The herald., 1894-11-21
Margarita burst into tears, cast away


the cat and clung to her arm.
''Do let me-do let mep' she sobbed.
"Dear mother, let me go to Berlin with
Frau Sucher and Frau Biedernann to
meet the soldiers. am big girl now
0 years old, almost-and Frau Sucher
will take care Of mel'
She opened her previously hidden
hand and revealed a little hoard Of
money.
"It will be enough, and Franz will
be so glad to see mel" she said.
With round arms choking her into
acquiescence and fresh lips pressed
against her cheek, Frau Krummer con-
sidered the question.
Well, the good mother had warm
place in her heart for the lad who had
no kin to rejoice over his homecoming.
So when Frau Sucher went up to Ber.
lin small girl, beaming with joy, at
her side gazed from above huge bunch
Of cornfiowers at the strange sights slip
ping past the car window.
For Margarita the journey was far
from tedious. AT every station, laugh
ing, light hearted people crowded upon
the train, all bound upon one Grand
the welcome of Germany's warrior sons.
When other amusements palled, the
cornflowers were woven into large
wreath by Margarita's deft little fingers,
and her heart swelled with joy at the
thought that she would greet dear
Franz on the morrow and make him for
get that neither father nor mother nor
sister nor sweetheart awaited his COM
ing.
The morning dawned fair, and Frau
Sucher and her charge were early
abroad. They found the streets already
thronged and gay with flowers and ban
ners and lined with benches and plat
forms.
Frau Sucher established herself, with
Margarita, as near the statue of Fred
ericl the Great us possible, proceeding
to make herself comfortable with her
lunchbasket.
Far away sounded strains of martial
music. The troops were passing around
the old town wall. There was an eager
movement in the throng. All faces
turned by common impulse toward the
Brandenburg Thor. Yes, they were
comingl
Carefully holding the blue wreath Of
cornfowers, Margarita craned her small
neck, but, alas could see nothing be-
yond sea of heads. Tears of disap-
pointment rose to her eyes.
After all, Franz would think himself
forgotten in tho general rejoicingl The
Journey would be in vain 1t was not to
be borne.
Slipping unnoticed from Frau Such
er's side, Margarita wormed her way
through the crowd until she stood be-
hind the police who mounted guard
along the way.
Thrusting her head out as far as pos
e.ble, she paid scant heed to the passing
troops until the sky blue uniforms of
the Bavarians filed by Catching her
breath with anxiety, she scrutinized the
brave array. Among so many could she
find her Franz?
Suddenly her heart gave quick
bound, for, with the sunlight dazzling
his sad blue eyes and glinting from his
shining trumpet, came Franz-browned,
thinner and with q strange yellow down
upon his lip. But Margarita knew him.
With a joyful cry she darted between
two astonished policemen into the open
space beyond. AT this sudden apparition
in white Prinz swerved sharply, then
stretched out his head in recognition.
''Franzi" cried childish voice.
"Dear Franzw
1t was not finished speech, but it
served its purpose, for loving welcome
shone in the child's face, and high
above her head she held the cornaower
wreath.
All sadness faded from Franz's eyes.
"Margarita, liebchenl" he cried,
and with q quick movement bent and
caught the wreath before the laughing
policemen led Margarita back to her
distracted guardian.
No, he was not forgotten Turning in
the saddle, he kissed his hand to the
child. Then with trumpet wreathed
with the flowers the monarch most
loved, with head erect and happiness in
his heart, Franz Hennig, the trumpeter,
rode before the aged emperor Marion
Dickinson in Youths Companion.