The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-01-07

Kent. "Why, you and 1 were friends
before we ever heard of Billyw
"Yes," returned Lydia calmly
you've always liked me as have you
But you've always been ashamed of
my clothes. l don't blame you a bit,
but you can imagine how / feel about
Billy, who's taken me, clothes or no
Clothes"
1t was Kent's turn to flush.
Hang 1t, Lyd, I've been an internal
cad, that's all p
And" Lydia went on, mercilessly,
I've got nothing to wear now but the
same old graduating dress. suppose
you were hoping for better things?'
stop it!" Kent shouted. II de-
serve 1t, but I'm not going to take it.
I'm asking you for just one reason
and that is, I've walked up to the fact
that you're the finest girl In the world
No one can hold candle to you"
There was sudden Tilt in Lydia's
voice that did not escape Kent as she
answered laughingly, "Well, If you
feel the same after seeing Margery
this summer, I'll be glad to go to one
of the hops. next fall with you, and
thank you, deeply, Mr.. Moulton."
"All right" said Kent, soberly.
1.-THE first hop next fall is mine and
as many more as / can GET
1t was late in the spring and after
the conversation with Kent, that it
began to be rumored about town that
ex-senator Alvord's Office was at the
bottom of the Indian investigation.
Kent accused Billy Of this openly, one
Sunday afternoon at Lydia's.
"Im willing to take the blame, if
necessary" said Billy.
mice thing to do to your friends
and neighbors, BILL" Kent went on.
what the deuce did you do 1t for?"
Billy shrugged his shoulders and
said nothing. Kent appealed to Lydia.
Would you have gone to parties with
him If you'd known what he was do
ing to his town, Lyd?"
"Kent, I knew it," said Lydia, after
pause.
"You knew it! You let lot of
sickly sentimentality ruin Lake City
in the eyes of the world? Not only
that. Think what's coming to John
Levine! Think what's coming to me,
though I've done little enough!
"Then I'm glad it came to stop you
while you'd still done little" cried
Lydia. aOh, there's Margeryl Isn't
she lovelyl"
1t was Margery, just home from
boarding school, where she gaily an
nounced as she shook hands she had
been finally finished"
"Margery," cried Lydia, you're SO
beautiful that you're simply above
envy. What duck of dress"
isn't itr' agreed Margery. What
were you all discussing so solemnly
when l Interrupted
Indian graft!'' said Billy, lacon-
ically.
"Isn't it awful! Oh, Billy, by the
way, daddy says he thinks Senator AL
word started the whole thing. Did he?"
Eyes, and I helped" replied Billy
shortly.
"Well, 1 think you ought to be
ashamed of yourself" cried Margery,
airily. Don't you, Lydia?"
mo, / don't, Pm proud of him,
though I'm scared to DEATH" said
Lydia.
WELL just tell you, Billy Norton"
har chriIl 70 In, NJor
gery's voice, ''if anything really hor-
rid is unearthed about daddy, I'll
never speak to you again. Would
you, Kent?"
81 don't intend to anyhow" replied
Kent, coolly. "Yet me take you home
in my toot-toot."
But 1 just got here" protested
Margery.
Its now or never" said Kent, ris-
ing, "I've got to run along"
"Oh, If it's that serious!" Margery
took Kent's arm. "By-by, Lydia !
Come over and see my new dresses"
After they We're gone, Billy sat up
and looked at Lydia. LYDIA" he
said, "Tm going to quit. You know
I've worked with Charlie Jackson
right along"
"Quit? But Billy, why IL didn't
think you minded Kent and Margery
that much!"
AZ don't mind them at all. But Ly-
dia, found yesterday my father got
one hundred and twenty acres from
a ten-year-old full-blood boy for five
dollars and a bicycle. Last week
Charlie unearthed a full-blood squaw
from whom your father had gotten
two hundred and forty acres for an
old sewing machine and twenty-five
dollars. I've done so much for the In
dams and Charlie is so fond Of you
that he'll shut these Indians up, but I
can't go on, after that, Of course"
yes, you'll go on. Billy" Lydia's
voice was very low. after / faced
what would come to John Levine
through this, I can face anything"
Billy gave little groan and bowed
his head on Lydia's knee. Suddenly
she felt years older than Billy. She
smoothed his tumbled blond hair.
Il told you all the battles Of the
world were fought for a woman" he
said. "Dear, I'll go on, though it'll
break mothers heart"
at won't break her heart" said
Lydia. "Women's hearts don't break
over that sort of thing"