The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-12-23

I16dA " lhts " llattSi III pfS
ger things may seen to happen t.
me, nothing can equal the things
I've felt and dreamed today"
Then he put his arms about Lydia
and kissed her. and she put hel
arms about his neck and laid heI
head against his shoulder. They
stood thus motionless while the
pine whispered above them. AND
in the intensity of that embrace all
the griefs OF Lydia's life were hal
lowed and made purposeful.
Lydia" said Billy, II want TO
tell mother and dad. Will you come
over home with me nowf"
Yes" replied Lydia, "and then
we must tell my father and Lizzie.
Oh, Billy, ] forgot" as they started
down the road, 1--WE decided to
homestead that land"
"But-why. Lydia. dear. you're
going to be a lawyers wife. For
heavens sake, let that beastly land
60"
NO. I'm going TO be a pioneers
wife 7"
There was a little pause, then
Billy laughed uncertainty. well,
I'm not going TO talk about II to-
night. I'm in a frame of mind to-
night where I'd promise you to be
an Indian chief If you ask it.
Mother and dad are In the kitchen"
They opened the kitchen door
and stepped in. Pa Norton was
sitting in his stocking feet, reading
the evening paper. Ma was put
ting away the days baking. She
paused with a loaf of bread In her
hand as the two came in and pa
looked over his glasses.
Mother and dad" said Billy, I'M
certainly, Tive brought Lydia
home TO you! Look at her dad
Isn't she a peach"
Lydia stood with her back
against the door, cheeks scarlet,
golden head held high, but her lips
~dulvering.
Ma dropped her loaf Of bread.
"Oh, Lydia" she cried, 81 thought
that %numbskull of a Billy eve
would see daylight! I've prayed
for this for years. Come straight
over here TO your mother, love-"
But Pa Norton had dropped his
paper when ma dropped her bread
and made three strides to Lydia,
and gave her a great hug and kiss.
Then he said. First time | saw
you carrying that milk for Billy's
books / said, there's the wife Billy
ought to have. Ma, wasn't she the
dearest"
But ma showed him aside con-
temptuously. Get over and talk
to Billy. This is a woman's affair.
Who cares about "reminiscences
now. Oh. Billy. do you remember
| used TO worry because she didn't
keep the back of her neck clean! :"
who's notwithstanding nowT"
asked pa belligently.
Everybody laughed. Then pa
well. ! feel almost con
ciled nov TO Bill's giving up farm
Ing. When're you going to be mar
/
Lydia blushed. ooh. not for a
long time. Now. lets 90 and tell
my people. Billy"
Out in the night again. Curious !
how long the short walk to the (,
cottage could be made Curious j
how near the stars were-heaven {
over the road where the lovers !
strOlled. Not strange that such &C. }
stasy cannot last forever. The hui I
man mind could not bear that hea-
Ven-born rapture too long.
Lizzie was mending. Amos was :
In his arm chair, with a bit !
IF paper on which he was figuring. 8
Lydia flew across the room and
on her knees beside him.
ooh. daddy dear, look at me I
here and he's always going
o be here. Tell us you're glad" q
Amos looked up with a Jerk. {
First at Billy, standing stalwart ;
md grave by the table, his deep I
eyes as steady as the hand he held :
)ut to Lizzie. Then at his daugh- :
err, with her transformed face. :,
But" protested Amos, IT thought =
t was to be Kent" ;
"Oh, 1t couldn't have been Kent" 7
exclaimed Lydia. we never would :
rave understood each other. Kent =
vas for Margery." =
A frown gathered on Amos face. G
lie did not really want Lydia to 2
marry anyone. All that had recon 7
lied him to the thought Of Kent
lad been Kent's relation to the !;
indian lands. And now he discov- a
red that he didn't want to give T
IFS daughter to anyone. He threw h
jealous arm about her. .
NO, you can't have her, Billy" 4
lie said. Nobody shall have her. a
too good for the best man 4
Eyes. she is" agreed Billy. But +
hat isn't the point. The point Is y
hat Lydia actually wants me. I O
understand it myself, but she r
lOes. and | know l can make her n
lappy." :
81 can make her happy myself
aid Amos, gruffly. h
But you haven't" retorted Billy. il
Look at the way you've acted O
bout this land matter. And. God n
nows, she deserves to be happy at
ny cost. Good heavens, when | y
hink of her. il seems TO me that -
othing could be too much for her.
think of her trudging those miles -
! her patched old clothes to buy =
er school books-what q thin, big =
we'd kiddie she was. Why, even y,
s a cub. I used to appreciate her. :