The Cooperstown courier., 1903-03-19

desire. and whose intellectual suprcm-
acy she felt the world would later
acknowledge. Combined with these
gifts he possessed q nature of un-
usual strengths Straightforward In
tegrity and afself-forgetful devotion
to high principles which could but
make powerful impression on q girl
Of Margaret's marked ability.
Days and weeks few by, and it was
August, the last day of the summer
semester. What is there that shastens
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 ylecture-room,
and slowly they walked toward the
Tiergarten, drawing insdeep breaths
of the morning air. - "A IA /
81 know there are hundreds of peo-
pie here" said Margaret, assthey sat
beneath spreading linden, Tand each
feels as I, a personal ownership, and
yet never come but what this peace
fulness seems for me alone" xfa
Margaret talked almost at random,
glancing now and then at her silent
companion, knowing intuitively what
his tense expression foreboded, yet,
womanlilke, trembling and fearful,
while rejoicing in the knowledge.
"Fraulein, may tell you something
Of myself-my home?" questioned
Wilhelm, abruptly. Scarcely waiting
for the low assent, he exclaimed, pas
sionately: "There has not been q
day since saw you three years ago
that you have not filled my every
thought. Tomorrow you will leave
Berlin-I cannot let you go and not
tell you what you are to me-life,
love, everything"
As he leaned toward her trying to
read her blushing, half-averted face,
she faltered,. s.Your father-what will
he think, what will he say?"
sMy father-how long to have you
meet him; you would win him for
ever" Wilhelm added smiling, ''If
he once heard you express your fer
vid admiration for our great men
Ach! how envy them" /" he murmured
under his breath. "And Elizabeth
did ever tell you of Elizabeth, my
cousin, who is like daughter to my
father: She is alone in the world
and came to us five years ago. She
has given her life to us-she came
when all the world was dark-when
my mother died" Wilhelm rose as
he spoke, and Margaret knew by his
sudden pallor what that loss still
meant. After a moments pause, he
continued: "Marburg, though quiet
is beautiful; and and-oh, Margaret
mein Liebchen-my beloved could
not make your happiness?''
All the passion of mans strong
yet tender, love throbbed in the. low.
whispered words, and, trembling,
Margaret laid her hand in his as she
freplied, family: II cannot answer
now; I must see henry mother"
"She shall be mine!" he said. 4
AS in a dream they walked to Mar
garet's home, separating with one
thought, one hope-"To-morrow."
ITO bear, to nurse, to rear, to watch
/
these words rose to Mrs. Listemann'e
lips, as Margaret, on her knees, her
head resting in her mothers lap, re.
yealed in broken sentences her whole
heart. The words were never spoken
The pang which wrung the mothers
heart-the bitterness of abdicating
where so long she had reigned first,
all-an were thrust aside, and draw
ing Margaret to her bosom she re-
joiced as only mother can whose
one desire is her child's happiness.
"He is coming tomorrow, mother,
tomorrow ut ten, for his answer.
Oh. am SO happy, SO happy"
Margaret had scarcely finished her
tremulous confidence when a sharp
ring of the bell startled them. 'sThe
postman; it must be he," exclaimed
Mrs. Listemann; 'sour home letters
are long overdue
In moment the little maid tapped
at the door, delivering into Marga
ret's hand q number Of letters, unmis.
takably American from the amount
of postage and the numerous "dues'
with which they were stamped.
'sNow, isn't this what you call fair
treatment, Mutter mein," cried Mar
garet, gayly; .'..six for you and five
for me? But there's luck in odd mum.
bers, you remember
An hour later, Margaret, in q dress.
ing gown and slippers, her hair hang.
ing in long, loose braids, was in her
chamber reading with absorbed inter
est the home news, her4frequent low
laugh proving how. interesting it
all was. Finally. she reached for the
last one Of her letters. The handwrit.
ing was unfamiliar, the postmark al.
most illegible. Holding it closely to
the lamp, she slowly deciphered MAR,
burg" Margaret read the postmark
over and over, faint flush tingeing
her face. sCan it be from his father?
How foolish of me: we did not know
ourselves until to-day
With an odd, strange sinking OF
her heart she broke the seal and be
gan to read:
''It is with fear and trembling that
II - 4