The log cabin Democrat., 1916-03-13
HEARTS DESIRE By iZOLA FORESTER.
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at the desk when he got in from the club little past twelve. He looked at it in surprise and some bewilder ment Sturdevant? That was one of the bunch of Californian cousins who had entertained him during his visit to the fair last summer. He couldn't recall any Ted.
 The Overland Special pulled in on time. There were few passengers. He stood with a couple of other persons watching the stragglers come along the platform until girl stopped be- fore stout, gray-haired old chap next to him and eXclaimed
 Don't you know me, Cousin Jack?"
 II believe that I'm Cousin Jack" said Knapp, lifting his hat and look ing down into the brownest eyes he had ever seen. T was looking for a boy"
 For a boy?" She laughed q sup pose you did get us all mixed up. I'm Theodore, but they call me Ted. We're the Santa Barbara cousins"
 Knapp couldn't remember any Santa Barbara connections.
 Are you going to school here?" he asked.
 Not here. In Boston," She stopped short, staring up at him blankly.
 They told me what you ought to look like, and you don't at all. Hair rather gray and a little stout, and eye glasses. Are you sure you're Cousin Jack Knott?"
 I'm Jack Knapp, and I live at the St. Ambrose, and I surely have cousins in California" He remembered there was a MT Knott at the hotel. He called up. Mir Knott had gone on a southern trip two days before.. He broke the news to her with twinkle in his eyes.
 I'll have to be proxy Cousin Jack. Now, listen. Your train leaves at 8:10. That's a long while to wait. I en- gagged room for my boy cousin, but he hasn't turned up. I'm going to call up my sister, Mrs. Durant, and you'll go up there"
 "Oh, I couldn't" she faltered "In- deed, couldn't. You're very kind, but I-I don't think I'll leave the sta tion."
 Then we'll stay right here
 It never occurred to either of them that it was already St. Valentines day until while pacing back and forth through the terminal they came face to face with a large display of valen- tines. It seemed years since Jack had ever even remembered St. Valentines day Somehow, now he found himself telling her of his rather lonely child hood, brought up in boys military school, sent later on to a technical preparatory school, and finally to col lege
 Then what happened?" she asked eagerly.
 Nothing except that I came in for too much money and failed to follow my good star" She caught at the un- dercurreDt of bitterness in his words
 But you're not old"
 "Thirty-four."
 Suppose you live to be eighty-four, and find out you've wasted tifty-four years just looking down your nose and wishing something had happened that's different? You said you had lots of cousins, too, boys and girls, aren't they? If I were you, I'd send them valentines tonight, checks, you know, call them hearts desire valentines' "
 "Win you direct the envelopes?" asked Jack. 'I'll write the checks if you will"
 Surely it was the oldest kind of a Valentine celebration.
 Those are precious old aunts, " Jack explained, bit sheepishly. It's all kinds of fun, isn't it? Will they understand"
 Co pick out Valentine postcards to go inside" Ted told him, writing bus fly. It's after four already Doesn't the time just fy?"
 Jack went after the postcards. If anyone had told him he would spend the night ct the Grand Central termi- nal in company with Ted of Santa Bar bara, diligently sending Valentine checks to all neglected relatives, he would have called it a fantasy. Yet here it was-a lark, but surely the happiest he had known in years.
 By love, 1 begin to feel bewitched," :" he told her. Can I send you a valen- tine, proxy cousin? Let me send you one to your Boston address, cant I?'
 Not the same kind. l don't need any, kind sir" Ted leased. You may send me proper sentiment, though. !"
 After the express pulled out he started up Fortysecond street A flor ist's shop was just opening.
 q want about half bushel of vio lets sent to Boston on the next train Have you got very small box I can seal and inclose?"