The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-01-11
Patricia's
Happy Day
By MARTHA MeWILLIAMs

y ~ MAkIHA McWlLLlAMS
3eessssssssssessssssssaasssssssssese.S
q 1884, BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicate
"Why 20 pensive3" the new young
minister asked Of Patricia Love, who
answered vaguely: I'm just wonder.
dering."
wondering about what7 from the
cleric.
''Ohl Whether It's more fun to be rich
or-wicked." from Patricia, solemn.
". Deep down she was laughing hard.
She was given. you see, to laughing at
most things and people-herself not
barred. Her beaux, especially, Abe
1t she was outwardly the pink and pat
tern 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 fa-
Tiers prestige. hard clear vision. and
influence. not to name a thing 90 ma
terial and gross AZ money. After that
you will understand why Brother Dor
ret, 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 ind out Rich you are
wicked you never could be-"
mot 20 sure about that myself" Pa
tricia flung back at him. n had a
blissful time once being worse than
I ever dreamed I could be. Even yet
remembering 1t get thrills"
Tell me about It |" the minister said.
He was not m'xely minister, not even
merely . man. Rather q human be-
ing OF all-around equipment. who took
souls for granted and set about the
saving Of them with zest and diligence.
Intelligent. but not intellectual, earn
eat, honest. ardent. sincere in love Of
God and man. he swayed and led his
mock By the force Of example. rather
than the weight Of reasoning.
Patricia puzzled him even a. 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 afectiOnated toward her, even
without special cause-though their
spiteful sayings rolled of her as wa
ter 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 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
ly spoiled and just through having the
mumps Mumps alone. as 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 time-a try-out to see If
she could stand that awful child
meaning me. She seemed to be stand
ing It beautlfully-but was not stand.
Ing her at all. She dyed her hair,
and wore young, frilly clOthes-the
pinks and blues and yellows l longed
Tor. and was forbidden to have"
"YOu were excusable, no matter
what you did," Dorset interrupted.
She flashed him side glance. and
went on: Don't be rash Wait and
hear. She had 4 tea fight one after
noon-I wanted to take part In 1t. 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 It grew. The
company saw II different" stopping
with IN elm smile.
You dyed It. suppose" Dorset
commented. Patricia nodded. "Yes,
also my hands and face, and most of
my 0ne white dress. She insisted on
white for small children, as though I
did not feel more grown up than
thought she was. You see, she nagged
and Quarreled with servants. and was
mean about money-things can't
abide. made free with all her make
up-even put on her false curls at one
side, carried her best parasol and fan,
and trailed her lace shawl behind me.
Before she saw me got to the middle
Of the room. bodied 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
'@TheD she swooped or me and |
tried t. carry me out. scratched |
her face and kicked 30 hard she |
dropped me and crumpled down all In
\ heap. Daddy came and took me
upstairs, and said he ought to punish
me. think :e ought to have done
lt-now. l didn't then. and he didn't.
\