The Huttig news., 1908-02-08

Prof. Max was coming to | @ , 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 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 | house-top observatory to study the heavenly bodies Freda, eager to learn, went with them; but somehow the constellations, comets, meteors and l 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 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 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, q can but die" To young, TO- 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 countenanee, 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 blessomed in Freda's heart, for this was surely the opportunity she sought and she hoped int 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 It was a very simple little valentine, but it told an eloquent story. On the top of the white embossed page blazed glorious star, with beams of light radiating from every point, and beneath it, as if basking in it's rays, lay 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 it in his conduct and she would soon know her fate
 At last the preparations for supper were completed, and, with 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.
 It 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. It 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 Freda's breast! When, at last, she took courage and looked around she saw the professor standing behind her, and saw for the first time the tender. loving smile as he gently drew her to him and folded her in his arms.
 Then she knew, in truth that the beautiful star had stopped down and