Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-26
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FREDERICK PALMER

NENZNEEZE
lcoD7Fislt. ma b oaaFlss asei6ooe1 Seael
Nor did the officers observe . man OF
thirty.hve. wearing the cords Of the
stan and . generals stars, coming
around the corner Of the house. Mar
tas feverish. rowing glance had noted
him directly no was In sight. His face
seemed to be in keeping with the
other faces. in the ardor Of hunt un.
finished; hand in blouse pocket, his
bearing = little too easy 70 be conven.
tionally military-ths same LAnny.
She was dimly conscious Of surprise
not to find him changed. perhaps be
cause he was unaccompanied by . 70
tinue or any other symbol Of his power
He might have been coming to call Oh
q Sunday afternoon. In that hrst
glimpse IL was difficult to think OF
him ~ tho commander of an army. But
that he was, she must not forget. She
was shaken and trembling: and .
mist rose before her. 20 that she did
not sec him clearly when. with ses
ture of relief, he 1Aw her.
"Lanstron!" exclaimed IN officer in
the nrst explosive breath OF amaze
msnt on recognizing him; then added:
His Excellency. tho chief Of start"
But the one word. LAnstron. had
been enough to thrill all the officer,
into silence and ramrod salutes. MArts
noted the Difference Of their slances ~
they covertly looked him over.
Il wanted q glimpse Of the front ~
we'll a. the rear" Lanstron remarked
in explanation Of his presence to the
general OF brigade as he passed on
toward Marta. who was thinking that
she, at least. was not in awe OF him;
she, at least, saw clearly and truly his
part.
Marta! Marital"
II he were In awe Of her, while he
drank in the fact that she was there
before him at arms length, safe. alive
She did not offer her hand in greeting
She was incapable OF any movement.
such was her emotion: and he. too
was held In . spell, AZ the reality OF
her. after all that had passed. filed
his eyes. He waited for her TO speak
but she was silent.
"Marta-that bandage You have
been hurt" he exclaimed.
It's the fashion to be wounded" she
said. eyebrows lifted and laahes low.
cred. with . nervous smile. Il played
Florence Nightingale. the natural WON.
ans part. believe. We should never
protest: only nurse the victims Of war
After helping to send men to death
went under fire myself. and-aud that
helped"
Yes. that would help" he agreed,
wincing as from knife thrust.
Her old taunt: sending men to death
and taking no risk himself! She cav
that he WINGED: she realized that she
had stayed words that were about to
come in food. She was marshaling
her thoughts to begin when the brittle
silence was broken by rumbling OF
voices. a stirring OF feet, and . cheer
"Lanstron! Lanstron! Hurrah for
Lanstron!"
The soldiers In the garden did not
bother with any Your Excellency. the
chief Of star" formula when word had
been passed Of his presence. Marta
looked around to see their tempestu.
Gus enthusiasm az they tossed their
caps in the air and sent up their spon.
'aneous tribute from the depths Of
their lungs. Conqueror and hero TO
the living. but the dead could not
EMAIL x~bfsn..>1 .o~a Hand In hAe
heart
Lanstron uncovered to the demon
stration impulsively. when the conven-
tional military acknowledgment would
have been . salute. He always looked
more like the real Lanny to her with
his forehead bare. 1t completed the
ensemble OF his sensitive features. She
saw that he was blinking almost boy
ishly At the compliment and noted the
little deprecatory shake Of his head.
a. much as to say that they were
making mistake.
Thank you!" he called, and the
cheeriness Of his voice. she thought.
expressed his real self: the delight Of
victory and the glowing anticipation
Of further victories.
Thank you!" called the private with
big voice.
Yes, thank you!" repeated some Of
the officers in quick appreciation Of .
compliment rs real ~ human courage.
He stood smiling for . moment In
reply to their smiles: then. still smil-
ing, but in = different way. he said to
Marta:
"As you say. that helps!" with nod
toward the bandage on her forearm,
and hurriedly turned away. q
She saw him involuntarily clutch the
wrist above the pocket Of his blouse 70
still the twitching; but beyond that
there WAS no further sign Of emotion
as he went to the telephone. Instantly
he was through he started toward the
pass road. not BY tho path 70 the Steps.
but BY leaping from terrace to terraces
and waving his hand sayly to- the col.
diers ~ he went The officers stared
at thS sight of . chief Of star break
ing away from his communications In
this 'unceremonious fashion. They
saw him secure horse from . group
Of cavalry odlcers on the road and GAL
iop away.
Marta having been the object Of
Lanstrpn's attention now became the
object OF theirs. II Wa good 70 see q
woman, . woman % the Browns, after
their period Of separation from femi.
nine society. She found herself hold,