Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-05-05

to have appreciated. SLOWLY MS nold-
loosened on Lydia's shoulders and he
looked into her face.
.sDo you want to marry Billy?" he
asked.
"Oh, daddy, yes" whispered Lydia.
Amos looked up at the young man,
who stood returning his gaze. ''Take
her, Billy, and heaven help you If
you're not good to her, for John Lee
vines spirit will haunt you with a
curse"
Billy raised Lydia to her feet and
the extraordinary smile was on his
face.
"What do you think about it, Liz
zie?" he asked.
Lizzie, who had been crying COM
fortably, wiped her eyes with the sock
she was darning.
"I'm thinking that anyone that can
bring the look to Lydia's face she's
been wearing for twenty-four hours,
deserves her. Rheumatism or no,
down l get on my old knees tonight
and give thanks-jnst for the look In
that child's eyes"
And now for a while, Lydia was
content to live absolutely in the pres
ent, as was Billy Surely there
never was such an April. And surely
no April ever melted so softly into so
glorious May. Apple blossoms, lilac
blooms, violets and wind flowers and
through them, Lydia in her scholars
gown, hanging to Billy's arm, after
the days work was done.
She seemed singularly uninterested
in the preparations for commence
ment, though she went through her
final examinations with credit. But
the week before commencement she
came home one afternoon with blaz-
ing cheeks. Billy was at the cottage
for supper and when they had begun
the meal, she exploded her bomb.
dad Billy! Lizzie! They've
elected me a member of the Scholars
clubI'
"For the love of heaven!" exclaimed
Amos, dropping his fork.
why nOI! asked Lizzie.
Lydia, dear, but I'm proud of you,"
breathed Billy.
Professor Willis told me, this after
noon," Lydia went on, land l laughed
at him at first. thought he was teas
ing me. Why only highbrows belong
to the Scholars club! Prexy belongs
and the best of the professors and
only few Of the postgraduate pupils.
But he says l was elected. L told him
lots Of students had higher standings
than l, and he only laughed and said
he knew it. And I've got to go to that
banquet of theirs next week."
"Fine!" said Billy.
Fine! Why, Billy Norton, 1 never
went to banquet in my life. l don't
know what forks to use, and never
saw finger BOWL"
Amos grinned. whats the use of
being scholar, If that sort of thing
bothers your"
Il might get book on etiquette
and polish up," said Lydia, thought
fully. "Tll get one tomorrow, and
practice on the family" .#
Amos groaned, but to no avail. Ly-
dia borrowed book on etiquette from
the library and for week Amos ate
his supper with an array of silver and
kitchenware before him that took his
appetite away. He rebelled utterly at
using the finger bowls, which at break
fast were pOrridge dishes. Lizzie,
however, was apt and read the book
so diligently while Lydia was in class
that she was able to correct Lydia as
well as Amos at night.
= Ma Norton had insisted on making
Lydia white null graduation dress.
She would not let either Lizzie or
Lydia help her. She had been daugh-
ter-hungry all her life and since she
made her own wedding gown, no bit
of sewing had given her the satisfac-
ton that this did.
So 1t was that Lydia, wearing the
null under her scholars gown, and
with the precepts of the book on
etiquette in her mind, attended the
Scholars banquet, timidly but not
with the self-cOnsciousness that she
might otherwise have felt.
Billy left her at the door of the hall
and Professor Willis took her in to
dinner. There were only two other
women there, but Lydia did not mind.
When Professor Willis was called
on for his toast, which was the last
one, he responded:
MY toast is to all scholars, every
where, but also to one scholar in par
ticular. 1t is to one who was born
with love of books, to one who made
books-goOd books-so intimate
part Of her life that she made poverty
a blessing, who combined books and
living so deeply that she read her
community Alright, when others failed
to do so, to one who is scholar In
the truest sense of the word-a book
lover with a vision. l drink to the
youngest and sweetest scholar of us
all !" and he bowed to Lydia.
How she got through the congratu-
lations and out to Billy, patiently wait