The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-04-24
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.
LYDIA My dear, dear grill"
She yielded without struggle to his
embrace. instantly supple to the spell
Of that blind and unquestioning devo-
ton 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 ia
theirs.
And then he was holding her by the
shoulders at arms length looking her
fondly up and down, wagging an indul-
gent head. 1.-THE saints preserve US
But you've blossOmed out into a wom-
an, Liddy. my dear, to turn the heads
of half the worldi As tall as your
old dad, as sweet as cherry blossoms,
as lovely as the break Of a day In
Junel 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 timel The father
Of a m like YOURSELF can't be-
lieve It'll"
"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 I'LL of my grill
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. ~ ran away-I had TO.
You know why"
"Devil fly away with me II l dor
'But I wrote you about it, every
thing, from the very beginning; n
when you didn't answer, | thought
there was nothing left for me but to
run away"
81 tell you, Liddy, I've not heard a
word from you for monthsT
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. II / hadn't been the
busiest man alive these last three
months. I'd have written to ask what
was the matter. Not that l worried
Mrs. Hicks-Lorrimer's letters were reg
ular and ~reassuring."
An ominous CLEAN Informed the eyes
of the girl. "Then she stole themF'
"Who stole whatf'
"My letters to you-Mrs. Hicks-Lorri-
mer must have stolen them|
.My dear girl, be fair to herr
eIf nv letters didn't reach you'
someone must have intercepted Them
One might have gone astray by ltseil'
yes: but II isn't likely five would"
Lydia, I don't get this at all
"You knew that woman wanted me
to marry a mar / didn't lover
"She wrote me you were about 10
become engaged to young-whats-his,
name-Keyes; gave a good oun OF
him. | wrote to you at the time"
THAT was three months ago. !
haven't heard from you since. hei
later letters must have told you L nae
refused him."
"They didn't. She said the thihl
vas hanging fire-young Reyes a Di'
backward about coming forward. III
must have been blindi You don
mean TO tell me it's fallen through
~ mean to tell YOU" the girl cried
M ssIonately. 81 didn't like him! On
az Mrs. Hicks-Lorrimer's tame ats
Tie NAV have money and family, a
h claimed-I don't know-but ne
ahominable. and l loathe him! An
che wouldn't let me alone. l STOOD ne
incessant nagging till l thought Ia g
mad. Worst of all, my letters 10 20
got no answers, save l~ndirectiy-
mean, she said II was your WISH
should marry him"
81 never said that" Craven observe
thoughtfulIy. 81 did say that' II
was YOU wish and for your happiness
, 7 gave my consent gladly. II wouidh
| he like me. would II, to Wish unnapp
/ ness to my own flesh and bloodr
aNo-It wasn't like you: that's wn
, 7 admit understand. lit seemed q
/ II you'd turned against me"
o .x- Haarlo