The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-26
THE REVOLT OF
 SUSAN HYDE
By CAROLYN BEEcHER


 not find words to express what felt.
 "Yes; he asked me if he might call. Do look all right, Susan? He is very rich.. Half the girls I know would give anything to catch him."
 T don't believe you,'' I stoutly an- swered. "No young girl would marry such an old man." .. That's all you know about it,' Elaine replied, as she fIounced out of the room. And it was. Just two months afterward Elaine and Mir. Ly- ons were married. Mother had to get me new dress for the wedding. That was the only bright spot about the whole affair.
 Really, 1t was awfully uncomfortable for all of us. Dad and mother quar. relied about expenses all the time. Mother had insisted upon having a fashionable wedding for Elaine, a big reception, a handsome trousseau, etc.
 "She must have a wedding such as girl marrying so wealthy and promi- nent man is entitled to-" mother had said in her very grandest grande- dame manner.
 "Bosh. That old geezer don't care any more for her because of all this fuss" Dad didn't like the idea of Elaine marrying such an old man. Mir. Lyons was seventy. But, as usual, mother had her say Ind she was de. lighted.
 Hell soon be dead anyway and she will have to wear mourning" I broke in. "So what's the use buying her such trousseauY
 ''Susanl If you cannot be more re- spectful you may leave the room" As this was the manner in which any suggestions I made were usually received I said no more. I didn't want to be sent out of the room.
 But if said nothing kept fairly busy with my thoughts. How could pretty, dainty Elaine marry such an old man--just for his money? She pretended to be fond of him, but I knew she wasn't. She couldn't be. He was bald with just a fringe of hair, no thicker than my bang, right around the back of his fat neck from the back of one ear to the back of the other one; sort of curved line with a few carefully brushed hairs still clinging to it. told Elaine I would have given him a wig for a wedding present, but they cost too much, I knew, because l priced them one day when I went by hair store. Henry-that was his name-and he had asked us all to call him so. didn't want to, but mother made me. He had settled an awful lot of money on Elaine, $100,000. The day he did that I honestly thought mother would blow up and bust. told her so and she said I was vulgar. But I told dad on the quiet that I wouldn't marry him if he settled ten times as much on me. i.
 "I would rather have a poor man and love him."
 That's right, Susan. There are many things which come up which make married life hard at times," Poor dad. I know he was telling the truth. Even where there is love. I am very much afraid for Elaine. Yet she loves luxury--like her mother. Perhaps it may compensate"
 Father was "a man of few words" |" So I heard some men say once. So the anxiety he had shown for Elaine only made me fell all the more that she was selling herself and that I never would marry unless loved. l said so to Elsa. Some way wanted to talk about it.
 You read too many silly novels. I only wish I could do as well as Elaine has. She has promised to invite me to stay with them as soon as they come back from their trip" Elaine's in- tended husband had a wonderful big place out in the country, a regular pal ace, as well as a town house. He was a widower. Elaine would have a lot of. his first wife's jewels. She hadn't said a word to me about visiting them.
 (TNo Re Continued