The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-10-22

TO DeO ana Kent ana LyOld were HELL
toned as murderers, low-down brats
and coarse little brutes by Mrs. Mar
shall, who ended by threatening them
with the police.
Old Lizzie appeared on the scene in
time to take Lydia's part and Kent
disappeared after Mrs Marshall had
told him that Margery's father would
be around to see his father that eve
ming.
rs the child dead?" demanded old
Lizzie, holding Patience on one arm
while Lydia chung to the other.
"She was able to walk upstairs"
said neighbor. "It's just Mrs. Mar
shall's way, you know"
''I'll way her." snorted Lizzie. "F'ine
thanks to Lydia for saving the child.
Come home with your old Liz, dearie,
and get into the nice clean dress I've
got for you"
Lydia told the story to Amos at
suppertime. He was much disturbed.
1--WE told you often and often, Ly-
dia, never to endanger child that
can't swim. You and Kent should
have had more sense"
The quick tears sprang to the child's
eyes, She was still much shaken.
us this lesson enough for you, or
must forbid your playing in the wa
| ter? 1 thought l could trust you alb
solutely'
"Stop your scolding her, Amos Dud-
ley" exclaimed old Lizzie. 81 won't
have it. She's too nervous child"
Amos was saved a reply by ring
at the doorbell. Lizzie let Margery's
father in. He was a short, red-faced
man with black hair and eyes. He
was too much excited now to stand on
ceremony, and he followed Lizzie into
| the dining-room.
"This won't do, Dudley. These wild
young ones of yours"
"Wait a minute, Marshall" inter
rupted Amos, with a dignity that he
had brought with him from New Eng
land. "Margery is all right, so we can
! go over this thing calmly. Sit down
and listen to Lydia's story. Tell him,
Lydia"
Lydia left her place and crowded
up against her fathers side. Old Liz
zie was holding the baby.
'It was like this" Lydia began.
"Baby and me were going to play by
ourselves under the willows. Then
Kent, he came and he played pirates
with us. And then, right after we'd
had our lunch, Margery she came
along and Kent and I were mad"
The child paused uncomfortably and
! rubbed her curly yellow head with her
thin little hand in an embarrassed
way.
'Why were you mad, Lydia" In
spite of himself, Marshall's voice was
softening, as Amos had known it
would Lydia made a deep appeal
| somehow to the tenderness of men.
"Tell Mr.. Marshall all you told me,
Lydia" said Amos.
"Well-well, you see, it's like this
Margery's always so clean and she has
lovely clothes and-and she-she
looks down on us other kids so we
won't generally let her play with us
and she's an awful 'fraid cat and
and tattle-tale But when we got to
playing Robinson Crusoe, and were
digging the cave she helped and got
terrible dirty, just like us, and then
she wanted to be Fridays father, and
hen-well-now-I guess the rest OF
it was Kent's and my fault. We for
got she couldn't swim and we forgot
what a cry-baby she was. Cause you
| OH lilo 70 ~
and me and we'd been swimmin most
] all day, and Margery's the only kid
around here that can't SWIM"
"Why can't she swim?" demanded
Marshall How'd all the rest of you
learn? Don't you think you were
mean not to let her learn?"
Again Lydia's pellucid eyes widened
"Why her mother won't let her play
with common kids like us! And us
kids never learned. We've just
played in the water ever since we was
as big as baby"
David Marshall scowled and stirred
uncomfortably. He did not look at
Amos, who sat with his arm about
Lydia, his thin face lesser replica of
the old engraving Of Daniel Webster
hanging on the wall above.
swell, go on! How'd She come to
fall overheard?
"She and l was sitting in the boat,
and baby, she was tied to tree by a
Hong string and she began to cry to
come, too, and / jumped over to go
quiet her. Kent he'd gone to get an
other boat. And Margery she jumped
up and began to yell and wave her
arms and fell overheard Then / re-
membered she couldn't swim and ]
went back and got her and Kent came
and pulled US in shore. 1t wasn't any,
thing, but Margery's such cry-baby.
Lizzie, she's terrible uncomfortable y
Lydia's attention had returned to
little Patience ''I'll take her up to
bed" she said, sit won't take but a
few minutes"
I'm carry her." said Lizzie.
The baby opened her eyes. "No, no
one scally but Lyd."
| "Let daddy carry you," begged
Amos
| Patience's little voice rose to wall.
| mo one cally but Lyd."
She lifted the sleepy baby easily and
Patience dropped her soft cheek
against Lydia's and closed her eyes
again. Lydia turned to Marshal. Her
face was very serious.
II know was awful bad, Mr. Mar
shall, and maybe you feel as If you
ought to lick me-"
"Put your little sister to bed" said