The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-07-20

hat TO my mother" said Harold.
gIoomiiy.
Can't you?"
No. haven't been here long. you
know, and II could have had my
way I'd never have been here at all
Ny mothers away At = sanitarium
for her health, and I'm here staying
with my Aunt Barbara | don't like
II. and-she don't like IL. either"
TOO bad!" said Ralph. with sym
PATTY. II should hate TO be staying
with anybody that I thought didn't
want me there. But are you sure?"
"Ho, | guess a boy can tell easy
enough. You could IL you tried II"
Then / suppose she isn't one OF
| the ladies TO take OF your hat TOT"
said the other. jestingly.
Tip my hat to Aunt Barbara"
Harold laughed. why. the old lady
would have a stroke IL | did such a
thing"
They generally like 1t. though"
was Ralph's remark as they sepa-
| rated.
Harold walked on, thinking, his
thoughts not happy ones. Certainly
it was a hard thing for boy to be
away from his mother, and TO have
TO live with person who, as he had
truthfully said, liked him as little as
he liked her. She lived in a lonely
every day On which Harold '.alked
out there he counted as one day less
| before he could go home.
He met Aunt Barbara walking with
another lady. AS she came near, a
within seized him. How comical to
tip his hat to Aunt Barbara! Usually
she passed him merely rather cold
look of recognition. Now he compre-
hended the two ladies in one Of his
best bows, and as they went on the
other lady said:
What a polite boy your nephew
is Nice looking, too"
And Aunt Barbara, who had been
too much surprised to answer the sa-
lutte, had no reply to make.
Just as l knew it would be-" Har-
old laughed to himself as he went on.
Struck all Of a heap because I was
polite to her. Well, perhaps, it's no
credit to me that she takes it so. 1t
has been rare thing in me. 1 won
der, now, how it would work if l tried
to be nice to Aunt Barbara-just for
the fun Of it, to astonish her. I've
more'n half a mind to try"
He met his aunt at the door as she
returned, took her bundles, and set a
chair for her. She received the at
tention with little notice, for Harold
had not gone far wrong in limiting
that his aunt put herself out but lit
tie in making herself agreeable to
him. She was unaccustomed to the
society Of young people, and had
grown into a cold manner which was
not likely to invite such warmth from
: others.
At the table Harold continued his
attempts at what he considered his
good joke on Aunt Barbara. Before
, long, seemingly without thinking, she
melted little.
Eyes, I'll make her nice to me if
can" Harold was hugely enjoying
his joke, more and more amused
when, as the days went on, his aunt
> seemed often surprised into little at,
tentions and politenesses to him.
And then-the time came in which
, Harold noticed that his aunt was real.
ly changed in her manner to him
4 She met him with a smile and a vel
. coming word as he came, and in many
q ways showed a desire to make things
i pleasant for him.
He did not know whether he liked
it or not. The fact of her having
: grown into a way of taking it fol-
granted that he should be "nice,' a:
: he termed it, to her, seemed to take
all the fun out of it.
cit makes me feel like an up-and
: down cheat" he assured himself
j. I've a great mind to quit being de
o cent"
u But how could he? Already in hi
L heart was growing up warmth o
Z kindly feeling toward Aunt Barbar,
the sure outgrowth of kindl,
deeds, bringing their sure response
More and more he found himself TAX
= ing pleasure in keeping at his best.
. When the time came for sayin,
;. goodbye, he was surprised at the re
u greet shown by his aunt.
go, my dear boy!" she said, witt
u tears. How I shall miss you-yo1
a with all your kind doings and polit
ways! I never knew before how mic
boys could be-"
And Harold, smitten with self-re
proach, feeling more than ever like
cheat, did not know what to say
Should he tell her he had not bee