Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-21
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story Of Woman's Transformation.
BY MARION RUBlNCANl.
Protected py Geornf Matthew Adams.
BUDS LETTER.
Chapter TX.

Chapter LN.
"You really want to marry very bad
", don't you, Mark?" | asked.
"Why--well-yes, of course he said.
'And after all, it wouldn't make so
much difference to you whether you mar
ried me or not?" went on.
"Why-what do you mean?'
Last summer, only few weeks
after you had asked me to marry you,
YOU asked Sarah Belle-and you were
perfectly happy when. she took your l
was determined to make my point. :.
"Maybe--I don't know. | wasnt
heart broken when she married that
man out Vest he said defensively
"Anywav, what's the difference? That
was last summer. l want to harry you
i always did. You'll don't know what
YOU do to me. | never saw a woman like
vou-vou're different from these others
around here.
you wouldn't get fat and sloppy
and drag along. You like little life
and amusement, the same as me. | don't
know what it is, Enid. / guess you were
right about the romance and the being
in love. / didn't believe you last summer
but feel awful romantic nov, honest do.
OF course it is impossible to dislike a
man, any man, who Is III love with you.
/ found myself feeling very gentle and
tender towards Mark now-n spite OF
his chins, his bald head and his awkward
way of talking. Every woman is In love
with love, and an incurable romanticist.
But l knew my decision as well as
knew it last year.
II could mot do it, Mark" ] said.
And | reached over to his chair and put
nv hand over his. Il like you. didn't
last summer, but do now. Iou'v chang
ed bit too-you're gentle, you don
boast so of things. But | couldn't marry
you, not to save myself from the tate OF
being the most hopeless old maid In the
world-not if you were the last person
In the world who wanted me.
Every woman should marry he pro-
tested, falling back on his last summers
argument. IL,
MAYBE | retorted, angcred a little.
al don't say ! want a career. 1 don t
say | want to avoid the responsibilities
of keeping a house. I'm not that sort,
as you know
but have an ideal. could not marry
unless | were in love-as much In love as
/ could ever be at 20. I'm not In love with
YOU. Last summer you We're not IN love
know | never expect to marry anyone
or to find anyone to -sentimentally,
want to see Violet safely launched IN.
life, with as good an education as | can
give her, and if possible married to some
one who loves her. After that-well, l II
wait and see what | can make OF myself
then"
This feeling that Violet needed me,
that | alone could save her from ruin
ing her life. was particularly strong
in me at this time. If Violet, stayed home
at the farm, inevitably she would marry
one OF the boys around us-or if she still
STAYED in love with Bud, she would go on,
cherishing an ideal, SIS had when | was
her age, and probably sink down to the
dull, dead level | had sunk to. She had
not as great determination IN her as
had.
was so occupied with these thoughts
that l did not pay much attention, to
Iauras supper party. | had seen her
hellse. 1t looked like the colored illustra-
tions in the mail order furniture catalogues
The pieces shone with cheap, high gloss
yarL,1sh which knew would nick and duh
wih time. The rooms had too many OBJ
jects in them, too many ornaments, too
many colors, The whole house had rest
less feeling. wondered how anyone could
be st peace IN 1T.
But Laura was happy, and so was
Charlie, and both were q little self-con-
scious over being so newly married, and
over being the hosts to Older people
people who had always regarded them
as children.
But Laura served us a delicious din
ner, and later she and Esther did the
dishes, and | think Esther told her then
Of the woman in Eastlake, Tor / heard
Laura say with little shrug:
"Oh, guess they're all alike II ever
thought Charlie was perfect know better
now. There was a girl
But | felt / should not hear any more
since they had not asked me TO help
that part of the room.
When we got home again, Violet came
10 nv room. She was not undressed yet,
though / had had time to follow all my
evening routine of exercise and treat i
nents and to get into bed.
"Aunt Enid she began, hesItatlng.
'Do you think we could find an excuse
70 90 back to the city soon? Helen would
ct us have our apartment back again.
She could live with us until September, SO
xe wouldn't be putting her out.
"Why?" / asked, noting how agitated
ler voice was.
well" she said ~ have letter
rom Bud. I'll tell you what he says
he went over and lit my lamp. 'You
zee, he's been writing to me and putting
he envelope In another addressed TO
Lara, because mother would scold so If
he knew he was writing me. And / didn't
zee Clara till this afternoon and then she
.ave me his letter And there were al !
ways people around, so | couldn't read |
( till | got home I'm awfully worried.
"What does he say?" ] asked.
''He says" she answered, opening the |
,ages, ''he is afraid he's going to get |
nto trouble, something that isn't his !
ault and he wants me TO come back. |
lie says he needs me near him, TO give |
im strength. Don't you see, / have to |
% back?"
'Monday-We Prepare to Leave.