Show LYDIA OF THE PINES By HONOR HONORS WILLSIE e e C O br by A. A ato O Co 0 NU L STORY FROM THE START Dudl Dudley with her hH baby ulster sister 1 Patience I returns from an afternoon rn of lay to their theft untidy horn home th the houn house household hold huld of her mother rather ther Amos Amoa 1 Dudley Dud Dud- ud- ud Icy ley fY In Luke Lake City Il r father fathers friend and arid her hH own devoted ad ad ad- John L Levine are at tug Inc affair In general Land bund nd Is U getting more valuable every I dayA day A Amna Ainne inn things that It Is U time lime the tha 1 who occupy a reserva reserva- lion twenty miles mile away were moving In order that the white men mm might have ha this land John JohnL L after talking over announces announced his hie Intention of going Into Ino The next day L Lydia t and companion Kent Keut Moulton playing by the lake l Ke are I accented b by ua on n old squaw who on the Ih reservation Lydia gives gl her food Margery small daughter of Dave Marshall the towns town's ban banker kr Join them Margery Mar gery Kery falls fall limbo Into the water waler Pulled out unhurt but frightened she Is I. taken home hume by Lydia and Kent tier Her father calls on Amos to complain com lom plain blaming Lydia and Kent for the Ih mishap explains the accident and says that be because be cause Margery MI Is la stuck up she alma Is ts not a popular playmate Marshall Marshall Mar Mar- shall arranges for fur Lydia Idla to teach Margery to become one of the Ime he crowd Levine tells Amos his hi plan to take toko timber from frum the Indian reservation and ultimately ultimate I ly time have It II opened fur for settlement CHAPTER IV Continued IV-Continued Continued 5 g Lydin struck the kind old hand hanl from her shoulder and dashed out of the house She run ran through though the time snow to a n giant pine by the Rate Kate and und beather heat beat tier her fists against It for tor how hov long shedid she sho did not know Pain lu to her bruised hands bands and the Intense cold finally brought her to her tier senses A self licIt control that hut was wa partly portly Inherent and portly partly the result of lit too early knowledge knowledge knowl edge Idge of ot grief came callie to tier her rescue With n II long sigh she walked st steadily Into the tho house und and into the the room room where the baby sister lay IllY lu lug a o stupor breathing The doctor and und Amos were there Mrs Norton was now soothing Lizzie Lizzle In n the Kitchen now ol obeying the doctors doctor's doctors doctor's doc doc- tors tor's orders Amos Amus did not stir from lila Ills chair choir by time the bed 1111 nor speak a word all that night The fie doctor wasn was In n his shirt sleeves es prepared to fight light us foB best hest be lIe could Go Co out Auld Doctor noctor Fulton quietly Shell Shel want me tae replied letI the time child chillI hes he's In a 81 stupor and wont won't miss you Lydia She Is not suffering at lit nil all Now I want wont you jou ou to go to bed like a good girl 7 I wont won't said Lydia quietly 1 I Lydia the doctor went on as us If be lie were talking to u tt grown person nil 1111 your life you will be bo grateful to tome tome me If it I 1 make you obey me mite now I know those wild nerves nervI's of ot yours too much and too early controlled Lydia 80 go to bed T Not because she feared him but because because be be- cause some knowledge beyond her IlIr years told her of ot his wisdom Lydia turned found Florence Dombey In the e living room and with her tier and a blanket blanket blan ket kt crept under her fathers father's bed bell tutu Into the farthest corner where wherle she lug lay luy Y wide eyed until dawn Someone closed close d the door Into the room roost then and shortly short iy ly the ale fell asleep e e In III three days the time like of which t are the longest the shortest days o olife of f fe lt life the had returned to the e remnant of ot Its Us old routine The place e had been fumigated Lydia ha had d placed laced In her bedroom everything e that Ihal md hall belonged to the baby buby had locked locke d the e door and had hod moved mO herself Into Inlo Merles Merle's room Amos departed before dawn as usual with his dinner pull pall like an all old mUll man over th time the e road The quarantine sign W was on the e house and n II ene but the undertaker the doctor M. M MII Ma Norton orton and John Lit Le- e vine lne hUll hind been allowed to come COUll to see e I lime lie stricken little family excepting the tIl minister 1 and amid Lizzie Lizzle put lut In the Ihl morning laning the cottage Never since they hail lived In It had hUll time the little house been so in Kp speak I. k tend spun span At noon lIoon they sat nut do down vim to 10 lunch In Iu a U splendor Ii of or r. r that mule made the Ihl place set Seoul strati- strati gT gar r than Ihan ever to 10 them both holh Neither much At AI Intervals interval's tears run ran town old Lizzie's s wrinkled I cheeky cheeks d Lydia looked at ut her IlIr wonderingly J. J din dill hud had not nut shed a at tear Hut But all alt allI I the ilic III time her cheeks wen were scarlet her were cold eld 1111 and trembled ami her stomach itched You must eat eul You haven't fOnt eat t enough to 10 keep a II bird alive since since since- since There wits a u bang bUill on