The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-05-08
THE LESSER EVIL
BY MILDRED WHITE.

''Barnie," she asked impulslHely
whats all this hear about your at
: tachment for a certain Lucia HolmeST
, Barnett Willis turned sharply.
who has been talking 10 you about
that?' he said. 81 never saw such a
town. y visitor can't be in il twenty
four hours without learning the Sc
crets of ones heart"
$50 it is a heart secretT the girl
laughed. well, as to my informant,
she is no other than your mothers old
helper. Hannah, il seems. considered
it her duty To warn me-
Barnie muttered an exclamation.
81 am being frank with you, FRIEND"
the girl said airily. lin order that
may in turn get at the truth
"Well-you've got at it," the man
succinctly replied.
Lucia Holmes has always been
the only girl for me. A fellow doesn't
speak of these things 10 every one,
but you and |. Patricia, have gotten to
be good chums in few days. When
mother told me that the daughter of
her old friend was coming to visit us.
I'll confess that | did not look forward
to the event with enthusiasm. All that
has changed.
I'VE understand each other like
well, like two fellows. Heretofore
mothers women guests have been the
bane of my existence, forced TO pilot
them about here and there when I'd
rather be"
"Piloting Lucia" the girl inter-
rupted.
Barnie laughed.
Exactly" ne said. you see moth
er has, stubborn dislike to Lucia,
which is most unjust.
81 Suppose" Patricia remarked spec
ulatively, that I'm the latest attrac-
tive female on trial. | wish you had
told me this before, Barnie. | did
think that your mother was very gra-
ciOuS in insisting upon us calling each
other by our first names. And" the
girls laugh broke forth. 1T is a stu
alton. There's my own mother pack
ing me off here with the sane ..Iject
in view. There happens - be dis
approved young ran by the name Of
Bill back home who has an attach
ment for me. / have shown no evil
Gence of being displeased, so / also
ann switched off to friend Barnie."
The two sat staring into each 9TH
er's eyes.
whats the matter with Bill?"
Barnie asked at last abruptly.
Absolutely nothing" the girl en-
phatically replied.
"What appears to be your Lucia's
glarlng fault?"
Mother says" Barnie answered i'm
patiently, that Lucia is no house.
keeper Lucia. it seems, also is too
quiet-Oh, heaven knows what else"
he broke off.
1t was on the following evening |
that Mrs. Willis, discussing the inter-
esting subject of their son, said to
BARNES father.
HE has been with Patricia every
Of the day. Scarcely could
he spare the girl long enough to let
her change her frocks."
The scheme then" that man re-
sponded, sis working prOmisingly, and
he fair Lucia neglected"
Lucia was here this afternoon"
he mother admitted. "Barnie and
Patricia drove her over. But she did
seem oct of it. beside our sprightly
visitor"
'Sprightly' hardly expresses Miss
Patricia's vivacity," the elder Willis
lrily replied. "She described herself
% me this morving as "a snappy
kirt.'
"Ma'am." asked Hannah entering
he room at this moment, "am | sup
'osed TO go upstairs after my kitchen
work is done to do up that strange
iris room?"
81 will go up directly" Mrs. Willis
aid, but Barnie's car came tearing I'D
O the door at this moment and.
an accompaniment to Bar {
les hummed air, the guest burst into {
he family living room.
We've had the greatest time everv
he announced. "AlsO we have called
pom the perfect Lucia. Does that girl
yer do or say anything wrong? &
Mrs. Willis bridled. I
Lucia is merely an ordinary self
girl" she said. I
"Come on, Pat" ordered Barney's ,
eremptory voice, and the two passed I
rom the room. v
you don't think" the mother asked O
ne father pleadingly, that Barnie a
eally can care-for that dreadful s
irl. may as well admit it, she is c
readfu! And I'd rather, oh. a hun S
red times. have him even marry S
ucia." +
In shadowy corner of the porch v
he dreadful girl gave triumphant G
gh. r
1T has been an awful ordeal, Bar c
lie friend" she said, "and I'm NOT v
Ire that | shall ever get away from T,
lat slang, while my conscience con-
nually reproves me for the reflection I,
my mothers training. But we have o.
on, Barnie. / saw it in your moth n
IS face. She is willing to submie to g,
e lesser evil You may have your s,
ucia--"
mo. thanks" she interrupted his r
attitude. 81, too. had an interest in w