The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-12-28
Patricia's
Happy Day
By MARTHA MewILLIAMs

0SA A0ks
Wondering about what7" from tn
cleric.
"Ohl Whether it's more fun to be ricl
or-wicked." from Patricia, solemn
~. Deep down she was laughing hard
She was given. you see. to laughing q
most things and people-herself no
barred. Her beaux, especially, albe
1t she was outwardly the pink and pat
tern Of civility, were each and several
Merry Andrews Of sorts.
Possibly because she lacked illusion,
regarding them. They were keen t.
marry, not the girl she was, but tn,
one who could bring to them her IA
theirs prestige, hard clear vision, ant
influence. not to name a thing 30 ma
terial and gross as money. After tina,
you viii understand why Brother Dor
get. after trying vainly to look very
much shocked, compromised with his
cloth and his conscience by answer.
Ing: II doubt II you ever have the
chance to find out. Rich you are
wicked you never could be-"
mot 30 sure about that myself" Pa.
tricia flung back at him. II had q
blissfui time once being worse than
ever dreamed could be. Even yet
remembering 1t get thrills"
Tell me about It |" the minister said,
He was not m'wely minister, not even
merely . man. Rather a human be.
Ing OF all-around equipment, who took
souls for granted and set about the
Saving OF them with xest and diligence.
intelligent, but net intellectual, earn.
eat, honest, ardent, sincere in love of
God and man. be swayed and led his
mock BY the force Of example, rather
than the weight Of reasoning.
Patricia puzzled him even as she
vas 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 sighinx for
her openly would have made the
other women. old and young. hate her
more than ever. They were none SO
kindly affectionated toward her, even
without special cause-thOugh their
spiteful sayings rolled off her as wa
ter from ducks back, It was on the
whole, pleasanter to keep terms of
reasonable amity. But when time
made no change in Dorset, Patricia
was trife piqued. He ought at the
least to find her refreshing, in that she
did not lay herself out for his en-.
thrallment. as did almost all the 9TH
ers.
1T Is too bad to tell-almost," she
said. smiling roguishly. "But, remem-
Der. ! was five, motherless. mighty bad
~ spoiled and just through having the
humps. Mumps alone, as l recall It.
Is enough to excuse any Of the seven
deadly sins. You hate yourself for
having anything SO loathing-and If you
dare look at yourself, never do you
quite regain vanity enough to be
healthy. Add that Aunt Lucy was
with us for a time-a try-out to see If
she could stand that awful child
meaning me. She seemed to be stand
Ing 1t beautifully-but was not stand |
Ing her at all. She dyed her hair,
and wore young, frilly clothes-the |
plnks and blues and yellows longed |
Tor. and was forbidden to have"
You were excusable, no matter
what you did," Dorset interrupted.
She flashed him a side glance, and
went on: Don't be rash! Wait and
hear. She had q tea fight one after
noon-I wanted to take part In it, She
wouldn't let me, because I had laid
down kicking and screaming for an
hour to prevent my hair being curled.
1t was yellow then, and right pretty,
! fancy. That is-as 1t grew. The
saw It different" stopping
with an elm smile.
"You dyed It. l suppose" Dorset
Patricia nodded. Eyes,
also my hands and face. and most of
my flne white dress. She insisted on
white for small children, as though I
lid not feel more grown up than
thought she was. You see, she nagged
Ind Quarreled with servants, and was
mean about m0ney-things I can't
abide. made free with all her make
ap-even put on her false curls at one
'ide. carried her best parasol and fan,
md trailed her lace shawl behind me.
Before she saw me got to the middle
" the room, bodied my head and said
Listen. people. I'm Miss Patricia
Love. and all Of you come to see me
lomorrow--come to dinner. I'll have
ce cream
Then she swooped or me and
'ried t. carry me out. /. scratched
her face and kicked so hard she
iropped me and crumpled down all In
heap. Daddy came and took me
lpstairs, and said he ought to punish
ne. I think ..e ought to have done
t-now. didn't then. and he didn't.
Maybe he hadn't the heart. II took the
I've a month to wear of me. and had
o stay strictly at home until l was a
White child once more. And fair time,
With everybody going, and my Princess
'Ony getting blue ribbons In all the ,
lngs! But even that didn't take
way the thrill Of 1t. know I have