Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-08-24
CHAPTER v.

|
child presented with a. long-coveted
plaything, Craven returned to find his
daughter as he had left her, alone
tLydial My dear, dear grip
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 he1
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. 'The saints preserve us
But you've blOssomed out into wom-
an, Liddy, my dear, to turn the heads
! of half the world! AS tall as your
old dad, as sweet as cherry blossoms,
as lovely as the break Of a 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-I can't be-
lieve itv'
"You haven't aged a day, daddy
DEAR"
Craven would have none Of that.
"It'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. If you
| dropped from the skies"
"Surely you know, daddy" the girl
| protested. II ran away-I had to-.
You know why"
| "Devil fly away with me If dol"
"But I wrote you about 1t, every
thing, from the very beginning; and
when you didn't answer, thought
| there was nothing left for me but to
run away"
II tell you, Liddy, I've not heard q
word from you for months!"
His manner carried conviction
credulous thrall that she was to the
magic Of that dear, carneying 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 ask 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 what?'
"My letters to yOu-Mrs Hicks-LOrri-
mer must have stolen theml"
"My dear girl, be fair to herl"
eff my letters didn't reach you,
someone must have intercepted them.
One might have gone astray by itself,
yes; but 1t isn't likely five would"
Lydia, don't get this at al"
you knew that woman wanted me
to marry q man didn't lover
"She wrote me you were about to
name-Keyes; gave good account Of
him. l wrote to you at the time"
"That was three months ago. I
haven't heard from you since. Her
later letters must have told you had
refused him."
"They didn't. She said the thing
was hanging fire-young Reyes a bit
backward about coming forward. He
must have been blind! You don't
mean to tell me It's fallen throughw
81 mean to tell you." the girl cried,
passionately, II didn't like him! One
of Mrs. Hicks-Lorrimer's tame cats!
He may have money and family, as
she claimed-I don't know-but he's
abominable, and / loathe him! And
she wouldn't let me alone. stood her
incessant nagging till thought I'd go
mad. Worst Of all, my letters to you
got no answers, save indirectly
mean, she said 1t was your wish I
should marry him."
II never said that" Craven observed
thoughtfully. II did say that, If 1t
was your wish and for your happiness,
gave my consent gladly. It wouldn't
| be like me, would it, to wish unhappi-
ness to my own flesh and blood?"
"No-it wasn't like you: that's why
| didn't understand. lit seemed as
If you'd turned against me-"
"Liddy-dear!"
"Oh, know was wrong; but what
could / think? You wouldn't write.
But 1 knew If l could see and talk to
| you, could make you understand. So
I pawned some things--some Of your
presents-and got enough money for
my passage. And now"
Her voice was breaking. Craven
passed an arm round her and drew her
close to him. There, my dear girl.
there!'
"And now-rm in your wayr
| Lydia !'' lie had lost none of his
,ld-time trick of quieting her with Il
show of righteous indignation. you've