Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-07-25
CHAPTER IV-continued.


dropped, his mouth gaped, and his eyes
stared prominently from countenance
that in twinkling darkened portent-
Ously above the blank pallor of his
shirt bosom, in every lineament he was
Thaddeus Craven of the sempiternally
youthful face showed never a line to
ieclare he wasn't thirty-one bdE
round decade older.
For moment whose tension lent it
the length Of many, father and daugh-
ter remained transfxed and staring.
Then his emotion communicated itself
to the woman in his arms. Startled and
wondering, she unveiled her eyes,
caught a Swallowed glimpse Of the third
figure, disengaged, and drew away. And
Craven suffered this without a sign to
indicate that he had not forgotten her,
maintaining his poise and stare with
fxity that, penetrating Lydia's confu-
sion, stirred her curiosity.
Taking one step. toward him, she
paused again, lifted one hand in ges-
ture at once apologize and appealing,
and said falteringly, Daddy"
With visible effort Craven pulled
himself together and made an attempt
to speak; but only a husky whisper
ratified in his throat. Then his glance
veered uncertainty to Mrs. Merrilees.
Abruptly this last, overcoming her
establishment, precipitated the situa-
ton. The blush that had Swallowed
her exquisite face ebbed again. leaving
it incomparably fair. She threw back
her shoulders and took full advantage
of her inches.
Really, Miss Carteret-" she began;
and then her voice of crystal clearness
broke in a cool and tinkling laugh.
'Oh, do forgive me, Mrs. Merrileesl
never dreamed-I expected to find
my father alone"
"Fatherw With that iteration Of
superb insolence, Mrs. Merrilees be-
came once more completely mistress of
herself; and if her tone cried scorn
upon a presumptuous girl, her look de-
manded explanation of the man.
But Craven had needed no more time
to make good his recovery. 1t was his
familiar self who stepped into this
breach, amiable, unruff1ed, perhaps a
shade too devil-may-care; but to bal
ance that there was not unbecOming
ring Of Difference in his voice. "Pm
afraid" he said, my surprise knocked
me silly for a moment. Lydia, I'd no
idea you were on board; but you seem
already to know Mrs. Merrilees. Betty,
permit me to present my daughter"
your daughter, Tad?" There was
unpropitious raillery in the woman's
tone.
Craven replied only by bow.
do you realize this is my first init
nation that you were asking me to be-
come stepmother?"
''rve much to tell you, Betty" Cra-
ven answered with grave simplicity;
then, turning to his daughter, Lydia,
Mrs. Merrilees has just done me the
honor to promise to become my wife,
aRd-the truth is"
ITO come out!' Mrs. Merrilees sup
piled incisively.
He laughed a little awkwardly. Sex
actly! 1 mean to say, it was all quite
unprecedented. 1t isn't fifteen min
utes since we found we-ah-loved
each other; since when I-have been
rather too preoccupied to advise Mrs.
Merrilees of all my affairs. In another
hour, of course, she would have known.
AS it is if the fact of my prior mar
riage-"
"Tad!" Mrs. Merrilees interjected
with spirit that commanded his def
erence. Were neither of us fools.
Don't overdo things. You're talking
stupidly-Quite unlike yourself. l
don't care to hear more until you've
found your bearings; and 1 want time
10 find mine, into the bargain. That's
fair, isn't it?"
Nothing more So" he affirmed cheer
fully.
Then I'll leave you to your-family
reunionr'
Fugitively Craven's eyes conveyed
what was at once a demand and an
appeal. But before Lydia could re-
spond Mrs. Merrilees anticipated, with
a quick movement crossing to drop her
hands lightly upon the girls shoulders.
my dear Miss Craven!" she said
with an odd little catch in her voice.
I'm not sure yet 1 ought to call you
Lydia; but I'm awfuly fond OF your
father, and-and if 1 can get over what
doesn't seem an unfair suspicion that
he's kept me too long in the dark
about you, shall probably marry him."
81 can't wish him greater good for
tune" said Lydia quietly.
You are a dearl And so beauti-
ful-Tm jealous. Do you think, Tad,
it is wise to have two blondes in one
family? Don't answer, please. It's
riddle I must solve TO my own salts
faction before 1 listen to you again.
But-Tm serious-think it over"
With a transient Tightening of her
grasp on Lydia's shoulders, a pressure
that conveyed a hint of friendliness,
es5e woman tas3ed away.