The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-08-24

81 can't wish him greater good for
tune" SAID Lydia quietly.
"You are dear! And so beauti-
ful-Tm Jealous. Do you think, Tad,
it is wise to have two blondes in one
family4 Don't answer, please. It's a
riddle | must solve to my own salts
faction before | listen to you again.
But-I'm seriOus-think it over"
With transient tightening of her
grasp on Lydia's shoulders, a pressure
that conveyed a hint of friendiness
the woman turned away.
"Now she insisted when Craven
promptly ranged himself at her side.
Let me go for tonight, Tad. I'd pre-
| fer to be alone to think things out.
Tomorrow, perhaps"
Her smile flashed uncertainty toward
Lydia as she disappeared round the
shoulder of the deckhouSe.
Craven delayed, however, barely long
enough for Il word, "Wait here
sha'n't be long"
Lydia said nothing, but watched him
go with eyes confused with pain, she
who had found herself suddenly rele
gated from the status Of Il Well-belOVed
child to that of a stumbling block in
the path of her fathers ambition, who
could no longer doubt that he had
planned to keep her existence secret
until his marriage to this Mrs. Merri- |
lees of the fabulous fortune should be |
Il consummated fact,
She stood desolate amid debris of |
Illusions who had never known a moth
or, and now had lost a father. Her
eyes filed. He hadn't even kissed her
after five years separation! Resting
arms upon the taffrail, she turned a
forlorn face to the night-clad sea, her
mood fraught with vast disconsolatiOn.
A football sounded behind her, and
she wheeled sharply about to join issue
with her father. But it was Peter
Trait who, brisllly rounding the deck
house, pulled up short at sight Of that
.ense young person, LYDIA with her
shoulders back, her chin up, and def
lnce a-glimmer in her eyes.
81 beg your pardon" He peered
eagerly to make certain; for the moon
vas just then thinly yelled in cloud.
It's Miss Carteret, isn't it,"
Eyes, Mr.. Trait" said the girl qui-
fly, relaxing. Good evening"
He seemed puzzled by her manner,
tarted to say something, reconsidered
harply, then ventured with engaging
eference, It's good to see you up and
bout again"
at feels pretty good, thank you"
he said with a smile that gave him
Ourage.
."Hope l didn't startle you, galumph-
~ into your solitude without warning.
act is, | was looking for old Tad Cra-
en-. We're needing Il fourth. l don't
oppose you know Craven thought
"Oh, yes, I've known Mr.. Craven
ng time" "
Really? He's a wonder, isn't hep
raft exclaimed with enthusiasm.
friend-nOt an enemy in Il
lie world. | don't believe there's a "
,tter-Iiked man in New York-our Il
ew York, that is" !.
your New York? You see, I've al l
avs lived in England, and have lots Ii
learn abOut-hOme."
"Sheer snobbery on my part" Peter st
limited cheerfully. Il meant the al
nv small part of New York that we
fest, whom my friend Mr.. Martin 81
res to call the idle rich If he only w
Ieww VI
"But are yOu?"
I'm afraid I'm idle enough; but as CO
r riches: I'm poverty's poor relation" CO
But what do you do?" DC
"Oh, play good hand at bridge,
fair racket at tennis, and am always 10
hand to fill in when somebody &c
,,,,,+ chow, nm for dinner" The least di
ce of bitterness favored this gratu- a
us account of himself. and the per-
Ition was accompanied by an uneasy S"
oh. "In short, I'm what your Eng ru
! friends call waster. But please ful
IT think that I'm bidding for serious The
/ understand" the girl said quietly. see
1 didn't mean to bore you, either" hat
You didn't; but you made me think yoV
nd wonder" sta
Why I'm content to be-so use pos
q
he nodded. with her shadowy smile. Yo1
wry grin answered that. you to
ainly take the curse of Of 1t, =" Trait I'm
red ~CandOr ike yours is good son