Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1917-08-01
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. ''The saints preserve US
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
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 can't be-
lieve It'll"
"You haven't aged a day, daddy
dear"
Craven would have none Of that.
TITS 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 it comes you're here. If you
dropped from the skies"
- Surely you know, daddy" the girl
protested. st ran away-I had to.
You know why"
"Devil fly away with me If l do!
''But I 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"
81 tell you, Liddy, I've not heard a
word from you for months !"
His manner carried conviction
credulous thralI that she was to the
magic of that dear, carneyfng tongue
''You didn't get my letters"
'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' letters were reg
ular and reassuring."
An ominous CLEAN 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 herl"
IF 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, I don't get this at all"
''You knew that woman wanted me
TO marry a man I didn't lover"
"She wrote me you were about to
become engaged to young-what's-his
udIhe-AeyeSs gave d Soou dCCOuut VI
him. I wrote to you at the time"
THAT was three months ago. /
haven't heard from you since. Her
later letters must have told you had
refused him."
''They didn't. She said the thing
was hanging fire-young Keyes a bit
backward about coming forward. He
must have been blind! You don't
mean to tell me it's fallen through"
81 mean to tell you." the girl cried,
passionately, 81 didn't like him! One
of Mrs. Hicks-Lorrimer' tame catsI
He may have money and family. as
she claimed don't know-but he's
ab0minable, and l loathe him! And
she wouldn't let nIe alone. stood her
sncessant nagging till I thought I'd go
rssd. Worst of all. my letters to you
got no answers, save indirectly