un the door dour lUlL and I. trundled over to open o It It For the tile Lords Lord's sake kt 1 I Kent I Kent emit It 11 was Va 10 big JIg and rosy with hi hits his skates over or hU tits shoulders He lie walked Into Inlo the tha lit living lug room deliberately Hello Lydia he hI said old I i curiae rame out outto fo to 0 see eec your Christmas Christinas presents Lydia Ldla clasped tier her Oh Oil tent Kent Im I'm so eo glad glud I lint Hat you jou ou cant can't stay nay I 1 Were We're quarantined What the thunder thunder-bu bugs c l e I care returned Kent gruffly line from ul ms 11 ll halu u as al slit hr always did Uia nt at Kents Kent's nl astonishing oaths oath At the I sound of ot the laughter old Lizzie gave VO a 1 nigh sigh as all though some gome of lit her own o tense nerves nCr had hod relaxed Now see here growled Kent got no business to 10 shut you up ull this Ills way s uy oy You come coma out and skate for n a while W e wont won't meet Inlet anybody at this end Ind of time tile take lake Must lust the quarantine or not I exclaimed Lizzie Uzzle briskly kly And Ill I'll cook look ti a surprise for the two of you you Keep her out an un hour Kent I Lydia silently got Into Inlo overcoat O and leggings and und pulled on her Tarn rUin oShanter She brought her skates from the kitchen and the two children made their way In to the lake hike shore With unwonted consideration 1 Kent helped Lydia strap traIl on her skates Then the two started hand hund In hand fin an time the Int Inke- Inke Thov well n. n n 11 1 most mORt of ot the children of time till community The Time wind In their faces faI WIl way was was' bitter cold lold making conversation Whether or not I Kent nt was Willi grateful for this one could not nut say He lie watched Lydia out nut of ot the tall of ot his hula eye and nd as the wind whipped the old red Into her Inver cheeks checks he begun to 10 whistle They hey hud hind been going perhaps 11 fifteen minutes min mill III utes S 'S when the little girl stumbled several sev eral times the matter mutter Lyd 1 asked KentI Kent 1 I i 1 dont don't know she panted I 1 I 1 guess Im I'm tired Tired already I Gosh Cosh I 1 And youve you've always worn rite rile me out Come on up to the time shore and Ill I'll make a tire Ire sos so's you jou ou can run rest Lydia who always had hind scorned the tl thought oUght of ot rest while at play pIa followed tot fol lowed meekly and stood In silence while Kent without removing his skates hobbled up the bank and pulled some sonic dead branches brandies to the shore Shortly he tie had Imad a bright blaze at her feet teet lie kicked the snow off a small log Sit down down here here where you get the time warmth he ordered his voice as gruff gruIT as he be could make It Lydia sat down clown obediently her mit toned lauds hands clamping her knees knels Kent stood staring at hI hits his little chum lie He took In the faded bl blue e tarn tam the time outgrown out grown coat the time red mittens so badly mended the leggings with patches on the knees Then he tie eyed the heavy circles around her eyes and the droop to 10 the mouth that was mount meant to be merry Kent was wait only a boy but he was mature In spite of ot his heedless heedles ways woys Staring Storing at nt the tragedy In Lydias Lydia's ravished rave ravished little face tup u a sympathy for tor her pain as real as It was unwonted swept over O him Suddenly he dropped down beside belde her on the log and threw his boyish arms about her Im so doggone sorry for you Ly dla ilia I 1 he whispered Idla lifted startled eyes eyE to his Never Iver before had hod Kent shown her th the e slightest affection When she ale saw the time sweetness and sympathy In his brown brow n gaze Oh Uh Kent she whispered why hy did God let It tt happen n I Why did lie He 1 and she burled her face on his shoulder shout der and bt began to sob Softly at first tint then with a n racking rucking agony of tears Even ell a child Is wise In the matter mutter of grief Kents Kent's lips trembled but buthe buthe buttie he tie made no 1 attempt to comfort Lydia He III only held her tightly anti and watched I the he fire tire with bright unseeing eyes And after what seemed a long lon long longtime g time the subs grew less Finally h he ge e slipped n n pocket handkerchief Into o Idlas humid hand It was gray gruy with use ulle e but of ot u II comforting size Wipe your eyes 1 old lady he said sat d In a o cheerful matter of ot fact tort tone I Ive 1 got to 10 put the time fire out sn no's nos s we can on start home l Lydia Idla mopped her face fuel and by time the e time Kent hud had the fire smothered with snow sno she wits was standing sad eyed but calm except for tor dry lIry sobs I Kent placed picked up one of the sticks he lie had hud brought for tor the fire lire Catch hold he tie said Ill pull you home Old Lizzie was watching for them and when they came stumping Into the dining room 1111 they found a pitcher of ot steaming cocoa and n plate of bread mill and butter with hot gingerbread awaiting them See I If It you u can get her to 10 eat pat I Kent said suld LIzzie Sure shell she'll eat I Kent lIt answered her JImme buck III my hanky husky I. I Lyd I Lizzie guvo III u a kr keen n look at III tearstained face mind and turned abruptly Into the kitchen Sh She came