The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-05-06
THE LESSER EVIL
BY WHITE.
Copyright, 1920. Western Newspaper Union

"Barnie," she asked impulsively,
"what's all this l hear about your TT
tachment for a certain Lucia Holmes?"
Barnett Willis turned sharply.
who has been talking to you about
that?" he said. II 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 thar our mothers old
helper. Hannah, it seems, considered
ii her duty to warn me-
Barnie muttercd an exclamation.
Il am being frank with you. FRIEND"
the girl said airily, ''in order that !
may in turn get at the truth"
"We'l-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 TO every one.
hut you and |. Patricia, have gotten to
be good chums in a few days. When
mother told me that the daughter Of
her old friend was coming to visit us.
I'll confess that l did not look forward
to the event with enthusiasm. All that
has changed.
I'VE understand each other like
we'll. 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"
"PiIoting Lucia" the girl inter-
rupted.
Rarnie laughed.
Exactly" ne said. "You see moth
er has a stubborn dislike to Lucia.
which Is most unjust.
II 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 a 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. l have shown no evil
dence Of being displeased, so ! a'so
am switched off to friend Barnie."
The two sat staring into each 9th
er's eyes.
whats the matter with Bii":'
Barnie asked at last abruptly.
absolutely nothing" the girl em-
phatically replied.
"What appears 10 be your Lucia's
gIaring 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
Barnie's fnther.
'He has been with Patricia every
moment Of the day. Scarcely could
he spare the girl long enough to let
her change her frocks."
"The scheme them" that man re.
sponded. "is working promisingly. and
the fair Lucia neglected"
Lucia was here this afternoon"
the mother admitted. "Barnie and
Patricia drove her ove But she did
seem out of 1t, beside II sprightly
visitor"
"'Sprightly' hardly expresses Miss
Pat1cia's vivacity." the elder Willis
drily replied. "She described herself
to me this morning as "a snappy
skirt
"Ma'am." asked Hannah entering
the room at this moment, IAN ! sup
posed to go upstairs after my kitchen
work is done to 10 up that strange
girls roOm?"
II will go ur directly" Mrs. Willis
said. but Barnie's car came tearing NJ
to the door at this moment and
whistling an accompaniment to Bar
MES hummed air, the guest burst into
the family living room.
"We've had the greatest time ever!
she announced. "AlsO we have called
upon the perfect Lucia. Does that girl
ever do or say anything wrong?"
Mrs. Willis bridlcd.
Lucia is merely an ordinary self
respecting GIRL" she said.
"COme on. Pat" ordered Barncy's
peremptory voice. and the two passed
from the
"You don't think" the mother asked
the father %pleadingly. "tfat Rarnie
really can care-fOr that dreadful
girl. may as we'll admit it. she Is
dreadful! And I'd rather. oh, a hun
dred times. have him ever marry
Lucia"
In a shadowy corner Of the porch
the "dreadful girl gave a triumphant
sigh.
ut has been an awful ordeal. Bar
ME friend" she said. land I'm not
sure that l shall ever get away from
that slang, Willie my conscience con
tinually reproves me for the reflection
on my mothers training. But we have
won, Barnie. l saw it n your moth
er's face. She is willing to submit tc
the lesser evil You may have your
Lucia"