The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1917-11-30
CHAPTER v.


In humoF as radiant as that Of a
child presented with q long-coveted
plaything, Craven returned to find his
daughter as he had left her, alone.
"Lydiai 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
Tiers.
And then he was holding her by the
fondly up and down, wagging an indul-
gent head. "The saints preserve US
But you've blossomed out into q 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 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 It'll"
you haven't aged a day, daddy
dear"
Craven would have none Of that.
ats Of grandchildren I 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 it comes you're here. II you
dropped from the skies"
surely you know, daddy" the girl
protested. II ran away-I had to.
You know why"
sDevil fly away with me II dol"
But 1 wrote you about it. every
thing, from the very beginning; and
when you didn't answer, l thought
there was nothing left for me but to
run away"
II tell you, Liddy. I've not heard
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. II hadn't been the
busiest man alive these last three
months, I'd have written to ask what
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 whatf"
"My letters to you-Mrs. Hicks-Lorf1-
mer must have stolen them!"
my dear girl, be fair to her!"
"If my letters didn't reach you,
someone must have intercepted them.
One might have gone astray by itself,
yes; but it isn't likely five would"
Lydia, don't get this at ALL"
"You knew that woman wanted me
to marry a man didn't lover
"She wrote me you were about to
become engaged to young-what's-hi
name-Keyes gave a good account Of
him. wrote to you at the time"
THAT was three months ago.
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 through"
II 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 I loathe him! And
she wouldn't let me alone. l stood her
incessant nagging till thought I'd 60
Aad Worst Of all, my letters to you
O. ., answers. save inNrectly-I