Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-11-04


straight and blond.
What Lydia could not at this time
appreciate was the fact that Billy's
gray eyes were remarkable in the
clarity and steadiness of their gaze,
that his square jaw and nob.,c mouth
were full of fine promise for his man
hood and that even at sixteen the
framework Of his great body was mag
nifcent.
He never had paid any attention to
Lydia before and she was bashful to-
ward the older boys.
"Say, Lydia, want brace Of duck?
A lot of them settled at Warm Springs
last night and I've got more than I
can USE"
He leaned his gun against the fence
and began to separate two birds from
the bunch hanging over his shoulder.
Lydia began to breathe quickly.
The Dudleys could not afford a spe-
cial Christmas dinner.
IL don't know how 1 could pay
you, Bill"
"Who wants payT' asked Bill, in
dignantly.
II dasn't take anything without pay
ing for It." returned Lydia, her eyes
still on the ducks. "But Td-Pd rath-
er have those than ship"
Billy's clear gaze wandered from
Lydia's thin little face to her patched
mittens and back again.
wont your father let your he
asked.
"I won't let myself" replied the lit
tie girl.
"Oh!" said Billy, his gray eyes
deepening. well, let me have the
evergreens and you go back for some
more. It'll save me getting ma hers
With one thrust Of her foot Lydia
showed the fragrant pile Of boughs
into the snow. She tied the brace of
duck to the sled and started back to-
ward the wood, then paused and
looked back at Billy.
THANK you a hundred rimes," she
called.
'It was business deal. No thanks
needed" he replied.
Lydia nodded and trudged off. The
boy stood for a moment looking at
the little figure, then he started after
her.
Lydia, I'll get that load of pines
for you"
She tossed vivid smile over her
shoulder. "You will not. It's bust
ness deal"
And Billy turned back reluctantly
toward the barn.
In an hour Lydia was painting up
the steps into the kitchen. Lizzie's
joy was even more extreme than Ly-
dia's. She thawed the ducks out and
dressed them, after dinner, with the
two children standing so close as at
times seriously to impede progress.
'rm lucky" said Lydia. "There
isn't anybody luckier than am or has
better things happen to 'em than I
do. Won't daddy be glad!"
Amos was glad. Flooding sadly
home, he was greeted by three glow
ing faces in the open door as soon
as his foot sounded on the porch. The
base burner in the living-room was
clear and glowing. The dining-foom
was fragrant with pine. He was not
allowed to take off his overcoat, but
was towed to the kitchen where the
two birds, trussed and stuffed for the
baking, were set forth on the table.
II got 'em!" shouted Lydia. 81
got 'em off Billy Norton for load of
pine. Christmas present for you, dad
dy. from yours truly, Lydial" She
seized the baby's hands and the two
did dance around Amos, shouting,
Christmas present.! Christmas pres
emit" at the top Of their lungs.
well! Welt" exclaimed Amos.
isn't that fine! If Levine comes out
tomorrow we can ask him to dinner,
after all. Can't we, Lizziew
"You bet we cant" said Lizzie. "And
look at this. I was going to keep it
for surprise made it by your
wife's recipe"
She held an open Mason jar under
Amos nose
"Mince meatp he exclaimed. "Why,
Lizzie, where'd you get the makings?"
ooh, bit here and bit there for
the last two months. Amt 1t grand?"
offering smell to each Of the chill
dren, who shifted ecstatically.
When the baby was safely asleep,
Lydia appeared with two stockings
which she hung on chair backs by the
stove in the living room.
"I'm putting them up to hold the
candy" she explained to her father,
suggestively.
He rose obediently and produced
half dozen oranges and bag of
candy.
ooh, that's gorgeous" cried Lydia,
whose spirits tonight were not to be
quenched. She brought in the doll
house.
"See, daddy" she said with the
pride Of the master builder. II colored
1t with walnut juice. And found the
wall paper in the attic"
Amos got down on his knees and ex-
amined the tiny rooms and the cigar
box furniture. He chuckled delight
eddy. II swan he said, 'ff Patience
doesn't want it you can give it to me !"
"I'mS going to let Lizzie put the