The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-13
THE FATAL
|[A|[1I[ [H III |.
ey CHARLES GARVlCE.
copyright, 1909, by George II. Coran
Company
CHAPTER Xxx.
Cir Mariners Dauqhter.

to tell cara, now Woulu sic 'aho
the news he was bringing her?-news
of a kind which still held him star
tied and almost incredulous, which
the people at the Hall were scarce
" vet recovered from.
Cara as she came into the draw
ing room to him, saw that something
was the matter, that something Sc
rious had happened.
You have come back very sooE,
she said quietly, as he took her in
his arms.
Yes" he said I've something to
tell YOU. dearest. Lemuel Raven is
dead"
She turned pale and WINGED. she
noticed, even at that moment, that
he had said 'Lemuel Raven" not
your father
"Nlv father-dead?" she said, with
Il shudder.
NO, Ht was iON Nou' lt''''N' >
Cara. he said gravely.
Mott"
She startled and the color came
slowly, deeply, to her face; she
drew a long breath, though no words
came. Il am not his daughter.
Then who am II"
Now Ronald had been thinking
hard all the way up; and, as we
know. thinking, hard or easy, was
not his forte; but he had arrived
at decision which was a sensible
one.
I'm going to ask you not 10
asG me; to wait until you get TO
Thorden. dearest" he said persua-
sively. Il want Evelyn to tell you.
She'll do it better than 1 can. Is it
too much to ask you to wait, Cara?'
NO" she replied in her usual,
simple, direct fashion. Il can wait"
Right" he said. we 20 down
tomorrow. The Princess must come
along, too. I've as.ed you to wait;
but ! want to say this, darling
that there is nothing to cause you
disappointment, grief-Oh, dash it,
| shall out with it if / go on"
She laid her hand on his lips, and
smiled into his eyes gravely.
Then you shar! not say any
more. Do you think it is very long
for me to wait? Do you forget how
long | have waited for more than
this? Does it matter whose daughter
ann"
Not to me- he Responded
promptly.
And you are the only one that
matters-to me-" she said, with her
exquisite Candour.
She obtained the Princess's con-
sent to accompany them, and went
down to Thorden Hall the next
day. Sir Reginald, Vane and Eve
lyn were waiting in the hall to
welcome Cara, and, as she appear
ed, Evelyn almost sprang at Cara,
caught her in her arms, and after
the kiss, which was returned as
warmly as it was given, held her
at arms length and scanned her
with affantiop
'Oh, I'm so glad, Cara! To
think of it-you and Ronald"
But here Sir Reginald came for
ward to welcome his future daugh.
ter-in-law; and, as he did so, an
unmistakahle expression of relief
shone in his eyes, and lightened his
sombre face; for, not unreasonably
he had expected a girl. pretty, prob.
ably, but displaying the gaucherie
the hallmark of the inferior class
For had she not been brought up
as the daughter of Lemuel Raven
But, as this girl gave him her
hand, and met his gaze with the
grave and unflinching regard of a
child, he felt that blood will tell
and he bowed over her hand as
one bows over that of an equal
as he had just before bowed ovel
that of the Princess.
Welcome, my dear young lady
to your future home" he said.
And to our hearts, dear" whis
/ pered Evelyn quickly.
They gathered round her unot
trusively fused over her. with tn,
art nice people possess in such per
lection; and Evelyn administered
tea; but there was an air of SUD
pressed excitement, of uncertain
ty about them all; and present.,
Evelyn drew Cara's arm within her.
and led her upstairs to Caras room