Lydia of the Pines

ground with cones, yet

y since the Indians we

envied. She was growing tall, and her beauty already was remarkable. Her little head carried its great black braid proudly.

shabby. Poor Lydia seemed somehow never to have decent shoes. But her hands and the back of her neck were clean; and her pile of Junior school books already had been p

Charlie Jackson. She had finished her lunch, which she ate in the cloakroom, and b

asked Kent. "I haven't seen yo

a fine summe

ad made me work till th

camped up on t

isn't it?" grinned Char

towered above Lydia a half hea

ydia. "She hardly speaks to m

rlie, eying Margery in her natt

ands in his trousers' pockets, cap on the bac

approached languidly, includi

your pocket, Miss Mars

. "Oh, I gave up that s

The young In

High School, Marg

o! Of course Mama, I mean-Mother's go

g, you're getting so refined, I almost regret

l, I pulled her out my

f you-and got licke

ed Margery, twisting up the curls in front of

d Charlie exch

swam and once Adam, Dad, Mr. Levine and I walked clear round the lake, eighte

ne come to your house!" exclaimed Margery with sud

aid Charlie, stol

t. "He's not and he's

voice was scornful. "Daddy says he's go

vine too hard," said Kent, with a superior

Levine, do you, Kent?" a

Levine. I don't care if he is Margery's father. Everybody in town knows that he's a

such things about my fa

d and me about a money m

hat kind. Being good to you don't make a man a saint. Look at Levine. He's

y tribe'll be wanderers on the face of the earth. If I thought it would do any good,

ture and tragic bitterness that Charlie expressed. A vague sense of a catastrophe, epic in character, that the Indian e

ighed a little, as she thought of the comments of her mates on John Levine. Little by little she was realizing that she was the only person in the world that saw the gentle, tender side of the Republican candidate for Congress. The reali

recess one day a week or so later he asked her if she was going

that? Just to embar

s I didn't mean anything," he excla

to a party at Miss Towne's when I was a Freshma

lie's astonishm

replied Lyd

ed eyes. "You're an awful pretty girl, Lydia. Honest you are, and you've got

ously sincere liking, she came closer to him and said, "Then, Charli

ace that little Patience's death had written there irradicably, with poverty speaking from every fold of the blouse and sk

to a party a week, i

she protested. "Answer my

You know the fellows like a girl that giggles a lot and don't know as much as he does and that's a pe

ell because I've just picked up the steps from watching the girls teach each other

ne to have," s

e him so, Charl

I'll hate him more if

gre

get along all right without the reservation, why

cify each other if you needed to, to get it. What chance do Indians stand? But I tell you this," his voice sank to a hoarse whisper and h

et before I voted, I'd find out. I'd go up there on that reservation and I'd see for myself whether it would b

don't you come up on the reservation for a c

o much,"

ost you anything but your share of the food. Kent'l

t could be fixed! I got nine months to earn th

"You'll learn things up there

but greed could have precipitated so malevolent a war. The town was utterly disrupted. Neighbors of years' standing quarreled on sight. Students in the University refused to enter

y her duty call on Margery. Elviry admitted her. It was

wn," said Elviry. "She'

inquired Lyd

ol, she can't do it only Saturdays and Sundays. She went to the Hop last night. She looked lovely i

the room in a bright r

," sh

y. Want to pla

ed Elviry. "Why, Marg

dia obstinately. "I still

ast spring," said Margery. "Wa

ia. "I'd just as soon not. I'

sked Elviry, pointing to the h

tly, looking at the rope

t I put 'em up only when we have parties. We don't use anything but doilies on the dining ta

red Lydia, not

shirtwaists were none of them less than thirty-nine cents a yard, in New York. But of course that's beyond you.

