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

The Note
Margery Marshall had entered high
school this fall. She was growing tall,
and her beauty already was remark
able. Her little head carried its great
black braid proudly. The pallor of
her skin was perfectly healthy-and
even the senior lads were seen to OBJ
serve her with interest and apprecia-
ton.
The results of Lydia's summer dress
making had not been bad. She had
made herself several creditable shirt
waists and a neat little blue serge
skirt. She came back to school with
zeal and less than her usual sense Of
shabbiness.
1t was a day toward the first Of
October at the noon hour that Lydia
met Kent and Charlie Jackson.
Hello, Lydl How's everythingT'
asked Kent. 81 haven't seen you to
talk to since last spring"
did you have fine summer?" said
Lydia.
cav, only part of 1t. Dad made me
work till the middle of August, then
Charlie and l camped up ON the res
ervation."
"There comes Margery," said Lydia.
"She hardly speaks to me now, she's
been to New York"
'She is a peach" exclaimed Char
lie, cycling Margery in her natty blue
suit appraisingly.
''How de do, Kent!" Margery ap-
preached languidly, including Lydia
and Charlie in her nod. Il hope yon
all had a pleasant summer Mother
and were in New York"
Kent, Lydia and Charlie exchanged
glanees.
81 had pretty good summer" said
Lydia. 81 sewed and cooked and
scrubbed and swan, and once Adam,
dad Mr.. Levine and l walked clear
round the lake, eighteen miles,"
81 don't see how your father can let
that Mr.. Levine come to your house !"
exclaimed Margery with sudden ener-
gy. my father says he's a dangerous
man."
Hes crook !" said Charlie stolidly
and finally.
Lydia stamped her foot. Hes not,
and he's my friend!" she cried.
"Levine's crook!" repeated Char
lie, slowly. "If what he's trying to do
goes through, my tribeI be wanderers
on the face of the earth. If thought
1t would do any good, I'd kill him. But
some other brute of white would
take his place. It's hopeless"
The three young whites looked at
the Indian wonderingly. Their little
spatting was as nothing, they realized,
to the mature and tragic bitterness
that Charlie expressed. A vague sense
of catastrophe, epic In character,
that the Indian evidently saw clearly,
but was beyond their comprehension,
was broken by the school bell.
Lydia had plenty to think Of on her
long walk home. Charles voice and
words haunted her. What did 1t all
mean? Why was he so resentful and
so hopeless? She made up her mind
that when she had the opportunity to
ask him, she would.
The opportunity came about simply
enough. At recess one day week or
so later he asked her If she was going
to the first senior "hop" of the year.
Lydia gave him clear look.
"Why do you ask me that? Just to
embarrass me?' she said.
Charlie looked startled. Lord
knows didn't mean anything" he
exclaimed. "What're you SO touchy
aboutY'
Lydia's cheeks burned redder than
usual. II went to a party at Miss
TONNES when / was freshman and
promised myself I'd never go to an
other"
"Why notT' Charles establishment
was genuine.
Clothes" replied Lydia, briefly.
The Indian boy leaned against
desk and looked Lydia over through
half-closed eyes. you're an awful
pretty girl, Lydia. Honest you are,
and you've got more brain in min
ute than any other girl in school'll
have all her life"
Lydia blushed furiously Then
moved by Charles simplicity and OBJ
viously sincere liking, she came closer
to him and said, 'Then, Charlie, why
hasn't any boy ever asked me to
party? Is it just clothes?''
Lydia, I'll take you to a party n
week. if you'll go he cried.
mo! No! / couldn't co. she pro-
tested Answer my questions it
clothes?"
"No, only half Clothes" answered
Charlie, meeting her honestly. ''The
other half is you know too much. You
know, the fellows like a girl that
giggles lot and don't know as much
as he does and that's a peachy dancer
and that'll let him hold her hand and
kiss her. And that's the honest to
God truth. Lydia"
"Oh," she said. ooh" Then,
"Well, could giggle, all right. can't
dance very well because I've just
picked up the steps from watching the
girls teach each other In the cloak
room. Oh, well, don't care! I've
got Adam and I've got Mr.. Levine.
Why do you hate him so, Charlief'
Lots of reasons. And I'll hate him
more If he gets his bill through con-
gress."