Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-01
MISS LUCY DARLINGTON.

Island. In summer it was an en-
chanting 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 land
scape gardens, and a few rustic steps
an old-fashioned garden, whose lark.
spur and Canterbury bells were the
finest of their sort.
The house seemed an integral part
Of this setting. It's wide verandas, OF
more often loggias. were so lavishly
furnished with Towering plants, its
windows so boxed with them, that the
whole effect was that of a marvellous
y, 1yon well-planned horticultural exhibit.
But all this was of the summer. In
year home-only the varied and ex.
traordinary collection of evergreen:
shared with the steps the honor OF
making picturesque and beautiful the
view from the house windows.
And now, in January, n of the ali
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 s~upercilious
moon looked down, a little %haughtily
and condescended' to illumine the
scene in stunning, if a bit theatric
fashion.
Ripping 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 for
ward. toward the easement, Haviland
let the curtain fall behind him and
the W. were alone in the deep en-
brasure of the wide bay-window.
mot nearly such a wonderful sight
as you are!" Haviland swung her
round to face him, and stood gazing
at the pretty, dollelike face that half
laughed, half frowned into his own.
ME! I'm not like a moonlit land
scape!" "a,
mo, you're just a golden morsel of
summer sunshine" Haviland's
eulogy Vas interrupted by a petulant
voice calling shrilly:
Where are you two?. I hear YOU
talking; come IN. I'm waiting"
ooh, Lord! come on" and, holding
the curtain aside he let Anita pass
and then followed her.
HSHere we are, Cousin Lucy, all
ready for the fray. Good evening,
Count" 8.
Count Charlier bowed Frenchily,
and Anita gave him the bright, flash
ing smile that she kept on hand for
mankind in general, and which was
quite different from that she used on
special occasions or for special
friends.
Annoyed at the duration of this de-
laying smile, Miss Lucy Darlington
tapped impatiently on the bridge
table, and looked her impotence most
Enthusiastically. n,
Mistress of Garden Steps, wealthy,
we'll 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 fea-
lures, grazing hair-dyed red-big,
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 des-
pair of her staymakers, and her taste
in dress ran to the extremes in color
ing and fashion.
~Passionately fond of all beauty,
Miss Darlington felt keenly her, own
lack of it, and to this lack. she at
tributed the fact that she was Il
spinster. Those who knew her felt
there might be other reasons why her
~suitors had been few, but, as a mat
ter of fact, the ,acidity> Of her dispo-
sition was a direct result of her dis
appointed, loveless life, and even yet,
though nearing. fifty. Miss Lucy Car
rington had by no mean laid aside
all thoughts of materimonial adven-
ture.
Heiress to immense wealth, there
had been fo~rtune-seekers who asked
her hand, but Lucy Darlington would
none of these. A~ristocratic and high
minded, she had unerring perception
of motives. and the men. who had
as her fortune had been of such un-
worth that the lady scorned them.
But how, looming. on her hopes
horizon was a welcome possibility.
Count Herr Charlier.s a visitor Of a
.neighbor, seemingly admired the mis-
tress of Garden Steps and had fallen
into the habit Of frequent calling.
Courteous and polished of manner, he
fattered Miss Darlington in such wise
that his attitude was acceptable if not
individually sincere. Her closest
scrutiny and most challenging provo
cation failed to surprise any admis-
sion Of her lack of perfection in his
eyes, and his splendid physique and
brilliant mind commanded her COM
plete approval and admiration. There
had been hints that his title could not
be read entirely clear, but this was
not sufficient to- cOndemn him in Miss
Carrington's eyes,. : =
To be sure, the Count had as yet
said no word that could be construed
as of definite intention, but there had
been certain signs, deemed %portentous
by the willing mind Of the lady in
question.
Bridge was Miss Carrington's ia
vorite diversion, and, as the Count al
SO enjoyed it, frequent evenings were
devote to the game IN ~
1t was. perhaps, a mistake that Miss
Darlington should have allowed this,
for her temper, always uncertain, lost
all restraint. swhenashe suffered ILL
luck. at cards. poor hand always
brought Observation-Disclosures on
the head 1t her partnersand sarcastic
ssr1aa Z Sss er Fnge ,t jSa a mys /
were not good policysifs She wished to
the French visitor, but, as he
Invariably; kept, his own: temper. his
.irate hostess made. little effort to
curb hers: ;as 4s
What are you doing. Anita?" cried
Miss Darlington, petulantly, as they
settled themselves at the table. You
know ] always play with thSs blue
cards. and you are dealing thern!"
'tSurc enough Pardon me, Lady
Lucy. I will take the red onea."
Then, pray, wait till I make them
up. There. No, let the Count cut
them! Have you no notion of bridge.
rules b. You are quite the most mat
tentive player! VIII you kindly con-
centrate on the game ~, II II