The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-06-14

"No!' 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 word, "Wait here-I
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 well-beioyed
child to that of 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
consummated fact.
She stood desolate amid a debris Of
illusions, who had never known moth
er, and now had lost a father. Her
eyes filled. He hadn't even kissed her
after five years separation! Resting
arms upon the taffrail. she turned
forlorn face to the night-clad sea, her
mood fraught with vast dlsconsolation.
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
tense young person, Lydia, with her
shoulders back, her chin up, and def
ance a-glimmer In her eyes.
81 beg your pardon" He peered
eagerly to make certain; for the moon
was just then thinly yelled in Cloud.
Its Miss Carteret, isn't it?"
"Yes, Mr.. Trait" said the girl qui-
city, relaxing. Good evening"
He seemed puzzled by her manner,
started to say something, reconsidered
sharply, then ventured with engaging
| difference, 'It's good to see you up and
about again."
I'll feels pretty good, thank YOU"
she said, with smile that gave him
courage.
| "Hope / didn't startle you, gaiumph-
ing into your solitude without warning,
Fact is, L was looking for old Tad Cra-
ven. We're needing fourth. / don't
suppose you know Craven, thoughr
"Oh, yes, I've known. Mr.. Craven a
long time"
Really? He's a wonder, isn't hep
Trait exclaimed with enthusiasm,
'Everybody's friend-not an enemy in
the world. / don't believe there's a
better-liked man in New York-our
New York, that is"
"Your New York? You see, I've al.
ways lived in England, and have lots
TO learn about-home."
"Sheer snobbery on my part" Peter
admitted cheerfully. 81 meant the
very small part of New York that we
infest, whom my friend Mr.. Martin
likes to call the idle rich If he only
knew"
"But are your"
I'm afraid I'm idle enough; but as
for riches, I'm poverty's poor relation
"But what do you do?"
"Oh, play good hand at bridge
fair racket at tennis, and am always
on haud to fill in when somebody
doesn't show up for dinner" The leas
trace of bitterness favored this gratu
itous account of himself, and the per
Grafton was accompanied by an uneas,
laugh. "In short, Pm what your Eng
lish friends call a waster. But pleas,
don't think that I'm bidding for seriou!
consideration"
81 understand" the girl said quietly
II didn't mean to bore you, either
you didn't; but you made me thinl
and wonder"
"Why I'm content to be-so use
less?"
She nodded, with her shadowy smile
A wry grin answered that. "Yol
certainly take the curse Off of it," Traf
averred. ''Candor like yours is goo'
for the egotism. The register of m.
self-esteem is now subnormal."
"I didn't mean to be unpleasant, MI
Trait"
Don't, please. Thus far you've don
me good; but IL you say more, betra.
the ieust reui Interest III me, LII ge
chesty and need taking down again
And I'm forgetting Craven"
"He was here only a few minute
ago, and promised to come back befor
long,"
"Then may wait? You don't mind? :?
mo" said the girl. "Indeed, Nv
something to tell you. You've praise
him to my face, and that makes m
want to tell you. I'm not Lucy Car
teret, really, Mr.. Trait. My name
Lydia Craven. Thaddeus Craven
my father"
, "Oh, / say!" Peter stared incredu
. lously. "Not Tad Craven's daughter
You're serious"
"QuitA"
NJ ,ohaoL a. o~o x,o,. ..o D,%