The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-12-12

MISS LUCY

80 Iva 0SSHe ~
show places Of Merivale Park
Long Island. In summer it was ar
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. It's verandas,
or more often loggias, were SO
lavishly furnished with Towering
| plants, it's windows so boxed with
them, that the whole effect was
that Of q 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, n 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
percilious moon looked down, q
little haughtily and condescended
to illumine the scene in stunning
if a bit Theatre, fashion.
Ripping picture, eh9" said
Gray Haviland, Us he held back
the heavy curtain for the golden
haired young woman at his side ia
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 are!' Haviland
swung her around to face him, and
stood gazing at the pretty, dol
like face that half laughed, halt
frowned into his own.
"Me! I'm not like a moonli,
landscape!"
"No, you're just a golden NOR.
sci of summer sunshine" Hav'
Hands eulogy was interrupted by
q petulant voice calling shrilly:
"Where r you two9" / hear
you talking come on. I'm wait
ing"
"Oh, Lord! come on and
holding the curtain aside, he lei
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 him the
bright, flashing smile that she
kept on hand for mankind in 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 impa.
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 p~retension to good looks
to think herself beautiful. Plain
features, grazing 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 figure was short
and dumpy, the despair OF her
~stsymakers, 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 snitors had been few, but, as
9 matter Of fact, the aeidity Of her