The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-01-28
life were hallowed and made purpose

L
mother and dad VIII you come over
home with me now?"
YES" replied Lydia. "and then we
must tell my father and Lizzie Oh.
Billy, forgot" as they started down
the road, I've decided to homestead
that land"
'But-why, Lydia, dear, you're 60
Ing TO be lawyers wife. For heav-
ems sake. let that beastly land 60"
mo, I'm going to be a pioneers
wife!"
There was little pause, then Billy
laughed uncertainty. well. I'm not
going TO talk about 1t tonight Pm In
frame Of mind tonight where I'd
promise you TO be an Indian chief If
you ask It Mother and dad are in
the kitchen"
They opened the kitchen door and
stepped in. Pa Norton was sitting In
his stocking feet, reading the evening
paper. Ma was putting away the days
baking. She paused with loaf Of
bread In her hand as the two came In,
and pa looked over his glasses.
Mother and dad" said Billy, un-
certainly. Tive brought Lydia home
to you'll Look at her, dad! Isn't she
a peachi"
Lydia stood with her back against
the door, cheeks scarlet, golden head
held high, but her lips quivering.
Ma dropped her loaf of bread. "Oh,
LYDIA" she cried, Il thought that
| numbskull of Billy never would see
daylight! I've prayed for this for
years Come straight over here TO
your mother. love-"
But Pa Norton had dropped his pa
per when ma dropped her bread and
had not paused for comments. He
made three strides TO Lydia, and gave
her a great hug and kiss. Then he
said, First time 1 saw you carrying
that milk for Billy's books 1 said,
there's the wife Billy ought to have
| Ma, wasn't she the dearest"
But ma showed him aside contemptu-
ously. Get over and talk to Billy.
| This is a woman's affair. Who cares
| about "reminiscences now. Oh, Billy,
| do you remember 1 used TO worry be-
cause she didn't keep the back Of her
neck cleanl-
Who's notwithstanding now?' asked
pa belligerently.
Everybody laughed. Then pa
sighed. well, 1 feel almoJt recon-
ciIed now to Bits giving up farming
When're you going to be married?"
Lydia blushed. "Oh, not for a long
time. Now, let's go and tell my people
Billy"
Out in the night againl Curious
how long the short walk TO the cot
| tage could be made! Curious how
near the stars were-heaven Just over
| the road where the lovers strolled.
| Not strange that such ecstasy cannot
| last forever. The human mind could
! not bear that heaven-born rapture too
| long.
Lizzie was mending. Amos was SIT
ting in his arm chair, with a bit of
paper or which he was figuring.
| Lydia few across the room and
dropped on her knees beside him.
"Oh, daddy dear, look at me! Billy's
here and he's always going to be here.
Tell US you're glad"
Amos looked up with a jerk. First
at Billy, standing stalwart and grave
by the table, his deep eyes as steady
as the hand he held out to Lizzie.
Then at his daughter, with her trans
formed face.
But" protested Amos, Il thought
1t was to be Kent"
"Oh, it couldn't have been Kent" eI-
claimed Lydia I'VE never would
have understood each other. Kent
was for Margery."
| A frown gathered on Amos face. He
did not really want Lydia TO marry
anyone. All that had reconciled him
to the thought Of Kent had been
Kent's relation to the Indian lands.
And now he discovered that he didn't
want TO give his daughter to anyone.
He threw a jealous arm about her.
mo, you can't have her, Billy" he
said. Nobody shall have her. She's
too good for the best man living"
Eyes, she IS" agreed Billy. But
that isn't the point. The point is that
Lydia actually wants me. 1 don't IN
derstand 1t myself, but she does, and
l know 1 can make her happy"
II can make her happy myself" said
Amos, gruffly.
But you haven't" retorted Billy.
Look at the way you've acted about
| this land matter. And, God knows,
she deserves to be happy at any cost.
Good heavens, when think of her,
1t seems to me that nothing could be
| too much for her. / think Of her
trudging those miles In her patched
old clothes to buy her school books
what a thin, big-eyed kiddie she was.
Why, even as cub, used to appre-
ciate her. And then when she stood
up before the hearing, the bravest
man among US, and when she got sick
trying to earn those silly prom
clothes My God, Amos, II Lydia
wants me, or the moon, or a town lot
In South Africa, it's up TO you to give
1t to her"
Amos did not reply for moment.
Down through the years he was watch
ing a thin little figure trudge with
such patience and sweetness and de-
termination as he seemed never before
to have appreciated. Slowly his hold
loosened on Lydia's shoulders and he
looked into her face.
do 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