The Little River news., 1916-10-07
HEARTS DESIRE By izoLA FORESTER.


 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 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?''
 IT 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 boy"
 For boy?' She laughed. T 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. Ill Boston,. She stopped short, staring up att 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 1 live at the l St. Ambrose, and l surely have cousins 1 in California; He remembered there was a Mir. Knott at the hotel. He called up. Mr. Knott had gone on a southern trip two days before. He broke the news to her with 8 twinkle in his eyes.
 "Ill have to be proxy Cousin Jack. Now, listen. Your train leaves at S:10. That's 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, I 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
 "T''sc9 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- dercurrent of bitterness ill his words. But you're not old" "Thirty-four."
 Suppose you live to be eighty-four, and find out you've wasted ffty-four 1 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 l were you, I'd send them valentines tonight, checks, you know, call them hearts desire valentines. ," Will you direct the envelopes?" 1 asked Jack .Tll write the checks if you will" Surely it was the oldest kind of Valentine celebration. Those are precious old aunts," 1 Jack explained, @ bit sheepishly. Its all kinds of fun, isn't it? Will they l understand"
 "Go pick out Valentine postcards to go inside" Ted told him, writing bus | fly. Its after four already Doesn't the time just fly?'
 Jack went after the postcards. If anyone had told him he would spend | the night at 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, begin to feel bewitched," he told her. Gan I send you valen- tine, proxy cousin? Let me send you one to your Boston address, can't I?" Not the same kind I don't need any, kind sir Ted leased. You may send me proper sentiment, though"
 After the express pulled out he started up Forty second street. A for ists shop was just opr ling.
 q want about half A bushel of vio- lets sent to Boston oa 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 ono he had worn through school, before wealth had hit him. He had told her of it as they sat side by side, told her he loved it because it seemed to stand to him for all his boy hood hopes
 l "rTo my Valentino bo ,,,roto o,, b;c