The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-05-12
MISS FINCH
BY cLARlssA MAckIg.

ular family, noted for its feminine
pulchritude, but of Rosamond, the eld-
est, he had only heard echoes OF her
calm beauty. Men said she was a
marble statue and that nothing could
awaken her dreaming peace.
MY sister Rosamond?" Celia had
repeated one day. "She's the dearest
thing, but she wouldn't be interested
in any of this" she waved her fan at
the room full of dancers. "She is
browsing among books most of the
time, Is the most absent-miuded crea-
ture imaginable. and-we are missing
most of this dance. aren't WEI" she
ended wistfully.
Neil apologized and in a moment
they were vanishing in the maze
One afternoon when the fever of
spring was In the air and he could
not remain indoors harnessed to the
routine Of busy Office. Neil got into
his car and rode out East avenue to
the country club. The Finch residence
was on East avenue and he had passed
Mrs. Finch and the younger girls in
the shabby car driven by a middle
aged negro. The Finches we're poor
In this worlds goods but. as they
came of good old family and had
many rich relatives. the fatherless
family went around a great deal and
entertained occasionally in their love
ly. decaying home, filled with heir
looms.
Just as Nell reached the Finch resi-
dence he became aware that the ma
standing with her back to him hanging
out a snowy washing of clothes.
She wore. a pink sunbonnet, but he
could see couple of clothespins pro-
truding from the depths of the bonnet.
Good morning." he said in his pleas
ant voice. May l have pail of
water, my car" he did not finish the
sentence but paused in dismay. for the
clothespins were removed from the
loveliest of lips and the face turned
to his was never that of an ordinary
maidservant. Such rare beauty could
only belong to the sister of Celia and
Ethel-she saw his embarrassment
and smiled gravely.
Water? Certainly" she said In
voice which made his pulses tingle.
IF you will come to the house l will
give you pail: there is water in the
garage, but you may as well fill the
pail in the Kitchen" She led the way
into a great kitchen. Immediately
clean. where an ancient colored wo-
man, crippled with rheumatism. sat
IN comfortable armchair by the fire.
She croaked hoarse protests when the
Ufr Nail oh
mo. Miss Rosamond, honey, done
you be waitin' on folks lax that"
"Please, be quiet, Aunt Heppy,"
chided the girl.
II am sorry to trouble you'll didn't
know that might be intruding-I am
acquainted with Mrs. Finch and her
daughters and"
"You must be coming to dinner to-
night. then" suggested the girl. II
recognized you at once-I am Rosa
mond Finch"
Neil took her hand. May l stay
. little while and be kitchen company?"
he asked. I'D like to get acquainted"
Rosamond looked doubtful. Then
wave of color invaded her fairness.
II shall be glad, Mr.. Latimer,, but you
see 1t would embarrass mother and the
girls II 1t were known-you see, Heppy
Is crippled, so. as we cannot afford
another maid. come out and help.
Heppy directs me and love to
cook"
"She shore am de beatenest cook !"
interrupted Heppy.
Rosamond joined in Neil's laughter.
"Heppy is good teacher, and it gives
the younger girls chance to go
about. I've been out two seasons al
ready. and l do like chance to keep
up with my studies. must fly around
now because there Is dinner to GET
oh. we have an extra maid In for thai
to help Abner in the dining room. Can
you mix mayonnaise?"
"Can n" Neil washed his hands
and pushed back his cuffs.
"If You will let me help you lit
tie I'll forswear any knowledge of you
and your dark plottings in this
Kitchen"
Every WELL" she laughed merriiy.
"only you must fly at the stroke of
four. so that you will not scandalize
mother and the girls"
Neil never forgot that hour spent
in the kitchen with lovely Rosamond
Finch.
That night at the happy. informal
dinner party for which the Finches
were famous Neil saw her again and
she seemed another girl. Her family
and friends took fire from her gayety
| and IL WAS n eve-
ming. Rosamond Finch had awakened.
During the weeks that followed Neil
learned more about the interesting
fomily of girls who maintained their
social position on depleted income,
ren'ade their own clothes, until there
came day when they had to unpack
Mrs. Finch's own wedding dress and
veil for Rosamond's bridal. After all