Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-02
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story Of Woman's Transformation.
BY MARION RUBINCAM.
Protected by George Matthew Adams
WE ARRIVE.

w Iae'EbiNh t5af AGstN.
Enid Haines has been considered an
aunt-of-all-work in the Hanes family
by every one except her 17-ycar-old
niece, Violet She is 35, looks So is hope
lessly an old maid She lives with her
brother Jim, a farmer his wife Esther,
a daughter Laura, a son James, And
/ Violet
Violet takes them out of the rut they
had fallen into by insisting upon going
TO college in the city. Enid gives her
her own tiny legacy TO send her through,
and goes TO the city to take care OF her.
/ There Is much comment at home, be-
cause Mark Upjohn, u beau Of her youth
had returned to the village and had come
| to see her In the city. the two suddenly
| discover the possibilities life holds for
/ them. Violet is much in love with Bud Pcar-
| soil, At the end of the college term, they
start back home reluctantly. Enid has
/ seen one man who interests her great deal.
CHAPTER xLIrI.
II was ludicrous and pathetic to see
our preparations for a summer at home
/ I'm the country.
"You both look as though YOU might
be getting ready for your own funerals,
Helen remarked, making pile of cush-
ions on the floor and sitting down on
them. Helen always preferred to sit on
the floor or ON the arm of n chair. And
curiously enough, these unusual positions
were more becoming 90 her than the COM
ventionally seated one.
"Well, | don't feel particularly cheer
full about going home. If you knew what
il was likef' Violet said her mouth drawn
far down at the corners. She was care
fully stuffimg tissue paper into the sleeves
of her blue silk SO IT would not crease IN
packing
Good heavensl The child has n home
IN the country she s going away To spend
these hot months where green trees grow
and there ls unlimited grass and no signs
around to forbid walking on it, She S going
where birds sing in the morning and cool
winds blow
You'd better come up yourself then,
you'll appreciate il more than | do,
Vi answered, pouting
"May | spend my two weeks vacation
this August with you2" Helen asked
eagerly And Of course we were overjoyed
to have her
And So that was arranged. and we
went on packing for our trip.
Il think YOU should take along some
of your ornaments Helen said BE
cause I've lot OF candlesticks of my
own and if your place Is as plain as
YOU say, it viii be nice to have reminders
Of this charming apartment.
That's good idea. Vi said, beginning
at once to gather up our little treasures
IN going to make my room at home as
much like this place as possible, | won't
feel So badly then
80 candlesticka, silk covered sofa c,ish-
ions, tho strip Of hrocade over the mantel,
the incense jar the Buddha and the various
other little artistic things had gathered,
went into large box to be shipped on our
ticket
And finally We were ready
Violet went To the window and stared
out at the sun-haked street below. II
was never pretty outlook. for this
ncighborhood was far to one side Of
the city. and lnconveuient, and down
al it's heels Wherever the girl looked
she could sec nothing hut boxlike red
brick houses. with occasionally a mat
tress thrust through an open window,
and IN the streets pushcarts and chilA
dren, and babies, aud mothers too Ian
glld from the hot day to work rk-women
who sat about in tho shade Of doorways
and nursed the babies aud talked and
talked.
And YOU regret that," Helen said.
waving hand M the street, that ugly,
smelly outlook. for green fields and woods
and a WATERFALL
Violet smiled little and turned from
tho window
But knew why she WAS sorry TO 90
she was worried over Bud. For the lad
had been on his good behavior for weeks
now, but he was little impatient about
it After Helen left, she talked about him
81, 49,
noon train and were to arrive home sun
day This was done 50 Bud could sec US
of
tHc has been saving money" Vi
said. He showed me his bank book last
week. and he has $50 saved from his
salary And he hasn't been gambling
in stocks lately ! do hope he'll be con
tented over the summer. If anything
should happen to him her voice
trailed off into nothing and her eyes were
round and worried.
But when Bud came to see us of.
he was SO sweet and so charming that
Violet choerod up Immediately
Its such long time-four months.
she said, looking up at him and trying
TO smile.
"Of course it is. But think of me in
the hot city all that time. You will be
cool and comfortable at least. here was
Just a trace Of impatience in his voice.
Except that there are ever so many
things 10 do in the city. At home there's
nothing to DO but-think about you
Her cheeks redeemed little as she made
this confession.
Bud smiled down at her.
That's right-don't forget nc
Bud As though / could!'
"Oh, you might-here, give me your
things we'd better start
He seemed almost to want us away.
He could moi go through the train
gate, so he gave our luggage to a porter
tipping him for US. Then he turned to me:
you've been peach all winter, Auntie
and I'm darned glad you came to town"
he said. And he put his arms around my
shoulder and kissed me. Then without
word he stopped down and kissed Violet