The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-04-26
A SHOOTING STAR.
Bv Rust Roest.

It was a beautiful evening as a couple
walked slowly along the narrow path on
the beach in the soft light of myriads OF
stars.
Won't you sit down a moment, Miss
Signe?"
Yes, I should like to, but where?'
Right her under that big rock; Just
give me your hand and l will lead you"
She sat down on a fiat rock and mace
room for him next to her. ,
For a few moments they sat In silence,
looking on the quiet ocean.
"a penny for your thoughts, Miss Signe.
What We're you thinking off,
Oh, l was just waiting for a shooting
start have a wish
"And haven't you everything you could
wish for?'
WHO has that? Have you?"
Did she mean to give him an opportunity
to say what was in his mind? For a mo-
iment he thought SO, but he saw that ne
was mistaken when he noticed how her
thoughts had wandered off again. Evident
ly she had no idea.
II suggest that we tell each other what
we wish for he said, that we may have
our wishes ready and not be too late when
we do see a shooting star"
THAT is unnecessary on my part. ! awe
only one wish and that never leaves me,
and now if 1 should tell it to anybody it
would not come true, you know, and II
must and shall come true
She spoke the words with an Intensity of
feeling which almost surprised him,
though he knew the depths Of her feelings
in everything.
II do not know what to gay he replied.
II have never wished anything in that
way yet, and hitherto energy and strength
Of will ave always been enough to get for
me what I wished for"
Il understand that very well" she said.
II, also, believe in the power of a strong
| ,u.fll-nh I,r,, do NOT EDn" how strong nv
will Is"
She looked him straight in the eyes and
he was surprised to see the expression OF
determination in her face. And you
will not tell me what it ts?"
Yes, l will-you know that I sing" 1t
came so unexpectedly, SO entirely differ
'ent from what he had thought, that un-
consciously he moved closer to her. she
misunderstood his movement.
mo, please do not move. l do not want
to hear any batteries. l know we'll enough
that you like my voice. One always has a
feeling Of things of that kind. No, 1t is
something much more important. Do you
know why l asked you to come and hear
me sing? You have the true appreciation
of music, not a cold professional knowl-
edge, but music Is the same to you as re-
ligion is to some people, and you have
heard all the greatest artists in the world.
Do you listen to what 1 say or are your
thoughts ~elsewhere?'
mo, l am listening"
For this reason | have sung to yoL
as I have never sung before anybody be-
fore, because 1 felt that you would not
listen with cold criticism, but would fully
understand by very soul which ! put into
my voice. 1t was like an invisible tie be-
tween US, which no one else had any idea
Of"
"Signe.'
She did not hear him, did not notice the
l ~ lir AZ SIn fhn11 mi
of what she wanted to say.
Yes: sometimes l ever forgot that you
were in the room. 1t was just as If l
were alone as If 1 was singing to myself
and for this reason you can judge far bet
ter than my teacher. Tell me, then, do
you really think that I may ever become a
great artist?"
She suddenly turend her face toward him
and 1t took all his will power to keep from
taking her into his arms.
You have many conditions. You are
young, beautiful and have a really wonder
full voice"
And I have no other thought In the
world. No other wish. If I should see a
shooting star while We are sitting here my
wish would be formulated In my mind in
tho same moment-to make my debut as
Juliet and to became famous"
She was silent a moment Then she con-
tinued:
But first of all to be admired by my
teacher and especially by you. AT my
debut you should sit in a box, pale, with
closed eyes, as l have often seen you when
I hace been singing, and you should come
to me after the performance and congratu-
late me with the words: Il have never
heard q Juliet like YOU
a panied expression had come into his
face while she was speaking. He must
say something, must find out If his life's
fondest hopes were to be shattered. He
still thoupht II nocajb1e tho+ ha bo1 mis-
understood her, as she had misunderstood
him, and in a voice which trembled with
emotion he said slowly:
: And have you never wished for some
one TO love you more than his own life,
whom you might love again; a home
| where you might sing your most beautiful
songs, a husband who would adore you?"
mo; of that | have never thought. That
Is not for me. have never even for a mo-
ment thought of love, and 1 am eighteen
t years old"
And If you now felt that some one loved
you"-
/ Il do not think that I would feel 1t, If
he did not tell me SO in so many words.
and l do not think that anyone could be
such q fool as not to know that l could not
love him as l love my art. One cannot
serve two masters. My teacher sad the
other day that a great singer should never
marry. and you agreed with him. Besides
I do not love anybody, and I-oh, look,
there was my shooting STAR"
Yes. l just noticed it as It went ont
t Did you Hish?'
? "oh surely: My great. my only wish.
And you?"
. Il did not WISH
= oh, am SO sorry: 1t would surel,
. nave come true. You ought to have
watched
, NO, my wish would never have come
8 true, anyway"
And why not? Tell me what it is"
snh = nror1l