Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-02-27
FALLING STARS.

sky ana speak With the distant stars. We
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 thrill of pleasure
run through me when I felt their silken
caress.
Then at length I 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 tho case. l was held back
by strong, an instructive, sense of deli
cacy, by an involuntary respect. Her big
blue eyes revealed such naivete and such
innocence that il seemed to me simply
sacrilegious to speak to this child of such
things and therefore kept silent.
But soon afterward, with what seemed
to mo strange suddenness, the child
grew into young girl and the Annie Of
old, with her long skirts, her golden curls
tied up in knot upon her head and q
twinkle Of mischief and coquetry in her
big blue eyes, was now young woman.
She possessed all the graces, all the
charms and all the attractions of her SEX
and when in her company I 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
law studies. 1t was my last evening at
Ormes and I was going away on the fol-
lowing day.
AS usual we were together upon the
lawn. She had never seemed SO beauti-
full to mo before, SO seductive and also SO
affcctionate, 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 year,
when my holidays como round again,
shall be at your side once moro looking at
the stars. 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 meteor shot suddenly across the
sky above our heads and l took Armies
hand in niue and said in serious voice:
sit is said, Annie, that when one has q
wish to make it should DO made while q
meteor flashes along the sky. have just
xrichol co,,,otI,inr up1-T hono fh n hpforn
long it may be fulfilled''
Did she understand?
Her little hand tremblcd ever so little
in mine, but there were no signs of emo
tion in her eyes or on her lips. 1t seemed
to me-pcrhaps 1 was mistaken in the I'M
certain light-that 1 saw a sphinxlike
smile on her mouth, and l 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 I spent dreaming
in my little working room.
Had 1 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 despiscd
myself had 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 tho approaching summer, which
was fixed for my return to Ormes.
began to enjoy the pleasure of return
in advance. 1 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:
''Annic, a year ago I registered wish
beneath 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 you? And then
we will never be separated again."
Closing my eyes, imagined I saw my
sweet lancee drop her head upon my shout
der and allow me to print q chaste kiss
upon her white forehead. This was my
only pleasure and tho only dream that
INDUCED in during tho long hours of my
work In Paris.
At length this much longcd for sum-
mer had come, and / was going back to
Ormes.
Annie was there, more charming, more
ravishing than ever, and in her eyes l saw
cleaning a gayety and happiness that
seemed to mo sure sign that she was
pleased at my return and had given mo
her love.
Tho night camc and in calm, uncon-
cerned voice / asked her to come out and
look at tho stars.
"Will you come and sec If there arc any
falling stars tonight" asked her.
Sho followed me out upon the terrace,
and when once again by her side l expert
encod sort Of giddiness. My heart be.
gan to beat as If it would break, and new
er before had l felt my love SO strong, SO
violent, SO irresistible.
She was everything to me-lny littlo
friend of childhood, the sweetheart of my
carly manhood. All my aspirations were
toward her, and she was my whole being,
my very life. would have knolt at her
feet in tho night on the terrace and have
kissed with passionate tears tho lace of her
long dress.
l attempted to speak, but in vain. The
words died away upon my lips 1t was
she who first spoke, and in tho deep silence
of that beautiful summer night heard
her sweet voice say to me:
II nm SO happy now that you have come
homo again. I have been waiting for you
to tell you myself very important piece
of news namely, that NJ. Herpin, the
wealthy manufacturer, has asked mo to
marry him, and assure you would not
have had my engagement ball without
your being there"
1t was warm night, just as in the old.
en- days. Over our heads the falling stars
glealued brightly in the sky for q moment
and then died away in the unknown. 1t
seemed to me that they carried away with
them in their swift flight into darkness all
my love, all my, happiness and all my
dreams for the future. They also boro
away on their wings of flame my faith,
my illusions and a considerable portion Of
my youth. From the French.