The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-18
HIS HEARTS DESIRE,
An Informal Call That Had a
Happy Ending.
BY GARFIELD MAC NEAL.

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 girls face, now
sweet and gracious as IL had been be-
fore the quarrel. now cold and repeIlent
as the past two weeks had shown it.
A strain Of music broke the silence
The choir was fling In. Hastings
glanced carelessly at 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 q
choir boy.
But again his thoughts ran back In
the old channels 10 the quarrel and It's
consequences. Her work had seemed
to 60 on ms usual She was success.
full miniature painter-at least fine car
riages often stopped ut the doorway OF
the big studio building, and her room
rang with feminine voices. That wa
the maddening part OF IT, She Iived
just across the hail, 80 he must ss
her many times day. He had made
up his mind TO move. But then, he
had such bcastly lot Of traps. or per
haps It was some lingering hope that
kept him there,
Some familiar chords on the organ
startled him Wns Il the offertory al.
ready Yes, and the ideal choil boy
was singing alone. IEis handsome face
was flushed. and In his earnestpess lie
waved his sheet of music gently o.
and fro
"Oh. res, 10 the Lord" he sang
Hastings leaned forward The woria
were apparently for him The absa
lutte ceriaiufy of the boris tones car
ricd conviction.
And he shall give thee thy hearts
desire"
The tender voice went straight -
the mans heart and ccmfortcd him
Yes. he, too. would walt patiently, aHf
perhaps some day hc. too. wonld haze
his hearts desire TIL then he wouif
wait and work
The next two weeks went by yert
differently. Under the press Of new
enthusiasm the book seemed 90 Writ
Itself Tho last sheet had gone In 81
the publisher. and he had always wurl
n smile when hc met The girl on the
stairs. Her bow was still AZ freezing
but he only smiled again and hummed
tho few bars from Elijah" And be
shall give thee thy hearts desire
Again Hastings sat IN the little
church Perhaps his choir boy woul
sing. for him. But the figure Of the
small leader droopcd. In the glare ~
the choir lights his face showed white
and haggard. while his eyes were Ewoil
en- from weeping 4 wave Of pits
went over the watching man. II might
now be- bis turn 10 comfort. The sweg
soprano voice was low and broken
Hastings determined 20 Gnd the
meaning OF the change. 10 he fingered
after the service. aud Kind faced gu
rate told him the sad little story.
"Yeu mean Jack Haincsl lie ha8
9A#A ftAHA AAAA sfHatt
the poor little fellow n left nil hlonf
lie is being cared for by nclghbora
but we must nnd him place IN snmf
charity aehool"
That delicate child 10 chart
school Hastings could not bear illp
thought OF Il. Tho face Of The chlit
aud his own loneliness helped him "a
come TO sudden resolution. His voice
was very eager as he said. let mr
have him"
And 40 Jack came TO live ia tho hig
studio building. Slowly the roses came
back 10 his checks He did not forget
the pretty mother who had gone r.
sleep 10 quietly. but he haunted thi4
new big brother like shadow and
crept Into his arms 10 cry away The
grief that time was trying TO heal.
But It worried Hastings that the lad
should be so solemn When be came
in and found the boy poring over some
big book he would half laughiDgly
seold him for turning into such a little
bookworm. "You need some one to
play with. Jack" he would say. IT
Is bad for you 70 be always coopcd vi
with nm 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 h.,
didn't want 10 be with any one else
and he was such shy child the
Hastings forbore 20 press the point.
He was therefore much surprised
one afternoon ON coming IN 60 flpd tho
rooms empty. Where could Jack hef
Az the minutes went by. bringing M
boy. he became really anxious The
janitor had not seen him. lie was
returning from fruitleSs Inquiries whei
he stopped short at burst OF child.
ish laughter Could IL be Jack? lie
never laughed like that But. yes: II
was his voice. and II came from the
girls rooms.
Hastings hesitated. And now the
girl laughed. IL was the sumo saucy
little laugh he had loved 10 much in
the days gone by II decided him. She
had stolen his property and should
answer for the theft He knocked
boldly on the door.
silence. He knocked again. Evl.
IDENTIFY they did not hear him. SO he
turned the knob and entered the for.
hidden chamber.
Surprising sight On the floor In
true Turkish style sat tho stately Miss
Trevor. On her lap were big sheet
Of cardboard and sundry brushes and
paints. Her hair was dlsheyeled, and
several daubs Of color ornamented her
cheeks ana nose. over her shoulder
In state Of great excitement leaned
tha truanf TIaaftnoa hardiv lnaxu hin,