CHAPTER XV
To Lucilla it seemed hard to part for some months, just after thewedding, from her darling sister Grace, from Elsie and Ned also, to saynothing of Harold and his lovely mother; and for the fortnight or morethat elapsed before the other company left she clung very closely toher father and Max, not neglecting Violet either. But when they alsowere gone she gave herself more unreservedly to Eva and Baby Mary,enjoying them keenly through the day while business claimed Chester'sattention, then him in the evenings and early mornings until he musthie away to his office in Uniontown.
During the time that elapsed between the departure of the first andsecond party of relatives and friends to the South there was an almostdaily exchange of visits with the Oaks and Fairview families, those atIon also, and it was a joy to know that they--the Ion people--were notto flit with the others, and that the Roseland and Beechwood friendshad planned to remain at home through the winter also; and particularlythat Drs. Arthur Conly and Herbert Travilla were evidently intendingto do likewise, except as they travelled about the adjacent country inthe 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, withkind-hearted concern for Evelyn and Lucilla, made frequent littlevisits to Sunnyside, which she urgently invited them to return; andthey did so when there were no other more important calls upon theirtime and the weather was suitable for little Mary to be taken out; forto both mother and aunt she seemed too dear and precious to be leftbehind.
Then there was the pleasant task of the daily correspondence with theirnearest and dearest of absent relatives and friends--Eva with herhusband, father-in-law and Violet, Lucilla with her father, brother andsister. How delightful it was to get their letters. How eagerly theyboth watched for the coming of the daily mail.
Lucilla sadly missed her morning strolls with her father about thegrounds; yet not so much as she might have done at another season ofthe year, for it was often too cold and stormy for such rambles evenhad he been there; and she would console herself with writing to himwhat she might have said with her tongue had he been there to listento her loving, daughterly confidences and expressions of affection.And she could seek his wise counsels and receive them in his answeringepistle. So she strove to be patient and content, rejoicing in the gladhope 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 gonefor weeks or months."
Eva sorely missed her absent husband, but the darling baby daughter wasa great joy and comfort.
So passed January, February and March, and with the coming in of AprilEva and Lucilla rejoiced in the thought that in a few weeks the dearones now at Viamede would be returning to their more northern homes, aswere the Ion folks, the kith and kin, or those left in charge, at theOaks, 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, andRoselands had grown even more lovely than it was in earlier days. Asthey were about to leave the breakfast table one fair April morning aring from the telephone bell summoned the doctor to make a prompt callat Sunnyside.
He replied that he would be there as soon as possible, which would bein a few minutes, his gig being already at the door. Turning about, hefound his wife close at his side.
"I must set off at once for Sunnyside," he said; "Lucilla is ill. Willyou go along?"
"Yes, indeed. She has been such a dear, kind friend to me that I loveher as if she were my own sister. And we can safely trust our darlingRonald 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, Lucillain bed, suffering but patient, Zoe from Ion and Ella from Beechwoodalready there to do what they could for her, and Eva passing in andout, anxious to do all in her power, yet not willing to neglect BabyMary.
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 LevisRaymond we have been hoping for."
"Oh, how glad I am!" she cried. "My father's first grandson, andbearing his name. Baby dear, you shall be your mother's Ray ofSunshine. 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," saidDr. Conly. "You must take care of yourself now for the sake of yourhusband and son."
"I will," she answered; "but, oh, Chester, send father word as soon asyou can."
"Dearest," he said with a happy laugh, "I have already done so. Beforeleaving us he charged me not to delay a moment to let him know if youwere 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 gladI 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," shereturned with a happy little laugh, and almost instantly passed intothe 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 frontveranda.
"You are looking very happy, Chester," laughed Dr. Herbert; "almost asif you had fallen into a fortune since I came here this morning."
"Pretty much as I feel," returned Chester, his countenance tellingmore of joy and thankfulness than his tongue. "Lu has fallen into acomfortable sleep," he went on. "The little newcomer seems to be aswelcome to her as to me."
"And I think my wife and I can fully appreciate her and your joy overhim," said Dr. Conly, exchanging an affectionate, smiling glance withhis Marian.
"The 'phone has already carried the news to all our relatives in thisneighborhood and brought pleased and congratulatory replies," saidHerbert; "and you 'phoned her father, did you not, Chester?"
"Yes," replied Chester; "and there, no doubt, comes his response," headded, 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 theinstrument, the others following, all eager to learn what the messagefrom the absent dear ones might be.
The captain's own breathed of thankfulness and ardent parental love forhis dear daughter, who, he hoped, would soon be well and strong. He wasglad to have a grandson, and appreciated the naming of the child forhim.
"A most kind, affectionate message," remarked Chester, with a sigh ofsatisfaction 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 doeslove and cling to him! I am glad, indeed, that we may hope to see himand all the party here again in a few weeks."
"So am I," said Dr. Conly; "and in the meantime we will do our best tobring Lu safely on to her usual robust health and strength."
"And to have her son in like flourishing condition," added Dr. Herbertwith genial look and smile directed to the father of the little lad.