Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-08-02
AUTHOR Of THE LONE
WOLF" THE BRASS
BOML,"ETC.
COPYRIGHT By LoUl. JOSEPH MncE

Of her inches.
Really, Miss Carteret-" she began;
and then her voice Of crystal cle>rness
broke In cool a1d tinkling laugh.
"Oh, do forgive me. Mrs. Merrilees!
! never dreamed-I expected to find
my father alone"
"Fatker!" With that iteration of
superb insOlence, Mrs. Merrilees be-
came once more completely mistress of
no, self; and IL her tone cried scorn
ul"n q presumptuous girl, her look de-
handed explanation Of the man.
But Craven had needed no more time
to make good his recovery. 1t was his
familiar self who stepped into this
breach, ami0ble. unruffled, perhaps a
shade too devil-may-care but to bal.
ance thEt there was II not unbecOmin:
ring of Difference In his voice. "I'n
afraid" he said. my surprise knocked
me Silly for . momenr. lydia I'd 10
idca you were oh fonrd; hut you seen,
already to know Mrs. Aferrilees. Betty,
permit me to present my daughter"
''Your daughter, Tad7" There Wa
unpropitious raillery in the woman's
tone.
Craven replied only by a bow.
'Do you realize this is my first init.
nation that you were asking me to be-
come q stepmOther1"
1--WE much to tell you, Betty" Cra-
ven answered with grave simplicity;
then, turning to his daughter. Lydia,
Mrs. Merrilees has just done me the
honor to promise to become my wife,
and-the truth is"
ITO come out!'' Mrs. Merrilees sup
piled incisively.
He laughed little awkwardly. "Ex-
actly! mean to say, it was all quite
unprecedented. It isn't fifteen min
utes since we found we-ah-l0ved
each other; since when I-have been
rather too preoccupied to advise Mrs.
Merrilees Of all my affairs. In another
hour. Of course, she would have known.
As 1t is If the fact Of my prior mar
rage"
"Tadw Mrs. Merrilees irterjected
with spirit that commanded his def
erence. "We're neither Of us fools.
Don't overdo things. You're talking
stupidly-qulte unlike yourself. I
don't care to hear more until you've
; found your bearings; and want time
! to find mine, into the bargain. That's
fair, isn't IT."
! "Nothing more So" he affirmed cheer
fully.
''Then I'll leave you to your-family
reunion!"
| Fugitively Craven's eyes conveyed
what was at once a demand and an
appeal. But before Lydia could re-
E, spond Mrs. Merrilees anticipated, with
quick movement crossing to drop her
: hands lightly upon the girls shoulders.
"Dly dear Miss Craven!" she said
with an odd little catch in her voice.
I'm not sure yet l ought to call you
Lydia; but I'm awfully fond Of your
father, and-and If can get over what
doesn't seem an unfair suspicion that
he's kept me too long in the dark
about you, I shall! probably marry him.
II can't wish him greater good for.
| TUNE, Sulu Ayulu quietly.
"You are a dear! And so beauti'
ful-I'm jealous. Do you think, Tad
1t Is wise to have two blondes in one
family? Don't answer, please. It's 8
riddle must Aolve to my own salts
faction before l listen to you again
But-1'm serious-think it over"
With transient Tightening of hel
grasp on Lydia's shoulders. a pressure
that conveyed a hint Of friendliness
the woman turned away.
"No!" she insisted when Craver
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 towart
Lydia as she disappeared round tn,
shoulder of the deckhouse.
Craven delayed. however. barely lonl
enough for a word. "Wait here
sha'n't be long,"
Lydia said nothing, but watched hin
go with eyes confused With pain, sh
who had found herself suddenly rele
gated from the status Of well-belove'
child to that Of a stumbling block fl
the path Of her fathers ambition, VIII
could no longer doubt that he ha
planned to keep her existence secre
until his marriage to this Mrs. Merr
lees of the fabulous fortune should
, q consummated fact
She stood desolate amid debris Q
illusions, who had never known a mott
er, and now had lost father. he
: eyes filed. He hadn't even kissed he
after five years. separation! Resin
: arms upon the taffrail, she turned
foriorn face to the night-clad sea, he
mood fraught with vast disconsolatiol
A football sounded behind her, an
: she wheeled sharply about to Join issu
with her father. But 1t was Pete
Trait who, briskly rounding the decl
house, pulled up short ut sight of thu
tense young person, Lydia, with ht
shoulders back, her chin up, and del
ance a-glimmer In her eyes.
II beg your pardon" He peere