The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-08
FALLING STARS.


childhood before going to bed of going out
On the lawn and terrace to interrogate the
sky and speak with the distant stars We
were about 16 years of age at this time,
and commenced to experience 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 thrill of pleasure
run through me when I felt their silken
caress.
Then at length had looked deep down
into my heart and had read there that I
loved her. But I was unable to tell her
that this was the case. I was held back
by strong, an instructive, sense of deli
Gaoy, by an Involuntary respect. Her big
blue eyes revealed such naiyete and such
innocence that it seemed to me simply
secrilegious to speak to this child of such
things, and therefore kept silent
But soon afterward, with what seemed
to me a strange suddenness, the child
grew into a young girl, and the Annie of
old, with her long skirts, her golden curls
tied up in knot upon her head and
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 l felt like
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,
Ecornful laugh of hers, and it was only to
the shooting stars and meteorites that I
dared to sigh my love. 1t was then decid-
ed that was to go to Paris to pursue my
law studies. 1t was my last evening at
Ormes, and was going away on the fol-
lowing day.
AS usual, we were together upon the
lawn. She had never seemed SO beauti-
full 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, 1 said to her: annie, in a year,
when my holidays come round again, I
shall be at your side once more looking at
the stars. You will think of me from time
to time?''
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 I took Annie's
hand in mine 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. 1 have just
wished something, and-I hope that before
long it may be fulflledl''
Did she understand?
Her little hand trembled ever so little
in mine, but there were no signs of emo
ton in her eyes or on her lips. 1t seemed
to me-perhaps I was mistaken in the I'M
certain hght-that l saw a sphinxlike
smile on her mouth, and I 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 wanted other distractions there
were plenty of them, but I had made up
my mind to resist all the usual tempta-
tions of my age, and should have despised
myself had I wasted my thoughts on any
thing or anybody else than Annie. never
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.
1 began to enjoy the pleasure of return
in advance. I 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, year ago I registered wish
beneath these stars that you might one
day love me as 1 love you and have loved
you all my life. You will wait another
year for me- Annie, won't you? And then
we will never be separated again."
Closing my eyes, 1 imagined I 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
INDUCED in during the long hours of my
work in Paris.
At length this much longed for sum-
mer had come, and 1 was going back to
! Ormes.
Annie was there, more charming, more
| ravishing 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 NE
I her love.
The night came, and in a 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?'' I asked her.
] She followed me out upon the terrace,
and when once again by her side expert
enced a sort of giddiness. My heart be-
gan to beat as if it would break, and new
er before had felt my love so strong, so
violent, so irresistible.
She was everything to me-my little
friend of childhood the sweetheart of my
early manhood All my aspirations were
toward her, and she was my whole being,
my very life. I would have knelt at her
feet in the night on the terrace and have
kissed with passionate tears the lace of her
long dress.
attempted to speak, but in vain. The
words died away upon my lips. 1t was
she who first spoke, and in the deep silence
of that beautiful summer night 1 heard
her sweet voice say to me:
Il am SO happy now that you have come
home again. have been waiting for you
to tell you myself a very important piece
of neMs=namelY. that NJ Herpin. the