Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-03
! SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story Of Woman's Transformation
BY MARION RUBINCAM.
prourtcd wv George Matthew Adams.
THE GIRL REBELS.
Cbap,cr XVIII.

Chapter XVIII.
n was curious that, the day after my
avn clumsy cxperlment with cosmetics
called by some the forlorn hope oi
the aging-I shall find Violet practic-
ing the same thing. l noticed that her
door WAS closed; Knocked and she asked
me my name before she admitted me,
"But why do you do it2' | asked her:
"And where do you get the cold cream
Violet laughed little, her cheeks
pink because she was discovered.
ooh. one the girls in my lass. She
uses il all the time and gave me some.
But you're so pretty, and so young.
You don't need these things. You're too
Young for them-just as I'm too old.
"Now, Aunt Enid" Violet protested,
"voure not too old You only think you
are because Mother keeps saying so, and
because Laura's cat. AS for powder and
cold cream. all the girls use them. But
Mother would positively howl If she knew
did. and she wouldn't give me the money
anyway. Now, is there any harm IN a
woman making herself as beautiful as
possible2"
She turned on me dramatically as she
said il. At least, it would have been drama
tic if she had not had large blob OF cold
cream on the very end of her nose. As 1t
was. her speech was funny, and laugh
ed. the first carefree laugh | think had
enjoyed for years Violet, turning to her
mirror, began TO laugh too. Then, wIprng
the stuff from her skin-whieh- always
looked so freshly pink and white-sh
began to comb her hair, and put on fresh
frock, talking all the time.
The trouble is, we're bossed, she
said. 'We're hen-peoked. Mother keeps
telling YOU you are old and homely---
and you are when you do your hair the
wav she does and wear dresses cut IN
the funny fashion she cuts hers. She
keeps telling me / am young and foolish
and she's told us that so long we both
believe. So we are.
She waved her brush TO emphasize
this Then, coiling her wonderful gold
hair into a knot on her head, she went
on.
80 we've got to get away We we got to
find ourselves You know what she wants
she wants to marry you of 10 that odious
Mr. Upjohn. and then, after she marrles
Laura TO Charlie. she'l turn her attention
To me- She'll pick some nice prosperous
Young farmer" All the scorn of not yet
Is was in her voice.
AUNT Enid, YOU aren't going TO mar
~ Mark Upjohn? Why, he's 40 or more,
and as big around as"
He hasn't even asked me- | began
mildly. Besides, he's only FIVE years
Older than / am, my dear. And I'm old
look at mel
y on wouldn't he if YOU got away from
here. Its the deafness of this place. It's
sitting. | cant breathe in il. " She gave a
Jerk at her dress TO convince me OF this.
There was rattling Of the knob, and Esther
came in-she never knocked. She looked
az us suspiciously.
What are YOU up to now, she asked.
Whenever | see YOU two with your
heads together, know you re up to some
thin.
We're planning how we're going to
live next fall, when we go to the city,
vi answered quickly.
'I'll bet YOU are. Esther said with
heavy sarcasm. "An old maid and kid
Il can see you having high times. Well,
that's what | wanted to talk about any
way. | don't think Enid can &c"
.'But, of course she's goIngi it burst
out from vi before she thought. 1t was an
unfortunate remark. Esther's heavy jaw
looked heavier at once.
But YOU said | could 60. and | can't
if she doesn't" Vi said The red spots
that meant anger or determination or
excitement flew TO her checks.
well, we've been talking it over, Jim
and /, and we've decided you can go
alone, after all, Esther said. My heart
sank. | felt the dead, dull years closing
over me suddenly.
We've decided" Esther went on,
''that Enid needs her money for other
things. We don't think It would be right
10 take it. No"-as | started to interrupt
that's your money, and won't touch
II. nor let Violet do so either. You're TO
stay here, where you We got good home.
until maybe YOU get a home OF your own
IA pray the Lord you will
There was a sound from vi, but Esther
went on
We've decided that Vi will be per-
fectly safe. It's girls college. and they're
well looked after, and there are hundreds
of them do IL every year, as VI herself said
And Jim and can scrape along, and man.
age TO spare the money to put her through
for year or two.
The assurance that she, at least, was
TO go did not mollify Violet. She drew
herself up stiff, and faced her mother
her eyes purple with anger.
You mean YOU want 10 keep heI
here to help do the work without getting
paid for it, while you pretend to give hel
good home, so she Il be here when Laura
marries-if she does. You mean to keep
her here until you can force that hideous
old gargoyle Mark Upiohn to marry her
he ii do it to save paying wages to house
keeper, and he wouldn't be thankful to
her at that-he d think he was condesccnd-
ing TO marry her, because she 5 poor and
not young girl. Maybe you think you're
being nice and unselish, but you're not
You're"
Esther had risen, and the two faced
each other with eyes blazing.
Monday-The Girl Helps