The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-12-12
MISS LUCY DARLINGTON.

"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 its 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, We're so
lavishly furnished, with Towering
plants, its windows so boxed with
them, that the whole effect was
that Of a marvelously well
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 cold
clear, perfect winter night, a SUI
p~ercilious moon looked down, a
little h~aughtily and condescended
to illumine the scene in stunning,
if a bit Theatre, fashion.
Chipping picture, eh?'' said
Gray Haviland, as he held back
the heavy curtain for the golden
haired young woman at his side to
look out.
"Oh, isn't it a wonderful
sight" And as Anita Frayne took
a step forward, toward the case
ment, Haviland let the curtain fall
behind him and the two were
alone in the deep embrasure Of
the wide bay window.
"Not nearly such a wonderful
sight as you a~re!'' Haviland
swung her around to face him, and
stood gazing at the pretty, doll
like face that half laughed, half
frowned into his own.
"Me! I'm not like a moonlit
landscape!'
ono, you're just a golden NOR
sci OF summer sunslinc-' Hav-
lands eulogy was interrupted by
a petulant voice calling shrilly:
Where are you two?" l hear
you talking; come on. I'm wait
ing"
ooh, Lord! come on and,
holding the curtain aside, he let
Anita pass and then followed her.
"Here we are, Cousin Lucy, all
ready for the fray. Good evening
Count"
Count Charlier bowed French
lily, and Anita gave hinl the
bright, flashing smile that she
kept on hand for mankind ii gen.
eral, and which was quite differ
ent from that she used on special
occasions or for special friends.
Annoyed at the duration Of this
delaying smile, Miss Lucy Car
rington tapped impatiently on the
bridge table, and looked her inlpa-
tience most Enthusiastically.
Mistress Of Garden Steps, veal
thy, well born, Of assured social
position, capable and efficient,
Miss Darlington lacked the one
gift of fate for which she would
have bartered all else. She was
not beautiful, and had not even
enough pretension to good looks
to think herself beautiful. Plain
features, CRAVING hair-dyed red
big, prominent light blue eyes,
and a pasty, pudgy complexion
left no hope for the miracles
worked by beauty doctors to avail
in her case. Her sgure was short
and dnnpy, tie despair Of her
staymakers, and her taste in dress
ran to the extremes IN coloring
and fashion.
Passionately fond of all beauty,
Miss Darlington felt keenly her
own lack Of it, and to this lack she
attributed the fact that she was a
spinster. Those who know her felt
there might be other reasons why
her SlIitors h-j hea,, few hr+ 90