Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1921-04-30
CAMILLA
BY MOLLlE MATHER.
70. 1921. Western Newspaper Union. }

IL not doubt that Camilla was so
swectly charming that the step-sis-
tiers above mentioned had little chance
of attention while in her company;
masculine attention especially. Not
any way, or tried for the admiration
that was invariably hers. Rather, 1t
came to her naturally, as one bends
to inhale the fragrance of q flower
which was. after ALL Camillas secret
Her very personality was all fragrant
with unseltishness and charity and
friendllnesS toward others; you felt
this instinctively as you talked to her
or looked into her crystal clear eyes.
And Ii you were man, weary of pre-
tense perhaps or too much insincere
coquetry, you appreciated Camllla's
truth, when you met her. But the
step-SiSters could not understand.
Camilla's mother had died when she
<was born. which had In measure
placed her under her sisters control
However, as time passed and the
Thornton finances dwindled, Camilla,
who had not been fitted either by re-
lationship or advantage for the social
life that Grace and Gwendoen en-
joyed-took up cheerfully the neces-
sary tasks of the household and fell
| heir to garments discarded. Frocks
ana furbelows for Grace and Gwendo-
len We're all, and more, than the
driven fathers purse could manage.
Camilla secretly and laughingly as-
sured him that she didn't mind bit
AS Grace was taller than she, and
Gwendolen fatter than she there was
always material enough in the castoff
dresses to insure remodelES. And
Camilla was very clever in the re-
modelling, so much so, that the SIS
ters gazing In wonder at the disap-
proved one clad In some charming re-
incarnation of united blue and gold or
perhaps of dainty pink and lavender,
would forbid emphatically the young
er girls presence at parties.
We are sorry, Camilla" Grace
would remark decidedly, land proba-
bly, your own time will come later.
But just now you must not reflect up
on our hard-held position by appear
ing in that very apparent made-over
affair You will oblige us in this will
you not?"
And again, Camilla did not mind. In
fact her elder sisters impressive Ian
guage never failed in its purpose Of
imbuing her with that same idea of
| superiority to which she had been
raised After all, what did she want
with their high flown company? she
confidently asked old father. And the
two wnlld sneak off gleefully together
| to a hammock far back lin the garden.
And sometimes, to sit on the grass
| Beside the hammock, came the man
| from next door.
He was a serious, humorous, inter
estng sort of man this, who had moved
there in order to complete the writing
! of his great book Father told her
this, on one of their happy talking
| hingS-over-tOgethcr evenings. And the
man was great too, father said.
| Though still young, his name was
| known across the country, because of
his last success.
Camilla was joyously excited about
1t. She told the man, as he, and ia.
Their and she, sat out under the star
| lit trees together, how very glad she
was that his earnest labor had won
success. And the man was pleased
and gratifed that she recognized the
element of labor
Most people," he told her smiling
regard literary success as mere
lucky chance"
And as the evening hours beneath
! the trees grew into regular and eX-
pected meetings, the man Of letters
looked forward gratefully to the re-
spite and inspiration, while Camilla.
listening to the music that came from
her household. felt no envy or desire
for aught beyond her own small world.
The sisters were giving a tea one az
ternoon; they told her about it. Ia.
bles were TO be laid in the lovely old
garden. A celebrity was coming whose
presence was always difficult Of at
tainment. The celebrity positively re-
fused to be lionized, so they had
gained his consent by the assurance
that the tea was merely a family af-
fair. They were. therefore, too busy
to be curious when Camilla Informed
them that she was going that after
noon for q drive.
Leave everything ready before you
CO." Gwendolen admonished, land
have flowers on all the tables"
"And Camilla" Grace reminded her,
IF you come back before six, do not
pass through the garden; your old
straw hat is too shabby for public
display. Later, yen may have mine"
1t took painstaking planning after
that for Camilla TO fashion lace pic
ture hat, out of GTendolen's old lace
waist, but the hat was delightful
success, with golden rose that Grace
had discarded for punishment.
You see, Camilla had to come into
a. to