The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-29
FALLING STARS.

SKY and speak with the distant stars. W.
were about 16 years of age at this time,
and commenced to experience a singular
delight in being alone with Annie by my
side in the evenings.
Sometimes the night wind, playing with
her golden hair. would blow it across my
face, and always felt a thrill of pleasure
run through me when I felt their silker
caress.
Then at length had looked deep down
into my heart and had read there that
loved her. But / was unable to tell hel
that this was the case. was held back
by strong; an instructive, sense of deli
cacy, by an involuntary respect. Her big
blue eyes revealed such naipete and such
innocence that it seemed 30 me simply
sacrilegious to speak to this child of such
things, and l therefore kept silent.
But soon afterward, with what seemed
to me a strange suddenness, the child
grew into young girl, and the Annie of
old. with her long skirts, her golden curls
tied up in Laot upon her head and a
twinkle Of mischief and coquetry in her
big blue eyes was now a young woman.
She possessed all the graces, all the
charms and all the attractions of her sex,
and when in her company 1 felt like a
timid, awkward schoolboy
When We were alone in the evening
upon the wide terrace, held my peace and
was afraid to speak for fear of awakening
in the still night air that ripping, little,
scornful laugh of hers, and it was only to
the shooting stars and meteorites that L
dared to sigh my love. 1t was then decid-
ed that was to go to Paris to pursue my
1oc ,iyr Of
Ormes, and was going away on the fol-
lowing day.
AS usual, we were together upon the
lawn. She had never seemed SO beauti-
ful TO me before, so seductive and also so
affectionate, for, affected at the idea of
our separation, she had said such nice
things to me that, although they were in
significant enough in themselves, yet,
coming from her, had engraved them.
selves forever in my heart.
Fighting against the trembling of my
voice, l said to her: ''Annie, in q year,
when my holidays come round again, I
shall be at your side once more looking at
the sars. You will think of me from time
to timer
For answer, she laughed her light, rip
ping little laugh, with that touch of scorn
In it, and looked up at me with saucy,
shining eyes.
Then a meteor shot suddenly across the
sky above our heads and / took Armies
hand in niue and said in a serious voice:
1T is said, Annie, that when one has
wish TO make it should be made while a
meteor flashes along the sky. have just
wished something, ard-I hope that before
long it may be fulfilled!"
Did she understand?
Her little hand trembled ever so little
in mine but there were no signs of emo
ton in her eyes CT on her lips. 1t seemed
TO mc-perhaps / was mistaken in the I'M
certain light---that : saw a sphinxlike
smile Oh her mouth, and / said nothing
more to her that night on the subject SO
close to my heart.
/ went to Paris and devoted myself to
my studies with all the energy of my ma
ture. My leisure time spent dreaming
In my little working room.
Had l wanted other distractions there
were plenty of them, but had made up
my mind to resist all the usual tempta-
tions of my age, and should have despised
myself had l wasted my thoughts on any
thing or anybody else than Annie. Inever
ceased thinking about my little golden
haired girl and awaited with feverish i'm
patience the approaching summer, which
was fixed for my return to Ormes.
began to enjoy the pleasure of return
in advance. / saw myself walking with
Annie again on the soft green terraces,
holding her hand in mine and saying to
her in the darkness which would conceal
my bushes:
Annie, a year ago / registered a wish
benea tn these stars that you might one
day love me as love you and have loved
you all my life. You will wait another
year for me, Annie, won't your And then
we will never be separated again.
Closing my eyes, l imagined / saw my
sweet fancee drop her head upon my shout
der and allow me to print chaste kiss
upon her white forehead. This was my
only pleasure and the only dream that I /
in during the long hours of my
work in Paris.
At length this much 1onged for sum-
mer had come, and l was going back to |
Ormes.
Annie was there. more charming more |
ravisbing than ever, and in her eyes ] saw
cleaning a gayety and happiness that |
seemed to me a sure sign that she was
pleased at my return and had given me /
her love.
The night came, and in calm, uncon-
cerned voice i asked her to come out and
look at the stars
Will you come and see if there are any
falling stars tonight asked her.
She followed me ont upon the terrace,
md when once again by her side 1 expert
need sort of giddincss. My heart be-
gan TO beat as if it would break, and new
II before had l felt my love SO strong, SO
Tiolent so irresistible.
She was everything to me-my little
riend of childhood, the sweetheart of my
'arly manhood All my aspirations were
oward her. and she was my whole being,
ny very life. / would have knelt at her
Get in the night on the terrace and have
Kissed with passionate tears the lace Of her
ong dress
/ attempted 20 speak, but in vain. The
Words died away upon my lips. It was
he who first spoke, and in the deep silence
# that beautiful summer night heard
Ter sweet voice say TO me:
Il am so happy now that you have come
ome again. l have been waiting for you
o tell you myself very important piece
f news-namely, that NJ Herpin, the
Fealthy manufacturer has asked me to
aarry him, and l assure you / would not
ave had my engagement ball without
our being there!'
1t was wa-n night, just as in The old
q days. Over our heads the falling stars
leaned brightly in the sky for moment
nd then died away in the unknown. Is
eemed to me that they carried away with
q I