The state herald., 1908-02-07

G Prof. Max was coming to
g. y tea. and, in Freda'S opin-
ion, this teacher of astron-
omy was the greatest of men. The
emperor himself was not half so wise
or handsome, the foolish maiden
thought. Her father, who was an
enthusiastic student of astronomy,
was a great friend of Herr Max, and
the latter often came to his house,
where there was fine observatory
When the two men went up TO the
housc-top observatory to study the
heavenly bodies Freda eager to learn
went with them; but somehow the
consultations, comets, meteors and
asteroids she heard them speak of
so fiuently We're all so confusing that
she could understand nothing, try
hard as she might.
Hut she learned one thing, which
was not down in the books. all un.
consciously. During those long, de
licious nights spent upon the house.
top watching the glowing heavens,
she had learned the lesson of love
and all the affection of her pure,
young heart was lavished upon the
professor.
/ When the little German maid first
realized that she loved him she was
annoyed at her audacity and trembled
| lest he lind 1t out, but later on when
the noble passion had filled her whole
/ heart she trembled lest he should
never know. or care for her in return.
Then she tearfully said to her
self, Il can but die" To young, ro.
mantle maidens it seems an easy
thing to die for love unrequited. but
he was wise who said that men have
/ died and worms have eaten them. but
not for love"
The soft summer nights passed and
/ they met no more upon the roof, but
the two astronomers spent many an
evening In the Traumers' cozy little
| parlor. with their books and charts
spread on the table beside them. Then
the young hausfrau sat by quietly
knitting. feasting her eyes upon the
beloved countenance, but II by chance
Herr Max glanced in her direction.
she dropped her blue eyes. blushing
deeply And as she always dropped
her eyes she never saw the tender
smile that played upon his lips when.
ever she repeated this harmless ma.
newer.
When St Valentines day came the
bright flower OF hope blossomed In
Fredas heart. for this was surely the
opportunity she sought and she hoped
aid With loudly beating heart she
entered the stntloner's shop and
asked the young clerk TO show her
the valentines She pressed her hand
against her heart to still It's beating.
making. as she did So far prettier
picture than any OF the painted graces
on the valentines before her.
Some one. passing by. caught a
glimpse OF her and thought so. too;
but Freda was so engrossed In trying
to find a valentine to suit her. that she
did not know the professor had seen
her and had passed on with that rare,
~ tender smile upon his lips.
Al last she found what she wanted.
II was very simple little valentine,
but Il told an eloquent story, on the
top of the white embossed page
blazed glorious star with beams OF
| llght radiating from every point, and
/ beneath II. as II basking In It's rays.
lay tiny heart pierced by an arrow
I shot from the bow Of roguish cupid
"Achl" thought Freda. the star is
| Herr Max and mine is the heart but
| ! fear he can never stoop low enough
| To reach H." With this humble
/ thought she trembllngly addressed the
envelope and then ran to drop It In
the nearest postbox, A score Of times
she wished Il back aud reproaehed
/ herself for her boldnesH, but now he
. was coming to tea and n be under.
stood he would reveal Il In his conduct
and she would soon know her fate.
~ last the preparations for supper
were completed, and. with tired Sigh.
she nht down by the bright ire To rest,
Pleasant visions filled her mind, and
she did not hear the footsteps which
softly drew near, aud only knew she
was not alone when something
dropped into her lap,
II was the valentine she had sent
that morninE-hc had brought or acnt
II back 10 her. she know not which. for
gTof and shame 80 oycreamo her She
dared not turn her head 10 see,
Thinking he thus refused her love,
she was about 10 cast the now hateful
valentine Into tho IRE and then rush
away and never look at the professor
again. when something stopped her,
Her eyes fell upon the valentine, II
was the same. and yet not the same,
Tor. although tho great star sun blnfod
Of tho top of the card, tho litll0 heart
win no longer far beneath Il. but, In,
stead. rested within tho heart of the
star
A deep Joy filled little Frcda'a
bfraHt' when. nj last she took
courage and looked around she saw
tho professor standing behind her and