Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-27

Among all the gay valentines In the
window OF the bookshop one stood out
| distinctly.
Jack Edmonds saw nothing save that
/ golden satin heart. dainty with lace
and ribbons and bearing a message for
| whoever might read:
| Here's a message for you. heart OF gold.
| / am waiting with secret yet untold
/ oh. heart OF gold, accept this valentinel
/ 1t bears thu message-ioye, be mine.
Heart of gold" murmured Jack
grimly; that's what 1 used to call
| little Rose before she grew independ-
ent and ran out into the world ! won
der if / will ever find my heart of
gold?"
Good morning. Mr.. Edmonds," a
! gay, sweet voice broke in on his mus
! ings Are not the valentines perfect
| ly dear?"
VERY pretty indeed" laughed Jack.
| shaking hands with Margaret Nor
daunt. at would be hard to make a
| choice"
| Margaret made some laughing re-
| joinder and they chatted a few mo-
ments, the girl all a-sparkle with
most betraying lovelight in her eyes.
More than once his eyes wandered to
the golden heart in the middle of the
window, and she, guessing that per-
haps he desired to enter the shop and
purchase it for her. babe him laugh
ing farewell while he handed her into
the waiting motorcar.
II hope you have not forgotten the
ST. Valentines ball." she cried eagerly
as the machine rolled away.
He smiled and nodded and replaced
his hat and returned to the window.
A few moments later when he left the
shop the golden heart was gone from
the window.
On the morning OF ST. Valentines
day Margaret Mordaunt entered the
library. where her mothers secretary
was sorting the morning mail.
Good morning, Miss Blakely." said
Margaret, with pleasant carelessness;
Il hope you have a lot of letters for
me this morning.
Rose Blakely smiled over her task.
Miss Mordaunt was a beautiful So
ciety favorite. and her share of mail
was usually n generous one. but on
this morning there were heaps OF en-
bossed envelopes, heart shaped boxes
of sweets. and on a table were several
boxes of flowers.
Margaret hastily scanned the boxes
and tossed them aside. Then she
grasped the letters and tore them open,
looking within each one and then pick
ing up another with an eagerness that
surprised the little secretary, so differ
ent was it from Miss Mordaunt's Gus
tomary pose of cool Indifference.
At last Margaret grasped the mis-
sives which Rose still held in her hand. |
One by one she tore open the large |
square envelopes. only to cast them /
aside. Then she bounced on fat,
square box, ripped off the wrappings /
and gazed entranced at the golden |
heart.
So he had sent it to her after all!
Rose Blakely, stepping to and fro. ;
preparing for her days work, happened !
to glance over Margaret's shoulder as
she passed. She saw the large golden |
heart and Margaret's rapt face. Rose |
smiled sympathetically. She wondered |
which one of Margaret's many suitors |
had sent this one; it was evidently the
favored lover. Who was he?
Look. Miss Blakely," said Marga-
Isn't this perfectly lovely:'
Rose took the valentine and as she
read the message addressed TO Golden
Heart her sweet little face went very
white. and she laid the valentine down
without a word.
what is the matter? Don't you
think it is pretty?' asked Margaret
jealousy.
lit is very pretty" gasped Rose, but
the room is very warm-don't you think
500" She swayed a little. and Marga-
ret FASTENED to support her to couch.
II will ring for Sarah to bring you a
glass of water"
While Rose slipped the water and lay
back with closed eyes and pale face
Margaret picked up her letters and
packages.
As she picked up the white paper
which had inclosed the golden heart
Margaret glanced at the superscrip-
lion. Her startled gaze concentrated
pm the fine black characters, and the
etters swan before her vision. Again
and again she read the address, and
each time she looked furtively at the
pale face Of the little secretary.
''It is mine, in spite of allD' mutteref
Margaret. as she swept from the room
4 don't understand it. but he must
nave sent it to me! He doesn't even
Know her-they have not met"
Mrs. Mordaunt faced her daughter
With anger in her blue eyes.
Not invite Miss Blakely down
tairs 2" she repeated. why. my dear
Iargaret, you invited her yourself"
please, mother, I'd rather not have
Ter. Well. let her come down until the
then"
Another Cinderella asked Mrs.
fordaunt quietly as she swept from
he room.
Margaret made no answer She was
linking of Jack Edmonds and his :
vident indifference to her own charms
She had surprised strangely tendex