Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-05-18
HEARTS DESIRE
By IzoLA FORESTER.


at the desk when he got in from thu
club little past twelve. He looked
at it In surprise and some bewilder
I ment. Sturdevant7 That was one o.
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 a girl stopped be-
fore a stout, gray-haired old chap next
to him and exclaimed:
Don't you know me, Cousin Jack?"
I'll believe that I'm Cousin Jack, )"
said Knapp, lifting his hat and look
ing down into the brownest eyes he
had ever seen. Il was looking for q
boy"
For boy?" She laughed. 81 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.
/ mot 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 surely have cousins
in California" He remembered there
was a Mr.. Knott at the hotel. He
called up. Mr.. Knott had gone on .
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 $40.
That's long while to wait. 1 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"
ooh, I couldn't" she faltered. I'm
deed, l couldn't. You're very kind,
but II don't think I'll leave the sta
ton"
Then we'll stay right here"
1t 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 boys military
school, sent later on to a technical
preparatory school, and finally to col |
iege.
Then what happened| she asked
eagerly.
Nothing except that l came in for |
100 much money and failed to follow |
my good star" She caught at the IN
iercurrent 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 f1fty-four |
years just looking down your nose and /
wishing something had happened
hats different? You said you had lots
Of cousins, too, boys and girls, aren't
hey? II I were you, I'd send them
ralentines tonight, checks, you know,
call them hearts desire valentines.
will you direct the envelopes
asked Jack. 'Tll write tho checks IL
you will"
Surely it was the oldest kind of .
Valentine celebration.
Those are precious old aunts,"
lack explained, bit sheepishly It's
all kinds Of fun, isn't III VIII they
60 pick out Valentine postcards to
go inside" Ted told him, writing bus
lily. Its after four already. Doesn't
the time just fly?"
Jack went after the postcards. II
anyone had told him he would spend
the night at the Grand Central termi-
nal in company with Ted OF Santa Bar
odi o. uAl6Ontly 5cuuil6 NAl0uLl00
checks to all neglected relatives, he
would have called It fantasy. Yet
here 1t was-a lark, but surely the
nappiest he had known In years.
by Jove, begin to feel bewitched,"
,e told her. Can I send you q valen-
inc, proxy cousin, Let me send you
,ne to your Boston address,, can't II"
mot the same kind. l don't need
my, kind SIR" Ted leased. "You may
lend ms, q proper sentiment, though"
After the express pulled out he
tarted up Fortysecond street. A DOR
SITS shop was just opening.
II want about half bushel of VIC
SITS sent to Boston on, the next train.
lave you got very small box I can
cal and inclose"
While tho violets were being packed,
70 slipped a ring from his little nm
er. It was one ne had worn through
chool, before wealth had hit him. He
ad told her Of It rs they sat side by
- kAt. ha =