Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-04-07
BY Helen Hamilton.

LAS the Gnadiges Fraulein forgot
IL ten me?"
Margaret Listemann turned quickly,
as the crowd of students thronged
from the lecture-room of the Berlin
university, and somewhat desperately
Wilhelm repeated audibly what had
at first been a mental question. A
swift upward glance at the tall fell
low beside her, whose brown eyes
We're looking down into hers-then
Margaret, blushing, answered, laugh
ingly, as she cordially offered her
hand, Indeed have not. Mother,
let me present Herr Sternberg, to
whose patience three years ago, in
giving form and coherency to my
Deutsch sentences, owe my rapid
progress"
Mrs. Listemann's frank, unaffected
greeting instantly proclaimed them
Americans, though one glance at Mar
garet's intelligent, animated face and
indescribably distinctive style would
have made known her nationality.
"How natural the room looks"
Margaret said, glancing around at
the time-worn desks and benches.
Her voice was steady, and really
admirably controlled, considering the
unusual rate at which her heart was
beating. The consciousness of the ex-
IRENE absurdity Of it's accelerated
throbs only increased their speed and
deepened the flush upon her cheeks.
All fhie,
ret; blushing was not her habit, and
SO seldom had she felt the beating
of her own heart that she had almost
concurred in the dictum of many
friends of both sexes, Margaret
Listemann has no heart.'' Impress
sionable she certainly was not; all
her power and depth of loving were
reserved, held sacred for one. per
haps we may never meet" was her
subconscious thought, but if he
comes shall feel-I shall know am
his alone for all eternity
The one absorbing occupation of
her twenty-three years of life had
been study-natural inclination made
her turn to books, necessity made her
specialize.
Her father had been a genius whose
inventive power lacked practical
force, SO others reaped where he had
sown. Leaving the fatherland when
but a lad, in America he found wife,
child and home. Imaginative, high
souled, in word, dreamer, he could
i'll cope with poverty and life.
At II Margaret realized that soon
she and her mother would have but
each other, and passionately she
sought to absorb into her life the one
thing which would recall constantly
her idolized father-his language. She
thought, dreamed, talked only his
loved German.
It was found at Mr.. Listemann's
death that nothing was left for his
wife and child, so both must become
bread-winners. Berlin, with it's count
less advantages, became the goal Of
Margaret's ambition, that she might
qualify herself to teach, and friends
leaving almost Immediately for the
German capital, she decided to go
with them for three years. study.
What this separation meant to
mother and child none realized but
themselves.
At 20 Margaret was equipped for
her work, with the born teachers
enthusiasm for her profession. Teach
ing almost unremittingly for three
years, she now felt the necessity for
fresh inspiration, and had returned
with her mother to her loved Berlin,
her mind broadened by experience,
and eager for more knowledge.
The morning of the day following
Wilhelm Sternberg's meeting with
Margaret every nerve in his body
tingled with the anticipation of again
seeing her. "She said nothing would
keep her from Schmitt's lecture" he
kept reiterating to reassure himself,
as he critically selected his neclxtie,
casting now and then dubious glances
at the dull sky. "she is not the girl
to let few rain-clouds house her.
How glorious she is" he murmured;
every grace of mind and body.
What would a man not do to win
her!" As though in sympathy with
him, and ready to lend his aid, the
sun burst forth radiantly, and lightly
humming "Morgens bring ich dir die
veilchen," Wilhelm hurried forth.
There are two magnets-books and
music-which are all-powerful in at
tracing men and women of earnest
purpose and high ideals. In Wilhelm
sternberg Margaret met man who
thoroughly satisfied every artistic
desire and whose intellectual suprem-
acy she felt the world would later
acknowledge. Combined with these
gifts he possessed nature of un-
usual strength, straightforward in
tegrity and self-forgetful devotion
to high principles which could but
make powerful impression on girl
Of Margarets marked ability.
Days and weeks few by, and it was
August, the last day of the summer
semester. What is there that hastens
time-like love? What is it that
makes the world so fair-as love?
Wilhelm, as usual. was at the door
as Margaret left the lecture-room.
and slowly they walked toward the
Tiergarten, drawing in deep breaths
Of the morning air.
II know there are hundreds Of peo-
pie here" said Margaret. 90 they sat
sonsAth . AsrsAdiAE liAdsn, "AnA sssA