Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-05-11
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Copyright. 1905. by w. r. Hearst.l

Copyright. 1905. by w. r. Hearst.)
ooh, Connie. you must come to US
/ for Christmas. You surely can't re-
fuse me" And little Lady Towers
clasped her hands. and looked implor-
ingly mt her old friend and playmate.
II have no heart for gayety, and nc
suitable drees," replied Constance Car
Isle, rather CURLY.
But, dear. there will be no gayety
Roland's mother is SO recently dead
that gayety is out of the question
There Will be the pater and all the
boys. You would like 10 see the boys
again, wouldn't you?"
Yes, l should like to meet your
brothers again." admitted Constance
And IL there really will be no other
guests
Well, Mabel Huntley invited herself
and couldn't refuse her. The boys
will be furious"
We all disliked her as children
remarked Constance. THE boys all
ways called her Il coward and u sneak
l didn't like her any better when she
grew up. saw a great deal of her
| two years ago, just before-before-
you know, Flossie."
Flossie knew. She knew Constance
referred to her fathers death, just aft
er the loss of his entire fortune. The
two years which had passed since then
had exactly reversed the positions OF
the two friends. Flossie, the doctors
/ pennileSs daughter, and general serv-
ant to her seven brothers. was now
the petted wife of the wealthy Sir
Roland Towers, and the mother of his
heir. Constance. the idolZed only child
and neicess of a merchant prince. now
earned her own bread as typist In a
merchants office.
~.
remarked Sir Roland Towers to a
large. handsome blonde, as they stood
looking over some Views together.
DO you think 500" she drawled. "She
has no color. you know. Do you adj
mire that dead-white skin. Mr. Leigh?"
The young man was staring intent
| ly at the group round the fire, Con-
stance in a plain black evening dress
with white roses at her breast.
She always looks to me like pure
white rose" he said dreamily, and
Mabel tossed her head. am angry light
in her blue eyes
The evening passed like a happy
feremt from her lonely evenings in her
dreary lodgings. Flossie went with her
to her room when bed time came.
It's lovely to have you. darling" she
exclaimed. But how serious you look
Has Mabel been disagreeable?"
'Flossie." said Constance abruptly
why did you not tell me that Vincent
Leigh was to be here?"
Because didn't know" was the
prompt reply. Roland asked him this
morning. But why should you mind?
You We're always such friends. Do you
- Flossie stopped. for her friend was
weeping bitterly.
"Oh. let me cry!" she gasped as
Flossie overwhelmed her with caresses
nj i.NpS Lot
/ will break"
4 l'lossie stood helplessly by while
! Constance sobbed and moaned, as Il in.
Iced her heart We're broken. AT las,
the girl raised her head from the couch
where she had flung herself in her out
burst of rricf.
II will tell you all about 1t, Flossie. =
she whispered only do not look at
me. l feel so deadly, deadly ashamed
of myself"
II am quite sure there is nothing to
be ashamed about" said Flosse, brisk
| ly. "llave you quarrelled with Vim
cent? You We're so cold to him tonight
Two years ago l thought
Constance checked her by Il gesture
so did H.. she said in chokeG
voice, and that is just what is tortur.
ing me. Ii had hoped never to see
Vincent Leigh again"
but he adored you as a child" CRIED
E'lossie.
las IL child, yes. And that was what
mised me. He petted and played with
me, and | worshipped him. When
was twelve and he was seventeen
gave him a scarfpin as Christmas
gift. had it made to my own design
He used to call me his little white
rosebud. and | had Il silver pin made
a rosebud with a tiny pearl set in II
forming the head. The words i love
you We're engraved on it. We quarrelet
ON Christmas day. and snatched the
pin out of his tie, crying lido not love
you now, and you Shall not have il
back till love you again. Next day
he was called away by his fathers
sudden death. and we did not meet
again till seven years later, when he
came to spend Christmas with us"
IL remember" nodded Flossie.
Mabel Huntley was with us. too, ant
saw he admired her, but l thought
oh. fool that l was.-that he really
loved me me. and was trying to max,
me jealous. on Christmas eve we Were
TO have Il dance"--
Yes it was there Roland proposed.
E'losSie Interrupted.
Il know That morning Vincent anG
were alone in the conservatory, ant
We We're talking over old childish days
and he reminded me of the scarfpin
lie laughed at me for a little vixen. anc
then he added, so tenderly-at least
there seemed to me Il world of love anl
wistful tenderness in his voice and eyes
Constance, may | not have the pir
again l was too agitated to speak
and he went on to remind me that
used To always to- give him Il button
hole to wear every evening when hi
used to stay with us long ago, and t.
ask me to do SO again. Then he SAID
again. May l not have the pin again ?
You know you promised'-- Jus
then Mabel Huntley interrupted us, bu
l thought-oh, fool, fool that l was.
and Comics slender body writhed Will
sname-"I thought he was serious, anC
l'iossie, t'lossie, did give him the pin
"Well?" cried I'lossie. eagerly.
Il made him a buttonhole of a white
rose and Il spray of maidenhair fern
stuck the pin through it, slipped into
his dressing room and put it on hi.
table. When we Went into the ball.
room Mable wore it,
Nonsense" exclaimed Flossie
She did" Constance went on, tear.
her where she got the pin, and she
very mach over it, and said a little
simpleton had fallen in love with him
and given him that as love token, Sc
he passed it on to her.
"But l do not Understanding
Flossie.
"Oh, It's plain enough. He had no,
meant anything, and was quite scared
when he saw l took it seriously. He