The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-14
E0ening Story
Patricia's Happy Day.
BY MARTHA AfcC.-WILLIAMS


wondering about what?" from the
cleric.
''Oh! whether it's more fun to be
rich or-wicked," from Patricia, sol
emnly-deep down she was laughing
hard. She was given, you see, to
laughing at most things and people
herself not barred Her beaux in
especial. albeit she was outwardly the
pink and pattern Of civility, were each
and several, Merry Andrews of sorts.
Possibly because she lacked illusions
regarding them. They were keen to
marry, not the girl she was, but the
one who could bring to them her IA
Tiers prestige. hard clear vision, and
influence. not to name a thing so ma
terial and gross as money. After that
you will understand why Brother
Dorset, after trying vainly to look very
much shocked, compromised with his
cloth and his conscience by answer
ing: Il doubt if you ever have the
chance to find out. Rich you are
wicked you never could be-"
Not SO sure of that myself" Pa
tricia flung back at him; Z had a
blissful time once being worse than 1
ever dreamed 1 could be. Even yet re-
membering it I get thrills
Tell me about iti' the minister
said. He was not merely a minister,
not even merely a man. Rather q hu-
man being of au-round equipment,
who took souls for granted and set
about the saving of them with zest and
diligence. Intelligent but not intel
lectual, earnest, honest, ardent, sim
cere, n love to God and man, he
swayed and led his flock by the force
of example, rather than the weight of
reasoning.
Patricia. puzzled him even as she
was puzzled by him. Three months
in the parish he yet had shown no
trace of adding himself to her list of
victims. At first she had been rather
relieved-to have had him signing for
her openly would have made the other
women, old and young, hate her more
than ever They were none so kindly,
affectioned toward her, even without
special cause.-The their spitefuI saw.
ing rolled off her as water from a
ducks back. it was on the whole,
pleasanter to keep terms of reasonable
amity. But when time made no change
in Dorset Patricia was a trifIe piqued.
He ought at the least to find her re-
freshing, in that she did not lay her
self out for his enthrallment ac did
almost all the others.
1T is too bad to tell-almost," she
said, smiling roguishly. But remem-
ber-I was five, motherless, mighty
badly spoiled, and just thru having
mumps. Mumps alone as I recall it,
is enough to excuse any of the seven
deadly sins. You hate yourself for
having anything so loathly-and if
Yyou dare look at yourself, never do
you quite regain vanity enough to be
healthy. Add that Aunt Lucy was
with us for time-a tryout to see if
she could stand that awful child
meaning me. She seemed to be stand
ing 1t beautifully-but I was not stand
ing her at all. She dyed her hair, and
wore young frilly clothes-the pinks
and blues and yelloWs 1 longed for
and was forbidden to have"
You were excusable-nd matter
what you did" Dorset interrupted. She
flashed him a side glance, and went
on: Don't be rashi Wait and hear.
She had tea fight one afternoon
1 wanted to make part of it. She
wouldn't let me-because had laid
down kicking and screaming for an
hour to prevent my hair being curIed.
It was yellow then, and right pretty,
fancy. That is-as it grew. The COM
pany saw it different" stopping with
an elfin smile.
you dyed it, I suppose" Dorset
commented. Patricia nodded: Eyes
also my hands and face. and most
of my fine white dress. She insisted
on white for small children-as tho 1
did not feel more grown up than I
thought she was. You see, she nagged
and quarrel with servants, and was
mean about mopey-things I can't
abide. I made free with all her make
up-even put on her false curls at one
| time, carried her best parasol and
| fan, and trai1ed her lace shawl behind
me. Before she saw me 1 got to the
middle of the room, bobbed my head
and said: Listen, people! I'm Miss
Patricia Love-and all of you come to
see me tomorroW-come to dinner
I'll have ice cream
''There she swooped on me, and tried
to carry me out scratched her
lii chr
me and crumpled down all in a heap.
| Daddy came and took me upstairs
and said he ought to PUNISH mel
| think he ought no have done it-now.
I didn't then-and he didn't. Maybe
| he hadn't the heaFt-it took the dye a
month to wear off me, and I had to
stay strictly at home until I was a
white child, once more. And fair
time, with everybody going, and my
Princess pony getting blue ribbons in
| take away the thrill of it. 1 know l
have great capacities for wickedness,
even tho never realize them.'
How old was Aunt Lucy?" Dorset
! asked meditatiYely.
| Not really Odd at adjust Dads
! age" from Patricia. But She never
came again, yet now she writes me
sweet letters and send me all sorts
of fine embroidered things. Wants me
| to visit her-she married rich and is a
widow with loads of money and step
| grandchlIdren-but don't think can
ever face herd have to laugh or
| cry-either would be bad FORM
| The impossible happens. That very
/ evening came a message that sent the
Loves, father and daughter, to the
| help of Aunt Lucy. A dam washed
out, a deadly fIood-death and ruin
| up and down a long once-smiling val
| ley made imperative summons. Mr..
| Love plead to go alone-Patricia was
adamant. I'm your daughter" she
! cried; You owned part of the mills
think I'll shirk when your people,
/ our people, need help so muchi" So
/ she had her way-and for~tIle next
! fortnight was truly a ministering
angel. Oddly enough her best COM
rade and helper was Dorset. My
people have interests here" was all the
/ explanation he gave No brother
could have been kinder. more thought
! full, more unlovelike-to Patricia 5
J e5raaf She EETl1 c