Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-11-11
THE STORY
b.
Honor4
Willsie

father, Amos Dudley, at Lake City. Hei
fathers friend, and her own devoted
affairs with Dudley, makes up his mind
to go into politics.
CHAPTER H.-Lydia, Patience ana
companion, Kent Moulton, playing by
the lake, are acoosted by an old squaw
Sa s sss sdar0 arsssy sns
banker. Joins them: In their play
Margery falls into the water. She is
taken home by Lydia and Kent. Her
father calls on Amos to complain,
blaming Lydia for the mishap.
Continued from last weekly
In three days, the like of which
are the longest, the shortest days Of
life, the house had returned to the
remnant of its old routine The place
had been fumigated. Lydia had
placed in her bedroom everything that
had belonged to the baby, had locked
the door and had moved herself into
Lizzie's room. Amos departed before
dawn as usual with his dinner pail,
stumbling like an old man, over the
road.
The quarantine sign was on the
house and no one but the undertaken,
the doctor, Mrs. Norton and John Lee
vine had been allowed to come to see
the stricken little family, excepting
the minister.
Lydia and Lizzie put in the morning
cleaning the cottage. Never since they
had lived in it had the little house been
so spick and span. At noon, they sat
down to lunch in a splendor Of cleanli-
ness that made the place seem stran-
ger than ever to them both. Neither
talked much. At intervals, tears ran
down old Lizzie's wrinkled cheeks
and Lydia looked at her wonderingly.
Lydia had not shed tear. But all
the time her cheeks were scarlet, her
hands were cold and trembled and her
mach ached.
"You must eat, childie. You haven't
eat enough to keep bird alive since
since"
There was bang on the door, and
Lizzie trundled over to open it.
"For the Lords sake, Kent"
Kent it was, big and rosy with his
skates over his shoulders. He walked
into the living room deliberately.
"Hello, Lydia" he said, 81 came out
to see your Christmas presents"
Lydia clasped her hands. "Oh,
Kent, I'm so glad! But you can't
stay! We're quarantined."
what the seventeen thunder-bugs
do l care" returned Kent, gruff1y,
looking away from Lydia's appealing
eyes.
Lydia laughed, as she always did at
Kent's astonishing oaths. At the
sound of the laughter, old Lizzie gave
a sigh as though some of her own
tense nerves had relaxed.
"Now see here" grOwled Kent,
they've got no business to shut you
up this way. You come out and skate
for a while. We won't meet anybody
. at this end Of the lake."
"Just the thing, quarantine or mott
exclaimed Lizzie, briskly. "And I'll
cook a surprise for the two of you.
Keep her out an hour, Kent"
Lydia silently got into overcoat and
leggings and pulled on her Tam
o'Shanter. She brought her skates
from the kitchen and the two children
made their way to the lake shore.
With unwonted consideration, Kent
helped Lydia strap on her skates.
Then the two started, hand in hand,
up the lake. They skated we'll, as did
most of the children of the community.
The wind in their faces was bitter
cold, making conversation difficult
Whether or not Kent was grateful for
this, one could not say. He watched
Lydia out Of the tail Of his eye and as
the wind whipped the old red into her
cheeks, he began to whistle. They
had been going perhaps fifteen min
utes when the little girl stumbled sew
eral times.
whats the matter, LydT asked
Kent.
II don't know" she painted. I'll
guess I'm tired"
'Tired already GOSH And you've
always worn me out. Come on up to
the shore, and ri make fire, SOS
you can rest"
Lydia, who always had scorned the
thought Of rest, while at play, fol-
lowed meekly and stood In silence
while Kent without removing his
skates hobbled up the bank and pulled
some dead branches to the shore.
Shortly he had bright blaze at her
feet. He kicked the snow of small
log.
"Sit down-here where you get the
warmth" he ordered, his voice as
gruff as he could make 1t.
Lydia sat down obediently, her NIT
tened hands clasping her knees. Kent
stood staring at his little chum. he
took in the faded blue tam, the out
grown coat, the red mittens, so badly
mended, the Ieggings with patches On