Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-07-01
THE LESSER EVIL
BY MILDRED WHITE.

the porch looked down into the trou
- bled face Of a young man just below.
"Barnie." size asked impulsively.
"whats all this hear about your at
tachment for a certain Lucia HOlmesY'
Barnett Willis turned sharply.
"Who has been talking to you about
that?" he said. q never saw such a
town. A visitor can't be in it twenty
four hours without learning the Sc
crets Of ones heart"
$50 it is a heart secret?" the girl
laughed well, as to my informant,
she is no other than your mothers old
helper Hannah, it seems, considered
it her duty to warn me-
Barnie muttered an exclamation.
Il am being frank with you, friend"
the girl said airiIy lin order that
may in turn get at the TRUTH
"Well-you've got at it," the man
succnctly replied.
Lucia Holmes has always been
the only girl for me- A fellow doesn't
speak of these things 10 every one,
bur you and l. 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 1 did nor 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
err has a stubborn dislike to Lucia,
which is most unjust.
81 suppose" Patricia remarked spec
ulatively, that I'm the latest attrac-
tive female on trial. l wish you had
told me this before, Barnie. l 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 stu
alton. There's my own mother pack
ing me off here with the same object
In view. There happens to be a dis
approved young man by the name of
Bill back home who has an attach
ment for me. / have shown no evil
dence of being displeased so I also
am switched off to friend Barnie"
The two sat staring into each 9TH
er's eyes.
"What's the matter with Bill?"
Barnie asked at last abruptly.
Absolutely nothing" the girl en-
phatically replied.
"What appears to be your Lucia's
glaring faultT
Mother says" Barnie answered i'm
patiently, that Lucia is no house
keeper. Lucia, it seems, also is too
Iuiet-Oh, heaven knows what else"
he broke off.
1t was on the following evening
hat Mrs. Willis, discussing the inter-
sting subject of their son, said to
3arnie's father.
'He has been with Patricia every
moment of the day. Scarcely could
e spare the girl long enough to let
er change her frocks."
THE scheme then" that man re-
ponded, sis working promisingly and
he fair Lucia neglected"
Lucia was here this afternoon"
he mother admitted. "Barnie and
atricia drove her over. But she did
aem out of it, beside our sprightly
sitor."
'Sprightly' hardly expresses Miss
atricia's vivacity," the elder Willis
lily replied. "She described herself
me this morning as "a snappy
.irt'
"Ma'am." asked Hannah entering
e room at this moment, IAN | sup !
'sed to go upstairs after my. kitchen I
ork is done to do up that strange I
RS roOm?" !
II will go up directly" Mrs. Willis !.
i'd but BARNES car came tearing I'D :
the door at this moment and. !.
listling an accompaniment to Bar :
rs hummed air, the guest burst into !,
e family living room. {
we've hdu tne greatest time ever!" =
2 announced. ALSO we have called
on the perfect Lucia. Does that girl =
er do or say anything wrong?" :
Mrs. Willis bridled. :
Lucia is merely an ordinary self :
pecting girl" she said /
Come on, Pat" ordered Barney's Z
'emptory voice, and the two passed !
m the ROOM z
You don't think" the mother asked Z
father pleadingly, that Barnie /
lily can care-for that dreadful I
]. may as well admit it, she is +
adfull And I'd rather, oh, hun !
d times, have him even marry !
ia" !
n a shadowy corner of the porch !