In the fall of 1906 there came to the town of Phenix a new minister to the
Baptist Church. This new
minister had a wife and two daughters-the younger named
Lucy. There was in the same church a family by the name of Page - the younger boy named
Raymond. At first these two made little impression on each other. I remember, Lucy thot "Page" was a very peculiar surname simple because she was young and had never heard it before.
These two young people met casually at church for several years in fact until Christmas 1912. Perhaps they did not meet as casually as both expected, for instance: Lucy and her sister had often talked about Raymond and what a nice husband he would make for some girl. Lucy's sister once said, "Lucy, perhaps you'll be the lucky girl." Christmas night 1912 Raymond hung on the tree at church an empty candy box for Lucy, In the early part of 1913 several interesting notes are found in Lucy's diary, On Jan. 14 appears this note, "I dislike Miss Suffa more and more. ---- To offset this I must say I like R. more and more." Her likeing was so great she dared not even write his full name. On Jan. 22 comes the announcement that "R" is home for mid year recess. On Jan 24 comes this, "Choir rehearsal has come and gone and no good time because R was not there." Then follows these startling words in German and in script "O, what is the matter with me, that I can not have a good time when R is not there. I will not think of him anymore, We are only friends." Then Jan 26 still in German, "I have seen R but not spoken with him long. He has not redeemed the empty candy box neither with word or deed." There are no more entries till June when she announces that "Raymond" is home.
At Christmas 1913 Lucy hung on the tree a toy mechanical mouse and when Raymond discovered the giver, Lucy had to go thru an embarrassing situation at the rear of the church on Sunday.
It was just about this time that Lucy heard thru a friend that Raymond would like to have her picture. This knowledge surprised and encouraged Lucy. Lucy's father had resigned and was to leave in April. So when at college there was to be an operetta Lucy took this last chance of seeing Raymond before she left and asked him to the operetta. Whether she did this more for an escort or to see him is a question. It is true that the state of her mind was such that she would have given anything to have recalled the letter during that week of waiting. His reply brot a request to correspond. She wanted to do that more than to go to the operetta. She was so embarrassed and hardly knew how to act Saturday night came and went and was enjoyed in spite of the rain. A new era had begun in the lives of both.
These two wrote friendly letters once a month for a year and a half. Then in the fall of 1915 Raymond asked to write oftener. Lucy felt that a crisis had come in and not knowing her own mind well enough and not having him near enough to help her out, she felt it was best - with the advice of others - to stop writing altogether. A letter accordingly was sent requesting that that be the case. It was regretted as soon as dropped into the mail box. Whether Lucy expected a refusal to stop, a proposal of marriage to follow this letter is not definite. Nevertheless she was hurt to have him do her bidding and stop.
By Christmas time Lucy found that the three months without letters had been interminable. She wrote to Raymond asking if he would be friendly if she came to Phenix. Receiving a favorable reply Lucy went to Phenix on Monday, December 27 1915. Monday night Raymond came to call - the first and only call he has made in analysing her feelings, Lucy found that she was still friends and no more. On Tuesday Raymond gave her a very pretty breast pin. She did not know whether to accept it or not. She did not know whether she wanted to or not. She wrote home for her parents approval, trying to avoid being alone with him until she received an answer. Wednesday evening Lucy and her friend Christina were invited to spend the evening at Page's. Although Lucy did not see Raymond alone, she came away knowing that she felt towards Raymond more than she did for a mere friend. What is more she wanted to keep the pin and probably would have done so even if her parents had not given their consent. Thursday evening they went to prayer meeting and skating with another couple. They had a short talk about his future and the effect of her letter upon him. Friday night a crowd skated the old year out. This night Raymond asked Lucy to tell the reason for writing the letter but she could not answer. He finally asked her if they might continue writing. Although Lucy knew she had practically answered this question by accepting the pin, she also knew what it would likely mean if she said yes. She had the courage to say yes even though she felt there was a possibility of breaking the boy's heart. But she knew there was no other way of finding out her own heart. She would not admit to herself that she loved him.
After this visit they continued to write with no definite plan. It developed into every two weeks instead of every month.
In April 1916 was a play at
Hunter College. Lucy asked Raymond to come down from Worcester. He accepted and spent four days in N. Y. I think perhaps the feeling was rather strained because neither knew how to act although they could write to perfection. Much sight-seeing was done. One incident amused Lucy. When they were on a trip around Manhattan Island the "lecturer" mentioned that a certain steamer going to Old Point Comfort was much used by honeymooners. Raymond took quite an interest.
In June Raymond left college and obtained work in Bridgeport. Lucy went to
Silver Bay for the summer. As soon as Lucy came back to N. Y., Raymond came down to spend a week-end - the week after Labor Day. In three weeks he was down again; and again on birthday, October 28. He went home for Thanksgiving, but came directly to N. Y. from there on Saturday. Then he spent Christmas in N. Y. refusing to take the last train to Bridgeport in order to have a few hours more good time with the crowd. These visits are in a class by themselves. They were marked by a frank spirit of friendship and of comradeship. One is not remembered any more than another, but there was a slow and gradual growth toward a deepening affection Lucy was still unsettled and wondered what it all would mean. She really knew; although she dared not admit it even to herself.
During this time Raymond had become disatisfied with his position and had finally found another one which would give him the training he desired. This position was in East Pittsburgh, Pa. On his way he to Pittsburgh he stopped in N. Y. for four days the first week in February. This visit is one never to be for gotten by either. I hardly know what to say about it. There was a feeling that this separation was drawing them closer and still there was a big gap between. One night while walking thru Prospect Park after a skate, Raymond asked that they might call each other by the nicknames "Lu" and "Ray" which they had used in signing postscripts. Lucy was surprised that he should ask this favor when she had already signed herself that. She thot if he asked anything it would be a more important question! She of course could say only "yes." She thot this was a beginning to more serious talk and she did not have it in her to throw cold water on such a delicate subject. In fact Lu was beginning to admit to herself that she loved him. That night in the moonlight brought them very close together. Wednesday night, the last night was another dear to the hearts of both. They were alone. Lu studied and Ray helped her. Then there were the last moments spent together, singing and talking. Then last of all Lu wrote a verse of scripture in Ray's testament. Then there was an affectionate(?) goodnight. Simply, "Goodnight, Lu" & "Goodnight, Ray" and they turned and went to bed.
From here on I will not give the history, not because it is least important, but because it is the most wonderful part of all- too dear yet and too recent to write in a mere history. How he came back in June to tell the wonderful story of love, how they spent two happy weeks then, and two more in September at his home must be left for another chapter.
