The Press., 1920-03-04
13fe Lost Page
Copyright, 1919, by the Western News
 paper Union.)
By CECILLE LANGDON

l There came d call from mother
 downstairs, just as Lucy Barton had finished letter to friend at the sea
 side. It was six pages in length and
 in gathering up the loose sheets and
 folding them later, Lucy Barton did
 not notice that one of them, the last
 was missing. The wind had blown it
 away.
 That last page bore the final para-
 graph of the epiStle and read: "i shall
 not visit Ocean Beach this season. | Winnie, dear I suppose it is because
 l am little hOmelike being and too
 closely analyze the superficial beaux
 and belles of idle social life My dream ] IS modest One-a sweet little cot | tage, covered with roses, cuckoo | clock and d dairy. As to the life part
 her, with all this happy beauty he
 must simply love me-" A shy, retiring young man passed the place an hour lateS As he neared
 the Barton home he walked slowly | and saw to it that lis cuffs were ad- Justed and his necktie smooth and | neat. He looked disappointed as he peered past the trees and shrubbery | or the garden. Gordon Heath had met Lucy Barton twice and longed earnest ly to meet her again. As he reached l the edge of the lot sheet of paper
 caught up from the garden by a fitful | breeze, almost blew into his face. He l caught it in his hand and was about I to throw it away when he noticed the words, "Your faithful friend, Lucy Barton"
 It made the finger tips of shy Cor l don Heath thrill to come in contact with words the adorable Lucy had written. His glance rested on the paragraph preceding the signature ReverentIy Gordon folded the rose-col-
 ored. violet-scented page, placed it in his pocket and half a mile further on sat down on bench in a little park l and was lost in deep reflection. That evening he met Lucy at lit i tie social function and was her escort
 home. As they parted Lucy read his | eager, though mute, wishes alright. She invited Gordon to call at the house | and he went away bissfully treading | on air.
 Lucy was amazed at the liking she began to conceive for this casual ac- quaintance who soon developed into a | regular escort. He had not the cOur- age to seek the initial situation | that would give him the right to speak
 out Ais sentiments, and Lucy did not | award it. One day there was a reve- j.,ff l,.x T IL for a tennis party at the Barton place and half a dozen of those invited had l arrived They were chatting animat- edly when Neil Brown caused Lucy to flush slightly as he observed: 'I say, who can solve for me the mystery of Gordon Heath's latest thrift move ment?"
 "Why, what is it?" propounded his sister
 "Dacre, the real estate man, told me today that he had sold the Morse cot tage to Heath"
 "Aha That solves a branch mys- tery," broke in Roy Telford. "I saw Gordon up at the nursery last week ordering enough rose bushes to cover a farm."
 And carpenter came into our place this morning and arranged for
 material to put up a little up-to-date dairy on the place Heath has bought" said Val Endicott. Hes certainly
 going to get married. Lucy, how is that?"
 Lucy was growing as red as peOny. IL ,1>, ,l but just then a new arrival was Ob- served at the gate and Gordon Heath approached. Mercy Brown, tease that she was, advanced to meet him.
 "Oh. Mr. Heath, the secret is out !" she cried.
 "Why what do you mean?" interro- gated Heath.
 "Cottage-roSes- We are all wild to know who you intend to put m that pretty home you have bought" "Why-that is IT purchased it as an investment"
 "NObody believes that, and while we are waiting for the others there is question:"
 He looked quite uncomfortable as the imperious group forced him to lead the way. He never addressed so much us d word to Lucy, at his side. All about his investment" rose bushes had been set. Behind it was he frame structure that was to be the dairy, Lucy and he stood on the porch The others scattered about the place as he unlocked the front door. "There are five rooms" began Gordon, when Lucy uttered a quick sasp as her eyes fell upon a clock on he mantel.
 'YOu See-I mean that is. 1 have started in buying few things and" There was an interrupting snap as tile door in the clock sprung open nd little bird ran out, ran back
 ,rain and rhirped: "Cuckoo!"
 1t recalled to Lucy's mind her letter Winnie She noticed Gordon grOp- ng in his pocket. He brought to light hn lost sheet.
 Miss Barton. l found this near your nome. You can guess the rest. Has he cuckoo and myself got to lead oncly life?" he spoke. "Why. like cuckoos," replied Lucy. delightfully."- candid; and I like ,Uu. too"
 Her glowing eyes told the rest of the tory and between them there passed h"ir first kiss in their future home.