Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-10
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story ola woman's Transformation
ny MARION RUBINCAM.
prctct~, ny George Nj ~ thcw Adams.
vIOLET'S SYMPATHY.
Chapter NNlV.


vIOLEr's SYMPATHY.
Chapter XXIV.
sa, in the kitchen for time thinking
about it. After all was sorry to have done
something Esther did not approve o.
Shc had been good TO me. She had gladly
,aken me into her home when had none
of my own. The fac, that had more than
earned all | ever cost, had nothing to do
with the case.
Esther wanted me 10 marry. 1t was her
solc idea of-could it be happiness Az
least il was her notion of what woman
should do.
MhyY
Esther had not been happy in her mar
r,cd life. She had probably cared Tor JIM
in the beginning-as much, at least, as
Esther was capable of caring. He had
been deeply in love, l knew that. l knew
that Jim was capable, too, of great deal
Of affection. Probably they both cared
now-after a fashion. But 1t was habis,
not love, that kept them together.
For Esther was the sort OF woman who
considered il immoral TO look attractive
after she was married-a convection that
grew with every baby she bore. her duty
IN hcr husband did not include making
herself alluring in his eyes. The great
mistake MANY women make is-that they
think the promise to love in the marriage
ceremony is an easy one to keep.
| picked up the other lamp and went TO
NV room. | could not understand the
affair at all. did not know then that my
s,stcr-in-aw never really thought, but
only reasoned along conventional lines
That was why, though not happy herself,
she wanted me 10 marry man l did not
love.
| pulled down my hair, stiff, colorless,
duh and thin. | unfastened my high col
lar. noting the brown ridge around my
meek where il had rubbed the skin. !
hooked at my sunken cheeks, sallow skin
and thin shoulders. T'han turned out the
light and undrrssed in the dark. There
u,s no saving this wreck of what had once
hcen a pretty girl The best thing to do
WAS to forget both it's past and ITS present
The door opened softly, and NIoiet's
voice called me
viii YOU tell me about it, Aunt Enid?'
she asked. She sat down IN a chair by the
opcn window. can still see her there. so
Young and pretty in her cheap cotton
wrapper. Her shining hair fell around her
shoulders. Ia the sllvery light from the
stars. she did not look like q real girl so
much as a golden-haircd sprlte bathed IN
silver mist.
We'll. he did ask me, just as Esther
thought, ! told her.
But YOU didn't promise 10 marry
him." Her voice Was all anxiety.
NO, | said wouldn't.
ooh. I'm SO glad She relaxed IN the
char as though great weight had been
lifted " was afraid Mother would make
YOU do even that. and | couldn't bear the
a that nHfnffS old
man
'tsthcrs awfully cross. "
Violet laughed little, a low laugh, for
We did not dare disturb the other members
oi the family.
Il know she Is She talked shout it all
evening. and when Mother has her mind
made IN. its awful to change It.
Is IL exciting being proposed to- she
asked presently.
No. not very, answered. But this
wasn't the sort Of proposal you read in
novels. mean, il wasn't romantic. OF
course. we're too old for that. Cncon-
sciouslv ! was quoting Mark.
Rubbish answered my young niece.
ON het when We get 10 the city this fall
You n begin To grow young. For one thing,
Vou wont have as much work TO do. Do
You get tired much"
That. too, was a new idea. Of course !
GOT tired 1 was tired most of the time
Bur farm life was hard, Esther and | both
overuorked there were duties 70 be done,
and heing tired naturally followed !
really had not thought Of it-l had merely
accepted u
It's an settled. about the city Vi
went on Father aud ] talked about II
this evening = went nat n the barn with
l. a. a.
Ncm to g. thcrt icw days hetoro the
rnllogp OPENS, and ind room through the
n ~ q nr some other organization
lke that Nias MnuN--hcs my history
teacher ynN know she gwen me a letter
a. ihe secretary 81 the \ W q 4 and
the, u help ~
Then we're going % find a couple of
tnoms. very cheap. where We can keep
hnusr / II be- 4 sort Of day pupil. u costs
lees fheN sent me some catalOgues and
W been reading about IL tins evening
Were going ia % Hartford and stav
With those friends II Mother s-you know
the ones / don't like-and take an early |
train next morning, 50 we'll have most Of |
the day 10 fnd a temporary place. You re |
20 take vOur money and deposit il IN a |
New York bank, and well be very, very |
economical aud 90 without desserts and |
have lovely times"
laughed at her mixed up plans
When do we go?" ] said, catching her |
enthusiasm.
September T." she said "But was so |
afraid you'd marry that dreadful Upjohn |
person. and I'd have to go alone. We will !
have such good times
"You don't blame me them" ] asked.
She came over and put her arms around |
me.
I'D just want to kill him, if you mar
med him, she said.
Monday-We arrive.