Woodville Republican., 1903-05-09

OHC Hight, aIter
a long debate, Wadsworth declared
that he would have to marry Louise,
despite parental objection, and follow
some other calling.
Il am tired of taking astronomy
he said. Il believe that had better
go back to civil engineering. You
know that / can always make a liv.
ing for two" he added as an after.
thought.
"Of course you can" she said.
proudly, "but l love my father and
want you TO win me under the con.
ditions he has named. Anyway. YOU
can't leave the observatory until he
returns"
That is true. In the meantime,
however, | can be locking about for
something else to do. Although am
a bad astronomer, / am a good engi-
neer. l know that 1 can make INV
services valuable some place. Here
my talents are as good as wasted"
"Oh, Harvey!" she exclaimed, ''if
you only could do something near
at hand, where / could see you, and
share in your triumph Why can't
you discover a comet or new star,
or get famous in some way like
that?"
Wadsworth did not answer ir,medi-
ately. His eye scanned the hravens
as if it might light fortuitously upon
some hitherto undiscovered star. But
every star there he recognized as
having had name since the ,lays
of the, Chaldeans. OF a sudden he
evolved an idea whicn would have
done credit to Copernicus himself
had Copernicus been a lover and un-
derstood telescope photography.
"Who knows but what / may he
answered, evasively. Mrs. Muller
showed signs of waking Wadsworth
stole kiss before the chaperone was
fully awake, bowed the ladies out of
the observatory, AMI sat down to
mar, out his campaign before the
photograph of Cassiopeia was com
pleted at two o'clock. At that hour
he took the plate from the camera
and spent the rest of the night in
developing it. As he worked he
whistled a lively air.
1t was early in May that the news
papers announced the sailing of Prof.
Muller for Easter island. A. month
later the papers chrontcled the dis
covery of a new star by Harvey
Wadsworth while at work in Prof.
Muller's observatory. The new star
made its appearance in the constel-
lation of Cassiopeia at point on a
line drawn from Gamma through
Kappa, and extended about half its
length. The star was identified as
the Pilgrim Star, described by Tycho
Brahe, as having suddenly appeared
in the summer of 1872, and by many
regarded as the Star of Bethlehem.
When this announcement was made
all astronomers brought their tele-
scopes to bear upon Cassiopeia, but
without result. 1t was evident that
the star was rapidly receding when it
was so fortunately observed by Mr..
Harvey Wadsworth. The picture of
the constellation containing the Pill
grim Star was published in the lead
ing astronomical periodicals, and re-
produced in the yellow journals with
fantastical theories as to what was
the portent of the unusual visitor.
From its appearance in 1872 and its
momentary appearance at the pres
ent time astronomers set to work
to calculate its orbit. 1t was grave
lv asserted that it was travelling at
the rate of 1900 miles second, and
that it would not appear again until
the year 1884.
Wadsworth awoke to find himself
famous. 1t was even suggested that
the star should bear his name in the
future, but this offer he modestly de-
clined. He was content to ask as his
only reward the hand OF Louise
Muller in marriage. Mrs. Muller
thought with shudcer how near
Lysander had been to dtsmissing him,
and, fearing to lose swh celebrity,
she readily agreed to an immediate
marriage. The nuptiais were sol
emnized quietly on account OF the
absence of the brides father, and
the honeymoon was spent in the OBJ
servatory.
On the return of Prof. Muller to
America he was informed at once OF
the visit of the Pilgrim Star, an'
shown the picture secured in his own
observatory. The professor FASTENED
home, and, after greeting his fam
ily and congratulating its latest ac-
o,lisition, he asked TO see the plate
which had been used. Mrs. Muller,
Mrs. Wadsworth and tfe astronomer
watched Harvey as he produced the
nIate. There was breathless silence
while the professor scr1tinized it.
"Young man." remarked Prof.
Muller, dispassionately, lit is strange
that YOU did not notice it, but your
pilgrim Star is caused by curious
flaw in the plate"
"But there is no flaw in the mar
riaee contract" whispered Harvey to
his wife.
pidnt Mind Black Flies.
,,ida In the Maine woods was brag-