Williams news., 1917-10-11
CHAPTER V.

In humor as radiant as that of a child presented with a long-coveted plaything, Craven returned to find his daughter as he had left her, alone. "Lydial My dear, dear girlw
 She yielded without struggle to his embrace, instantly supple to the spell of that blind and unquestioning devo- hon 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 fa- thers.
 And then he was holding her by the shoulders at arms length looking her fondly up and down, wagging an indul- gent head. "The saints preserve us 1! But you've blossomed out into a 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 a 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 a woman like yourself-I can't be- lieve it"
 "You haven't aged a day, daddy dear"
 Craven would have none of that. 'It's of grandchildren 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 1t comes you're here. If you dropped from the skies"
 "Surely you know, daddy" the girl protested. q ran away-I had to. You know why"
 Devil fly away with me if I dol"
 "But wrote you about it, every thing, from the very beginning; and when you didn't answer, I thought there was nothing left for me but to run away"
 T 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 lettersT
 "Never one. If I hadn't been the busiest man alive these last three months, I'd have written to ask what was the matter. Not that worried Mrs. Hicks-Lorrimer's letters were reg ular and reassuring."
 An ominous gleam informed the eyes of the girl. 'Then she stole them!'
 "Who stole what?"
 "My letters to you-Mrs. Hicks-Lorri- mer must have stolen them
 My dear girl, be fair to herv'
 eff 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 love?"
 "She wrote me you were about to become engaged to young-what's-his name-Keyes; gave a good account of him. wrote to you at the time."
 That was three months ago. I haven't heard from you since. Her later letters must have told you I 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 blindI You don't mean to tell me it's fallen through?"
 T mean to tell you," the girl cried, passionately, "I 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 loathe him! And she wouldn't let me alone. stood her incessant nagging till I thought I'd go mad. Worst of all, my letters to you s3f na answers, save in1irectly-I