Democratic messenger., 1909-06-19
HIS HEARTS DESIRE,
An Informal Call That Had a
Happy Ending.
sy GARFIELD MAC NEAL.
copyrighted. 1909. by Associated Literary
praaa

Press.l
The chimes were still ringing as
Tom Hastings sat down In the half
darkness Of the little church. He had
strolled In hoping for temporary re-
lease from his bitter thoughts. but the
quiet Of the place only seemed to rouse
his brain to greater activity. Yet he
could not think Of his story, the story
already due at the publishers. In
stead he saw only a girls face, now
sweet and gracious as 1t had been be-
fore the quarrel, now cold and repellent
as the past two weeks had shown It,
A strain Of music broke the silence.
The choir was filing In. Hastings
glanced carelessly ut the white robed
procession. The face OF the first boy
caught his attention for a moment, Sc
rious, spiritual, framed In an aureole.
Of golden hair, an ideal face for a
choir boy.
But again his thoughts ran back in
the old channels to the quarrel and its
consequences. Her work had seemed
to 90 ON as usual. She was a success
full miniature painter-at least fine car
riages often stopped at the doorway Of
the big studio building, and her room
rang with feminine voices. That was
the maddening part of 1t. She lived
just across the hall, so he must see
her many times day. lie had made
up his mind to move. But, then, he
had such beastly lot of traps, or per
haps 1t was some lingering hope that
kept him there.
Some familiar chords on the organ
startled him. Was 1t the offertory al
ready? Yes, and the ideal choir boy
was singing alone. His handsome face
was flushed, and In his earnestness he
waved his sheet OF music gently TO
and fro.
'sOh. rest in the Lord" he sang
Hastings leaned forward. The words
were apparently for him. The abso-
lutte certainty of the boys tones car
ried conviction.
"And he shall give thee thy hearts
desire"
The tender voice went straight TO
the mans heart and comforted him.
Yes, he, too, would wait patiently, and
perhaps sone day he. too. would have
his hearts desire. Till then he would
wait and work.
The next two weeks went by very
differently Under the press of new
enthusiasm the book seemed TO write
itself. The last sheet had gone IN TO
the publisher. and he had always worn
a smile when he met the girl on the
stairs. Her bow was still as freezing.
but he only smiled again and hummed
the few bars from Elijah" And he
shall give thee thy hearts desire"
Again Hastings sat In the little
church. Perhaps his choir boy would
sing for him. But the figure OF the
small leader dropped. In the glare of
the choir lights his face showed white
and haggard, while his eyes were swoll-
CT frcm waaning A wave OF pity
went over the watching man. 1t might
now be his turn to comfort. The sweet
soprano voice was low and broken.
Hastings determined to find the
meaning Of the change, so he fingered
after the service. and kind faced Gu
rate told him the sad little story.
'sYou mean Jack Haines? He has
Just lost his mother-consumption-and
the poor little fellow Is left all alone.
He is being cared for by neighbors,
but we must find him a place in some
charity school,"
That delicate child In a charity
SCHOOL, Hastings could not bear the
thought OF It. The face of the child
and his own loneliness helped him to
come to sudden resolution. His voice
was very eager as he said. "Let me
have him."
And so Jack came to live In the big
studio building. Slowly the roses came
back TO his cheeks. He did not forget
the pretty mother who had gone to
sleep SO quietly, but he haunted this
new big brother like a shadow and
crept into his arms to cry away the
grief that time was trying to heal.
But II worried Hastings that the lad
should be so solemn. When he came
IN and found the boy poring over some
big book he would half laughingly
scold him for turning into such q little
bookworm. "You need some one to
play with, Jack" he would say. "It
Is bad for you to be always cooped up
with an old fellow like me-" Tom was
only thirty, but somehow he had felt
very old and settled since that night.
But Jack always declared that he
didn't want TO be with any one else.
and be was such a shy child that
Hastings forbore to press the point.
He was therefore much surprised
one afternoon on coming In 10 find the
rooms empty. Where could Jack be?
As the minutes went by. bringing no
boy. he became really anxious. The
janifor had not seen him. He was
returning from fruitless inquiries when
he stopped short at burst OF child
ish laughter Could II be Jack? He
never laughed like that. But, yes; It
was bis voice. and II came from the
Nfflss rooms