buck hUlk In III u I moment to 10 find 1 lIla silently eating what Kent heat hind had set lIet before her hr Kent nt mite Ill hugely timid and talked without cessation About what Lydia did not Know now for fur the sleep Itell that hued lidd been denied her IlIr was claiming her IlIr She he did hi not know that she almost burled burred her IlIr head In III her second cup cUll of cocoa m mior r that 1 Kent h helped curry carry her to 10 the couch louch behind the living 1111 room re-no base e burner b Is III she he hick Shall I 1 get the Iho doctor doc doe tor tort V he hp whispered mu as old Lizzie tucked U n shawl over herSick her lar Sick lck No I No Nor r She's Shelt Just dead for tor steep sleep Shu's neither cried nor wit cut nor had u II decent hour of ot sleep since It Happened And nd now thanks Ih to you she's done all ull three iou liou are ule a u goodboy good goud boy I Kent Moulton I K Kent t looked suddenly foolish 1111 and 1 v e embarrassed Aw Aw tints that's nothing he muttered Wheres my coat coot Maybe Ill I'll come com out O again tomorrow If It f I aint afat got anything better to do ill All the rest of the winter afternoon after afternoon noon Lydia slept Amos clime carne home at seven and mind he be mid and Lizzie ate all J supper In silence except for tor the old ladys lady's story of Kent's Kents visit Pour Ioor our young joung one muttered Amos Allin looking slowly toward the quiet blond head on the time faded brown cushion c Im glad gilld she's a child and II forget It noon soon Lizzie gave Amos Amo a n curious glance You dont don't know Lydia Amos she said suld He lIe did not lIot seem to hear tier her He Ile moved his chair toward the stove put his halt feet feel on the fender lighted his pipe find and then Slit ant without moving until n ml I t IT SI i 1 4 i a i w s Shortly He Had a Bright Blaze at Her Fe Feet t. t stamping of ot feet ani and a hearty rap on the door roused him hint Lizzie let John Levine LellIe III In Wheres Lydia was Levines Levine's first question Lizzie Uzzle pointed to the couch where undisturbed I slept on Good I said John He Ue drew his chair up beside Amos and the two fell tell Into low low voiced conversation con It must have been nine o'clock when Lydia Ldla opened her eyes fes to hear Amos say lIay fretfully I tell you OU I went to him today as ns Ill I'll go to no man inn again I begged him to renew the note nOlI but he Insisted his duty to the bank wouldn't let him I told him It would put you jou In a terrible terri tern ble fix that thul you'd oud gone gOlle on the note when you OU couldn't afford It It He Ue grinned a devils devil's grin then and said Amos I know youve you've got nothing to lose Ip this If It you hud had for tor the sake of ot your our children I I I mean meun Lydia Id I'd hold off ofT But Hut Levine can cun fix It tt up I l' l So 80 I L could ordinarily said Le Ie vine In a troubled voice olce Kut It Just happens that everything Ive I've got on onEarth onearth onearth earth Is stringed shoe out to hang hanl onto that pine section of mine up lu III hear Bear county Im I'm mortgaged up to my et eyebrows brows Marshall knows It and sees a chance to get Itt hold of time the piney pines d n d-n n him blunt Idla sut sat up and rubbed her eyes Well I Well I l young oung Lydia Idla cried Levine LellIe Had a tine fine sleep didn't you I Im awful hungry said sold the child mess Bless your our soul exclaimed Lizzie Lizzle Ill warm your supper up for you In lit Ina lita a 1 minute Lydia stood with hands bunds outstretched outstretch Id I'd to 10 the Ihl bo base e burner her hair halt tumbled her ler glance glauce traveling from Amos A to Let 11 Iru lime What hut makes Mr Marshall holl act so 80 tike she he liS asked Id I'd Sim IIO ho sold said Levine little girls your age dont don't know anything about such things do they Amos Antos Come Conte here You ou shall emit eat your our supper on my hip hili Im Tin getting too old for laps said coming very Iry willingly neve never never- I within the he compass of Johns John's s long II arms rill slut lut lut I love loe you next to daddy now In all the tile world John swept her to 10 his knees and put ut hula his cheek dUlk against hers for a n moment mo ment while tears gleamed gl In his black eyes Kat 1 it your our supper und and go to b bed d LydIa said Amos ont Dont be so at cro cross crOiS s Amos Amo protested protested pro pro- IIRI tested Ill I'll God Od knows Im I'm not cross cross to to Lydin Ly Ly- din dims of all 1111 people In the world sighed Amos but she worries over mone money mutters Just the way WilY her mother did und and I want to 10 talking this over with you vou Theres nothing more to talk about Le voice oice was short Let Lpt him call In the loan oun the fat tat hog hogl I Lydia slept the long night through Sh Slid II awoke woke refreshed and renewed After first adjusting herself to the awful sense of ot loss which Is the worst I of waking In grief the time recollection of the conversation she had heard the night before returned with sickening After Alter she had hod wiped the breakfast dishes for tor Lizzie Lizzle she stood for tor a u long Ion time at the time living room window window win win- dow with Florence Dombey In her arms staring at ut the lake Finally she tucked the doll up III comfortably on the |