The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-09
HEARTS DESIRE
BY ILOLA FORESTER.


meet. STURDEVANT.
The telegram was handed to Knapp
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 a stout. gray-haired old chap next
to him and exclaimed:
Don't you know me, Cousin Jack?"
IL 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
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.
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 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 a
southern trip two days before. He
broke the news to her with a 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. l 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, l 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 a large display of valen-
tines. 1t 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
school, and finally to col
lege
Then what happened?" she asked
eagerly.
Nothing except that came in for
TOO much money and failed to follow
my good star" She caught at the I'M
iercurrent of bitterness in his words.
But you're not old"
"Thirty-four."
Suppose you live to be eighty-four,
md find out you've wasted fifty-four
years just looking down your nose and
wishing something had happened
hats different? You said you had lots
IF cousins, too, boys and girls, aren't
hey? III | were you, I'd send them
Valentines tonight, checks, you know,
'all them hearts desire Valentines"
will you direct the envelopes? ."
isked Jack. I'll write the checks IL
,ou will"
Surely 1t was the oldest kind Of a
Valentine celebration.
Those are precious old aunts."
lack explained. bit sheepishly. ITS
III kinds Of fun. isn't it? VIII they ,
GO pick out Valentine postcards to
% inside" Ted told him, writing bus
ly. It's after four already. Doesn't
he time just fly?'
Jack went after the postcards. II |
'nyone had told him he would spend |
he night at the Grand Central termi.
lal in company with Ted of Santa Bar
ara, diligently sending Valentine
hecks to all neglected relatives, he !
you'd have called IL fantasy. Yet
lere it was-a lark, but surely the
lappiest he had known in years.
BY Jove, | begin to feel bewitched,
e told her. Can send you a yalen-
me- proxy cousin? Let me send you /
ne to your Boston address, can't -"
NOT the same kind. / don't need
ny, kind sir" Ted leased. you nav
END me a proper sentiment, though"
After the express pulled out he
tarted up Forty-second street. A for. i
SITS shop was just opening.
want about half bushel of yio-
sts sent to Boston on the next train.
rave you got a very small box I can
cal and inclose?"
While the violets were being packed
g slipped ring from his little fin.
er' IL was one he had worn through
chool, before wealth had hit him. He
ad told her of it as they sat side by
lde' told her he loved it because il
eemed to stand to him for all his how.
God hopes.
10 my valentine" he wrote on his
ard. MO
copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure Newsna-
per Syndicate)