The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-12-16

Kent" she cried with the
breatblessness of a new idea, III
should give in and agree to take
the land, would you go up there
with me and turn it into a farmF
Kent smiled at her pityingly.
why, Lyd. there's nothing In that
Why should we try to farm 1t, The
money is in specializing with 1t. ]
could clear up a mint Of money for
you In a couple of years. If you'll
give me the handling Of It,"
But Lydia's eyes were shining
now. "Oh, but listen You don't
understand. Mr.. Levine drove the
Indians out. by fraud and murder.
Yes, he did. Kent. And yet, he had
big dreams about 1t. He must have
had. He was that kind of a man.
And If we should go up there and
turn those acres into a great farm.
and-and make it stand for some
thing big and right-perhaps that
would make up for everything"
LYDIA said Kent, "be sensible.
Gee. easy money on one side. and
a lifetime of hard work on the
otherl Yet you act as If there was
a choice"
Kent, can't you understand how
| feel?" pleaded Lydia. Have you
got a blind spot in your mind where
money is concerned? Are all the
men in America money crazy like
the men in Lake City?'
Sure" replied Kent cheerfully.
"Oh, Lydia, honey, don't be so
hard Look at your poor old dad
Think what it would mean to him.
Don't be so doggone sanctlmoni-
ousl'
Instead of looking at her father.
Lydia looked at Kent, long and
wistfully. How dear he was to
her What an ~inalienable part of
her life he was! What was the use
of always struggling against her
heart. Kent smiled into her face.
Her lips trembled and she hurried
to look at Amos. Suddenly Lydia
realized how gray and broken he
looked, how bent his shoulders were
with work, and there swept over
her anew an understanding of his
utter loneliness since her mothers
and Levine's deaths.
With a little inarticulate muir
muir, she ran across the and
threw her arms about his neck.
ooh, daddy" she cried, "Ill do it!
I'll agree TO it, If only you'll prom
Use me to be happy"
Amos dropped his pipe. Lydia /.
~. l1rs+ .,na- - NIThr lfttlal
GIRL Lord. Kent! Isn't she just
all right! Make me happy! Why,
you've made a young mar Of
me- swan-i"
Kent was holding one hand now,
the other. Both looked at
with radiant faces. And she
could but feel an answering glow.
"We1l make this up to you, old
lady," cried Kent. "See if we
There was a little pause,
during which the Ice doomed. Then,
"Well, what happens next, now
settled me?" asked Lydia.
Something to eat" exclaimed
Il didn't eat any supper. I
swear ! haven't eaten for months
with any relish. Lydia, make US
some chocolate OF something"
That night. after Kent had gone,
Lydia stood long at the living-room
which gave on the front
gate. The pine, IFS boughs pow
Tered with snow, kept Its lonely
Tigil over the cottage.
Yes" whispered Lydia, finally,
your best friend has deserted you,
| guess I'm keeping faith with
Kent and dad, anyhow"
Then she went to bed.
For q day or so Lydia avoided
Billy Norton. But she was restless
md unhappy and found it difficult
keep her mind on her college
work. Finally, she timed her re-
urn from the dairy school, one aft J
rnoon, TO coincide with Billy's
lome-coming from his office and
he overlook him just beyond the
nd of the street-car line. il
Billy" called Lydia. =
He turned and waited for her .
With a broad smile. Billy" she Il
aid without preliminaries, Il gave +
~" +
Lydia :" he gaSped.
81 couldn't stand their pleading. !.
hate myself. but dad looks ten .
ears Younger" =
Lydia !" cried Billy again, and
here was such a note of pain in
is voice that she turned her face Il
0 his with the same logged look :.
her eyes that had been ex- !.
ressed in her walk. I
Lydia. / can't believe it !"
IT'S true" repeated Lydia. 81 t
ouldn't stand Kent and dad both. v
nd partly | did 1t for John Le- I
memory. I'm not trying to 2
myself. Billy. ! know that l
m doing something wrong. but a
We definitely made up my mind to
acrifice my own cas- of conscience $
} dads happiness" !.
you can't do it! You aren't i
uilt that way exclaimed Billy. i
"But ! am doing it," reiterated L
.ydia. g
Look here" he cried. eagerly, n
do you expect to keep my respect
nd vet go on with this?n d
Lydia did not reply for some |
They We're nearing the cot
age, and she could see the pine. P
lack against the a%fterglow, when G
he said: Il
"Well. I'm not keeping my own Y
alf-respect and vet I'm glad I'm e
dad and Kent happy" X
They paused by the gate. Billy y
,oked down at Lydia with a puz-