The times., 1898-02-13
In BLACK AND WHITE.

Yes, Josephine was Deautlrui. 1nere
was no denying 1t. She was beautiful
at any time, but when washing dish
es she was at her best. As she stood
at the sink in her dark-blue cotton
apron. The clouds of steam circling
around her, she might have been an
African princess engaged in mySteri-
Gus rites. Her hair, it's fatal kink
loosened by the steam, lay in soft
damp rings on her head; her black
ieSIures were outlined against the
frosty window with a fine cameo like
effect
washing was the one housewifely
art ] had been athletic teach Josephine
successfully. Even Aunt Tiida was
obliged TO acknowledge her faultless in
il. With. the water scalding hot and
covered with soft white suds, she deft-
ly twirled each dish at the end OF long
mop and lifted it steaming and shining
without so much as the tips of her slen-
der fingers having touched the hot water.
l knew that it was dangerous to inter-
rupt her, but the temptation was ire
sist:ble. | had been keeping house only
five months. L had not learned that IL
was far more important that the house
work should be done in an orderly fash
ion than that / should be entertained by
. Josephine's remarks.
Besides. there was the ever-present
sense that Aunt Tilda might at any mo-
ment open the door and find me hob
nobbing with my dusky maid, and like
any child, 1 was possessed with de-
sire TO do the thing / knew she would
disapproYe of. So as l sat at the
table stoning raisins. / began: "Jo-
sephine how many brothers and sisters
have you ?'
Josephine in the act of dipping hot
water from the boiler, stopped with
her dipper suspended over the edge.
"Lemme see" said she refiectively,
there's Sam, he's dead, and there's
Inc, she's a-living; and there's Dell,
she's a-living; and there's 10. my twin.
he's dead: and there's me, I'm a-living;
and there's Moses, he's a-living."
How many are there, then, Jo-
sephine?"
That's all; just what ] told you"
she replied briefly.
Never could Josephine be made to
admit that she could not count. Each
day for the last year she had been
sent to the public school But as yet
she had brought, away only scraps of
knowledge. Although thirteen years
old, she had been placed in the prima-
ry room, and there she seemed likely
to remain until Providence should ter
inmate her academic career.
/ WAS thinking of this and of the
probability that she would be late to
school, if / interrupted her again,
when suddenly she broke out in a
shrili yell of delight. She lifted the
wet mop and cleared larged place
on the frosty window pane. "Oh, Miss
Annie, there's Miss Tilda a-chasing
that ar big long-legged rooster. Hi-yil
There he gOesi" she exclaimed. fairly
jumping up and down with excite
nlent
Josephine. you will certainly be late
to school If you stop any longer" | re-
tired hastily TO the pantry with my
bowl Of raisins. There / was at least
able 10 conceal my interest in the chase.
though | could not shut cut certain
snorts and eXclamations from Josephine.
who continued her watch al the window.
Suddenly she appeared at the pantry
door "Golly. she's got him.
'Josephine,"
Scuse me- Miss Annie l forg.t-
but amt that just like her?" she said,
in a tone of fatality, returning to her
dish washing.
Ii was indeed. lust like her" Aunt
Tilda was Johns aunt. 1 loved John so
well that l had thought nothing of Civ
ing up beautiful city home for very
ordinary one in a country town, because
John refused to be in any way depen-
dent on his father-in-law. But Johns
aunt was not John.
John had said to me- Il am sorry,
Annie, but Aunt Tilda must make her
home with us for while. / cannot af-
ford to set her up in housekeeping by
herself. and / don't want her to go
on Teaching school any longer" For |
Johns sake I would have lived with |
Aantippe. So / acquiesced in the ar
rangement that made Aunt Tilda a |
member of our household.
Peeping through the blinds / could |
see her now as she made her way /
from the henhouse. Her long, scant |
skirts twisted about by the wind. en- |
pkasiZed her peculiar walk. which Jo- /
sephine had once aptly and irrever-
entity characterized as 'nippy-tfppy."
Aunt Tilda was tall and spare. with /
arms and legs very long in proportion |
TO her body. As she habitually car
ried her hands clasped one over the
other just above the waist line and
her elbows close at her sides. she was
obliged to raise the shoulders to make
room for the extra length of upper
arm
This, combined with a natural inclna- $
ton to stoop. gave her something of a |
Orlah Heep attitude, which was how :
ever, c0unteracted by her thin, keen face. +
where conscious rectitude of purpose 4,
mingled with look of critical acumen. !
Even row. as she battled with the un- n
seemly wind, her face retained its look of
serenity Yet there was
an indescribable something in her air Q
which warned me that trouble was brew
ng for somebody. :
| began hastily Sitting -four. determin-
d TO meet the storm well fortified by a
previous occupation. The kitchen door
pened and shut with a click "Annar
The voice was heavy and reproactful >
\ GbOnl0 like fn x-hp,o /
/ liberty" $
Yes Aunt Tilda. as soon as / finish :
his cake L replied briskly. though my
pirit was anything but brisk. Too c
ften, when l was at liberty" had 1 !
cen summoned to Aunt Tilda's pres
nee not to dread the coming inter-
lew. G
he oven. Josephine had departed for
chool. 1 was alone in the quiet
itchen, except for Tabby, purring con- |
entediy by the stove. The sun !
treamed in at the south windows, ;
ending long shadows of the thrifty L
eraniums across the secured pin floor |
t was a cheerful room, and it looked
nusually attractive to me as I turned l
~ back on it to go to Aunt Tilda.
L found her. seated by the window,
wing on a shirt for John. She was lust
ting off a needleful of thread as [ en- n
red. 'Sit down, Anna" she said, her
eth closing more firmly over the thread. d.
he nodded her head mournfully once or ~
vice over her sewing, and then began. q
Anna. 1 want to speak to you about Jo- II
,phine. That girl certainly gets worse 81
nd worse every day. This morning L III
saw her laughing at me as L w
as looking after the poultry. She ought al
be taught better manners" pl
''Oh, Aunt Hilda, you know Josephine :;
so foolish. She laughs at everything"