The Ely miner., 1927-01-21

uSeu 10 pun iliiic IdIcuccS SdIIldSc
Nith my bicycle-why can't you trust
me now? Come, dearest-and next
year we'll be married and live happy
ever after"
"Kentl" she cried with the breath
lessness of a new idea, IF | should
give in and agree to take the land,
would you go up there with me and
turn it into farm?"
Kent smiled at her pityingly. "Why,
Lyd. there's nothing in thatI Why
should we try to farm it7 The money
is in speculating with 1t. / could
clear up a mint of money for you In
a couple of years, If you'll give. me
the handling of IT."
But Lydia's eyes were shining now.
"Oh but listeni You don't under
stand Mr.. Levine drove the Indians
out. by fraud and murder. Yes, he
did, Kent. And yet, he had big
dreams about Ii. He must have had.
He was that kind of man. And il
we should go up there and turn those
acres into a great farm, and-and
make it stand for something big and
right-perhaps that would make up
for everything"
lydia" said Kent, ''be sensible.
Gee, easy money on one side, and
lifetime of hard work on the otheri
Yet you act as if there was choice"
Kent. can't you understand how I
feel?" pleaded Lydia. "Have you got
a blind spot in your mind where
money is concerned? Are all the men
In America money crazy like the men
in Lake City,"
Sure" replied Kent cheerfully.
"Oh, Lydia, honey, don't be so hard!
Look at your poor old dadI Think
what it would mean to him. Don't
be so doggone sanctimonious
Instead of looking at her father,
Lydia looked at Kent, long and visit
fully. How dear he was to her! What
an inalienable part Of her life he was!
What was the use Of always strug-
Cling against her heart Kent smiled
into her face. Her lips trembled and
she hurried to look at Amos Sudden
ly Lydia realized how gray and bro
ken he looked, how bent his shoulders
were with work, and there swept over
her anew an understanding of his
utter loneliness since her mothers
and Levine's deaths.
With a little inarticulate murmur.
she ran across the room. and threw
her arms about his neck. "Oh, dad
dy,'' she cried, "Pn do it! I'll agree
to it! II only you'll promise me to
be happy!"
Amos dropped his pipe. 'IydiaI
You don't mean it! Why, my little
girl! Lord, Kent! Isn't she just all
right! Make me happy! Why, Lydia,
you've made young man of mel
swami"
Kent was holding one hand now,
Amos the other. Both looked at Ly-
dia with radiant faces. And she
could but feel an answering glow
"WeH make this up to you, Lyd, old
lady," cried Kent "See if we don't"
There was little pause during which
the ice doomed. Then,
"Well, what happens next, now
you've settled me?" asked Lydia.
Something to eat" exclaimed Amos
Il didn't eat any supper. l swear
haven't eaten for months with any
relish. Lydia, make Us some chocolate
or something" -
That night, after Kent had gone,
Lydia stood long at the iving-room
window which gave ON the front gate.
The pine, its boughs powdered with
snow. kept its lonely vigil over the
cottage.
YES" whispered Lydia, finally,
your last friend has deserted you,
but 1 guess I'm keeping faith with
Kent and dad, anyhow"
Then she went to bed.
For day or so Lydia avoided Billy
Norton. But she was restless and un-
happy and found it difficult to- keep
her mind on her college work. Final
dairy school, one afternoon, to COIN
eide with Billy's Homecoming from
his Office and she overlook him just
beyond the end Of the street-car line.
.Billyr called Lydia.
He turned and waited for her with
broad smile. Billy" she said
without preliminaries, 81 gave in!"
Lydia ~ he gasped.
81 couldn't stand their pleading. /
hate myself, but dad looks ten years
younger!"
'IydiaI" cried Billy again, and
there was such a note of pain in his
voice that she turned her face to his
with the same logged look in her eyes
that had been expressed in her walk.
Lydia, I can't believe it,"
'It's true" repeated Lydia. Il
couldn't stand Kent and dad both.
And partly did it for John Levfne's
memory. I'm not trying to justify my
self, Billy. / know that I'm doing
something wrong, but I've definitely
made up my mind to sacrifice my own
ease Of conscience to dads happiness"
You can't do it, You aren't built
that way" exclaimed Billy.
But I am doing it." reiterated
Lydia.
Look here" he cried, eagerly, ''do
you expect to keep my respect and yet
go on with this?"
Lydia did not reply for some time.
They were nearing the cottage, and
she could see the pine, black against
the afterglow, when she said:
''Well, I'm not keeping my own self
respect and yet I'm glad I'm making
dad and Kent happy"
They paused by the gate. Billy
looked down at lydia with a puzzled
frown.
How about Ducit Amor Patriae'
now, Lydiag' he asked.