Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-25
A SWEETHEART AT THIRTY
The Story ofs Woman's Transfer nation.
BY MARION RUBINCAM.
JOY AND ANXIETY.
CHAPTER &c.


Chapter &c.
] had not told Violet OF the great
ioy that had come to me within the last
! week or SO. Violet was SO unhappy over
Bud, particularly since he insisted on
breaking the engagement while he was
under suspicion, that | simply had not
The heart TO tell her. My own happiness
would make her misery that much greater.
Indeed, we thought the Investigation
would take place and Bud would be
cleared and 90 back to his work, and
everything would be as before. But it
dragged along. new factors came into
il. and all we could find out was what
the newspapers told us. Bud was un-
happy. and when he was that way, he
suIkcd, and was hard to deal with.
But Francis was coming for me Christ
mas day. to take me To dine with his
mother. knew i would have to explain
that-and when i came home i would
wear his engagement ring. So next morn
ING, when we woke up and greeted each
other. | told them.
We exchanged our gifts at the break
fast table-very simple things, since our
money was running so very low.
First Christmas Day i ever spent
AWAY from home" Esther commented,
leaning back in her chair. al hope Jim
is all right. The Tuppers asked him for
DINNER, and James wa likely be running
aruund someone's house"
"I hope YOU won't mind something
Tn going TO do today,"I began. I'm
going To run away from both OF you for
dinner tonight, and for part of this even
ins.
hurried on
'Fraucis, MFR. Meade, is coming for
ma, and is taking me to his home tor
dinner. His mother Will be there and
no one el>e."
"Aunt Enid-do Won mean-what do
VA ms~n7" vi asked, her eyes alight
as1dcnly. II knew of course-every-
one knowr-that Mr.. Meade is in love
WITH Won. But this-looks serious, doesn't
M
Meade McsdeP Who's m love
vslh youg" Esther asked, her eyes and
her mouth open at the same time.
ssUe's the incest man | ever knew,
VI exnlained eagerly. Hes about 40
lcr IS and awfuIly distinguished looking,
sod ks,s the most adorable way of being
lind and thoughtful when you are simp-
IN wretched. And he's been in love with
Annd Enid al along, only she's too modest
70 admit II"
'ln love with Enidr' Esther plainly
did not believe it. She looked me over
shpwly and carefully-and | was glad l
had improved myself 50 i could stand
her critical survey.
s~yNeI of course" she said, Enid has
done marvels l guess I'll have TO stop
thinking about YOU as an old maid. Then
there WAS Mark He WAS smitten. But,
after all. Mark wasn't % much TO look
AZ himself" ;,
II know be wants 20 marry yuu,"
II know he does too" I answered,
glad 10 tell il 90 easily.
"Aund Enid, Are you-oh, are you
engaged already" The girl was on her
feet. and her arms were around me,
even before | could say yes
Plainly, Esther was enormously I'M
pressed with Francis when he came for
me-so much so that she scarcely said o
word for which / was secretly thank
ful. There were so many wrong things
she could say-and she would be sure
~ come out with the worst one. Poor
Esther had that knack.
The rest of that wonderful Christmas
passed like dream. Settled back IN
the luxurious car, | began to realize for
tho first time that all this-luxIry. money,
leisure friends. and best of all, this anaz-
inc man by nv side-that all this was
going 10 belong 10 me. / turned towards
Francis 50 overcome that the tears sprang
10 nv ewes. | don't know whether he saw
them or not, because he put his arms
around me suddenly 50 that my face was
against his coat.
Look here" he said after a minute
And ! drew away TO see. Before he left
the city, he had taken the measure OF
my finger. and he held out now one of
I haA
single diamond, set deep IN a hllgree
band of platinum, the whole so deli
catelv done IT looked Ike cobweb work
| took off nv glove, and he slipped
the ring on nv flnger-lt fitted as per-
fertly as though II knew 1t belonged
there. He kissed my finger and my hand,
and | turned to hun In the most divine
oontentment and happiness-and he
kissed my bps.
That ride was one of the lovehest ex-
periences ] have ever had. But 1t ended
soon enough-and the dinner with his
mother Was not as easy as we had thought
II would be.
Mrs. Meade was most charming, of
oourse-the courtesy of countless gener-
anons did that. But she was not en-
tlreiy at her ease, and was little ANXIOUS
too. felt that she was disappointed.
was sure she would have preferred the vivid
handsome Cecile And saw that would
have to be very nice TO this lady to make
her hike me And it would not be an easy
task, for under her surface of charm there
was an undercurrent of antagonism.
.And now we have job 10 do that
r. not so pleasant" Francis said, as we
arose from the table. There's private
bearing of that messenger boy robbery
case this evening, and / must go, and |
want YOU to come. Bud Will be there.
/ felt nervous and frightened as /
put on my cloak.
Monday-Strange Happenings.