month!" exclaimed

just wondered. He's old enough to be your father, but you're getting to be a young lady now, Lydia,

or pine lands can hurt me any," protested Lydia, angrily

tarted to speak but

none of our business about Lyd

rms. "I am common, just common folks! I always was and

ed as she spoke and

ht for sore eyes. Thought you'd fo

tearing the paper off t

"There!" said Lydia. "I never shall be too old for Florence Dombey and I thought Margery wouldn't be either-but I

r dolls," said Dave. "You and Ma

ery. "Why, I wouldn

Lizzie had grown too stout to wear-"It's no use for me to try to be friends any more with Margery. She's rich and I'm comm

lks to Lydia. "What've you two be

ust showed a decent interest in Lydia, as I

nt interest," grunted

such a fool as to let y

I don'

ating tone, "you said that Lydia and

und and see me this evening, Lydia. I don't like his attitude on the reservation question. Te

er had heard before the peculiar, metallic quality in his voice

ven it can't be allowed to keep us from believing what we believe." Her voice strengthened suddenly. "What's the use of being an A

ack again. Margery was patting her curls. Lydia,

answer right now. We'll think and say what we please and y

. "There, Elviry, tha

thing. You can't help

happens. But," grimly,

ur father

marched into the hall, head held high, and

bank with Marshall four years before, she had not worried about money matters. She had an utter horror of repeating Marshall's message to her father. Money wo

her longest sighs, Bi

d, "isn't it chilly f

ing up at the young man soberly.

ds are cold, though I'd hate

is there any way a girl like me

that I kno

sked. I wish

d the blowing yellow curls. "I don't,

us to change the subject, she asked,

r I shift into the

to study to be a farmer for. I should think you'd want

rmer's the most independent man in the world. And tha

cried Lydia, pausing a

endent. That's what

irl," said Billy. "What

" returned Lydia, runnin

fter her thoughtfully. Then he smi

ld not bear to upset him. But the next day she gathered her courage together and told him. Amos was speech

e old crook! Huh! This will be nuts for John though. If he does

e to pay $600 the first of January," she urged, her voice still tremb

carefully. "Why, my dear child, there's

Oh, Daddy, don't do that! We can borrow the money somew

my ancestors stood for, but I ain't that low yet. Now," his voic

ou get more and more like your mother. I've seen that look on her face a hundred times when

ws put him through a two step that was agony for the heavy fellow. Then she put on her coat, and bareheaded started for a walk. Amos stood in the window starin

arious councils and reached

o the waffles and coffee that made the Sunday night treat Lydia had

have hard work to hit you now," she remarked, "you're so t

, I don't know who I would. Aren't you and Lydia all the women folks I got?

Amos was giving no heed to these small amenities. He was

John about Da

t cease his onslaught on the waffles during the reci

ydia. Your coffee is

the cup. "But-but six hundred

n catching Lydia's look of consternation, "Why, bless your soul, Lyd

d. "Just w

," protested Lydia. "We o

a tone not to be forgotten, "Lydia, never let me hear you speak again of owing me anyth

ach other, but Lydia's clear gaze was on the deep eyes of Levine. What

ht, Mr.

s chair and passed h

and payments to you the

m

Lydia, in a voice that had both reproof and warnin

they were gathered round the stove. "Well, it behooves him

ed Lydia, "where'

oulders. "Go to the

seems terrible

e's as doomed as the buffalo. It's fate or life or evolution working out-whatever your fancy names it. No sickly gush will stop i

ld, logical, merciless. John interpreted her expression instantly and smiled. "Don't look at me so, young Lyd

ed Lydia, slowly. "I suppose you're right, but I can't

nd turned to Amos. "What's the

New voices were beginning to whisper to her. Try as she would to hush them with her faith in her father

im to the door. "Adam and I'll walk a way with yo

heel is out of commission so

on her part. It was a clear, cold, starlit night. Lydia trudged along f

, young Lydi

ike ether-or like electricity-in the air, everywhere,

lieve that. I want to find a God we can know and und

ter what you said about Indians to-night, you can't

score there, honey. Lydia, you're growin

But I wanted to talk to you about t

o have you walk further with me. This is a lonesome road

ment. "Why, I love you as much as I do an

es. "Couldn't you? Well, you're a dear, anyhow.

feelings. "Kiss me good night, then," she said. "You don't do it as regularly as yo

orehead, but Lydia with rare demonstrativeness threw her arms

placently. "Come on,

'm safe w

bowed, till he heard the gate click. Then he lifted his face to the stars.