Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

your discomfort. Attend to your affairs and
1 Will stroll around. In half an hour 1 will
be in the arbor again"
1 departed without waiting for an answer
1 went into the garden. An aroma met
me If l entered a church filled with in
cense. Two maids were picking a plant
with gray-green leaves and simple blue
violet flowers. / asked them what 1t was
and they told me that 1t was lavender.
stood beside them. secretly searching the
garden for Judica. when one of the two
said gravely:
Miss Judica is yonder among the rasp-
berries"
Doubtless I blushed like fire I stood
like a trapped schoolboy, stayed a while
and tried to talk about plants, and at last
Saluted and withdrew slowly-very slowly.
l am sure they laughed behind my back.
1t was If l could hear their giggles.
They, too, had seen through me at once.
So she was there, among the raspber-
| ries.
Passionately though my beating heart
drew me to her. l forced myself to go in
another direction. In the great garden
followed paths that led far away from
| her. 1 wandered among flowers and. ex-
| cited l was, l still was glad to know
| them all, because thus l felt myself not
| such a total stranger in the world.
Suddenly know not howl stood close
| to the raspberries.
| 1t was veritable grove of plants But
| there was nothing to see of picker. 1
pluESeu lllO lHe pdtllleSS wilderness,
pushed the fruit-laden branches carefully
apart and sought the delicate black form
| longingly.
| 1 did not find her And then 1 called her
| name softly, Judica!
| My heart beat so loudly that 1 did not
know If 1 had really uttered the name 1t
seemed as If she must hear it beat and an
| swer with hers, Here am l."
! Then l called little louder: "Jud ca I,
Judica!' Almost l cried: Dear. dear
judicial
| But all remained silent. Again and again
! 1 could hear only the beating of my young
| Then l though the branches near me had
moved. No air stirred, and there must
| have been another cause.
The next instant I stood beside her
| We were both frightened when we stood
opposite each other. SO suddenly and SO
| close. Neither Of us dared to speak. 1
| held my breath, for not even my breath
| must touch the pale child with the holy
eyes.
| So we stood silent without motion.
! At last l succeeded in stepping back a
| little-only a little. And then 1 felt the
necessity of explaining my presence. With
| out elaboration l asked:
| why did you not answer me3'
She did not reply, and l repeated the
question. l could not think of anything
| else to say.
Then she stammered: II was so fright
| ened.''
| why, because I called you?"
/
| well, yes" 1 became frightfully en-
barrassed and suffered. Should 1 have
| called loudly?"
| Thereupon she remained silent again
4 also stood wordless, rejecting that it was
| strange how even now we both had spoken
| so softly. almost in whispers
| Silently she began to pick berries again.
! Silently 1 stood and watched her slender
| pale fingers glide among the leaves. Sud
| denly she said:
| why do you not pick berries also? Sure
| ly you came only to help mel
| "Oh, yes. surely"
| l brought the clumsy lie out laboriously
| and began to pick obediently. Then 1 had
\ to stoop so far forward that my face al
| most met hers. Once our hands touched in
| the foliage. We both started backward IS
| If snake had bitten US.
| At the same time a hot thrill went over
| me, and l could scarcely catch my breath
| Yet l tried again and again to touch her
hand. But when l thought, Now it will
happenr the little busy hand would always
/ be somewhere else.
| 1 picked clumsily that crushed the
/ berries
| She criticised:
II beg of you! The fruit must not be
bruised. This Is the way to pick See!
You are not looking at ALL.
| i had to look at her eyes. How, then
| could look at her fingers?
So she said discouraged:
You would better not try. You cannot
learn. Is it possible that you never picked
raspberries in all your life9 Then YOU
| have never eaten them fresh from the
| bush? Quick. quicki Eat now You NAV
| eat as many as you wish. Goodness! I m
always saying you instead Of your royal
! at is terrible"
p