The Meeker herald., 1914-11-14
Golden
Heart
A Story For St. Val
entire's Day
BY cLAalssA r1Ackls

Among all the gay veientlnee IN to6
window OF the bookshop one stood out
distinctly.
Jack Edmonds saw nothing save that
golden satin heart. dainty with lace
and ribbons and bearing q message for
whoever might read:
Here's . message for you. heart Of gold.
/ am waiting with secret yet untold.
Oh, heart Of gold, accept this valentinsi
II bears the mOssage-lovs. be mine!
Heart Of gold" murmurcd Jack
grimly; "that's what used to call
little Rose before she grew independ-
snt and ran out Into the world. won.
der II will ever nnd my heart OF
goldf'
"Good morning. Mr.. Edmonds." .
gay, sweet voice broke In ON his mus
ings. Are not the valentines perfect
" dearr
Every pretty indeed" laughed Jack.
shaking hands with Margaret Mof-
daunt "It would b. hard to make Q
choice"
Margaret made some laughing ~
joinder and they chatted \ few mo
ments. the giri all a-sparkle with .
most betraying lovelight in her eyes.
More than once bis 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. bads him Z laugh
ing farewell while he handed her into
the waiting motofcar.
II hope you have not forgotten ths
St. Valentines ball" she cried eagerly
a. the machine rolled away.
He smiled and nodded and replaced
his hat and returned to the window.
A few moments later when be 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 Blakeiy." said
Margaret. with pleasant carelessness:
II hops you have lot Of lstters for
ne this morning"
Rose Blakely smiled over bar task.
Miss NordAunt was beautiful 30
cIsty favorits. and her share Of mail
was Usually generous ons. bst a.
~ morning there wsrs heaps d en-
tcsspd snvslopes. beart shaped boxes
OF swee<n, and on 4 tAh3e were several
boxes Of towers.
Margaret hastily scanned the boxes
aud 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. 70 differ
ent was 1t 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 pounced on nat,
square box, Ripped on the wrappings
and gaxed entrnnced at the golden
heart.
30 be had sent 1t to her after all!
Rose Blakely. stepping to and fro.
preparing for her days work. happened
to glance over Margaret's shoulder ~
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; 1t was evidently the
favored lover. Who was he?
Look. Miss Blakely." said Marga-
ret. with uhaccustomed condescension.
"Isn't this perfectly lovely?'
Rose took the valentine, and AZ 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 matter7 Don't you
think 1t Is prettyT asked Margaret
jealousIy.
at is very pretty" gasped Rose. .'but
the room is very warm-don't you think
so?' She swayed little. and Marga-
ret FASTENED to support her to q couch.
II will ring for Sarah to bring you q
Giass Of water"
While Rose slipped the water and lay
back with closed eyes and pale face
Margaret picked up her ietters and
packages.
As she picked up the white paper
whlcn nad lnclOSed the golden heart
Margaret glanced at the superscrip-
tion. Her startled gaze concentrated
on the fine black characters, and the
letters 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.
ut il mine. In spite Of air. muttered
Margaret. as she swept from the room.
n don't understand 1t. but be must
have sent 1t to me! He doesn't even
know her-they have not met"
Mn. Mordaunt faced her daughtee
with anger In her blue eyes.
"Not invit' Miss Blakely down
stairsr she Vepented. why. my dear
Margaret. You invited her yourself
"Please. mother. I'D rather not have
her. Well. let her come down until the