Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-08-09
CHAPTER v.

In humor as radiant as that Of q
child presented with long.coveted
.plaything, Craven returned to find his
daughter as he had left her, alone.
Lydia! My dear. dear girl!'
She yielded without struggle to his
embrace, instantly supple to the spell
OF that blind and unquestioning devo-
ton which never before that night had
wavered from his image. In those
arms the old enchantment regained
full power. doubts and misgivings were
all forgotten. Craven became to her
once more the most splendid Of men.
and the handsomest, dearest Of IA
theirs.
And then he was holding her by the
shoulders at arms length looking her
fondly up and down, wagging an indul-
gent head. 1.-THE saints preserve usl
But you've blossomed out into wom-
an, Liddy, my dear, to turn the heads
of half the worldl As tall as your
old dad. us sweet as cherry blossoms,
as lovely as the break Of day In
June! It's like seeing your mother
again, the way she was the day we
were married-though she was only
eighteen then, and now you're more
than twenty! God forgive 'em. but
the years have magicked me into an
old man before my time! The father
Of woman like yourself can't be-
lieve it,"
"You haven't aged a day, daddy
dear"
Craven would have none Of that.
"1t's Of grandchildren must be think
ing now. Don't hang your pretty
head: let me look my fill of my girl :!
But you might be so good as to tell
me how 1t comes you're here. II you
dropped from the skies"
"Surely you know, daddy" the girl
protested. II ran away-1 had to.
You know why"
Devil fly away with me II I do !"
But wrote you about 1t, every
thing, from the very beginning; and
when you didn't answer, I thought
there was nothing left for me but to
run away"
II tell you, Liddy. I've not heard a
word from you for months!"
His manner carried conviction
credulous thrnll that she was to the
magic Of that dear, cnrneying tongue
"You didn't get my letters?'
"Never one. If I hadn't been the
busiest man alive these last three
months, I'd have written to nsk what
was the matter Not that worried
Mrs. Hicks-Lorrimer's letters were reg.
ular and reassuring."
An ominous CLEAN Informed the eyes
of the girl. "Then she stole them!"
"WhO stole whnt?"
my letters to you-Mrs. Hicks-Lorri
mer must have stolen them"
my dear girl, be fair to herr"
''If my letters didn't reach you
someone. must have intercepted them
One might have gone astrny by itself
yes; but 1t isn't likely FIVE would"
Lydia. don't get this Mt ALL"
"You knew that woman wanted me
to marry man I didn't lover"
"She wrote ME you were about t.
become engaged to young-what's.his
name-Keyes gave good account o.
HINT wrote to you at the time."
''That was three months ago.
haven't heard from you since. He
later letters must have told you hat
refused him."
''They didn't. She said the thin,
was hanging fire-young Reyes bi
backward about coming forward. HI
must have been blind! You dom
mean to tell me it's fallen through7
II mean to tell you," the girl CRIED
passiOnately, II didn't like him! On
Of Mrs. Hicks-Lorrimer's tame cats
He may have money and family, a
she claimed-I don't know-but he
abomfnable, and I loathe him! An
she wouldn't let me alone. l stood he
incessant nagging till thought I'd g
mad. Worst of all, my letters to 20
got no answers, save Indirectly
mean. she said 1t was your wish
should marry him."
II never said that" Craven observe
thoughtfully. II did say that, II
was your wish and for your happines!
gave my consent gladly. 1t wouldn
be like me. would 1t, to wish unhapp
ness to my own flesh and blood2"
"No-it wasn't like you: That's VIII
didn't understand. lit seemed a
II you'd turned against me-"