The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-08-24
CHAPTER lV.-Continued.


ruptly lifted his head and looked di
rectly at his daughter; and now she
knew him positively. Though his jaw
dropped, his mouth CAPPED, and his eyes
stared prominently from Il cOuntenance
that in q tWinlllng darkened pOrtent-
cuSly above the blank pNllor of his
Shirt bosom, in every lineument he was
Thaddeus Craven of the scmpiternaliy
youthful face showed never Il line to
declare he wasn't thirty-one but a
round decade older.
For Il moment whose tension lent 1t
the length of many father and daugh-
ter remained tran%!iZed and staring.
Then his emotion communicated itself
to the woman in his arms. Startled and
wondering, she unveiled her eyes
caught a Swallowed glimpse Of the third
figure, disengagcd, and drew away. And
Craven suffered this without a sign to
indicate that he had not forgotten her,
maintaining his pOse and stare with
hXity that, penetrating Lydia's confu-
sim, stl.rAj her curiosity.
Taking one step toward him, she
paused again, lifted one hand in a 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 husky whisper
ratified in his throat. Then his glance
veered uncertainty to Mrs. Merrilees.
Abruptly this last, overcoming her |
establishment, precipitated the situa- |
ton. The blush that had Swallowed |
her exquisite face ebbed again, leaving
it incOmpnruMy 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 n cool and tinkling laugh
"Oh do forgive me, Mrs. Merrilees
I never dreamed-I expected to find
my father alone"
Father" With that iteration of
superb insoence, Mrs. Merrilees be-
came once more completely mistress of
herself; ard if her tone cried scorn :
upon a presumptuous girl, her look de- |
explanation of the man. t
But Craven had needed no more time 5
to make good his recovery. 1t was his s
familiar self who stepped into this
breach, amiable, unrufled perhaps a G
shade too devil-may but to bal Y
RnCe that there was a not unbecOming g
ring Of Difference in his voice. I'm
lfraid,' he said, my surprise knocked q
ne SILLY for a moment. Lydia, I'd no
dea you were on board; but you seem $
already to know Mrs. Merriees Betty. :
permit me to present my daughter" d
"Your daughter, Tad?" There was y
raillery in the womans
one, g
CravcG replied only by bow. O.
DO you realize this is my first init
nation that you were asking me to be- ir
ONE a Stepmother?" +
I've much to tell you, Betty" Cra- V,
en- answered with grave simplicity; &,
hen, turning to his daughter Lydia,
IRIS. Merrilees has just done me the Ia
onOr to promise to become my wife,
truth is" r.
ITO come out !" Mrs. Merrilees SUD- 81
lied incisively. th
He laughed litt.t awkwardly. Tx h,
city mean to sas, it was all quite n
npremeditated. 1t isn't fifteen min
ties since we found we-ah-loved w,
lch other; since when E-have been TO
lther too preOccupied TO advise Mrs.
errilees of all my affairs. In another nd
Iur, of course, she would have known We
S it is if the fact of my prior mar in
age" IiI
'Tad!" Mrs. Merrilees interjected KIN
it'll 4 spirit that commanded his def
ence. Were neither of us fools.
mt overdo things. You're talking fol
lpidly-quite unlike yourself. II
MT care TO hear more until you've
1nd your bearings; and want time a I
find mine into the bargain. That's on
II, isn't it?" do,
Nothing more So" he affirmed cheer ira
ly. ito
Then I'll leave you to your-family ora
lnionr' Iau
fugitiveiy Craven's eyes conveyed lisl
at was at once a demand and an dor
peal. But before Lydia could re- con
md Mrs. Merrilees anticipated. with g
iuick movement crossing to drop her "
1ds lightly upon the girls shoulders. ~
My dear Miss Craven!" she said Al
II an odd little catch in her voice &"
N not sure yet ! ought to call you less
iia: but I'm awfully fond of your s
her, and-and if l can get over what A
.sn't seem an unfair suspicion that cert
, kept me too long in the dark aver