The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-01-14
Patricia's
Happy LAY
Ev MARTHA McWILLIAMS

y crsessccSSSSSSSSSSSS cSSSSSSSS<cSSSSSsC |
8. 1874. ny Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
"Why so pensive?" the new young |
minister asked of Patricia Love. who |
answered vaguely: I'm just wonder
dering.'
"Wondering about what?" from the |
cleric.
"Oh, Whether it's more fun to he rich
/. Or-wicked," from Patricia, soiemn
". Deep down she was laughing hard.
She was given. you see, 10 laughing al
most things and people-herself not
barred Her beaux, especially, Abe
It she vas Outwardly the pink and pat
tern of civility, were each and several,
4 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 maine thing SO ma
! terial and gross as money. After that
] you will understand why Brother Dor
set, after trying vainly to look very
much shocked, compromised with his
cloth and his conscience by answer
ing: II doubt if you ever have the
chance to find out. Rich you are
wicked you never could be-"
mot so sure about that myself" Pa
{ tricia flung back at him. Il had a
! blissful time once being worse than
I ever dreamed could be. Even yet
4 remembering il l get thrills"
"Tell me about it !" the minister said.
He was not merely minister, not even
merely a man. Rather a human be-
ing of al-around equipment, who took
souls for granted and set about the
saving of them with zest and diligence.
Intelligent. but not intellectual. earn
est honest, ardent, sincere in love of
God and man, he swayed and led his
flock by this 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 nc
trace of adding himself to her list OF
victims. At first she had been rather
relieved-to have had him signing fol
other women, old and young. hate hel
more than ever. They were none 81
kindly affectionated toward her. ever
without special cause-thOugh theil
spiteful sayings rolled off her as. wa
ter from q ducks back. 1t was on thu
whole, pleasanter to keep terms O
reasonable amity. But when tim'
made no change in Dorset, Patrici'
was a trife piqued. He ought at thu
least to find her refreshing, in that sh
did not lay herself out for his en-
tik,allment, as did almost all the 9th
ers.
ut is too bad to tell-almost." sh
said, smiling roguishly. But. remem
Der. was five. motherless. mighty bad
" spoiled and just through having tn
mumps. Mumps alone. as | recall i
is enough to excuse any of the seve
deadly sins. You hate yourself TO
having anything SO loathing-and If 70
dare look at yourself. never do 20
quite regain vanity enough to o
healthy. Add that Aunt Lucy wa
with us for tine-a try-out 10 see
she could stand that awful child
meaning me. She seemed to be stan'
ing ii beautifully-but was not stan
ino her at all. She dyed her hal
and wore. young, frilly clothes-tI
pinks and blues and yellows | longe
for, and was forbidden to nave
.You we're excusable. no matt'
what Won did" Dorset interrupte
She flashed him a side glance, al
went on: Don't be rash! Wait al
hear She had tea fight one afte
NAOMI wanted to take part In II. 81
wouldn't let me, because ! mao "a
down kicking and screaming LOT
bour TO prevent my hair being cure
II was yellow then, and right preIl
fancy. That is-as 1t grew. y
company saw It different stoppl
9TH an elfin SMILE.
.You dyed 1t. ! suppose DU u
commented. Patricia nodded. :
also nv hands and face. and mos.
nv ,,ne white dress. She inslsteu
..,h,ta for small children. as though
.s,d not feel more grown up tnan
shoroht she was You see. she nags
and ouarreled with servants anu /"
moan about money-things ca
.h,de made free with all ner MAJ
Uneven put on her false cnrls , az = :
eide carried her best parasol ana :
md trailed her lace shaw Dei'nu -
Refore she saw me ! got to the my, -
- the room. bobbed my head ana :. "a
listen. people. I'm MISS a. az
1--we and all Of you come 70 see !,
tomorrow-come to dinner - =
ice cream. no .
.Then she swooped on me J,
tr,ed TO carry me out. scla'~'
her face and kicked 50 naru ~
dronned me and crumpled down az
! heap. Daddy came anu n,,r
npstairs. and said ne ought 9 pu !
me think he ought 70 nave a., :
it-now. 1 didn't then. and pc u,u
Maybe he hadn't the heart. u loon
dve month to wear of me, anu
70 stay strictly at home un.n 80 !" :,
x white child once more. And TAR !
r3u