The Ely miner., 1927-01-21
lydia of the Pines

JOHn Levine naQ QnlSneU Tue Gical
Search.
Curiously enough, nothing could
have done so much toward reinstat-
ing Lake City in the good opinion OF
the country at large as did Levines
tragic death. There was felt TO be
divine justice in the manner OF his
taking Off that partook largely Of the
nature of atonement. He had led the
whites in the despoiling of the In
dians. For this the Indians had killed
him.
That white life extinguished for
tribe destroyed might not be full COM
| pensaton in the eyes Of that Larger
| Justice which, after all, rules the uni
verse, did not seriously influence the
reaction of public opinion toward
| thinking better of Lake City. And
John Levine, known in life as an In
dian graft politician, became in his
death statesman of far vision.
After her first wild grief had ex-
pended itself, Lydia found that, after
all, Levine's tragic death had not sur
priSed her. She realized that ever
since she had known Charlie Jackson,
she had been vaguely haunted by a
fear Of just such an ending.
Billy, trundling up the dusty road
from the law Office on his bicycle, late
each afternoon, would stop for mo-
ment or two.
The drought is something fright
! ful," he said to Lydia one afternoon
in late August, wiping the sweat and
dust from his face. Are you feeling
any more cheerful, Lyd?"
II shall always have a gap in my
life, where he went out" she said,
slowly. Il shall never get over miss
ing him. Oh, he was so dear TO me !!
And yet, Billy, it isn't at all like Pa
uence's death. He didn't depend on
me and didn't live with him so that
everything doesn't cry his absence to
me. And I've got more resources than
| l had them
She laid her hand on the open book
in her lap.
"What're you reading?" asked Billy.
| 'Emerson-Compensation. Listen,
Billy-'We cannot part with our
| friends. We cannot let our angels go.
We do not see that they only go out
| that archangels may come in
And so,' Lydia's voice trembled,
but she went on bravely, I'm trying
| TO understand-trying TO see how
| oan r,,aI-o copoarbip1 GOOD anna o,,r oS
| his poor lost life. Somehow feel as
if that were my job. And-and the
idea helps me. Oh, my dear John Le-
viner'
Don't you see," Lydia burst out,
| that I've got to do something, be
something, to make all the loss and
trouble Of my life worth while?'
Il understand" answered Billy.
Early in September, John Levine's
will was found. He had left his en-
| tire property, unconditionally, to Ly-
| dia
Amos, at first, was frantic with de-
| light. Lydia was appalled,.
"All my life" she half sobbed to her
father, I've been fighting to get away
| from Indian lands. And Mr. Levine
knew how l felt. Oh, how could he
| do this to me!
Don't talk like a fool, Lydia !''
roared Amos.
But don't you see how I feel?'
cried Lydia. Don't you see that all
John Levine's lands up there are
haunted by death-his own-and all
! the starved Indians? Oh, why did he
do this to mel l won't have it, l tell
you! I'd rather be poverty stricken
all my life"
'Well, don't worry too much about
that" said Kent Dave Marshall
thinks there won't be anything left
after the estate is settled, but the
Indian lands"
'Oh, Kent, you aren't having any
thing to do with Dave Marshall, are
you?" exclaimed Lydia.
Kent flushed a little "WeII, his ad-
vice can't hurt me. If it's bad, don't
! have to take it. You ought to go out
and see his farm, Lydia They're get
ting the house all fitted with modern
conveniences. Dawes going to make
| a model stock farm"
Bought with money earned by the
/ Last Chanee!' said Lydia.
Kent looked at her quiZzically. "a
New England conscience must be
something awful to own, eh, LydT'
Lydia chuckled. Its pretty bad"
she admitted, then she went on sober
ly, ''but 1 won't take these Indian
| lands"
You can give them to me-" said
Kent, cheerfully.
She'll keep them" said Amos,
shortly, ''or Lydia and I'll have our
first real row."
Lydia looked at Kent thoughtfully.
Since the day under the willows, he
had not made love TO her, yet she had
the feeling that Kent was devoted to
her and she wondered sometimes why
he liked TO spend as much time with
Margery as with herself. Then she
gave herself a mental shake.
I'm going TO tell you right now,
that until l have TO I'm not going to
worry. I'm going TO try to be happy
in my senior year"
CHAPTER XVIII