To Lucilla it seemed hard to part for some months, just after the
wedding, from her darling sister Grace, from Elsie and Ned also, to say
nothing of Harold and his lovely mother; and for the fortnight or more
that elapsed before the other company left she clung very closely to
her father and Max, not neglecting Violet either. But when they also
were gone she gave herself more unreservedly to Eva and Baby Mary,
enjoying them keenly through the day while business claimed Chester's
attention, then him in the evenings and early mornings until he must
hie away to his office in Uniontown.
During the time that elapsed between the departure of the first and
second party of relatives and friends to the South there was an almost
daily exchange of visits with the Oaks and Fairview families, those at
Ion also, and it was a joy to know that they--the Ion people--were not
to flit with the others, and that the Roseland and Beechwood friends
had planned to remain at home through the winter also; and particularly
that Drs. Arthur Conly and Herbert Travilla were evidently intending
to do likewise, except as they travelled about the adjacent country in
the practice of their profession. And the Ion family--Edward Travilla,
his wife and children--having visited Viamede only the year before,
were expecting to spend their winter at their own home; and Zoe, with
kind-hearted concern for Evelyn and Lucilla, made frequent little
visits to Sunnyside, which she urgently invited them to return; and
they did so when there were no other more important calls upon their
time and the weather was suitable for little Mary to be taken out; for
to both mother and aunt she seemed too dear and precious to be left
behind.
Then there was the pleasant task of the daily correspondence with their
nearest and dearest of absent relatives and friends--Eva with her
husband, father-in-law and Violet, Lucilla with her father, brother and
sister. How delightful it was to get their letters. How eagerly they
both watched for the coming of the daily mail.
Lucilla sadly missed her morning strolls with her father about the
grounds; yet not so much as she might have done at another season of
the year, for it was often too cold and stormy for such rambles even
had he been there; and she would console herself with writing to him
what she might have said with her tongue had he been there to listen
to her loving, daughterly confidences and expressions of affection.
And she could seek his wise counsels and receive them in his answering
epistle. So she strove to be patient and content, rejoicing in the glad
hope that the separation was to be for but a few short months.
"And," she would say to herself, "how much better off I am than poor,
dear Eva, my husband coming home every night, while hers is to be gone
for weeks or months."
Eva sorely missed her absent husband, but the darling baby daughter was
a great joy and comfort.
So passed January, February and March, and with the coming in of April
Eva and Lucilla rejoiced in the thought that in a few weeks the dear
ones now at Viamede would be returning to their more northern homes, as
were the Ion folks, the kith and kin, or those left in charge, at the
Oaks, Fairview, Beechwood, Roselands, the Laurels and Riverside.
Dr. Arthur Conly and his Marian, strongly attached to each other,
and almost idolizing their baby boy, were an ideally happy pair, and
Roselands had grown even more lovely than it was in earlier days. As
they were about to leave the breakfast table one fair April morning a
ring from the telephone bell summoned the doctor to make a prompt call
at Sunnyside.
He replied that he would be there as soon as possible, which would be
in a few minutes, his gig being already at the door. Turning about, he
found his wife close at his side.
"I must set off at once for Sunnyside," he said; "Lucilla is ill. Will
you go along?"
"Yes, indeed. She has been such a dear, kind friend to me that I love
her as if she were my own sister. And we can safely trust our darling
Ronald for an hour or two to the care of his nurse."
"With perfect safety. She is his devoted slave," laughed the doctor.
So the two set off at once on their errand of mercy and loving kindness.
They found Chester at home, Dr. Herbert Travilla already there, Lucilla
in bed, suffering but patient, Zoe from Ion and Ella from Beechwood
already there to do what they could for her, and Eva passing in and
out, anxious to do all in her power, yet not willing to neglect Baby
Mary.
An hour or two later a baby boy was gently laid down by Lucilla's side.
"Your son, dearest," Chester said in rapturous tones; "the little Levis
Raymond we have been hoping for."
"Oh, how glad I am!" she cried. "My father's first grandson, and
bearing his name. Baby dear, you shall be your mother's Ray of
Sunshine. Oh, how I want to show you to my father, your grandfather."
"There, love," Chester said, giving her a kiss of ardent affection,
"that will do; don't talk any more now, lest you wear yourself out."
"That is good advice, Cousin Lu, and I hope you will follow it," said
Dr. Conly. "You must take care of yourself now for the sake of your
husband and son."
"I will," she answered; "but, oh, Chester, send father word as soon as
you can."
"Dearest," he said with a happy laugh, "I have already done so. Before
leaving us he charged me not to delay a moment to let him know if you
were taken ill; to send word promptly, and I have obeyed."
"And he will soon be here to see this, his first grandson! I am so glad
I could give him one," she exclaimed in tones of delight.
"As I am," responded Chester. "But, love, don't talk any more just now,
but try for a nap such as the tiny newcomer seems to be taking."
"I will, if only to please and satisfy you, my dear husband," she
returned with a happy little laugh, and almost instantly passed into
the land of dreams, while Chester softly withdrew from the room,
leaving her in the charge of a skilful, trustworthy nurse.
He found Eva with her baby and Marian and the doctors on the front
veranda.
"You are looking very happy, Chester," laughed Dr. Herbert; "almost as
if you had fallen into a fortune since I came here this morning."
"Pretty much as I feel," returned Chester, his countenance telling
more of joy and thankfulness than his tongue. "Lu has fallen into a
comfortable sleep," he went on. "The little newcomer seems to be as
welcome to her as to me."
"And I think my wife and I can fully appreciate her and your joy over
him," said Dr. Conly, exchanging an affectionate, smiling glance with
his Marian.
"The 'phone has already carried the news to all our relatives in this
neighborhood and brought pleased and congratulatory replies," said
Herbert; "and you 'phoned her father, did you not, Chester?"
"Yes," replied Chester; "and there, no doubt, comes his response," he
added, as the ringing of his telephone bell was heard at that moment,
"so now we may learn how he feels about it," and he hastened to the
instrument, the others following, all eager to learn what the message
from the absent dear ones might be.
The captain's own breathed of thankfulness and ardent parental love for
his dear daughter, who, he hoped, would soon be well and strong. He was
glad to have a grandson, and appreciated the naming of the child for
him.
"A most kind, affectionate message," remarked Chester, with a sigh of
satisfaction as he turned from the instrument to Eva and the others.
"Lu will be pleased when I tell her what her father says. How she does
love and cling to him! I am glad, indeed, that we may hope to see him
and all the party here again in a few weeks."
"So am I," said Dr. Conly; "and in the meantime we will do our best to
bring Lu safely on to her usual robust health and strength."
"And to have her son in like flourishing condition," added Dr. Herbert
with genial look and smile directed to the father of the little lad.