Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-04-21
CHAPTER XVIII
Cap and Gown


disposed of in highly satisfactory
manner. They paid for Lydias cap
and gown. Perhaps there were other
members of the class to whom their
senior insignia meant as much as they
did to Lydia, but that Is to be doubted
In a way, Lydia's conscience smote
her. She knew that her father was
worrying over her attitude on her in
heritance, but she continued to avoid
the issue with him while the estate
was being snttled. Lydia was doing
heavy work in college. She actually
had entered all the classes in dairying
possible, while carrying her other col
lege work. And she enjoyed the new
work amazingly.
Early in December, the settlement
Of the Levine estate was completed
Johns method of "shoestringing' his
property was disastrous as far as the
size Of Lydia's heritage went. AS
nearly as she could understand, one
portion Of the estate was used to pay
up the Indebtedness Of another por-
ton, until all that was left was the
cottage, with a mortgage on it, and
three hundred and twenty acres of
land on the reservation. ,....
"Oh, daddy" cried Lydia, 1--WE can't
take it! Don't you see we can't?"
Il can't understand why you act so
like fool" began Amos, ENORMOUSLY.
And l can't see why you set your
Judgment up as better than mine. l
swan-even your mother never did
that, except on borrowing money.
We won't keep the land. Well sell it
and have the money to clear up the
mortgage on the cottage" He took
turn up and down the room. II can't
see what's happened to children nova
days. In my day we Obeyed. Lydia,
I'm not going to discuss this any
longer. You've got to take that land"
Lydia sat with her thin hands
clasped before her on the table, her
clear eyes fastened on her fathers
face.
Amos looked down at his daughter
grimly. Cant you see what a fool
you areI" he shouted. "The land can
never 60 back to the Indians. John
took good care Of that. If you don't
take it, somebody else will. Can't
you seer
"Ill do anything you want but this.
dad" she said.
But this is all I want. It's what
I've wanted for years, this little bit
Of land. And you haven't any idea
what that feeling is"
Like fash Lydia saw again long
aisles of pines, smelled again the odor
of the needless heard again the MUIR
muring call of the wind.
Good God" cried Amos, tossing
his pipe on the table, "poverty's
bounded me all my life-poverty and
death. The only two people who
cared about me. Patience and Lee
where gone. Yet here's the chance
for me to be Independent. Here's
chance for me to make up for the
failure I've made Of life. A man with
little piece Of property like this and
little bank account is somebody in
the community. What do 1 care how
1 get 1t, as longs can hold it.?
What's lot Of dirty Indians to stand
between me and my future? But what
do. you carer"
20 daddy! o daddy! How can you
talk so to mel" groaned Lydia. She
put her hands over her eyes for a
moment, swallowed a sob and then
started for the outer door. She caught
her coat from the nail and closed the
door behind her.
An irresistible Impulse had carried
her from the house. She wanted to
see Billy. 1t was still early and a Ian
tern fiickered In the Norton barnyard.
She ran across to the shed door. Billy
was whistling to himself as he began
to bed down the cattle for the night.
Lydia looked at him eagerly In the
dim light How big and strong he
was!
"Billyp' she said, softly. =
The young man dropped his pitch
fork and came toward her. "What's
the matter, Lydiai" he exclaimed.
dad and I've been having an awful
quarrel"