The Press., 1912-10-23

! hair lay in rippling waves under th'
 veil, and the occasional silver thread:
 that time had woven were quite hid
 den from view. If Bucy's cheeks haC
 been pink she would have looked very
 much like the Lucy of old. 1 The pink came fast enough wher she found herself hesftating at a pret l ty rustic gate set in an evergreen
 hedge. Beyond was a small cottage
 set in the midst of flowers. Away tC
 the west there stretched a thriving
 vineyard, and beyond to. the south
 there was another cottage, newer and freshly painted. and all around this
 cottage as far as the eye could see
 were orange groves. Lucy could smell
 the odor of the waxen blossoms and
 she could see the gold of the ripened fruit as she made her way up the
 path to Ansel's house. Her first doubt of Ansel I'eeveE
 came when she saw a woman on the
 porch eying her euriously. Around
 the woman's skirts there clung a Ht- tie child. Lucy's heart almost stopped
 beating. Aunt Rebecca was right after all-Ansel was married. and this
 was his wife and child. No wonder
 he had never come for her! What would they think? What would Little
 River think?
 All these things passed through her mind before she. reached the porch. There she stopped and looked at the woman with appealing eyes.
 'T am looking for Ansel Peever's house." she said.
 This is it, but my husband is away just at present. 1 expect him back in and rest awhile?" The woman smiled pleasantly, but she was evidently cu- rious about Lucy's unexpected ap- pearance.
 'Tn rest a little while." hesitated Lucy. "but I must go back presently. There's a carriage waiting for me around the bend"
 Lucy sat down in rocking chair and looked so white and wan that Mrs. Peever fetched glass of ice cold milk and made her drink 1t. After awhile Lucy was able to sit up and smile back at the little laughing girl who clung to her knee.
 ''I cannot wait to see Ansel-Mr. Peever. Perhaps will come again some time." said Lucy at last as she prepared to leave.
 You are from the east. am sure," said the woman bluntly. If you are one of Ansel's folks from Little River he'll be mighty disappointed if you don't stay or leave your name any way"
 You may tell him that Lucy Mellen called to see him. said Lucy as she bent down to kiss the little girl. Then. with. murmured word of thanks to Mrs. Peeyer. she hurried down the walk.
 Then Mrs. Peever found voice. Lucy Mellen, Lucy Mellen! Come back here!" she called imperatiVely.
 Lucy turned. What do you want?'' she asked
 Wait a minute," called the other. and she came running down the path and laid a hand on Lucy's shrinking shoulder. "I thought you wanted to see my husband" she panted. but it's young Ansel. you're looking for, guess Won't he be surprised to see you. though" She laughed merrily.
 Young Anselr' repeated Lucy dag .dly.
 My husbands nephew. They're 10th named AnseI Peever. Pm MT. | 'eever's second wife and sort of step unt to your Ansel. That's his house | ext door all ready for you-just fn- 'hed-and Ansel inside there rigging imself up to go east after you this cry minute I'll run. over and fetch i'm. You wait here, Lucy"
 Mrs. Peever ran fieetly across the lwn. while Lucy sank weakly down n garden seat. Happy tears filled CT tired eyes, and the little girl. who ras not Ansel's after all, came and eaped roses in her lap.
 Then Ansel himself stood before her, browner. older. but the same Ansel save that the youthful pride and | rrOgance had been hammered out of | i'm by the foundry of experience.
 "Lucy-Lucy?' said Ansel brokenly. l was getting ready to come after ou. I haven't made a fortune and ever will have one. but I've got d ottage and an orange grove. and now we got you. I didn't realize in leav- 1g you, dear, that I was leaving my ortune behind me. was ashamed to O back to Little River until I had one something big. Then heard rom somebody that you'd lost every hing through some rascality, and so made up my mind to go after you. an you forgive me, Lucy. dear?' Of course Lucy forgave him. and hey were married the very next day l the new cottage. and they went to little River on their honeymoon.