The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-01-28
CHAPTER XIX
The Youngest Scholar

him so interested In life as he was
now. Nor had Kent ever been more
considerate of Lydia
All this, Lydia told herself, should
have made her happy, and yet she
was not Billy came to see her as
usual, and took her TO an occasional
dance. But he was not the friend OF
old. And the change was not In any
neglect of things done, ii was In his
way OF looking ar her; in his long
siiences when he studied her face with
a grieved, puzzled look that made her
frantic; in his ceasing 10 talk over his
work with her with any air or COM
ra6eship, and most Of all in his ceas-
ing to tuily her-that inalienable ear
mark Of the attitude of the lover
toward the beloved
March was long and bleak that year,
but April came in as sweetly as
silver bugle call. Lydia heard the
first robin call, on her way home from
college. She had walked up the road
ahead Of Billy, her black scholars
gown fiuttering Once he would have
run TO overtake her, but now he plod-
ded along a block behind, without
sound. Lydia did not pause at the
cottage gate. The call of the robin
was in her blood and she swung on
up the read, past the Norton place
and into the woods.
There was a log at hand and she
sat down. threw her mortarboard on
the ground and rested, chin cupped in
her hands, lips parted, eyes tear
dimmed. She was weary Of thought.
She only knew that the spiritual
rightness with which she had sus-
tanned her mind and body through all
the hard years Of her youth had gone
wrong. She only knew that loneli-
ness Of soul she could not seem 10 en-
dure was robbing her of youth that
as yet she mad scarcely tasted
Suddenly there was the sound Of
hasty footsteps through the dead
leaves. Lydia looked up. Billy was
striding toward her. She did not
speak, nor did he.
He strobe TO the log, stopped, and
drew Lydia 10 her feet Then he lift
arms and kissed her full on the lips,
kissed her long and passionately. then
looked deep into her eyes and held
her TO him until she could feel his
heart beating full and quick.
For just a moment Lydia did not
stir, then she threw her arms around
his neck, hid her face against his
oh nd NJ, ,r-sr -
intensity that made him tremble.
Billy slipped his hand under Lydia's
cheek and turned her face so that he
could look into her eyes. At what he
saw there his own firm lips quiyered.
Lydia! ~ he whispered.
Then he kissed her again.
''Now," he said gently, with a smile
of a quality Lydia never had seen on
his lips before, now, sweetheart, are
you going to be goodf'
Yes" murmured Lydia, with a con-
tralto lit in her voice. What do you
want me 10 do, Billy?"
Il want what you want, dearest. 1
want the old Lydia with the vision.
Has she come back, or shall I have
TO look for her again.
He started as if to take Lydia in
his arms once more, but, with a sud-
den rich little laugh, she stepped
away from him.
"She's here-oh, Billy, dearest!
How could you let her wander around
alone so long?"
at didn't hurt my cause any for
her TO miss me-" answered Billy,
grimly, though I didn't realize that
I'LL a moment ago. Stop your trem-
bling, Lydia. I'm here TO look out
for you, for the rest of time"
They walked back to the cottage in
silence, hand in hand They paused
at the gate and Lydia pointed through
the dusk at the newgmoon.
Lets wish on it." she said. CLOSE
your eyes, and wish"
Billy closed his eyes. A kiss as soft
as the robins note fell on his lips and
the gate clicked. He opened his eyes
and stood looking up the path long
after the door closed, his hat in his
hand
Lydia wandered into the dining
room quite casually.
For heavens sake, Lydial' cried
Amos. Il was Just going to start on
a hunt for you."
81 took a walk in the woods" ex-
planned Lydia, and was gone longer
than I realized"
"Supper's ready. Sit right down"
said Lizzie, looking at Lydia intently.
Seen Kent today. Lydia?" she
asked.
After moment-'Did you speak to
me, Lizzie?" Lydia inquired.
yes, ! did I asked If you'd seen
Kent today"
II? No, haven't seen Kent. We
had quiz in chemistry today"
What's that got to do with any
thing?" grunted Lizzie But she asked
no more questions.
Ma Norton came over during the
evening TO borrow some yeast Amos
was working over some figures on a
bit of paper. Lydia was sitting with
a text book in front of her. She had
not turned a leaf in twenty minutes.
TO LiZZie's actual count.
Springs here" said ma. Though
there's still bite in the air. Not that
Billy seems TO notice IL l found him
sitting on the front steps with his
cigar, as If il was June
Lizzie gave Lydia a quick look and
wondered If she only imagined that
her cheeks were turning pinker.