Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-12-12
MISS LUCY

"Garden Steps was one of the
show places of Merivale Park,
Long Island. In summer it was an
enchanting spot, and the dazzling
white marble steps which led to
the sunken gardens justified their
right to give the place it's name.
Other stone steps gave on terraces
and flower banks, others still led
to the Italian landscape gardens,
and a few rustic steps of a wooden
stile transported one to an old
fashioned garden, whose larkspur
and Canterbury bells were the
finest of their sort.
The house seemed an integral
part of this setting. Its verandas,
or more often loggias, were so
lavishly furnished with Towering
plants, its windows so boxed with
them, that the whole effect was
that of a marvelously we'll
planned horticultural exhibition.
But all this was of the summer.
In winter-for it was an all round
the year home-only the varied
and extraordinary collection of
evergreens shared with the steps
the honor of making picturesque
and beautiful the view from the
house windows.
And now, in January, one OF the
all too seldom enjoyed white snow
storms had glorified the whole
estate. Wind swept drifts half hid,
half disclosed the curving marble
balustrades, and turned the steps
to snowy fairyland flights.
And, for it was night, a colo
clear, perfect winter night, a SUI
percilious moon looked down, .
little haughtily and condescendec
to illumine the scene in stunning
if a bit Theatre, fashion.
Ripping picture. eh7n sale
Gray Haviland, as he held bach
the heavy curtain for the colder
haired young woman at his side te
look out.
ooh, isn't it a wonderful
sight!'' And as Anita Frayne tool
a step forward, toward the case
ment, Haviland let the curtain fail
behind him and the two wer'
alone in the deep embrasure O
the wide bay window.
..sy1ot nearly such a wonderful
sight as you are!" Havilant
swung her around to face him, ant
stood gazing at the pretty, dol
like face that half laughed, hal
frowned into his own.
"Me! I'm not like a moonli
landscape!"
"No, you're just a golden MOI
sci of summer sunshine" Hay
iland's eulogy was interrupted b.
a petulant voice calling shrilly
"Where are you two?" l bea
. you talking come on. I'm wait
ing"
"Oh, Lord! come on" and
holding the curtain aside, he lie
Anita pass and then followed hel
"Here we are, Cousin Lucy, a
ready for the fray. Good evenin
Count"
Count Charlier bowed French
lily, and Anita gave him tn
bright. flashing smile that sh
kept on hand for mankind in gel
eral, and which was quite diffe1
emit from that she used on speci;
occasions or for special friends.
Annoyed at the duration of tn
delaying smile, Miss Lucy Ca
rington tapped impatiently on I'll
bridge table, and looked her imp'
tience most Enthusiastically.
Mistress of Garden Steps, wea
; thy, well born, of assured soci'
position, capable and effcien
Miss Darlington lacked the or
gift of fate for which she woul
i have bartered all else. She w;
not beautiful, and had not eve
enough pretension to good lool
to think herself beautiful. Plai
features, grazing hair-dyed re
! big, prominent light blue eye
:, and a pasty, pudgy com7:ezia
left no hope for the miracle
worked by beauty doctors to ava