The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-13
REFER and his outward unproximity to god

REFER and his outward unproximity to god
linsss.
AS the neat little carriage drew up at the
curb and the man on the box stepped down
and handed out the fine-looking woman
within, the woman at the top of the flight
was just turning round from the doorbell.
The fne-looking woman smiled as she
mounted the steps and and grasped the
small gloved hand of the woman warmly.
Come in. Caroline" she said, and swung
open the big doors herself.
She was led into a big, richly furnished
room, coldly. rigidly correct and the visitor
sat down to polite platitudes. Gradually she
maneuvered until she brought up the SUBJ
ject Of Harold. The face Of the fine-looking
woman chilled outwardly from within.
Il don't understand the child, Caroline"
she said, 81 don't understand him. You
know mind culture is the ground work of
our Tuesday meeting. as applied to children
in particular-I organized it myself, but as
for Harold, the child is beyond me- And
yet" she added, Eva seems to find no real
difficulty with him. 1 have reproved her
several times for losing her temper with
him, but really. there seems to be some ex-
cuse." She drew her light gloves off
thoughfully. firmly.
do you know, Josephine" suggested the
other, ''if were you, and found him So
so set in his ways; If 1 were you 1 would
be inclined to humor him."
The other frowned coldy. 'T don't ap-
prove of humoring children" she said. "It
means simply deferring of trouble an
emphasized friction in the future, when it
comes to more important matters. IL dis
tinctly decline to humor Harold" The
speakers jaws were very squarey set to-
| gether, and she smoothed the light gloves
out neatly upon her knee. 1t was with a
| sigh Of relief that she drew forth small
volume and, opening 1t, took therefrom a
| letter. But I AMI may say that am
heartily glad, Caroline" she added, that
Eva and Howard are back"
What" said the visitor, an expression Of
| distinct relief fitting across her face.
The other may have intended saying some
| thing further; her face was turned towards
the woman conidentially, but just at that
| instant the portieres behind her were wildly
| agitated. A small boy with a shiny clean
| face and brushed REFER shot into the
room, from the neutrally audible regions Of
the hall. across the room. and straight into
the stately lap of his surprised aunt.
''Mamma?' he gasped. Mamma
Harold" reproved his aunt. Eyes. dear,
she is at home. am to take you over at
| once"
''Whoop!' shouted the small boy. He
wasn't to be squelched with dignity. In
stead he thrust his two clean. dimpled
hands around In the chiffon run and raised
| his sweet baby lips to press them against
| her cheek In a moist kiss; ne knew too much
| to offer Aunt Josephine even a clean, just
| washed kiss her lips; Aunt Josephine
was theoretically opposed to lip kissing
''Whoop!' Then he looked contritely over
at the other woman. Aunt Josephine he
| said slowly, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm
| awful sorry / was naughty I'm goin to
| tell mama I'm awful sorry, an 1 guess
| she'll slap me-hard."
| He breathed deeply. He felt square with
| the cracker jar, with the gas ball, with the
| injured feelings of Tilly-with everything.
He heaved a far-reaching sigh of relief for
| the weight of disappearing conscience was
| removed from the heart of the boy. and he
| beamed upon his aunt with cherubic
| beauty of countenance that made that lady
| suddenly bend, and, brushing his hair care
| fully back. kiss him precisely upon the be-
| ginning of its part.