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

Towne. And I'm never going t
move out Of the home | make. May
be I'll get married. | suppose III
have to cause l want at least 81,
port them. And I'll want to trave
a good deal"
"Travel takes money" John re
minded her.
BY the middle Of January Levin,
was sufficiently recovered to leave
The Saturday before he left oc
Cured another conversation be
tween him and Lydia that cement
ed still further the quaint friend
ship of the two.
Lizzie was taking a long nap
The dear old soul had been eX
hausted by the nursing. Levine
lay on the couch and finally asked
Lydia TO read aloud TO him. She
was deep in The Old Curiosity
Shop" and was atad to share II
with her friend.
Suddenly Levine was astOnisheC
to hear Lydia's voice tremble. She
was reading of little Nell's last
sickness. "She was dead. Dear
patient, noble Nell was dead. Nc
sleep so beautiful and calm. She
seemed a creature fresh from tho
hand of God. Not one who had
lived and suffered death"
Lydia suddenly broke off, bowed
her yellow head on the book and
broke Into deep, long-drawn sobs
that were nor like a woman's
than a child's.
John rose as quickly as ne
could. MY dearest !" he exclaimed.
whats the matterf" He pulled
her from the armchair, seated
himself, then drew her to his
knees.
IT can't bear I'll sobbed Lydia.
II can't. Seems sometimes II l
couldn't have little Patience again
I'd die That's the way she looked
in her coffin, you remember
'F-fresh from the hand of God
not one who h-had lived and s-suf-
fered death O my little, little
sister -
John gathered Lydia In his arms
and hushed her against HIS heart.
Sweetheart Sweetheart Why,
l didn't realize you still felt SO!
Think how happy Patience must
be up there with God and her moth
erl You wouldn't wish her back !"
IF believed that I could stand
it-but there isn't any Godl"
Levine gasped. Lydia! Hush
now! Stop crying and tell me
about It,"
His sallOw face was set with
pain. Why. child, THE isn't right.
You're too young for such thoughts
Lydia, do you read the Biblef"
She nodded. I've tried that,
too-but Jesus might have believed
everything He said was true, yet
there mightn't have been a word OF
truth in IT. Do you believe in God7'
Johns hold on the thin hands
t%ightened. He stared long and end
lessly past the window.
Lydia" he said, at last, TN ad-
nit that my faith in the hereafter
and In an All-see.ng God has been
considerably shaken as I've grown
older. But I'll admit, too, that I've
refused to give the matter much
thought. l tell you what III do.
Let's you and | start on our first
travel trip. right now! Let's start
looking for God. together. He's
there all right, my child. But you
and ! don't seem TO be able to use
the ordinary paths TO get to Him.
So well hack out our own trail,
Ell? And you'll tell me what your
progress is-and where you get
lost-and I'll tell you. 1t may take
us years, but wen get there, by
Heck! Eli, young Lydia?'
Lydia looked into the deep black
eyes long and earnestly. And as
she looked there stole into her
heart a Ems Of campanionship, Of
protection, of complete understand
ing. that spread like a warm glow
over her tense nerves. 1t a a
sense that every child should grow
up with, yet that Lydia had not
known since her mothers death.
ooh !" she cried, II feel happier
already. OF course wen find Him.
I'll begin my hunt tomorrow"
=
Amos was keenly interested In
Levine's campaign. He took Lydia
one September evening Just before
school opened to hear John make
a speech in the square. Lydia up
TO this time had given little heed
to the campaign, but she was de-
lighted with the unwonted adven-
ture of being away from home in
the evening.
On the wooden platform extend
ed from the granite steps Of the
capitol a band dispensed dance
music and patriotic airs, breaking
into america" as Levine made his
way to the front of the platform.
Lydia stared up at him. She
was filled with pride at the thought
of how close and dear he a to
her. She wished that the folks.
about her realized that she and her
shabby father were intimate with
the hero of the evening.
The first part Of the address in
tereSted Lydia very little. 1t con
cerned the possibility Of a new post
office for Lake City and made
numerous excursions into the mat
ter of free trade. Then of a sud
den Levine launched his bolt.
Ladies and gentlemen. twenty
miles north of this old and highly
civilized city lies a tract Of fifty
miles square of primitive forest,