The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-10-29
professor. taking one Of her soft hands
within his Wrinkied 0nea

1e~SS~NSVse
within his wrinkled ones.
Then my mother called in the old
FAMILY doctor. and he listened long
and shook his head.
DIR. Taubenfeder. the young lady's
cousin. he said. is the man who
should be consulted about her case.
BE is now probably the greatest expert
IN the country for troubles Of the heart
and Is the one best able to cure her,
therefore we came 10 see you, and
you also listened long to that heart
and asked many questions and wrote
learned things ON bits of paper. but
when l sought to read them I could
not understand. You did not write
the few words that might have healed
my heart. and you surely never
thought to say them; hence 1 knew
when We were coming home that /
should not be cured"
The professor by this time had bent
down until his sharp elbows rested
upon his knees and his face was in
the hollow OF his hand.
Once heard you saying to my
mother that did not respond to treat
ment. That was the little mistake
Fritzel, dear. for indeed would have
responded to kiss from your dear
lips. How wonderfully the pressure of
your arms might have stiIled the I'M
ruly thrObbing of that heart! Some
times in the morning you were sur
prised to find me looking ever SO much
better. DO you know the reason.
Fritzel? 1t was because during the
long. long nights | dreamed that you
mad come to me and whispered low,
sweet things more potent than drugs"
Poor little Lolita! Poor little girl!"
cried the professor.
Truly, dearest. loved you until
the end and always understood Mine
was only one among the myriad hearts
that were throbbing all the world over
for things that could not be. Yours
was that OF great man upon whose
lips the world hung in order to listen
to marvellous wisdom and from whose
pen flowed stream that meant hope
and joy and life renewed for suffering
mankind. was like humble wOr-
SHIPPER Of great sun. which burned
and scared me ere could reach It.
Your strength was too great for the
child at your feet. your thoughts too
lofty. and 1t was this that left loop
hole for the little mistake. You could
not see that the unruly heart thrOb-
bed on your account; that every fiber
OF it was entwined about you. How
could you have known it?"
The professor could not answer. he
was listening. haggardly. to things into
which his philosophy had never dew
ed. Within his breast were waking
regrets and iongings from which he
had always thought himself immune.
''FritzeI. dear" she continued-and
from her lips his boyhoOd's name
sounded wondrousiy sweet-"you must
not grieve over that little mistake.
for have very long been recon-
to think that you were not able to see.
You were always SO good and kind to
me that perhaps If your vision had been
clearer you might have been drawn
away from your great work. Your at
lection for the child companion Of
your boyhood days might have changed
into Il great compassion. and that
might have led you to offer me the
great and only remedy-a place within
your heart And then | should have
chung to YOU. as the Ivy around the
oak. and perhaps should have hinder
ed your full development. Since my
head is only us high as your breast.
at lower levels and to give to love
some Of the passion you have bestowed
upon research. The quiet Of your
workroOm might even have been dis
turbed by the music Of baby notes. by
the cries Of little thing that would
have been flesh Of your flesh. and
would also have claimed its share Of
your love aud minutes out OF your
busy hours. Doubtless everything hap
pened for the best. since my neart was
only one Of a series. as you said. while
your personality was that OF one too
great to notice such little things.
1T was that Of blind person"
cried the old professor. with one hand
hard pressed upon his breast. 1T was
that Of one who could not see that q
love like yours is the very best ana
greatest reward man can strive fOr.
"Oh. Fritzel. dearest" she exclaimed.
like u mother seeking to console hurt
child II fear now that your goodness
is leading you away and bringing to
YOU emotions that do not beft learn.
ed professor. Just see how mucn l
have disturbed You in these Few mo-
ments. | should indeed have been
great hindrance to you. am gao tnat
YOU never saw. that you were never
compelled, to be the slave OF two loves
between which you might have FALLEN
to the level Of other men. l VIII go
now. dear Fritzel. and l implore you
70 have no regrets. You have Deen
seeing me with the eyes OF forty years
ago and looking ut my heavy tresses
and bic. Young eyes. But in truth you