The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

Lydia paused with a half sob and
for moment only the gentle ripple
of the waves on the shore and the
crickets were to be heard. Levine, ell
bow on knee, chin on hand, looked
through the dusk at the shadowy
sweetness Of Lydia's face, his own
face calm and thoughtful.
you're so good and kind to me-"
Lydia began again, show can you be
so hard on the Indians? Are you
stealing Charles logs? Are you, Mr..
| Levine?
Il bought his pine," replied Levine
| quietly.
HE doesn't believe it. He thinks
you're stealing. And he's so afraid
of you. Why does he feel that way,
Mr.. Levine?'
Lydia What're you saying!" ex-
| claimed Amos.
keep out, Amos" said Levine.
"We'ye got to clear this up. I've been
expecting it, for some time. Lydia,
years ago before the government be-
gan to support the Indians, they were
fine, outstanding race. The whites
could have learned a lot from them.
They were brave, and honorable, and
moral, and in primitive way, thrifty
! Well then the sentimentalists among
| the whites devised the reservation
| system and the allowance system. And
| the Indians have gone to the devil,
! Just as whites would under like cir
cumstances. Any human being has to
earn what he eats or he degenerates.
| The only way to save those Indians
up there is to kick them out The
strong ones will live and be assimi-
lated into our civilization. The weak
ones will die, just like weak whites
| do"
"But how about Charles pines?" in
sisted Lydia "What makes him think
| you're stealing them? And he says
that when the pines CO. the tribe will
die"
81 paid for the pine" insisted Lee
vine. can Indian has no idea of buy
ing and selling. It's a cruel incident,
this breaking up of the reservation,
but it's like cutting off leg to save
the patients life. Sentiment is vast
ed"
Lydia was turning over in her mind
the scene in the woods between John
and the half-breeds. That, then, was
a part of the process of removing the
patients leg! The end justified the
means.
She heaved great sigh of relief.
"Well, then, don't have to worry
about that any more" she said. "Only,
1 don't dare to think about those
starving old squaws, or the baby that
/ froze to DEATH
That's right" agreed Levine, COM
fortably. Don't think about them
If there was, still doubt in the
back Of Lydia's mind regarding the
reservation, for. time. at least, she
succeeded in quieting it.
One of the not unimportant results
of the camping trip was that Lydia
rediscovered the pine by the gate. 1t
was the same pine against which she
had beaten her little fists the night
of Patience's death.
She liked to sitS on the steps and
stare at it, dreaming and wondering.
For the Indians and the pines were
now unalterably associated in Lydia's
mind. The life of one depended on
that of the other. Strange thoughts
and perhaps not altogether cheerful
and wholesome thoughts for a girl
of Lydia's age.
So it was probably well that Mar
gerry about this time began to show
Lydia certain Margery-esque type of
attention. In her heart, in spite of
her mothers teachings, Margery had
always shared her fathers admiration
for Lydia. In her childhood it had
been a grudging, jealous admiration
that seemed like actual dislike. But
as Margery developed as a social ia
vorite and Lydia remained about the
same quiet little dowd, the jealousy
of the bankers daughter gave way to
liking.
Therefore, several times a week,
Margery appeared on her bicycle, her
embroidery bag dangling from the
handle bars. The two girls would
then srtablish themselves on cushions
by ire water and sew and chatter.
One day Lydia said, 81 wish we had
| hardwood floors like yours
"What kind are yoursT inquired
Margery.
"Just pine, and kind of mean, splin-
terry pine, too.
Upstairs, at Olgas all the floors
were that way" said Margery, land
/ they had a man come and sandpaper
'em and put kind of putty stuff in the
cracks and oil and wax 'em and they
look fine''
"Geew said Lydia, thoughtfully.
"Tll do 1t! And I'll cut our old liv-
] ing-room carpet up into two or three
] rugs. Lizziell have to squeeze enough
out of the grocery money for fringe.
| I'd rather have fringe than a fall
coat"
Amos, coming home a night or so
later, found the living-room floor bare
and Lydia hard at work with bit
Of glass and sandpaper, scraping at
| the Slivers.
"Ain't it awful?" asked Lizzie from
the dining room. "She would do it."
] 'Lizzie's complained all day. said
Lydia. "She doesn't realize how our
house looks like poverty and destruc-
] ton compared with other folks. I'm
going to get some style into it, if /
have to tear it down. Oh, daddy, don't
you get sick of being poor?"
"Yes," said Amos. shortly, "and
think you're silly girl to wear your
self out on this kind of thing"
Lydia sat up and looked at him. She
was growing fast and was thinner