The Jasper news., 1917-07-26
CHAPTER iN.-contlnued.

But before she could re-c0llect ner
wits and slip quietly away Craven alb
ruptly lifted his head and looked di-
rectly at his daughter; and now she
knew him positively. Though his jaw
dropped, his mouth gaped, and his eyes
stared prominently from n countenance
that in twinklng 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 line to
declare he wasn't thirty-one but a
round decade older.
For moment whose tension lent 1t
the length Of many, father and daugh-
ter remained transflXcd and staring.
Then his emotion communicated itself
to the woman in his arms. Startled and
wondering, she unveiled her eyes,
caught Il shadowed glimpse of the third
figure, disengaged, and drew away. And
Craven suffered this without sign to
Indicate that he had not forgotten her,
maintaining his poise and stare with a
tiXity that, penetrating Lydia's confu-
sion, stirred her curiosity.
luhlnS OHe Slep loNuIu INN, SllS
paused again. lifted one hand in Il ges-
ture ut once apologetic and appealing,
and said falteringly, Daddy"
With visible effort Craven pulled
himself together and made an attempt
to speak; but only n husky whisper
ratified in his throat. Then his glance
veered uncertainty to Mrs. MerrlleeS.
Abruptly this last, overcoming her
astoniShment precipituted the Situa-
tion. The blush that had shadowed
her exquisite face cbbcd again, leaving
it incompurably 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 Il cool and tinlling laugh.
"Oh, do forgive me, Mrs. Merrilees !
l never dreamed-I expected to find
my father alone"
Father" With that iteration of
superb insolence, Mrs. Merrllees be-
came once more completely mistress of
herself; and if her tone cried scorn
upon Il prcsumptuOus girl her look de-
Hlun'ltN tAplillllilOu VI lut lluu.
But Craven had needed no more time
to make good his recovery. 1t was his
familiar self who stepped into this
breach, amiablc, unrufiled, perhaps a
shade too devil-may-care; but to bal
anCe that there was Il not unbecoming
ring of Difference in his voice. "rm
afraid" he said, my surprise knocked
oil f.,n I ,rli
idea YOU were on board but you seem
already to know Mrs. Mcrrilees. Betty,
permit me to present my daughter"
Your daughter, Tad" There was
unpropitiuus raillery in the woman's
tone.
Craven replied only by bow.
"Do you realize this is my first init:
nation that you We're asking me to be-
come q Stepnother?"
I've much to tell you, Betty" Cra
v"n answered with grave simplicity
then, turning to his daughter, Lydia
Mrs. Merrilces has just done me the
honor to promise to become my wife
nnd-the truth is"
"ro come out" Mrs. Merrilees sup
piled incisive!y.
He laughed little awkwardly. "Ex
actly. | mean to say, it was all quite
unprecedented. 1t isn't fifteen min
uteS since we found we-ah-lOveL
each other; since when I-have beer
rather too preoccupied to advise Mrs
MerrlleCs of all my affairs. In another
hour, of course, she would have known
AS it is if the fact of my prior mur
riage--"
Tad" Mrs. Merrilees inter}ectet
with spirit that commanded his def
erence. "We're neither of us fools
Don't overdo things. You're talkin,
stupldly-Quite unlike yourself.
don't care to hear more until you'v,
found your bearings; and l want TIM
to find mine into the bargain. That
fair, isn't it?"
Nothing more so" he affirmed cheer
fully.
"Then I'll leave you to your-famil,
reunion ~
Fugitively Cravens eyes conveye
what was ut once demand and al
appeal. But before Lydia could re
spond Mrs. Merrilees anticipated, wit
quick movement crossing to drop he
hands lightly upon the girls shoulder.
my dear Miss Craven" she sal
with an odd little catch in her voice
I'm not sure yet / ought to call yo
Lydia; but I'm awfully fond of you
father, and-and if l can get over wha
doesn't seem<ln unfair susDicion tho