Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-11

ply wanted to break with me-" she said
to herself as she stood looking at her
pale image in the glass, and at the last
words she drew herself up and her
breath came quickly. Then she said
to the woman in the. glass. as if she
were another person: NO, no. He did
love you. He did think you were beau
tiful. he did, but that is all over now,
and you are not to make yourself con-
temptible and ridiculous wailing for
any man. Do you hear?" And the wO-
man in the glass-she had always been
girl before, but she was woman
now-looked back at her with eyes as
hard as her words.
Kitty was q young cousin who was
spending the winter with Imogene, a
pretty, gay girl who perhaps was a
trifie too audacious and rattle headed,
but, as she said, Il have to do some
thing to keep people in mind of me or
I'd be completely evershadowed by
Imogene.''
Imogene started to I<itty's room to
see the last valentine, but she did not
get there. She met a maid ON the stair
way coming to tell her that Herbert
Hughes was in the drawing room and
asked to see her.
Imogene was in the mood to spare
herself nothing or she would have es-
capped Mr.. Hughes. He had been hang
ing about her for months and boring
her.
She went to meet him. He stood
awaiting her, just as Ainsley had done
hrIf
who extended both hands, almost as if
he were going to embrace her. She
drew back with little start.
"Oh, Imogene," said Hughes in
strange, agitated, deep voice, don't
play with me. You know 1 love you.
You have not deceived me, have you, in
making me think you love me|
Imogene stared at him and dropped
into chair. ''Sit down." she said. Il
don't know whether I'm losing my
mind or every one else is mad, but it
must be one way or the other"
Poor Hughes turned very pale and
seated himself without q word. Imo-
gene had pang of pity for him. ''AIr.
Hughes" she said, Il don't want to
appear heartless, but you must admit
that you have given your declaration
strange form"
Miss Varney," said the young man,
forgive me if my feelings have carried
me TOO far; but. indeed, L seemed to have
kind of warrant for my expectations.
Don't tell me they are baselesS. is not
this yours? 1t must be-" And he drew
from the breast pocket of his coat a
dark blue envelope, the very stationery
Of
sheet of paper he drew forth to her.
She crimsoned at the sight of it, even
before her eyes perused it. and as she
looked closer her expression of bewil-
derment returned. mingled with con-
sternation. On the paper in peculiar
kind of dainty printed lettering were
these verses:
o heart of mine
/ prithee write valentine
For me TO send away
Upon loves letter dayi
What can 1 send to thee
Since thou hast all of me;
Thou art my valentine,
And l am thine.
"Where did you get this?" said she.
at came to me by post this morning.
Don't tell me you did not send it, said
he.
''Mr. Hughes, did not, and had no
thought of you in writing it. l can't
forgive you for thinking 1 would do
such an unwomanly, childish thing"
Don't be cruel What else could 1
think when l wanted to think 1t so
passionately? But did you write it to
some one? Tell me that, Miss Varney.
Is it hopeless for me?'
yes. it's hopeless for you. 1 am
sorry this outrageous incident should
have misled you. Let me see the en-
velope l want to get to the bottom of
this mystery"
He handed it to her and at the same
time rose to go. She distracted her
mind from the envelope with difficulty
and rose also. Then, suddenly, with
sharp change of expression, she said:
Tell me, Mr.. Hughes, has any one
seen this nonsense? Did you make any
one confdant of your delusions"
Miss Varney, how can you ask me?
OF course / made no confidant, no one