The Spectator., 1916-03-07
HEARTS DESIRE By IzOLA FORESTER.

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 couple of other persons watching the stragglers come along the platform until girl stopped be- fore a stout, gray-haired old chap next to him and exclaimed:
 Don't you know me, Cousin Jack?"
 TT believe that I'm Cousin Jack said Knapp, lifting his hat and look ing down into the brownest eyes he had ever seen. q was looking for boy"
 For boy?" She laughed "I SUD- 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 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. MT. 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 SIC. That's long while to wait. en- gagged a 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, 1 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 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 a 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- dercurrept 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 fifty-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
 Will 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"
 ''Go 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 fantasy. Yet here it was-a lark, but surely the happiest he had known in years.
 By love. begin to feel bewitched," he told her. Can 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 a proper sentiment, though"
 After the express pulled out he started up Forty-second 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?"
 While the violets were being packed, he slipped ring from his little fin ger. It was one he had worn through school, before wealth had hit him. He had told her of it as they sat side by