Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-12-23
THE STORY

Of little Patience, Lydia's health fails.
Levine, understanding the situation,
takes to her heart. Reaching the age
Of fifteen, Lydia enters high school,
where she at once realizes that her
homemade sonn nj aeu fr9ek and general appear
better-dressed companions. She at
tends party given by her teacher.
Miss Towne.. The other girls. smartly
dressed, make fun Of her makeshift
costume
Continued from last weekly
child, after all, and still retained i'm
plicit faith in the opinion Of those she
loved. She went back to school that
fall full of interest and Importance.
She was sophomore now and very
proud of the fact that she knew the
ropes. Her arrangement with Billy
held for his second-year books. With
much pinching Of the grocery money,
Lizzie had achieved two new galatea
sailor suits and SO while she felt in
f1nftely inferior to the deliberately
gowned young misses Of her grade,
Lydia was not unhappy.
She planned real feast for Thanks
giving. She negotiated with Billy
Norton for the exchange of two
pounds Of fudge for brace of wild
duck. The Saturday before Thanks
giving, she gave the house its usual
lick and promise and then started
out with her skates to enjoy the first
ice Of the season.
She had glorious morning. There
was no snow and the lake had frozen
crystal clear. The air was breathless.
AS she skated she chanted, to impro-
vised tunes, bits of verse.
She hunted through Scottish noun
tains and moors, she whirled from
Client to AK and still high-hearted
and in the land of visions, took off her
skates and entered the house. She
banged the door, then stood for a mo-
ment staring. Elviry and Margery
were seated before the living room
stove. while old Lizzie sat on one
edge Of Amos arm chair cycling the
two belligerently.
Margery was wearing a new fur
coat. Her beautiful black eyes looked
out from under saucy fur-trimmed
hat with scarlet quill on the side.
Elviry wore black broadcloth with fox
collar and muff. Lydia, in a remod-
eled coat Of her mothers, and her old
tam and mended mittens, recovered
from her surprise quickly.
"Hellol" she said. "When did you
come? This is the first time you've
ever been in our house, Mrs. Marshall,
isn't it?"
"Yes," replied Elviry, "and," with
glance at Lizzie, II wouldn't be here
now If Mr.. Marshall hadn't made me-"
"Oh, mamma" protested Margery.
~ wanted to come"
"You hush up, Margeryl What l
came for is that Mr.. Marshall would
like to have the three of you come to
our house for Thanksgiving dinner"
Lydia suddenly giggled. "Don't
worry. Mrs. Marshall, we can't come.
We're going to have company our
selves for Thanksgiving"
Elvfry gave a huge sigh of relief.
swell, that's too bad" she said.
"We're going to have a grand dinner.
too"
$50 are we," retorted Lydia.
"How's Florence DOmbeyw asked
Margery. Mamma, can't I stay and
play with Lydia while?"
We'll stay few minutes" said
Elviry, loosing her furs and settling
back in her chair. Its real small
place, Lizzie, but you can do so little
work now, s'pose it's just as WELL"
Lydia had produced a pasteboard
shoe box Of paper dolls which she gave
to Margery. She cuddled Florence
DOmbey in her arms and gave one
ear to Margery's questions as to the
names and personalities Of the paper
dolls, the other to Elviry's comments.
1T amt so SMALL" shifted Lizzie.
tits bigger'n anything you ever lived
In, Elviry, till Dave sold enough lum-
Der he stole from the government to
start a bank"
Land, Lizzie, don't be so cross"
said Elviry. II suppose you've heard
the talk about John Levine? He's
getting in with that halfbreed crowd
up on the reservation that the Indian
agents such friends with. They say
Levine's land hungry enough to marry
squaw. He's so dark, wouldn't
be surprised If he had Indian blood
himself Land knows nothing would
surprise me about him. They say he's
just naturally crooked"
Lydia and Florence Dombey sud-
denly stood In front of Elviry.
Don't you say such things about
Mr.. Levine" said Lydia slowly,
cheeks bright, eyes as blue as Flor
ence Dombey's.
We'll" exclaimed Elviry, beginning
70 pull her furs up, II don't seem to
be able to please you two with my
conversation, 50 III be going. Mar
gsry, get up or that dirty floor. I
never cared much about Amos wife,
she was too proud, but at least she