Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-04-28

a hunt for your
81 took walk In the woods" ex-
planned Lydia, land was gone longer
than I realized"
"Supper's ready. Sit right down."
said Lizzie, looking at Lydia intently.
Sseen Kent today, Lydiaf" she
asked.
After a moment-'Did you speak to
me, Lizzie?" Lydia inquired.
eyes, did. I asked If you'd seen
Kent today
IT? No, l 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
q 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 it. found him
sitting on the front steps with his
cigar, as If it was June"
Lizzie gave Lydia quick look and
wondered If she only imagined that
her cheeks were turning pinker.
81 can't sit down." ma went on;
"Tve got to set this sponge to rise"
I1l walk home with you, Mrs. Nor
ton," said Lydia, suddenly. "It seems
as If one couldn't get enough Of this
first spring day."
"Dop Mas voice was always extra
cordial when she spoke to Lydia.
Lizzie watched the door close be-
hind the two. 81 knew it." she ex-
claimed.
Knew whatr inquired Amos, look
ing up from his figures.
"That there was new moon," an
swered the old lady shortly, trudging
off to her bedroom.
"Liz is getting childish" thought
Amos, returning to his work.
Billy's mother went into the kitchen
entrance and Lydia went over to the
"Your mother told me to speak to
YOU" she said meekly.
II heard her." Billy gave low
laugh. "Come up here in the shadow,
sweetheart, and tell me If you ever
saw such moonlit and starlit night"
The night was brilliant and Billy,
responding to some little petitioning
note in Lydia's voice, did not offer to
touch her but stood looking down at
the sweet, dim face turned up to his.
She lifted her hand, that thin hand
with the work calluses on it, and ran
it over his cheeks, brushed her cheek
against his shoulder, and then ran
away.
She finished her studying and went
to bed early, only to lie awake for
hours. At last she crept out Of bed
and, as once before, she clasped her
hands and lifted her face to the
heavens. "Thank you, God!" she
whispered. Then she went to sleep.
The next night Kent came out to
the cottage. Lydia dreaded his COM
ing so little that she was surprised.
Yet this day had been one Of con-
tinual surprise to her. She had wax
ened to dawn Of robin songs, and
had dressed with an answering song
in her own heart. She was as one
who had never known sorrow or anxi-
ETY.. Her whole future lay before her,
q clear and unobstructed pathway.
For Lydia had found herself. She
was a creature to whom great love
and devotion were essential as motive
forces. In turn she had given this, In
childish form to her mother, to little
Patience and to Levine. One by one
these had been taken from her and
she had struggled to give this devo-
ton to Kent, but she could not give
where there was no understanding.
And now she saw that for years II
had been Billy. Billy, who combined
all the best of what her mother, hel
baby sister and Levine had meant to
her, with something greatly more-the
divinity of passion-a thing she coulG
not understand, yet that had created
a new world for her.
Kent tossed his hat on the couch
and shook his head at Amos. Dave:
not going to get away with 1t. He's
got some kind of row going with the
Whisky people and he says we might
as well count him out. don't know
what to do now"
Amos groaned. Lord, what luck r.
Don't let it worry you," said Lydia
calmly. II made up mind today that
I'd go ahead and enter on that land
just as other folks are doing, in the
good old way. I'm going to make a
farm up there, that will blot out all
memory of what Mr.. Levine did. But
Pm going to work for It as home
steader has to and not take any ad-
vantage through Mr.. Levine's graft.
I'm going to homestead for that land"
There was no escaping the note Of
fnality In her decision.
Kent's face whitened. He looked
UP steadily at Lydia. The sweat stood
on his forehead.
"You know what that means, as far
an I'm c0ncernedv he said