The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-02-14

II
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 a fine observatory.
When the two men went up to the
| house-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 fluently were all so confusing that
she could understand nothing, try
| hard as she might.
But she learned one thing, which
was not down in the books, all I'M
consciously. During those long, de-
licious nights spent upon the house
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 find it 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 Trainers coy little
parlor, with their books and charts
sr--1d on the table beside them. Then
the young hausfrau sat by quietly
knitting feasting her eyes upon the
beloved countenance, but If by chance
| Herr Max glanced in her direction,
she dropped her blue eyes, blushing
| her eyes she never saw the tender
smile that played upon his lips when
ever she repeated this harmless ma
neuver.
When st. Valentines day came the
bright flower of hope blossomed in
Freda's heart, for this was surely the
opportunity she sought and she hoped
the good saint would lend her his
aid. With loudly beating heart she
entered the stationer'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
glimpse of her and thought so, too;
but Freda was so engrossed in trying
to find valentine to suit her, that she
did not know the professor had seen
her and had passed on with that rare
ly tender smile upon his lips.
At last she found what she wanted.
1t was a very simple little valentine,
but it told an eloquent story. On the
top of the white embossed page
blazed a glorious star, with beams of
light radiating from every point, and
beneath 1t, as if basldng in its rays,
lay a tiny heart pierced by an arrow
shot from the bow of roguish cupid.
"Ach!" thought Freda, "the star is
Herr Max and mine is the heart But
l fear he can never stoop low enough
to reach it." With this humble
thought she tremblingly addressed the
envelope and then ran to drop it in
the nearest postboX. A score of times
she wished it back and reproached
herself for her boldness, but now he
was coming to tea and if he under
stood he would reveal 1t in his conduct
and she would soon know her fate.
At last the preparations for supper
were completed and, with a tired sigh,
she sat down by the bright fire to rest.
Pleasant visions filled her mind and
she did not hear the footsteps which
softly drew near, and only knew she
was not alone when something
dropped into her lap.
1t was the valentine she had sent
that morning-he had brought or sent
it back to her, she knew not which, for
grief and shame so overcame her she
dared not turn her head to~see.
Thinking he thus refused her love,
she was about to cast the now hateful
valentine into the fire and then rush
away and never look at the professor
again, when something stopped her.
Her eyes fell upon the valentine. 1t
was the same, and yet not the same,
for, although the great star still blazed
at the top of the card. the little heart
was no longer far beneath it, but, in
stead, rested within the heart of the
star.
A deep Joy filled little Fredas
breastl When, at last, she took
courage and looked around she saw
the professor standing behind her, and
saw for the first time the tender,