The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-11-25

forget thar / came pretty close fc
being a skunk. myself"
"Oh, but, Billy" cried Lydia
There's John Levine and all our
friends-oh, you can't do IT."
Look here, Lydia" Billy's voice
was stern, ARE you for or against
Indian graft?"
Lydia drew a long breath but
was spared an immediate answer
for there was a knock on the door
and Kent came In.
well" said Kent. after Lydia
had settled them all comfortably.
81 just left Charlie Jackson-poor
old prune. He's been trying to
keep the whites off the eserva
ton by organizing the full bloodS
to stand against the halfbreeds.
But after a year Of trying he's
given up hope. He's drinking a
little.'
"And still you folks will keep on,
stealing the reservation !" ex-
claimed Billy.
Nobody spoke for a moment.
Lydia looked from Billy to Kent,
and back again. Kent was by far
the handsomer of the two. He
dressed well, and sat now, knees
crossed, hands clasped behind his
head. with easy grace. Billy was
a six-footer. larger than Kent and
inclined to be raw-boned. His
mouth was humorous and sensitive,
his gray eyes were searching.
Billy stayed and helped Lydia to
clean up the dishes. Kent would
never have thought of this, Lydia
said to herself with a vague pang.
When they had finished r1ly grave
ly took Lydia's coat from the hook
and said, Come. woman, and walk
in the cleaning with your humble
servant"
Lydia glggled and obeyed. They
walked briskly till a rise In the
road gave them a view of the lake
and a scarlet rift in the sky where
the sun had sunk in a bank of
Now, Lydia" said Billy, answer
my question. Are you for or
against Indian graft?"
Lydia's throat frightened. 81
won't take sides against Mr.. Lee
she replied.
DO you mean that you don't
want me to expose MARSHALL"
asked Billy.
you've nc right to ask me that"
.ydia's voice was cross.
But | have. Lydia, though you
1on't want it. my life is yours. No
whether we can ever be
anything else, we are friends, aren't
We, friends In the deepest sense of
hat word-aren't we, Lydia?"
Friendship! Something very
warm and high and fine entered
Iydia's heart.
Eyes, we are friends, Billy" she
laid slowly. But oh, Billy, don't
make me decide that You'll have
o let me think about 1t. You see,
deciding my attitude toward all
ny friends, even toward dad. And
hadn't intended ever to decide"
"And will you tell me, tomorrow.
# next day, Lydia?"
q lClI NOu oo oOOll do L utAlNlCf
he answered.
Amos brought John Levine home
Nth him for supper. 1t seemed to
lydia that Levine never had been
Iearer to her than he was that eve
ing. He did not talk of the In
ians, to Lydia's relief, but of
Washington politics. AS the eve
ing drew to a close, and Amos
vent out to his chickens as usual
fter Lizzie had gone to bed, John
urned to Lydia.
Really grown up, aren't you,
Do you enjoy being a young
ady?"
eyes, I do, only / miss the old
avs when | saw so much of you.
70 one will ever understand me as
do"
ooh, l don't know. There are
lily and Kent"
"ThereTl never be anyone like
ou.' Then moved by a sudden
npulse she leaned toward him and
lid, mo matter what happens, you
i'll always know that I love you,
ont you, Mr.. Levine?"
John looked at the wistful face.
"Why, what could happen,
)ung Lydia?" ,
"Oh, lots Of things. I'm grown
D now and-and I have to make
A~cfsions about the rightness and
le wrongness of things. But no :
after what I decide, nothing can
lange my love for you" F,
"When you were just a little +
t." said Levine. "you were full Of :
lmption and did your own think ,
g. And I've been glad to see you :
eep the habit. Always make your
vn decisions, dear. Don't let me :
anyone else decide matters of +,
'nscience for you" ,
He rose IS he heard Amos com
in the back door, and with his !
md under Lydia's chin. he looked +
ne and earnestly into her eyes. T
hen as Billy had done earlier in =
e evening. he sighed. ooh, Lydia =
Tdia !" and turned away.
CHAPTER XIV n