Gilpin observer., 1920-06-03
The LESSER EVIL
BY MILDRED WHITE.


bled face of young man just below.
"Barnie," she asked impulsively,
"what's all this hear about your at
tachment for certain Lucia Holmes?"
Barnett Willis turned sharply.
"Who has been talking to you about
that?" he said. 81 never saw such n
town. A visitor can't be in 1t twenty
four hours without learning the Sc
crets of ones heart"
$50 1t is heart secret?" the girl
laughed. well. as to my informant.
she Is no other thap your mothers old
helper. Hannah. it seems. considered
1t her duty to warn me-
Barnie muttered an exclamation.
II am being frank with you, FRIEND"
the girl said airily, "in order that
may in turn get at the truth"
"Well-you've got at it," the man
succinctly replied.
Lucia Holmes has always been
speak of these things to every one.
but you and l, Patricia, have gotten to
be good chuins 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.
Barnle laughed.
: HExactly," 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. 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 situ-
alton. There's my own mother pack
ing me off here with the same object
in view. There happens to be 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 ! also
am switched off to friend Barnie."
The two sat staring into each 9TH
er's eyes.
whats the matter with Blll?"
Barnie asked at last abruptly.
absolutely nothing" the girl en-
phatically replied.
"What appears to be your Lucia's
glnring 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
Burnie's father.
"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 then" that man re-
sponded. sis working promisingly. and
the fair Lucia neglected"
Lucia was here this afternoon" "
the mother admitted. "Barnie and
Patricia drove her over. But she did
seem out of II. beside our sprghtly
visitor"
"'Sprightiy' hardly expresses Miss
Patricia'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, "am / sup
posed to go upstairs after my kitchen
work is done to 10 up that strange
girls rOOmT'
~ will GO up directly" Mrs. Willis
said, but Barnies car came tearing UP
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 wrongT'
Mrs. Willis tJridlcd.
"I.ucIa is merely an ordinary self
respecting girl" she said.
"Come on. Fat" ordered Barney's
peremptory voice, and the two passed
from the room.
"You don't think" the mother asked
the father pieadingly. that Barnie
really can care--for that dreadful
girl. may as well admit 1t. she Is
dreadful! And I'd rather. oh, hun
dred times, have him even marry
Lucia"
In q shadowy corner Of the porch
the "dreadful girl" gave triumphant
oh