Oklahoma Presbyterian College - Ithanna Yearbook (Durant, OK)

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THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE. CPRIZE STORYD I. N C E upon a time there was a child who had strange thoughts. Some- times his questions would make his mother smile, but often they would bring tears to her eyes, for the child was not always childish. One evening when the child was being tucked in bed he said: Mother, where is the Land of Heart's Desire? It is everywhere and nowhere, song but what do you know of it ? I was just wondering. If it is everywhere and nowhere, mother, how do people find it? Many people never find it at all. Sometimes they think they have found it when they have not. When they are so happy that they can think of nothing that would make them happier, they say they are in the Land of Heart's Desire. The child put his arm around her neck and held her close. Then this is the Land of Heart's Desire, Mother, he Whispered. His mother kissed him. Wait, son, and see.', II In a year or two the child went off to school. Here many new things came into his life, and his mother was no longer everything to him. His childhood passed quickly, and a handsome youth soon stood upon the com- mencement platform of a great college. He was the youngest in his class, with the highest honors. The president had special Words of praise for him, as he gave him his diploma, and the youth said to himself, as he looked proudly around at the glad faces of his friends and classmates: Surely, this is the Land of Heart's Desire! but the gray-haired president had caught the words, and he smiled sadly as he said: Wait and see, my boy, waitand see! III There followed years of Work. Many failures and discouragementS met his most earnest efforts, but through all this the youth was becoming a man. Success came at last. The world which had neglected and scorned him had at last discovered his worth, and bowed at his feet. And the man, looking from the heights of fame and power, said: So this is the Land of Heart's Desire! 98

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Yes, answered the world, but a still, small voice whispered: Wait and see! IV ' All this had been for himself, but now another came into his life. Where others saw only a sweet-faced girl, he saw the One Woman, the very Queen of Heart's Desire. When he had won her, he pressed his bride to his heart and said: Here at last is the Land of Heart's Desire ! And the fair bride smiled and said softly: i'Yes, but only wait and see 1 V That year was the happiest of his life. All past joys and sorrows were forgotten in this supreme happiness. Then came a day which seemed longer than all the year together. At its close they led him into the dark- ened room where his wife lay, and she said softly: See your little son . The man wept for joy, and said: Now I know that here is the Land of Heart's Desire! But his wife smiled and said: Perhaps, but wait and see l VI Many years went by, with their good or bad fortune. There was happiness, when live strong, handsome children, home for the holidays, filled the house with youthful shouts and laughter: there was sadness, when they stood by the grave of the sweet, patient wife and mother. So the man grew older, seeing his children go from him out into worlds of their own, and interests in which he had no share. The end came at last, and he knew that his time had come. As he lay quietly waiting, he looked back over the long, weary years, and his eternal search for the Land of Heart's Desire, and then forward, and he cried aloud: I understand now! The Land of Heart's Desire! -Dorothy Whilney, '14.' 99

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the youth. The heart of the maiden sang no longer, Tired of waiting and fearing that he should never return, she closed her eyes to sleep. Five years soon passed. October had come again. The youth returned and found the Indian maiden waiting for him. The red and gold leaves were fast covering the great rock 'neath which she slept. In time seven great Bois d,Arcs grew around that rock. Seems as if they are keeping watch over the maiden. You have heard there was gold buried there by outlaws? No, many believe it, and have dug but the great tangled roots have prevented very much search. Some say that there is a ghost which protects the treasure, that it was often seen near the great rock in the center of the trees. Perhaps there is a ghost, a spirit, which haunts the place. I like to believe that, child. Need I tell you thatI was the youth and the maiden was waiting for me? That's why I built my cabin here, so I could be near her. That's why I never returned to the east, why I forgot the ways of the white man and his language and lived here alone. There isn't much longer to wait now. To nightl saw her as she was the night I told her I must go, and prom- ised to return again. She entreated me to come very soon- Child, you wont mind if I go to her soon. Ilm so tired, but I must wait. The pipe fell from the old man's hand and he leaned back on the shadow, his head upon his breast. LongI sat looking at the gnarled branches and twisted trunks of the Seven Bois d'Arcs, standing sentinel, outlined against the clear October sky. I hesitated long to intrude upon his sa- cred silence, but at last turned to him and lo! realized that the Old Man had gone to keep his promise. -WINNIE LEWIS, '14. 101