The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-07-12
GOLDEN HEART
BY AGNES C. BROGAN.


side occasionally, to whistle in imita-
tiOn Of a robin in a nearby tree. Sallie
seemed always to be perfectly happy;
and because she had so very little to
make her happy, folks wondered and
thought her queer. She was different
from those around her, different from
the beautiful sister who was Sallies
joy and pride
How it had happened that Phyllis
enjoyed life'S benefits and privileges.
while Sallie worked about the neat
home, no one knew. Least Of all, Sallie
herself. The tasks had just naturally
fallen to her share when the sacrific-
ing mother laid them down forever
And when Phyllis returning from col
Iege regarded with yelled contempt
the simplicity of her sisters daily
routine, Sallie cheerfuIly FASTENED to
brighten, as it might suit her, her sis
ter'> days. SO PHYLLIS, beautiful and
well gOWnCd, rode in costly mOtOrcars
or entertained woman friends as she
was entertained. Sallie never entered
into the parties. She felt constrained
and i'll at ease among the friends of
Phyllis. Their easy chatter about
matters Of which she knew nothing
embarrassed her. Also it was an I'M
necessary strain upon old Dads pocket
bOOk-sO Sally said-tO provide party
frOc5s for two daughters.
"The affairs were really a silly
waste of time" she further confded
And old Dad, whose law practice
grew less and less, was relieved by
Sallie's decision. She had not told
Dad of a recent experience, when
Phyllis had COldly asked her to attend
Inundated, Sallie knew, by her own
lack of assurance. She had been a
'dOlt," she reflected sadly; too con-
fused by the strangeness Of it all to
answer intelligently simple questions
put to her.
SO Sallie went back to her own
life with it's constant duties; and be-
cause old Dad COnfded to her the
anxieties of his decreasing income
Sallie had accepted the application
of two men from the city who wished
to spend several weeks as bOarders in
the country town.
The objections of Phyllis had been
overruled by Dad; Phyllis was re-
signed to the coming of the civil en-
gineer, impressed with that young
mans distinguished appearance. But
the other wOuld-be bOarder she desig-
mated as impossible"
Michael Dawn's references were Of
the best" her father told her; Judge
Lewis himself was sponsor"
Michael Dawn's appearance was
certainly not prepOssesSing- IS,
as far as clothes were concerned. For
he wore a rusty velveteen jacket, and
as the days passed he sat for the most
part back in the garden smoking an
old briar pipe. At meal times he re-
SpOnded lacOnically to the civil engi
neer's conversation, and had smiles for
no one but SaIlie. When quaint little
Sallie entered the room Michael
Dawn's fine eyes would light with vel
come. He liked to sit, too, upon the
back porch with Sallie, helping in peel
ing. the peaches or joining in her whis-
tied conversation with the robin.
His fine eyes would grow luminous
and he would murmur again his new
name for her, Little Golden Heart
And though Michael Dawn was also
"QUeer" Sallie's trust and admiration
were unfailing. There were days when
he would absent himself from the
home with neither excuse nor apology.
When he came back at twilight he
would tell Sallie that he had been
every busy" And Sallie, wondering,
would yet nod and smile without
question.
The summer was hot and SaIlie
grew pale with her tireIess labor.
These peaceful evenings in the com
panionship of Michael had come to be
her relaxation and exceeding joy.
"Why," he asked her impatiently
'do you not ask your sister to help
you?"
"She wouldn't know how Sallie
gave ingenious reply. eve We're born
| different. Phyllis is a golden butter
fly made to hover over flowers. I'm
that busy little ant-happiest in the
building of my home"
One day Phyllis came grudgingly,
"You will have to attend the big club
reception, Sallie," she said, cor people
will talk Couldn't you fix over my
old white dress for yourself? John
Stewart the author, is to be there /;
everyone is crazy to meet him. His
books are very popular, you know /;
he's a student of types"
Sallie hated to go. She cOnf1ded her
trepidatlon to Michael Dawn.
Don't you be afraid" he cOnsoled
her; I'll be there and 1 will talk to
you"
So SaIIie went. The brilliantly
lighted rooms, the scent of many flow
ers, the people all crOwding around
one mans tall figure confused her.
Then the man, turning, was but Mi
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