen her frivolous social season.
She mav not have him then"
she will / said, nodding my head
emphstically.
And after he left me / went out for
walk alone-thinking Of Violets let
ter and Of other things ] sat in park IN
the centre of the city, with white swans
in the lake. and beyond bit of the old
medieval town.
IL WAS June and the summer was
fully upon us. A fashionably-dressed
woman passed me, then s nurse and a
child-a golden-haired girl of two who
made my heart ache with longing for
another one Just like herself-and a
peasant woman in gathering wooden sa-
bots. Tomorrow we were going to Eng
land, then back in July And IN October
we were 10 open the house that would be
our permanent city home.
In my trunks were enough wonderful
clothes TO please even the autocratlc
Mrs Meade. ! glanced at my gown, and
look 80 well.
And this was 1, This young woman
who, judging from her mirror. might
be well under 30-slender, snlartly dress
ed. really distinguished looking in
gentle, rather sweet fashion. This was L.
And really ] WAS 81 II had been more
than two wears since the Great Awaken
ing | thought of the women in Henly
Falls who were 37-women who had let
themselves be wrecked by the narrow,
mean life of that little town. thought of
Mark Upjohn, who grew noticeably latter
with the months, and his pitiable little
wife. / turned-Franeis was to meet me
here and we were 70 go to tea, then for
drive before dinner.
Francis was coming, tail, handsome,
with quick, elastic step, keeping the
youthful slimness Of his figure, but add
ing TO il decision of motion that youth
rarely poss esses. His eyes Lit up as they
saw me-they always Lit up so when we
met after even the shortest absence, as
mine must always glow with love and hap
plness whenever j look at him.
And tins almost perfection of Joy was
TO go on-and on-always. And when the
romance and passion of our first years
together cooled-if it did-there would
be something deeper, and as sweet, to
take It's place.
For we were not the sort to let our
selves sink down, to handle carelessly
the golden gift of love that had been
granted us. Almost too late ] had found
myself, pulled myself away from the
most impossible conditions, made myself
over, brought back some OF my youth
and this was my reward
And what did, any woman with enough
will power and Imagination can alse do.
Dearest" Francis spoke from be
hind the bench, "are you ready for tea?'
The End.
Begin ming Monday. Every Evening
will publish daily in this column Marion
Rubiucams latest inspirational novel
The Girl Who Had No Chance"-the
story of girl who had 10 stay at home
to help out there when her whole soul
cried out for life, for d career, for love. |
You viii want TO read how Ruth O'NeiI !
carved success and happiness out of a
life that had no chance.-The Editor) |