Evening star., 1914-08-16

changes time had wrought: great that it wasn't
difficult to fancy Craven failing to recognize his daugh-
ter whose memory with him must be that Of a hobbe-
dehov of fifteen long legged and awkward, with per-
petuav freckled snub nose, mouth too wde and eyes
too large for her thin face and her hair in plas-two
wrsthck cables of falling below her waist carroty
and bound with broad butterfly bows of stiff blue ribbon
Mrs Hicks Lorrmers idea that of the butterfly bows
the final touch of ignomny. Lydia dated her hatred
of the woman from the hour when she had been COM
PEELED to submit to those unspeakabe decorations
But today-Lydia smiled tenderly. No; Craven
wouldn't know his girl,-not until she told hm,-un-
less to be sure she had grown somewhat to resemble
her mother who had been famous beauty,-or Mrs.
Grumme of the Bloomsbury lodgings had asseverated,
and Craven himself under pressure of persistent
questioning, had once admitted.
WTINANT, rising from her knees, dispelled revere.
as that ALL Miss Craven?'
lydia smiled brilliantly "Thats right" she affirmed
with decision. @Let me be Miss Craven from now on
Do YOU think you could find my father for me- Wnant!
4Oh, surely, Miss Wnant preserved straight
face. 1Would you wish me to send i'm to you ere!
4Oh, no. l merely want to know where to look for
him. But to send him here to find me-why-dont
you see?-that would spoil it ALL"
@Quite so Miss. | won't be a minute
To LYDIA waiting with eyes shining and lips tremu-
lous with anticipation entered unexpectedly her Dow
ager Dragon and entering, for the first and only time
in their association betrayed signs of some slight en-
barrassment and bewderment.
aHeaven help our home!' Mrs. Beggarstaf cried,
thunderstruck. "Where you going, Chd?"
4On deck, probably Lydia informed her with
twinkle of mischief.
"But-my blessed income
SDear Mrs. Beggarstaff," Lydia nterposed impul-
sively. a must tell you, something has happened
something so wonderful and delightful that | verify
believe it would have got out OF bed had been at
the point of DEATH!
9Pohl" exclaimed the Dowager Dragon impatiently.
Surprise faded in her eyes, and was replaced by some
thing strange- like disappointment. With quick
movement she closed the door and sat down on her
bed @Nonsense- she added with unaccountable rri-
tation looking the excited young woman up and down.
3My dear, you're not going to tell me you've found
out your father IS on board!
@How in the of wonder did you guess?'
al didn't guess-I knew the Dragon retorted, SEN
tersious. Il know everything, including my own
mind: nv middle name IS Omnscience. Remember
that next time you try to keep Amelia Beggarstaff in
the dark You're Lydia Craven, and your fathers
Thaddeus Craven-Tad Craven to me and
@You know him? You know my father, Mrs. Beg
garstaf3 You dear!'
With grim srnile the Dowager Dragon submitted
to spontaneous embrace, then gently Tended off the
agitated girl 3There!' she growled with an attempt
at acerby wholly successful "Save your kisses for
your dad. dare say you've played the deuce with my
complexion and for my wig, this while readusting
that disarranged adornment, if you can't keep your
hair for joy, you might at least be good enough
to let mine roost where it belongs
SBut-I don't care!' Lydia retorted with gay de-
fiance 3You know my father and I've perfect right
to kiss you for that, if to. Tell me how long
you have known him, and how long you've known
was his daughter, and what made you begin to sus-
pect, and
an PHYS nane!" the Dowager Dragon interrupted,
covering her zone question at time. Be still,
and I'll tell YOU
But here her open relief, the stewardess knocked
and entered, with the effect OF rendering Lydia obvl-
Gus to all else.