Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1921-03-26
MISS FINCH
BY CLARISSA MACkIE.


t@. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper oynu.u4.e.,
Neil Latimer had met Celia Finch
and Ethel, the youngest of that pop
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
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 minded 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 a 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 middle
aged negro. The Finches were poor
in this worlds goods but as they
came of a good old family and had
many rich relatives, the fatherless
70 mil
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
chine needed water. maid was
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 | have pail of
water, my car" he did not finish the
sentence but paused in dismay, for the
ciothespins 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
anC smiled gravely.
water? Certainly" she said in a
voice which made his pulses Jingle.
IF you will come to the house l will
! give you a pail: there is water in the
garage, but you may as well fill the
pail in the kitchen" She led the way
! into great kitchen, Immediately
clean, where an ancient colored wo-
man, crippled with rheumatism, sat
i'm a comfortable armchair by the fire.
She croaked hoarse protests when the
girl gave Neil a shining pail.
mo. Miss Rosamond, honey, done
you be waitin' on folks lax that"
please, be quiet, Aunt Heppy,"
chded the girl.
81 am sorry to trouble you'll didn't
know that l 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 | stay
little while and he kitchen company"
he asked. I'D like to get acquainted"
Rosamond looked doubtful. Then
wave of color invaded her fairness.
81 shall be glad, Mr.. Latimer. but you
see it would embarrass mother and the
girls if it were knoWn-yOu see, Heppy
is crippled So as we cannot afford
another maid, | come out and help.
Heppy directs me and l love to
| COOK
"She shore am de beatenest cook !"
interrupted Heppy.
Rosamond joined in Nel's laughter.
"Heppy is good teacher and it gives
the younger girls chance to 20
! 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 that
to help Abner in the dining room. Can
you mix mayonnaise?"
"Can ~ Neil washed his hands
and pushed back his cuffs.
IF you will let me help you a 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 1t was acknowledgement eve
ming. Rosamond Finch had awakened.
During the weeks that followed Neil
learned more about the Interesting