The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-11-23
CHAPTER Iv.-contlnusd.

6ut before she could re-collece heI
Wits and slip quietly away Craven ab
fuptsS lifted his head and looked d.
rectly at his daughter: and now she
knew him positively. Though his Jaw
dropped. his mouth capped. and his eyes
stared prominently from q countenance
that In a twinkling darkened portent
ously above the blank pallor Of his
shirt bosom. in every lineament he wal
Thaddeus Craven Of the sempiternally
! youthful face. showed never q line to
declare he wasn't thirty-one but g
round decade older.
For a moment whose tension lent II
the length Of many, father and daugh-
ter remained transfxed and staring
Then his emotion communicated itself
wondering. she unveiled her eyes
caught Swallowed glimpse Of the third
figure. disengaged. and drew away. And
Craven suffered this without q sign to
! indicate that he had not forgotten her
maintaining his poise and stare with q
hxity that, penetrating Lydia's confu'
sion. stirred her curiosity.
Taking one step toward him. she
/ paused again, lifted one hand in . ges-
ture at once apologize and appealing
and said falteringly, Daddy"
With visible effort Craven pulled
himself together and made an attempt
to speak; but only a husky whisper
1 ratified in his throat. Then his glance
veered uncertainty to Mrs. Merrilees.
Abruptly this last. overcoming her
establishment. precipitated the situa-
tion. The blush that had Swallowed
her exquisite face ebbed again. leaving
It incomparably 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 a cool and tinkling 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. Merrilees be.
came once more completely mistress Of
herself; and IL her tone cried scorn
upon a presumDtuous girl, her look de-
.nanded explanation Of the man.
But Craven lad needed no more time
to make good his recovery. 1t was his
familiar seif who stepped into this
breach, arniable, unrufied. perhaps a
shade too devil-may-care; but to bal
ance thst there was a not unbecoming
ring of Difference In his voice. 'I'm
afraid" he said, my surprise knocked
me silly foe moment. Lydia, I'd no
idea you were on board but you seem
already to know Mrs. Merrilees. Bztty,
permit mo to present my daughter"
"Your daughter, Tadf" There was
unpropitious raillery in the woman's
tone.
Craven replied only by a bow.
"Do you realize this is my first fnta-
nation that you were asking me to be-
come q stepmotherT
i've much to tell you, Betty" Ora
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 outv Mrs. Merrilees sup
piled incisively.
He laughed little awkwardly. ok
actiy! / mean to say, it was all quite
unprecedented. 1t isn't fifteen min
utes since we found we-ah-loved
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 IT is If the fact of my prior mar
rtaSe-"
'"Tad!" Mrs. Merrilees interjected
with a spirit that commanded bis def
ereuce. We're neither Of ~ fools.
Don't o;Grdo things. You're talking
stupidly--quite unlike yourself. l
doE't care to hear more uatil you've
fous.a your bearings; and ! want time
to Ep1 mine, into the bargain. That's
faIr. Isn't it?'
"Nothing more So" h. affirmed cheer
fully.
Then I'll leg,e you to your-family
reunionr'
Fugitivej Craven's eyes conveyed
what VISA at once a demand and an
appeal But before Lydia could re-
spond Mrs. Merrilees anticipated. with
q quick movement crossing to drop her
hands lightly upon the girls shoulders.
my dear Miss Craven" she said
with an odd little catch In her voice.
I'm not sure yet ought to call you
Lydia; but I'm awfully fond Of your
father, and-and II l can get over what
Doesn't seem an unfair suspicion that
As's kept me too long in the dark
about you, I shall probably marry him"
K can't wish him greater good for
tune" said Lydia quietly.
'You are a dear! And SO beauti-
ful-I'm jealous. Do you think, Tad,
Il Is wise to have two blondes in one
eanAly7 Don't answer, please. It's
riddle / must solve to my own salts
faction before listen to you again.
uuf-Cm seriaua-thipk It over"