The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-10-07

Shortly He Had a Bright Blaze at
Her Feet
shore. Shortly he had a bright
blaze at her feet. He kicked the
off a small log.
"Sit down-here where you get
The warmth" he ordered, his voice
as gruff as he could make it.
Lydia sat down obediently, her
mittened hands clasping her knees.
Kent stood staring at his little
chum. He took in the faded blue
tam, the %outgrown coat, the red
mittens, so badly mended, the leg
gings with patches on the knees.
Then he eyed the heavy circles
around her eyes and the droop to
the mouth that was meant to be
merry.
Kent was only a boy, but he was
mature In spite of his needless
ways. Staring at the tragedy In
Lydia's ravished little face, a sym
pathy for her pain as real as 1t was
unwonted swept owe him. Sudden
ly he dropped down beside her on
the log and threw his boyish arms
about her.
I'm sc doggone sorry for you,
Lydia !" he whispered.
Lydia lifted startled eyes to his.
Never before had Kent shown her
the slightest affection. When she
saw the sweetness and sympathy
in his brown gaze:
ooh, Kent" she whispered, why
did God let 1t happen Why did
He?" and she buried her face on
his shoulder and began to sob.
Softly at first, then with a racking
agony of tears.
Even a child is wise in the mat
ter Of grief. Kent's lips trembled,
Lydia. He only held her tightly
and watched the fire with bright,
unseeing eyes. And after what
seemed a long, long time, the sobs
grew less. Finally, he slipped a
pocket handkerchief into Lydia's
hand. 1t was gray with use but
of a comforting size.
"Wipe your eyes, old lady" he
said in a cheerful, m~atter-of-fact
tone. 1--WE got to put the fire out,
SOS we car start home"
Lydia mopped her face and by
the time Kent had the fN smoth-
cred with snow, she was standing,
sad-eyed but calm except for dry
sobs. Kent picked up me of the
sticks he had brought for the fire.
"Catch hold" he said; "Tll pull
you home"
Old Lizzie was watching for them
and when they came stamping into
the dining room, they found a
pitcher of steaming and a
plate of bread and butter with hot
gingerbread awaiting them.
"See If you can get her to eat,
Kent said Lizzie.
"Sure, she'll eat" Kent answered
her. Gimme back my hanky,
Lydl"
Lizzie gave a keen look at Lyd-
las t~ear-stained face and turned
back in a moment to find Lydia ST.
lently eating what Kent had set
before her.
Kent ate hugely and talked with
out cessation. About what, Lydia
did not know, for the sleep that had
been denied her was claiming her.
She did not know that she almost
buried her head in her second cup
of cocoa, nor that Kent helped car
ry her to the couch behind the liv-
ing room base burner.
rs she sick? Shall I get the doc
tor?" he whispered as old Lizzie
tucked a shawl over her.
GtI-1 NJ NJ CINs- s..-t
dead for sleep. She's neither cried
nor eat nor had a decent hour of
sleep since it happened. And now.
thanks TO you, she's done all three.
You are a good boy, Kent Moul-
tom
Kent looked suddenly foolish and
embarrassed. "Aw-that's moth
ing" he muttered. where's my
coat? Maybe I'll come out again
tomorrow, if I amt got anything
better to do"
All the rest of the winter after
noon, Lydia slept. Amos came
home at sever and he and Lizzie
ate supper In silence except for the
old lady's story of Kent's visit.
Poor young one" muttered
looking slowly toward the
quiet blond head on the faded
brown cushion. I'm glad she's a
child and II forget it soon"
Lizzie gave Amos a curious
you don't know Lydia,
she said.
I He did not seem to hear her. He
moved his chair toward the stove,
put his feet on the fender, lighted
his pipe and then sat without NOV
Ing until a stamping of feet and a
hearty rap on the door reused him.
let John Levine in.
where's LydiaY' was Levine's.
first question.
Lizzie pointed to the couch,
undisturbed, Lydia slept on.
Good" said John. He drew his
chair up beside Amos. and the two
fell into low-voiced conversation.
It must have been nine o'clock
when Lydia opened her eyes to
hear Amos say fretfully:.
TO pE CONTJNTTED