
[Frontispiece: "He looked up—to see her standing at his door!"]
E-text prepared by Al Haines
HEART'S DESIRE
A NOVEL by EMERSON HOUGH
HEART'S DESIRE - CHAPTER I - THE LAND OF HEART'S DESIRE - This being in Part the Story of Curly, the Can of Oysters, and the Girl from Kansas
CHAPTER II - THE DINNER AT HEART'S DESIRE - This continuing the Relation of Curly, the Can of Oysters, and the Girl from Kansas; and Introducing Others
CHAPTER III - TRANSGRESSION AT HEART'S DESIRE - Beginning the Cause Celebre which arose from Curly's killing the Pig of the Man from Kansas
CHAPTER IV - THE LAW AT HEART'S DESIRE - Continuing the Story of the Pig from Kansas, and the Deep Damnation of his Taking Off
CHAPTER V - EDEN AT HEART'S DESIRE - This being the Story of a Paradise; also showing the Exceeding Loneliness of Adam
CHAPTER VI - EVE AT HEART'S DESIRE - How the Said Eve arrived on the Same Stage with Eastern Capital, to the Interest of All, and the Embarrassment of Some.
A weary traveler and his companion Curly pause on the windswept Capitan Divide, gazing over a sea of red‑brown earth that stretches toward distant horizons. Their conversation drifts between homes left behind and the promise of a new settlement, hinting at the restless spirit that drives them westward. The landscape is painted in vivid detail—snow‑capped peaks, whispering pines, and a quiet, almost timeless sky—that sets the tone for the quiet town they are about to reach.
When they finally descend into Heart’s Desire, they find a community of oddly charming inhabitants whose quirks color everyday life. Amidst the town’s gentle rhythms, a tender romance begins to blossom between two fortunate souls, offering a glimpse of hope and contentment in a place where the ordinary feels extraordinary. The story balances the ruggedness of frontier travel with the warmth of human connection, inviting listeners to share in the simple joys and subtle mysteries of a small, enduring town.
Full title
Heart's Desire The Story of a Contented Town, Certain Peculiar Citizens, and Two Fortunate Lovers A Novel
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (470K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-02-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1857–1923
A lawyer-turned-writer who helped shape the popular American Western, he turned frontier history and outdoor adventure into bestselling fiction. His novels, including The Mississippi Bubble and North of 36, brought the sweep of the American past to a wide audience.
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