Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-01
The Argus Daily Story
Whose Valentine BY Claris o Machie.
Copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau.

quest While he was gone she turned
the valentine over and saw the word
Sold" and the initials "R B." Her Il
heart sang with Joy.
When Homer Beckford returned 4
Louise had replaced the valentine in +
the window and was looking over a
trayful Of less expensive ones. Her
eyes sparkled with happiness, and she /
was very gracious to Homer Beck
ford, who felt exceedingly happy him.
self.
You liked that white satin one,
didn't you, Louisew he asked as he
wrapped her purchases.
ct is lovely" sighed Louise. 'Is It
the only one you've got?"
'Yes, the only one we had in stock
like that. Father thought there wasn't
any use in stocking up with many ex- i
pensive ones, as there isn't much sale i
for them here in Haleford."
81 wouldn't mind receiving that one
myself" limited Louise as she left the 4
store.
Perhaps you WILL" called young 4
Homer, and Immediately ducked down 4
beneath the counter to hide his en-
barrassment
| The following day would be st. VAL
/ entine's day. Louise was reading in
| the library when her Aunt Lou reach
! ed home just at dusk. Miss Haysland
came into the room, looking very love-
! ly in her dark blue velvet and furs. !.
| Her cheeks were delicately flushed.
| and her large violet eyes held a depth
! of feeling they had never displayed
before
| Louise caught her breath as she re-
allied her aunt's loneliness, and for a
moment she felt very sorry to think
of the tragedy that lay in store for
Aunt Lou. She wondered If she ought
not to probe her aunt's feelings con-
corning the matter and sort Of pave
the way for the denouement that must
one day come when Aunt Lou discov-
cred that Roger Brisbin loved the
beautiful young niece and not the
handsome aunt. n
''Well, pussie, you are snug and
warm in here" smiled Aunt Lou,
bending down to kiss her niece's cheek
and then holding her own hands to the
fire.
Yes. Oh, Aunt Lou! Can you sit
down a moment? 1 want to ask you
a question. You will try to be calm
and not break down, won't your urged
her romantic niece.
what is the matter? What has
happenedT' cried Miss Haysland in
alarm, starting toward the door.
"Your mother
TITS not that sort of trouble, Aunt
, Lour' cried Louise impatiently. IT'S
+ only-only-would you feel very badly
If Roger Brisbin really was eating his
+ heart out for another girl-somebody
a quite young and beautiful-who-who
couldn't help his falling in love with
, herr" Louise warmed to the subject.
, She felt like the heroine IN a melo-
y drama.
r. Miss Haysland grew very pale and
r leaned against the mantel, what do
9 you mean, Louise? What right have
f you to ask me such question? What
: right have you to attack Mr.. Brisbin
/ in that manner
: Louise was frightened, and she turn
i ed her head away. and q sullen look
4 came around her mouth. "Of course
r you wouldn't believe it," she said sig
n nifcantly.
a "No, would not said Miss Hays
land with emphasis. Look here, Lou
, ise'' and she held out her slender left
n hand, on which cleaned a large dia-
A mond. 81 am engaged to be married
6 to Mr.. Brisbin. You can understand
4 why 1 must laugh at anything so ri
i diculouS as you suggest"
Use stiffiy and left the room after Civ
q ing her aunt a cool kiss of congratula-
, ton. Later on she made up for her
i GOODNESS by a delightful warmth. Now
= she was hurt and jealous and was
II anxious to seek the seclusion of her
q own room.
h AS she crossed the hall the door open
q ed and her brother Dick entered with
IA the evening mail "a big valentine
for you. Louise" he called and tossed
i her a square white package.
q Despite his brotherly gibes she few
@ up to her room and tore open the
/ wrappings. Inside was the white sat
in valentine. She turned it over. The
r. initials had been erased, but she could
see the faint indentation of the pencil
e marks. The first initial must have
been an "H" instead of an "R"
Who was Al. B?"
Il She asked herself this question as
she went down the stairs, and her
IS brother Dick answered it as he grin
n ned up at her
4 you needn't try TO make secret OF
T. who sent you that valentine, sis, be-
cause | saw that big lunatic of a 10
d mer Rockford Slipping it into the mail
e box just before they gave it to me-'
,e Louise sprang 10 the defense of Ho.
e mer Bedford, ana in that moment
there died out the romance she had
u nurtured for Roger Brisbin.
l. The white satin valentine had really
a. come to her after all. and it bore n
message Of love that was more real
y. than any ina ginary feeling she nigh,
er have for her aunt's lover