The Meeker herald., 1916-05-13
His Heart'S
Desire
An Informal Call That Had a
nappy Ending.
BY GARFIELD MAC NEAL.


Hastings sat down In the half dark
ness 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 Mt the publishers. In
stead he saw only a girls face. now
sweet and gracious us 1t had been be-
fore the quarrel. now cold and reTtcllent
lis the past two weeks Ind shown It.
A strain of music broke the silence.
The choir was filing In. Hastings
glanced carelessly Mt the white ROBBED
procession. The face Of the first boy
caught his attention for moment. &C.
riOus. spiritual. framed In an aureole
Of golden hair. an ideal face for
choir boy.
But again his thoughts ran back In
the old channels to the quarrel and Its
consequences. Her work had seemed
to go on as usual. She was success
| full miniature pninter-at least fine car-
riages often stopped at the doorway
of the big studio building. md her
COON rang with feminine voices. That
was the mnddening part Of 1t. She
lived just across the hall. 30 he must
see her many times day. He had
made up his mind to move. But, then.
he had such beastly lot Of traps. or
perhaps 1t was some lingering hope
that kept him there.
Some familiar chords on the organ
startled him. Was 1t the ofYertory al
ready? Yes, and the ideal choir boy
was singing nlone. His handsome fnce
was flushed, and in his enrnestness he
waved his sheet Of music gently to and
fro.
"Oh. 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 some day he, too. would have
his henrt's desire. Till then he would
walt and work.
The next two weeks went by very
differently. Under the press Of n new
enthusiasm the book seemed to write
itself. The last sheet Ind gone in to
the publisher and he had always worn
II smile when he met the girl OH the
stairs. Her bow was still as freezing.
but he only smiled ngain and hummed
the few bars from "EliJah." And he
shall give thee thy hearts desire"
Again sHnstings sat In the little
church. Perhaps his choir boy would
sing for him. But the figure Of the
small lender dropped. In the glare of
the choir lights his face showed white
and haggard. while his eyes were
swollen from weeping. A wave Of pity
went over the watching man. 1t might
now he his turn to comfort The sweet
soprano voice was low and broken.
Hastings determined to lind the
meaning Of the change. so he fingered
inter the service. and kind faced Gu
rate told him the sad little story.
lyon mean Jack Haines? He has
Just lost his her-consnmption-a
the poor little fellow is left all alone
He Is being cared for by nelghbors.
but we must find him place In some
charity school,"
Tint delicate child In a charity
school! Hastings could not bear the
thought of 1t. The face Of the child
and his own loneliness helped him to
come to a sudden resolution. His voice
was very eager as he said. Let me
have him."
And so .Inck came to live in the biz
studio building. Slowly the roses came
back to his cheeks. He did not forge,
the pretty mother. who had gone te
J sleep so quietly. but he haunted thi,
new big brother like n shadow and
crept into his arms to cry away the
grief TINT time was trying to heal.
But 1t worried Hastings that the Lao
should he so solemn. When he came
In and found the boy porting over som,
big book he would half laughingly
scold him for turning into such little
book worm. "You need xome one t.
play with. Jack" be would say. 81,
Is bad for you to be always cooped al
with an old fellow like me-" Tom wa.
only thirty. but somehow he had fell
very old and settled since that night.
But Jack always declared that b,
didn't want to be with any one else
and he was such shy child tim
Hastings fOrlpOre to press the point
He WAS therefore much surprised
one afternoon on coming In to find tn,
rooms empty Where could Jack be
As the minutes went by. bringing NJ