The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-15
7b Leo A.ter, the som of my beloved friend

| nv dear Leo, L shall no lonkot v. - -
the living. 1 know not if thy father ever
| told thee he was my dearest friend ioi
eighteen or twenty years. We both loved
the same maiden. Leontine gave my
father the preference, and l went south
Though we remained friendly, we had no
correspondence. 1 remained unmarried
but not happy. knowledge was q ricn
reward I loved it.
Now, I feel the near approach OF
death; l have made inquiries-iearneo
that thy parents are dead and that thou
art still living Thou shalt benny heiri
beg of thee only three things, convinc-
ed that thou wilt honor my wishes:
Enter, first. thy house at evening Win
out light; l have done it; this is pleas
antry, but the thought OF death shall not
sadden my spirit. Change not the gar,
den, though there be many things that
do not please thee; and the third request
is for thine own we'll being-engsge not
thyself in marriage to maiden until
thou hast had personal evidence OF good
ness of heart; beauty fades, brilliant IN
tellectual gifts are often accompanied by
an unhappy disposition, but goodness OF
heart lives forever and throws mild
glow over the wrinkled face OF age.
Enjoy my gift with content OF heart,
and remember thy unknown friend when
thou wanderest under the shade OF the
trees which he planted thirty years
ago. GETTHARDT STAHLBERaER.
Calmly Loe laid the papers aside. AS
with magic wand mad his destiny been
transformed; and he folded his hands and
thanked God for the friend OF his father
and mother. "Thus has the memory OF
thee and thy amiableness, o mother, even
beyond the grave, wrought out blessing
Tor thy son." he cried.
As Leo grew more familiar with the
thought of his fortune, he decided at once
to remain in the village but determined
to ask vacation, and in case II was TO-
fused, to resign his position.
To-day. he would work no more; he
took his hat and shawl and fastened out
into the air. Repairing to the gymnas-
ium, with few polite words Leo inform
ed his Principal OF the reception of the
packages.
1t was already dark, when, Elk months
later Leo, on beautiful summer evening,
left the busy station. He enqulred OF a
station porter for the nearest good hos
ielry, to which he ordered his baggage.
There he was shown an elegant room,
where, after changing his travelling suit
and dining he took his bunch OF keys and
enauired of waiter for the house OF the
deceased Professor Stahlberger.
Not far from the Dom, answered the
man, SIT stands apart, surrounded by the
garden walls, it is easy to ind.
Leo thanked him for his information
and took mis- way thither. Although it
was dark, be soon found the Dom, whose
Iofty tower in the light of the crescent
moon threw its great shadow over the
place. Now, he stood before the house,
which from thenceforth was his own pro-
perty. SO much as he could discern in
the dim moonlight, it was large stone
building. He took the great key, and, OF
:. surety, it opened the door of the house
Through spacious hall he CROPPED his
way in darkness till he came TO broad
high; of stairs. On the landing he sought
and finally found door, which he open.
I'd. He entered the chamber; Luna's
pale light guided him to the window,
which ne opened, when fresh wave OF
fragrance hoated into the room up from
the dark, luxurant flower garden below
The niehtingales song and the splsshng
9f the fountain broke the silence OF the
sof; summer night. A long time he
stood, lost in enraptured thought; then
zee sought the sofa, and lay down 10 rest,
with heart OVERLOOKING with quiet JOY
1t was broad day when Leo awoke
Bewildered, he looked around the pleas
ant and elegantly furnished room. The
wrting-table, with its comfortable arm
chair before it, two weil-tilled bookcases
,onylns ed him that he was in the study
of his deceased beneiactor.
Adjoining, on the right, was sleeping
chamber on the left, saloon and suite
Of three rooms All were handsomely
furnished. L"p examined the whole
floor; also, the second and third stories
ut last, the kit neh, on the ground fonr.
even to the irons and china closets be
wondered ut the perfect order and ar
rangement of the house, and then b.
thought of his breakfast. Without I'm
gering longer, he took his hat and can"
and was about to go to the hotel fOi
breakfast, when he thought OF the garden
thither he went. This was large, rich
with fruits and flowers. Al the end was
small house; a pleasant-looking woman
was standing in the door; she called hel
husband, who was watering plants, tc
come in to breakfast. Leo approached
the woman, and asked il she would allow
him to Join them at the breakfast. 81
am the new possessor of this estate-Dr
Aster."
The gardener and his wife made their
compliments; while Leo was conversing
With the man, the woman hsstened to lay
the table IN the rose arbor.
Leo sson saw that the gardener
thoroughly understood his business, anc
expressed the wish that he would retaIr
his position.
He desired the couple to provide hin
with trusty man servant and an elderl
woman TO take charge Of his house. Their
the Young householder, after pleasan
breakfast, left the garden to order hi
baggage, and go to the magistrate t.
legitimate hisIclaim, as Doctor Leo Aster
! heir to the estate of Professor Stahlber
ger.
Quietly, but pleasantly, Leo spent tn
sursmer in his own house. He resigned
his position as assistant teacher and nov
offered himself as private lecturer, II
time 10 become Professor in the Uni
versity. He made the customary socia
calls, met with most friendly reception
particularly where there were young
Unmarried ladies Everybody in
burg knew that DR.. Aster had found &c.
600 thalers in State bonds in the deceased
Professors writing desk The house, o
which he had rented part, also brought
HIM an income, and the young Herr Doc
tor was amiaole and learned.
Though Leo was no woman hater, ye
towards the most charming he was re
served and polite, but his heart remsinec
untouched. One celebrated beauty made
transient impression upon his fancy, ba
!, vanished as soon as be found that sh'
did not possess goodness of heart le