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

4 dairy farmer named Norton, VI
: the road, CAV him manure in ex
change for the promise OF early
vegetables for his table. After his
: spading was done in late Septem
Der, Amos, with his wheelbarrow
followed by the two children, hogan
his trips between the dairy farm
and his garden patch and he kept
these up until the garden was deer
with fertilizer.
|, Lydia was happier than she had
been since her mothers death. She
took the long tramps to and from
school, lunch box and school bag
slung at her back. in a sort of &C.
stasy. She was Inherently a child
of the woods and fields. Their
beauty thrilled her while 1t tran
quilted her. Some of the weight
of worry and responsibility that
she had carried since her baby sis
ter of two weeks had been turned
over to her care left her.
John Levine came home with
Amos M night to supper. Amos
felt safe about an unexpected guest
on Saturday nights for there was
always a pot of baked beans, at
the baking of which Lizzie was a
master hand, and there were al
ways biscuits. Lydia vas expert
at making these. She had taken of
late to practicing with her moth
er's old cook book and Amos felt
as if he were getting a new lease
Of gastronomic life.
"Well," said Levine. after supper
was finished, the baby was asleep
and Lydia was established with a
copy of 1.-THE Water Babies he had
brought her, 81 had an interesting
trip, this week"
Amos tossed the bag Of tobacco
to Levine. "Where?"
II put in most of the week on
horseback up on the reservation.
Amos. the pine land up In there is
something to dream Of. Why,
there's nothing like II left in the
Mississippi valley, nor hasn't been
for twenty years. Have you ever
been up there?"
Amos shook his head. I've Just
never had time. It's an awful trip.
No railroad, twenty-mile drive"
Levine nodded. 1.-THE Indians are
in awful bad shape up there.
Agents in 1t for what he can get,
l guess. Don't know as 7 blame
him. The sooner the Indians are
gone the better it'll be for us and
all concerned"
whats the matter with 'emT'
asked Lydia.
"Consumption-some kind OF eye
DEMONSTRATION"
The child shivered and her eyes
widened.
you'd better go on with the
Water Babies" said John. HAS
Tom fallen into the river YETI"
"No. he's just seen himself in
the mirror answered Lydia, bury
ing her nose in the delectable tale
again.
ITS a wonderful story" said LIE
vine. his black eyes reminiscent.
at has some unforgettable verse
in 1t. "Well. as I was saying, Amos.
that timber isn't going to stay mp
there and rot-because, I'm going
to get 1t ont of there! !"
How ! asked amos.
"Act of congress, maybe. Maybe
a railroad will get the permit to go
through, Ell? There are several
ways. Wen die rich, yet, Amos"
Amos pulled at his pipe and
shook his head. You will but ]
won't. 1t isn't in u blood"
"Shucks, Amos. Where's your
nerve?'
Amos looked at Levine silently
for a moment. Then he said husk-
lily:
my nerve is gone with Patience.
And If she isn't in heaven, there
isn't one, that's ALL"
Lydia looked up from her story
with a quick flash Of tragedy in
her eyes.
"Well." said John, smiling at her
gently, eff you don't want to be
rich, Amos. Lydia does. I'll give
her the cottage here, the first fifty
thousand I make off the indian pine
lands"
"Mr. Marshall says like HI
you'll get some Indian lands,'"
unused the child.
Both men exclaimed together.
"Whatr
Lydia was confused hut repeated
her conversation with Marshall.
$50 that's the way the wind
blows" said Levine.
"You don't think for a minute
there's a banker in town without
n hand on the reservation" said
Amos. Lydia, you're old enough
now not to repeat conversations
you hear at home. Don't you ever
tell anybody the things you hear
me and Mr.. Levine talk over. Un
d~erstand?" sharply.
eyes, daddy" murmured Lydia.
flushing painfully.
"You don't have to jaw the child
that way, Amos" Levine's voice
was impatient. Just explain
things to her. Why do you want
to humiliate herr"
Amos gave a short laugh. Takes
a bachelor TO bring up kids. Run
along to he'd. Lydia"
'Iydia's not a kid. She's a
grown-up lady in Disguise said
Levine. catching her hand as she
passed and drawing her to him.
"Good night, young Lydia! If you
were ten years older and were ten
years younger"
Lydia smiled through tear
dimmed eyes. "We'd travel!" she