Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-03-24
CHAPTER XVI
The Military Hop


Margery, for the first month or SO,
was silent and kept as close as pos
;sible to Lydia's apron strings. But
no girl as beautiful as she was could
be kept in Coventry long and though
she refused for time to go to par
ties, 1t was not long before Margery
was taking tramps with the college
boys and joining happily enough In
the simple pleasures at the cottage.
Lydia did not hear from Kent un-
til week before the first college hop,
late in October. Then she received
formal note from him, reminding her
of his invitation.
ooh, Lyd" exclaimed Margery,
''aren't you lucky! I haven't seen
Kent or heard from him since our
trouble p
Neither have l." said Lydia. "And
I suspect he's so cross with me. that
he hates to keep this engagement.
But don't care. I wish had new
dress. But I've made the sleeves
small in my organdie and made new
girdle. 1t looks as well as could be
expected!' she finished comically.
The hop was success, a decided
success, in spite of the organdie. Kent
was inclined to be stiff, at first, and
to wear a slightly injured air, and yet,
mingled with this was frank and
youthful bravado. And there could
be no doubt that among the college
boys, Kent was more or less Of hero.
1t was something to boast Of, evil
IDENTIFY, to have ones name coupled
with Leyine's in the great scandal.
Kent had supposed that he would
have some trouble in filling Lydia's
card for her, but to his surprise, he
found that in her timid way, Lydia
was something of parsonage among
the older college boys and the young
<er professors.
1t was altogether an Intoxicating
evening and at it's end Lydia pulled
on her last winters overcoat and clam
bered into Kent's little automobile,
utterly satisfied with life.
ooh, Kent, it was wonderful !"
"And you don't feel as if ] were
villain any more? You've forgiven
me?"
Forgiven your For whatr'
"For not agreeing with you on the
Indian question. Gee, 1 was sore at
you, Lyd, that morning at the hear
ing, and yet I was like your dad. I
was proud of you, too"
ooh, don't let's talk about it, to-
night, Kent" Lydia protested.
"All right, old girl, only just re-
member that I can't change. 1 back
Mr.. Levine to the limit. And maybe
he hasn't surprise party coming
for all of you'll"
II don't care" insisted Lydia. "I'm
going to be happy tonight, and won't
talk Indians. Margery is feeling much
better. She's at our house every Sun
day. You must come round and see
her!"
"Why shouldn't l come to see you,
Lydia?" asked Kent, with new note
in his voice.
"Why, of course, you'd see me, but
Margery's always been the main at
traction with you"
HAS she? Seems to me recall
time when / couldn't endure the sight
Of her. And when you were the best
pal ! had. That's what you are, Ly-
dia. real pal. A fellow can flirt
round with the rest of ,em, but you're
the one to look forward to spending a
lifetime with! Tomorrow's Sunday.
Let's take a walk down to the VIII
lows In the afternoon"
"All right, Kent" said Lydia,
quietly. and silence fell on both of
them till they drew up at the cottage
gate.
For some reason, when she woke
the next morning, Lydia half hoped
that the soft patter against her win
dow was Of rain drops. But it was
the wind-tossed maple leaves, whose
scarlet and gold were drifting deep
on the lawn and garden. At three
o'clock Lydia and Kent set off down
the road to the Willows.
They strolled along the leafy road,
with the tang Of the autumn in their
nostrils, and the blue CLEAN of the
lake In their eyes. 1t was only a
half mile to the Willows and as they
turned in, Kent took Lydia's hand
and drew it through his arm.
Look he said, 81 believe there Is
sven a little left of our cave, after all
this time. What a rough little devil
was I'm those days. And vet even