Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-12-11
How Fi1,kelstein
Made Love
q by paubIseay. Fac { e..
BY RUTH UNDERHILL

voice SHtu
ooh, you kidd"
The speaker, whose black hair rose
pompadour from a round and black
eyed face, craned nearer. IT was not
a balcony ON which he stood, 1t was a
rickety orange crate dumped against
the side of the shed. But his smile
was delightful. And he was the first
male person Giulietta had seen since
she came to America.
PHASE! What this?" She held up
in grimy fingers which, nevertheless,
were dainty and almost reverent, her
find of the day.
| "Blest IL know But say" her gall
liant leaned nearer. "Ain't it hat
frame?"
/ al"
Hat" He made motions. "Put on
| head. When you 60 out"
"When go out?' Juliet glanced
down her little nose at the yellow
handkerchief, garnished with very
faded red roses, which had slipped
round her golden-brown neck. II no
lady"
eyes you are In America"
He saw the shy eyes fixed on him In
wonder and Finkelstein, the grocer's
BOY, swelled. 1--WE Americans like our
girls to look NICE
So she did, nice as legendary
princess, in her dark cave piled with
all the riches Of old shoes, broken
dishes and dismembered corsets.
You Merican?" inquired Juliet.
Finkelstein's father had come from
Poland and his mother from Russia.
and he was working for an Irish firm,
but he replied truthfully:
''Surest thing you know"
You know about-all this here
things?"
Juliet's eyes were shining. She
looked as though she had come to the
iount of all wisdom, liberty, equality,
fraternity and the pursuit of happi-
ness "What this?" demanded Juliet.
She held forth the second find of the
day, leaky hot water bottle. Finkel-
stein, though scratching his head,
came through without embarrassment.
"You put water In that. To keep
warm. My nommers got one"
"Your mamma? But you are rlchi"
Forget it. Didn't you never see
,ne7"
"But no." confessed the adoring
ady from Calabria. "And thisi What
ISL"
1t was a piece Of garter, very sick
ind aged looking In the elastic.
Ladies wears EN-"
rich iadies?''
"No." averred the modest Ffnkei-
stein. They're nothin'."
Juliet laid the thing reverentiy
aside.
"E auesto?"
It was mans rubber which her
little fingers held like piece Of
,arven ivory. Finkelstein let himself
70.
THAT? That's to wear when It rains
Why, I've cot pair myself. Got 'em
On now"
"Truly?"
Her eyes were ecstatic. Rubber was
aot curren, in Calabria and Juliet had
stumped home in her wooden clogs on
many rainy night to warm cold bare
feet at the earihen hearth.
wanna see:"
Her adorine eyes encouraged him
and, one by ore, the panoplied hero
waved his feet before the window.
holding meantime by the tottering
orange crate and ducking his head
that the ruhhrr-shod feet might have
full scope against background of
Bronx sunlight |. was sloppy, thaw-
ing day and Isinkelstein was wearing.
not rubbers, hut boots
"Dio milo !"
Juliet clasped her hands and stood
In admiration. No knight in armOr
could more have impressed her, to
whom piece of sacking tied about
with string was the height of protec-
rion for the male leg.
They are yours |"
II bought 'em with my pay"
Your pay!'
But he must be millionaire. He
must be an emperor The waving legs
left the window and the head came
back
Say kid Do you like me?"
"Lika your? Jnliet's blush was as
adorable as the pinkest rag of silk
underwear in her whole collection.
Never before had she been asked such
leading question by such beautiful
knight. II thought you and me might
go together some. To the movies
and"
Finkelstein was feeling moved him.
self. The ladies of his acquaintance
did not blush and adore like that.
I'D like to buy you things" he
stated. and watched her draw near
the window like little saint praying
to bright image.
"R-rubbersY' she ventured.
'Rubbersl Sure" She was nearer
and he had her hand
aAnd a bottle for the warm water1"