The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-10-28

~
struggle through the crowd.
Well" he said, as they reached
the outer edge of the square ant
headed for the trolley, "the battle
Is on"
This was the beginning OF Lyd
las reading the newspapers. Tt
her fathers secret amusement. she
found the main details of Levine's
battle as interesting as a novel
Every evening when he got home
TO supper he found her porting over
the two local papers and primed
with questions for him. Up TO this
moment she had lived In a quiet
world bounded by her school. the
home, the bit of lake shore and
wood with which she was intimate,
and peopled by her father and her
few friends.
With John Levine's speech her
horizon suddenly expanded.
CHAPTER VIII
The Note.
k1ARGERY MARSHALL had en-
1Nl tered high school this fall. She
vas growing tall, and her beauty al
ready was remarkable. 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 appre-
citation.
The result of Lydia's summer
dressmaking had not been bad. She
had made herself several creditable
shirtwaists and a neat little blue
serge skirt. She came back TO
school with zeal and less than her
usual of shabbiness.
II was q day toward the first of
October at the noon hour that
Lydia met Kent and Charlie Jack
SON..
Hello, Lyd! How's everything?"
asked Kent. ~ haven't seen yon
to talk to since last spring"
did you have a fine summer"
said Lydia.
Jaw, only part of It. Dad made
me work till the middle of August,
then Charlie and I camped up on
the reservation"
There comes Margery," said
Lydia. "She hardly speaks to me
now. she's been TO New York.
"She is a peach" exclaimed
Charlie. eyeing Msrgery in her
natty blue suit appraisIngly.
How de do, Kentl' Margery
approached lsnguidly. including
Lydia in her nod. 81 hope you all
had a pleasant summer. Mother
and 7 were In New York"
Kent, Lydia and Charlie ex-
changed glances.
"I had q pretty good summer"
said Lydia. ~ sewed and cooked
and scrubbed and swan, and once
Adam. dad, Mr.. Levine and I
walked clear around the lake, eight
q miles"
1T don't see how your father can
let that Mr.. Levine come to your
house." exclaimed Margery with
sudden energy. My father says
he's a dangerous man."
He's a crook !" said Charlie stol-
idly and finally.
Lydia stamped her foot. Hes
not, and he's my friend!' she cried.
"Levine's a crook !" repeated
Charlie, slowly. "If what he's try
ing 10 do goes through. my tribell
be wanderers on the face Of the
earth. IF I thought it would do any
good, I'd kill him. But some other
brute Of a white would take his
place. It's hopeless"
The three young whites looked al
the Indian wonderingly. Their lit
tie spatting was as nothing. they
realized, to the mature and tragic
bitterness that Charlie expressed.
A vague sense of a catastrophe.
epic in character, that the Indian
evidently saw clearly, but was be-
yOnd their comprehension, silenced
them. The awkward pause 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 sim
ply enough. At ces one day a
week or so later he asked her If
she was going to the first senior
hop" of the year. Lydia gave him
a clear look.
why do you ask me that? Just
to embarrass me?' she said.
Charlie looked startled. Lord
knows I don't mean anything" he
exclaimed. "What're you so touchy
about?"
Lydia's cheeks burned redder
than usual. ~ went to q party at
Miss Towne's when I was a fresh
man and I promised myself I'd
never go to another"
why not?" Charles astonish-
ment was genuine.
Clothes" replied Lydia. briefly.
The Indian hoy leaned against a
desk and looked Lydia over through
.half-closed eyes. you're an aw-
full pretty girl. Lydia. Honest you
are, and you've got more brain in
a minute than any other girl in
school1I have all her life
Lydia blushed furiously. Then
moved by Charles simplicity and
obviously sincere liking. she came
to him and said, "Then.
Charlie, why hasn't any boy ever
asked me TO a party? Is it just
clothes?"
Lydia. I'll take you to a party
q week. If You'll 90 II he cried.