Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-05-01
Golden
Heart
A Story For St. VAL
entine's Day
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

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 message for
whoever might read:
Here's a message for you, heart OF gold
am waiting with a secret yet untold.
Oh. heart of gold. accept this valentinel
It bears the message-love, be minel
Heart Of gold" murmured Jack
grimly; chats what l 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
gold2"
Good morning, Mr.. Edmonds," 4
gay, sweet voice broke In on his mus
ings Are not the valentines perfect
ly dear2"
very pretty indeed" laughed Jack,
shaking hands with Margaret Nor
daunt. at would be hard to make
choice"
Margaret made some laughing re-
joinder and they chatted few mo-
ments, the girl all a-sparkle with u
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 no desired to enter the shop and
purchase 1t for her, babe him a 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;
II hope you have lot of letters for
me this morning"
Rose Blakely smiled over her task.
Miss Mordaunt was beautiful 80
clety favorite, and her share of mail
was usually generous one, but on
this morning there were heaps Of EN-
bossed envelopes, heart shaped boxes
OF sweets, and on table were several
boxes of flowers.
Margaret hastily scanned the boxes
and tossed them aside. Then she
grasped tho letters and tore them open,
looking within each ono 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 pounced on fiat
square box, ripped Off the wrapplngs
and gazed entranced at the golden
heart.
SO he had sent IL TO her after all
Rose Blakely, stepping to and fro,
preparing for her days work, happened
to glance over Margnrets shoulder az
she passed. She saw the large golden
heart and Margarets rapt face Rose
smiled alphabetically. She wondered
which one Of Margaret's many suitors
had sent this one; It was evidently the
favored lover. Who was he1
Look, Miss Blakely," said Marga-
ret, with unaccustomed condescenslon.
isn't this perfectly lovelyT
Rose took the valentine, and as she
read tho message addressed TO Golden
Heart" her sweet little face went very
white, and she laid the valentine down
without a word.
"What IL the matter? Don't you
think It Is prettyT asked Margaret
jealousy.
ut Is very pretty" gasped Rose, but
the room Is very warm don't you think
sOr She swayed a little, and Marga-
ret hastened TO support her to couch
II will ring for Sarah to bring you n
glass of water"
While Rose slipped the water and lay
back with closed eyes and pale face
Margaret picked up her letters and
pNNhubCDs
As she picked up the white paper
which had lnclosed the golden heart
Margaret glanced at the superscrip-
ton. Her startled gaze concentrated
on the fine black characters, and the
letters swan before her vision. Again
and again she read tho address, and
each time she looked furtlvely at the
pale face Of the little secretary
ut Is mine, In spite Of alp muttered
Margaret, as she swept from the room.
II don't understand 1t, but he must
have sent 1t to mel He doesn't even
know her-tbey have not met"
Mrs. Mordaunt faced her daughter
with anger In her blue eyes.
mot invite Miss Blakely down
stairsT she repeated. why, my dear
Margaret, you invited her yourself"
"Please, mother, ia rather not have
her. Well, let her come down until the
unmasking, then"
Another ClnderellaT asked Mrs.
Mordaunt quietly as she swept from
the room.
Margaret made no answer. She was
thinking Of Jack Edmonds and his
evident Indifference TO her own charms.