The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-11-26

have been Charlie Jackson or 1t might
have been a dozen others. A sheriff's
liable to have plenty of enemies. Billy
started bunch hunting"
Lydia shivered.
doc got the bullet" said Amos.
Were going to be busy in this house
for a while"
II want to see him first, please,
daddy"
"Just peek then, don't make a
noise"
Already the living-room had a sick
room aspect. The light was lowered
and the table was Uttered with band
ages and bottles. Lydia crept up to
the couch and stood looking down at
the gaunt, quiet figure.
John opened his eyes and smiled
family. Making you lots of trouble,
young Lydia"
"Oh, mol" exclaimed Lydia. "Just
get well, we don't mind the trouble"
1--WE got to get well, SOS you and
can travel" whispered Levine. "Good
night DEAR
Lydia swallowed a sob. "Good
night" she said
The shooting was a seven days
wonder, but no clue was found as to
the identity of the would-be assassin.
Charlie Jackson had spent the eve
ming with Kent AS the monotony of
Levine's convalescence came on, Cos
sip and conjecture lost interest in him.
John himself would not speak of the
shooting.
1t was after Christmas before Lydia,
coming home from school with Adam,
who always went to meet her, would
find John, pale and weak but fully
dressed, watching for her from his
armchair by the window. The two
had many long talks, In the early win
ter dusk before Lydia started her
preparations for supper One of these
particularly, the child never forgot.
Everybody acted queer about Char
lie Jackson, at first" said Lydia, 'but
now you're getting well, they're all
just as crazy about him as ever"
He'll kill some one in a football
scrimmage yet" was Johns comment.
mo, the boys say he never loses
his temper. The rest Of them do. 1
wish girls played football. 1 bet I'd
make a good quarterback"
John laughed weakly but delight
edly. "You must weigh fully hun
dred pounds! Why, honey, they'd
trample hundred pounds to death |"
"They would notr Lydia's voice
was indignant. "And just feel my
muscles. l get 'em from swimming"
John ran his hand over the proffered
shoulders and arm. "My goodness,
he said In establishment "Those mus
Giles are like tiny steel springs. Well,
what else would you like to be be-
sides quarterback, Lydia?'
Lydia hitched her chair closer to
Levine and glanced toward the kitch-
en- where Lizzie was knitting and
warming her feet in the oven. I'D
like to own an orphan asylum. And
I'd get the money to run 1t with from
a gold mine. / would find a mine In
New Mexico. / know could If I could
just get out there"
But what are you really going to
do with yourself, Lydia, pipe dreams
aside?"
swell, first I'm going to get an edu-
cation, clear up through the univer-
sity. Get an education If you have
to scrub the street to do it, was what
mother always said. You can be
dxy M ha hn 49,
can't be lady and use poor Eng
lish.' And then I'm going to be as
good housekeeper as Mrs. Marshall
and I'm going to dress as well as Olga
Reinhardt, and have as pretty hands
as Miss Towne. And I'm never going
to move out Of the home / make May
be I'll get married. / suppose I'll have
to cause l want at least six children,
and some ones got to support them.
And I'll want to travel a good deal"
Travel takes money" John remind
ed her.
By the middle of January, Levine
was sufficiently recovered to leave.
The Saturday before he left occurred
another conversation between him and
Lydia that cemented still further the
quaint friendship Of the two.
Lizzie was taking a long nap. The
dear old soul had been exhausted by
the nursing. Levine lay on the couch
and finally asked Lydia to read aloud
to him. She was deep in 1.-The Old
Curiosity Shop" and was glad to
share it with her friend.
Suddenly Levine was astonished to
hear Lydia's voice tremble. She was
reading of little Nell's last sickness.
"she was dead. Dear, patient, noble
Nell was dead. No sleep so beautiful
and calm. She seemed creature
fresh from the hand of God Not one
who had lived and suffered DEATH"
Lydia suddenly broke off, bowed her
yellow head on the book and broke
into deep, long-drawn sobs that were
more like woman's than a child's.
John rose as quickly as he could.
'My dearest !" he exclaimed. whats
the matterY' He pulled her from the
arm chair. seated himself, then drew
her to his knees.
II can't bear 1t !" sobbed Lydia. 81
can't. Seems sometimes IL l couldn't
have little Patience again I'd die
That's the way she looked in her coffin,
you remember? F-fresh from the
hand of God-not one who h-had lived
and s-suffered DEATH o my little,
little sister,"
John gathered Lydia In his arms
and hushed her against his heart.
Sweetheart! Sweetheart! Why, l
didn't realize you still felt sol Think
how happy Patience must be up there
with God and her motherl You
wouldn't wish her back ~
IF believed that could stand it