Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-19
w YHAT do you think! Portals coming-at
A lastl announced had just returned
WV from the post-ofhce
els that so? Papa inquired, with good

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is that SOP" Papa inquired, with good
natured satire.
Yes; she'll be here Friday, if it's convenient fol
you, Mama"
"Yes DEAR perfectly convenient" Mama agreed, cor.
daily I'm SO glad she is coming. have always liked
her for her kindness to you at Bar Harbor the summe
Aunt Mary was so ILL.,"
You'll like her still more when you her." said
She is the dearest thing She had an immense
social success too-the beautiful gowns and the
greatest string of admrers-now, Papa, you needn't
laugh II was all the nicer of her to take me out driv
ing and to and sit with Aunt Mary when every
one was running after her"
"I am only afraid it will be dull for her here,' Mama
on, for have positively no society," you know
"Oh, she won't mind that She loves to read and
take long walks She's very intellectual and has lots of
resources That summer at Bar Harbor she was read
ing on sociology, remember and she and DR.. Poponot
that Young Russian refugee who onized used to
have great discussions and take long walks together.
OF course they had great deal in common, but still,
I'm sure she will enjoy being here
Ask the students to tea" Papa suggested, lighting
his pipe-we out the porcll-and settling his
weight in his armchair. He weighs two hundred.
"Oh, Pm afraid that wouldn't do at all !" I cried, then
stopped with beating heart, the very verge of re-
vealing the awful secret which Portia had conded in
Wont do'" Papa inquired in mock surprise.
whats the matter with the girl? Don't all women
adore a parson?"
ought to have said in the beginning that live just
halfway between the Fort and the Theological Sem
mary Twixt Scya and Charybdis,' Papa says, for
Consequently, we do see good deal of the students
at the Seminary who hold services at the Cross Roads
near US, and take tea and make calls all around the
neighborhood You they have TO practice making
To be quite frank, don't care much for clergymen,
outside of the pulpit young ones-and haze
always admired soldiers immensely at distance, for
never knew single one till Portia came That's just
the way things go!
But to return to Portals letter and the paragraph
which made me uncomfortable:
"I think owe it to our friendship, Constance, she
wrote to tell you that my religious views nave changed
greatly in the past two years. Frankly am agnostic
on all questions OF that nature
And think of all those students And of Mama-the
staunchest of churchwomenl
felt like a criminal all the time she planning so
kindly for Portals pleasure and as soon as she went
"Papa!" said, hurriedly, Il didn't want to mention
it before Mama, because it would Just worry her. and
besides, I was afraid it might prejudice her against
Pora Then there are the students If she should get
into any argument with them, it would be dreadful!
You know how Mama would tee! Don't you remember lo
who used to be at the Seminary? 1t was one evening
when they were here at tea
Papa exploded with laughter.
"Yes Young Barton" he repeated still shaking.
He and Austin tearing each other to bits,
didn't thev? 1t would have taken Solomon to decide
who got the better of the other in that argument Be
tween YOU and me- girl, hadn't heard much fool talk
in years-and I've heard lot in my time.
Papa is a lawyer and has great, though generally
good-humored, contempt for illogical minds:
But what's all this got to do with your friend Por-
tia ?" he inquired, taking his pipe from his mouth.
Stic business ard let's get to the bottom OF this
aWhy Portia has just written me that she has be-
con1e-an agnostic And there all the students
sav-amost the only men she will meet OF course,
with her views you can easily see how disagreeable
will be for her
Even Marvin" he said Such a good-loOking
chap as Marvin? Too bad Too bad!"
Then he laughed again.
How old is Miss Pora?" he asked.
"Twenty-one," replied.
"Had the measles?" he went on, and the whooping-
cough?"
Of course saw what he meant
"Ohl" I said, little bit offended Its quite seri,
ous assure you Porta is very intellectual She stood
way up in her class especially in philosophy. She's
really profound thinker"
%Well5' said Papa, with a sober face "Fd have the
students to tea. Don't tell your mother about your
friends ncendiary views. I'll keep the peace"
Papal" pleaded, now you will won't you? YOU
know you just egged on Mr.. Austin and Dr. Barton
al egg any mortal on7" he said in an injured tone.
No S ne no, little little girl" he said, in his kndest voice
"have happy time The old man likes his little joke
that's all-but he'll restrain himself"
When Portia came she was more bewildering than
ever She is Just tearing beauty tall and 1.-the, with
the sweetest softet black eyes, masses OF auburn hair
and a complexion like rose-leaves,
And just dear and sweet as ever! Mama tell IN
love with her at first sight
Well, things went beautifully.
At the table nobody mentioned a person worse than
Matthew Arnold. That was Papa My heart was IN
my mouth for minute though what he said was only
something about Arnolds feeling for beauty in wor
slip and they all began forthwith to talk ecclesiastical
architecture Porta had read quite lot about it. and
she and Mr.. Henley grew really very friendly about
affairs and even over candles and vestments suppose
| must have had anxious expression, for Papa gave
me such droll smile and wink after he had launched
this conversational bomb that nearly lost my gravity.
When the students finally said goodnight l saw Mr..
Marvin glance rather sharply spray of roses in Por
ta's girdle-crimson ramblers. had seen Mr. Henley
break them off and give them to her. and think Mr..
Marvin had too, though he hadn't seemed to pay much
attention her. he and Papa having been deep in one
of their usual discussions.
AS he went out at the gate, he called back:
"Oh Major I've found the very bull-pup you want !"
Papa had been looking for a watchdog.
That so?"
"Yes sir. I'll bring him over the first chance have
You'll like his name"
"That so? What is it ?"
Iuxleyl" Mr. Marvin called back with a laugh
Shes such plucky fghterl"