Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-28
\ SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story of Woman's Transformation
BY MARION RUBlNCAM.
Protected hy George Mat ahev Adams.
THE OLD FRIEND.

Protecte ted hy George NJ ~ Ahov AdAma.
THE OLD FRIEND.
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
When Enid Haines passes her thirty
ffth birthday, she realizes how old she
has become. At least, her sister-in-law
Esther keeps reminding her Of the fact
that she is an old woman and an old
maid; Esther's daughter Laura does the
same, only Violet. Laura younger sis
ter, is affectionate and still believes in
her.
With Vic cts graduation from the To-
cal High School. comes the decision on
Ends part to send the girl to college
and to go with her to the city. A man,
| Mark Upjohn, who had once been Ends
| sweethea (, is seen at the Class Day
exercises.
CHAPTER xur.
tried TO follow Esther's glance. There
were a great many people in the hall, and
as she was taller she had the better chance
to see around her 1t WAS more difficult
because she kept shaking my arm in her
impatience that did not see the man she
did
Upjohn, the one man who had ever paid
diiN StiitGs ditSntitb W NItit NbS
young At least, a stout. baldheaded man
sat with our friends This, apparently,
was Mark All could see was a bare head,
red and shiny, most appallingly nude in
its lack of hair, and around the edges n
sort of fringe of graying haire.
Could this be Mark? | stared as hard
as | could quite forgetting the speech
being made on the stage, in my endeavor
to find something about this figure that
would remind me of the man | used to
know Mark never had been thn-but
thisl The neck rolled over the collar; its
skin was reddish pink; the shoulders were
rounded and seemed as fat as the neck
As | stared. he turned TO whisper some
thing to the woman beside them-and
then | recognized his profile.
He looks prosperous" Esther whis-
pered when she made sure | had long
look at our old friend. Seems 10 me
I've heard he made a lot of money too.
I'll find out tomorrow.
Comforted bv the idea that the NOR
row would bring forth all the details
her gossip-loving soul wanted, Esther
gave her attention to the Class Day Ex-
ercises
Violet, remember was class prophet.
To her fell the task of predicting what
was to happen TO the other graduates.
| remember. too, how we'll she did il,
with none of the sly allusions to fiiita-
tions and the silly jokes that make up
so many of these exercises.
The entertainment came 10 an end at
last, and we all went 10 a room where
lemonade and cake had been set out.
There was, Of course, a great deal Of
hand-shaking and renewing of old friend
ships, and really it became q ve,y festive
occasion.
Esthe, clutched me himly by the arm,
and ! saw the light Of determination in
her ewes. When Esther looked that way.
| never made any attempt TO resist !
knew now what she wanted.
Gradually, and with apparent uncon-
Germ. we wandered down the room
toward the Diggs and Mark Upjohn
| did not want to 60. | did not particu-
larly want to see my old admirer But
! was quite helpless. Shaking hands
with people, talking and laughing. we
went on down the lines of people. From
the tail of her eve. Esther kept a watch
on Mark; and wherever he went, she
managed to work her way nearer 10 hum.
Suddenly by a clever strategic turn, we
came face to face.
We'll, Mark Upiohnr' Esther ex-
claimed IN apparent surprise. Well,
now, isnlt this fine to see YOU, It's been
years since you've been in these parts"
Effusivelv she held out her hand. and
she and Mark smiled cordially at each
other.
well. well. Mrs. Haines," he said.
81 been looking for YOU, too Thought
Id see you and Jim here. Mighty pretty
young daughter you got graduatin' to
morrow
Don let her hear YOU say that, she's
enough notions already, Esther cautioned
him, with real maternal pride at praise of
her daughter. Then she turned to me
"And here's Enid, she said.
Evidently her explanation was neces-
sary Mark had looked at me- Of course,
as he talked to Esther, but there had been +
no recognition IN his eyes He tried clumsily
now to make up for 1t.
We'll, so It isl / wouldn't have known /
YOU, he exclaimed, holding out his hand I
to say, for he dropped my hand in some /
confusion, then ratified on
Its been so long since we did see each I
other, guess you wouldn't have known me /
either, would your"
mo. | wouldn't" / confessed-and |
said it little curtly, on purpose. knew
Esther very well, and ] knew now what
was in the back of her mind.
We'll, well, it's been long time since
we saw each other" he repeated hastily.
II haven't been round here-how long?
All of II years-14 maybe But thought
now | d earned little rest and now that
Billy was graduatin' and thinkin' of goin
in business, that I'd come over here and
see the old folks"
II guess everyone is glad TO see you"
Esther answered we amt heard from