The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-04-27

spoke Of the bitterness OF war, Of the
loss of men and property. of the inevitable
severance OF personal and commercial ties.
1T seems to me to be so futile a war" !
said. what is to be gained2 why resort
to violence and bloodshedl think Of the
enormous expense and the resulting in-
crease Of taxes. Why not arbitrate, your
The Kaiser's expression hardened. at is
sometimes necessary in life to assert one's
dignity by force" he said, after a period
Of silence. Il represent great nation.
We have been mOcked trampled, spit upon.
We have borne insults to the point Of mad
ness. 1t Is time to strike back. This very
day messages came 10 me from your great
President Roosevelt, whose influence ~
the affairs of the world is undeniable, and
from the King of England, my Uncle.
They suggested arbitration. / replied that
/ proposed first to administer punishment,
using what, In your country, you are
pleased to term the big stick, the club,
the hand OF castigation. is this not their
own policy In the last stages of Disagree
ments2 Remember Cuba, and the. Trans
yaal. No, II Is too early for arbitration.
There will be two great battles. One, on
land, Is before us; the other on the sea,
win occur within a fortnight. Then, and
not-untii then, VIII the Emperor OF Germany
could make 10 reply. The argument
was conclusive.
Then Latour, the spy, came Into my mind.
''Your Majesty" ! sail, "a French spy
wass captured today after the skirmish
at Menigny."
lie waved his hand impatlently. Il know.
He caught red-handed. lie had notes.
maps.. He dies Mt sunrise.
'IIe Is my friend. said simply. ~
have known him for years-a splendid
man"
suddenly like bullets from gun yet
you would have me set aside the rules of
war because he Is your friend. Understand,
young man, that your own position Is none
fnw. roe1 r.1ff 4.
uplifted, warning finger. There is room
for explanation, for instance, as to how 1t
happens that you start from Amiens on "a
pleasure trip, In a. French war-6aslloon, Ia
west are wrecked In yonder tree; he
pointed to the white case OF the balloon,
that fiutfered In the night wind high In the
great oak behind the Chateau, when the
basket of that same balloon, containing
French General OF STAFF and a wireless
telegraph, drops within the German lines
far to the east, In Lorraine. Were 1t not
for your nationality. tomorrow's sun might
look down upon your own body as well as
that of Latour's lying dead before squad
Of infantry"
pleading without hope. For myself feared
not
"Iatour must die. 1t is the rule OF war;
rule not to be broken"
He turned away to speak TO an approach
ing officer, and / climbed the steps to my
room. Ny dear friend-my poor Latour.
In the night was awakened by my valet.
Before ] could arise Lowenberg burst into
the room. I'VE are to advance immedi-
ately. he said. "A surprise party, with
probable sharp fighting. l want you with
me. Come at once
dressed with all haste. Aimee was
asleep and would not vaken her l wrote
her hasty note, explaining the arrange
ments for her departure, giving It to her
maid. Hurrying down TO the courtyard
found my horse stamping with impatlence
to be on. Five minutes later I0Wenberg
md were galloring along the main road 10
the west. In the moonlight we could see
the glitter of helmets and sabres. The
earth trembled with the tramp OF men and
horses The very air quivered with impend-
Ing violence. We were In the midst OF war.
ITO be Continued Merit Week.