The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1916-03-29
HEARTS DESIRE
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

at lnt utbh WHICH, hc bON 80
club a little past twelve. He looked
at 1t in surprise and some bewilder
ment. SturdevantY That was one oil
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 we're 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 Jack7
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 a boy!" She laughed. Il 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 Knott7"
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
southern trip two days before. He
broke the news to her with a twinkle
in his eyes.
I'll have to be a proxy Cousin Jack.
Now, listen. Your train leaves at $40.
That's a 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. l couldn't" she faltered. In
deed, | couldn't. You're very kind.
but II don't think I'll leave the sta
ton"
Then well stay right here"
Il 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 Il 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 happenedH" she asked
eagerly.
Nothing except that l came in for
too much money and failed to follow
my good star" She caught at the un.
dercurrent OF bitterness in his words.
But you're not old"
"Thirty-four"
Suppose you live to be eighty-fou
and find out you've wasted hfty-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? II l were you. I'd send them
valentines tonight. checks. you know.
call them hearts desire valentines "
VIII you direct the envelopes ?"
asked Jack. tn write the checks II
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 Il? VIII 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 N.Y."
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
bara, diligently sending Valentine
checks to all neglected relatives, he
would have called 1t a fantasy. Yet
here 1t was-a lark. but surely the
happiest he had known in years.
BY Joye. | begin to feel bewitched. -
he told her. Can l send you a yalen.
tine, proxy cousin? Let me send you
one to your Boston address, can't II"
Not the same kind. l don't need
any. kind sir" Ted leased. You may