The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-07

and light and beginning to brown-just
what cake should be. in fact So simple a
thing was sufficient to raise my spirits, and
as ! took the broom from its nail and pre-
pared for the weeks sweeping, Aunt Tilda
and her peculiarities were far from my
thoughts. Only deep down in my mind was
worthy resolve to keep Josephines mis-
demeanors from Aunt Tilda's knowledge.
But fate was against me; / was busting
the dining room, smiling a little to myself
at the thought Of Johns dignity at the head
OF his own table when Aunt Tilda's voice
sounded down the back stairs.
Yes, Aunt Tilda" laid down the buster
with sigh. and went to the foot of the
stairs. What had Josephine done now?
viii you come up here?" said Aunt Til
shocked countenance visible.
What do you think of that?' she de-
manded dramatically, waving her hand to-
ward the open door of Josephine's room On
the floor lay large black valise, its con-
tents spread out to view-one Of Josephines
petticoats, a soup ladle and mince pie.
L looked at Aunt Tilda Her eyes were
fixed mournfully on the incongruous assort-
ment in the bag. The sight was too much
for me.
Anna said Aunt Tilda solemnly. II see
nothing amusing about it. At Mrs. Ora
names, in Philadelphia, servants were
OFTEN discharged for less offenses than this.
why. she evidently stole that pie"
i am afraid she did, Aunt Tilda. will
home. L only hope 1 shall be able to keep
my face straight when she explains how it
came into her possession"
Without another word Aunt Tilda wheeled
about and left the room, disgust too deep
Tor words in her very back.
:, Her departure took away half the fun of
the situation. The bag with it's ill-asSorted
contents remained staring me in the face.
What should do with the chilus She was
absolutely without moral sense. Aunt Tilda
had recipes without number for developing
unlmpeachable integrity But | shook my
head after her own skeptical fashion as
thought OF trying them on Josephine. No,
she could be reached only through her emo
tions. She was quick to initiate, TOPPER
haps an atmosphere of truthfuiness might
in time develop a dormant sense of honesty.
If only Aunt Tida would be out of the way
when she came home from school, / might
But Aunt Tilda was in the kitchen
smoothing some laceS when | heard the
back gate slam and saw Josephine coming
up the walk. My heart sank: The mere S. mt
of Aunt Tida always put her into a state
of smouldering INSTRUMENTATION
Josephine, said l. as she passed quickly
take off your things; just lay them in the
back entry, and then see that the table Is
laid for lunch. 1t is late"
There Miss Annie' said Josephine, in an
aggrieved tone, beginning slowly to draw of
her jacket Il just knowed you'd ind me
out. l can't never do nothing without you
do
why, Josephine what made you wear
your best waist to SCHOOL, L asked in sur
4 just knowed you'd find it out" she re-
peated in tone of fatalism. You see 1t
thetic black eyes were fixed trustingly on
my face. THE sleeves to that other waist
is too short. l grow so powful fast and
them chifun call me:
Niggy, niggy my,
Shorty sleeve and
Shiny eye;
SO l thought I'd just wear this one 800 ,.o
well, don't stop now. hurry ABOUT the
lunch
| had glanced at Aunt Tilda only once
during the interview. She was noddlng her
head mournfully, and her glance as II met
relief however, she departed with her faces
before Josephine returned from the dining
Now. Josephine if the table is ready, |
want to see YOU about something upstairs.
At the door of her room Josephine paused,
looking in establishment at the bag ana us
contents, which / had left spread out IN the
middle of the room.
why, Miss Annie said she reproachful-
ly, how'd you come to be looking over my
How had /, indeed? 1 felt suddenly con-
victed of very unladylike act However,
II would never do to betray Aunt T1lda
part in the matter. l preferred answering
her question with another. 49,,
How did those things come to be there'
"WeIl. femme see," said she; that petit
coat | Just put in there this morning Wnen
1 clared up my room. 1t looked so shlIt-
less lying around
But, Josephine, II SnOulu nave Sohe 1iA'o
the wash yesterday. =, :a
.sYes'm, 1 know; but forgot" she said
parenthetically; land that thar soup iauIe
was so black 1 knowed it would distress
YOU. so I put it in there till j could get time
to scour it up. 1t burned down IN tnaI oean
SOUP we had last Friday" She spoke as
one who gives sufficient explanation.
And that pie?-lemme see-well, now
Miss Annie there really amt no g ssid she
Shaking her head judicially and LOOKING
sympathetically at me, as If together we
had discovered a culprit ...,.,.. .4r,,
Josephine. my tone was HIClHSiy 9'ei"'
this is too bad
YES. Miss Annie. But might just stay
home from school this AFTERNOON ana ND WASH WASH
that petticoat and scour up that Iadlei ana
that thar pie could be chucked in the chlck-
en- ward Her tone was that of one ol1er-
ing advice TO a perplexed frlen9' dec;dedlv
.syou can nut the skirt to soak now and
wash it out when you get home from sciiooi
All right Miss Annie very cheerfully,
but you'n show me how TO piece ,;o uoMl
them sleeves. won't your" said she, plously'
as she gathered up the Dag
Eyes Josephine" es
81 suppose it was old Miss Tilda as found
the bag she remarked in a matter-ol-
course tone as she left the room
Before we were married / had planned 10
make an ideal home for john But sucn
a combination as Aunt Tllda ana JosePl my
had not entered into my calcuiauoHSS. L LS9
not want to give up Josephine. She had
the making of a valuable servant in her.
Resides I had grown fond of the child. II
only John would see how hard 1t was Tor
me- RI live with Aunt Tilda, and hnd some
other home for her. He probably tnougnl
that Aunt Tilda was almost like motn-
err to me. ...-
A few evenings later, however, somethlng
hannened which led me to suspect that my
husband was not so utterly stupid as l. nau
given him credit for being
We were at dinner. / always enjoyed lne
dinner hour John was at home, at leisure
for the rest of the evening. The flre burned
chaerfullv in the CRATE. and our few pieces
of glass and silver sent back hunureu
CLEANS for every ray of light; John was III
an unusually happy mood. The election re-
turns were just in. 1t Will De gooo IIIius
for the country to have a man Tor Pres-
ident who knows his own mind" said ne,
ives" assented Aunt Tilda- skeptically,
eff only he will hold up to 1t when ne gets
to Washington. ,,.
At this moment I looked up. Josephine
who stood directly behind Aunt Illua 5
chair. was nodding her head in exact lInl-
tation She had so altered the lines OF her
face that except for color, the two races
were strikingly alike. 1t was dusky
shadow of Aunt I1lda.
glanced apprehensively at Jonn. lie mao
dronned his napkin and was STOPPING to
zach II Was it the ghost of smile dis
appearing behind his mustache as ne raised
7 had not time to decide. Josephine, with
her usual propensity to get found out,
had nIaced herself directly in front of a
iamp. Aunt Tilda. looking up suddenly