Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-25
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story Of q Woman's Transformation
BY MARION RUBINCAM.
Protected by George aiatth'

chapter Al.
| fancied there was n slight change
in Laura's manner after the day her
mother told that had once had beau
the word is Laura's. Before this she
had always considered me as nonentity,
someone who did odd jobs abont the
house, someone her father supported---and
this because paid no board at my brother 8
though | did as much work as a hired girl
who would have been boarded free and
given salary as well.
A dependent relative. or dependent
wife, often has all the disadvantages.
For she gets no salary, and expected to he
grateful for her job as we'll
Nv case of course was a little different.
| had some money-oniy hundred or so
year-as my share of the rent OF the
little house where I had been born. This
| spent on the three children, usually for
Christmas and birthday presents. Esther
bought my clothes when she bought her
own. Then had the little inheritance that
was To go part way towards sending Violet
to college.
Violet had never treated me as a noncnt-
ity, and james had been kindly and tolcr.'
ant. Few boys his age consider old maid
aunts as useful creatures, but James was
always very nice TO me. Laura alone open
ly looked down upon me.
''Ill bake the cake, | do II better than
you" she would say. when we were plan
ming a Saturdays work. Or, "I1l scrub
the porch. can do it faster"
And so on, with many items Of work.
My ability TO do beautiful daTning was
the only thing where l excelled her. Con-
sequently, had all the family mending-
and there WAS always plenty of II.
IL Nt~l~ hoI
to be excused from all work at home;
her time was taken preparing for the fina,
examinations at school--to be followed
at once by entrance examinations for
college We had not yet decided which
college she was to 60 TO.
And when the discussion came up,
Laurs's hostile feeling towards me grew
rather marked, though for while after
Esther's talk of the man who once was
in love with me, Laura had shown me
more respect.
AS long as can do this at all, want
TO do it right, Vi said one evening, school
books and catalogues piled before her on
the kitchen table.
Esther and ] were washing the dishes.
Laura had gone outside TO the spring
house to look after the milk and but
ter.
SO, I'm going to college in New
York" vi continued, picking up one
OF the catalogues.
"Now, | wont have YOU living alone
in city, and you barely Is next Fall,
Esther was argumentive at once.
Violet's blue eyes grew black-blue,
curious trick ! had noticed she had
when she was very angry or very deter
mined
Thousands of girls 60 every year
and don't get killed, she began sarcastl-
cally And m as old as any of them and
have much more sense than most girls is.
Just the same, you don't go to the
city alone. You pick out college IN small
town or village some place, and then I'll
feel safe"
Violet's ewes flashed.
Spend all my life in little hole like
Henly Falls, and then when | do have a
chance to get out of it, spend few years
in place not much bigger" she etorted
Then what? Come back to Henly Falls
and spend the rest of my days here
There's lots worse places than Henly
Falls, Esther's anger was coming up
too, and began to fear that all the plans
would fall through.
Strange to say. It was Jim who set
tied the question peaoeably. he came
into the kitchen, filing his pipe as he walk
ed remember how bent over he WAS;
he had been working hard that day.
Seems to me. he began. reaching
towards the match box on the wall, seems
u me since It's Ends money that's doin'
this, It's Enid has the say which college
she goes to-
He struck the match against the hot
stove and lighted his pipe. That set
ties it then Esther said, Struggling her
shoulders heavily Enid would give Vi
the moon if she asked for it. vi, you can
pick your college-Im only your mother,
amt got nothin TO say about 1t.
The attempt at sarcasm was lost on
Violet She was all smiles and ANNA
ton az once.
city" she answered promptly "And
will go with me.
And as we all stared, Laura coming
IN TO the kitchen to JOIN us, she went
on:
"It costs much less TO go as day scholar;
you save dormitory charges and lots of
extras. That will go towards keeping us in
some tiny little room near the college.
Aunt Enid can look after me, and you
won't have to worry-don't you remember
she said she d go If you wouldn t let me 20
alone? And If our money runs out sooner
that way, why, wont stay in college so
long, that's all.
And that's how our busy plans COM
nenced. As for Laura, she started minute,
then remarked,
Il don't see why Aunt Enid has to GO
She wouldn't have any fun IN big city,
;he d Just be lost-she's too old.
Tomorrow Commencement