The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-12-26
TheLastShot
REDERIcK PALMER
(Copyright. 1914. by Charles Scribner's Sons)

structions, and we shall act on then
when the thing starts. Then we are
in command. Meanwhile, get ready
Then the major became aware or
young woman who was going in the
wrong direction. Her cheeks were
flushed from her rapid walk, her lips
were parted, showing firm, white
teeth, and her black eyes were re
garding him in a blaze of satire OF
| amusement; an emotion, whatever II
was, that thoroughly centered his at
tention.
"Mademoiselle, am very sorry, but
unless you live in this direction" he
said very politely, you may not go any
farther. Until we have other orders
or they attack every one is supposed
to remain in his house or his place OF
business"
This is my place of business!
Marta answered, for she was already
opposite small, disused chapel which
was her schoolroom, where a half
dozen of the faithful children were
gathered around the masculine impor'
lance of Jacky Werther, one of the
older boys.
Then you are Miss Galland!" said
the major, enlightened. His smile had
an appreciation of the irony of her oc-
cupation at that moment. Your chill
dren are very loyal. They would not
tell me where they lived, so we had
to let them stay there"
Those who have homes" she said,
identifying each one of the faithful
with a glance, have so many broth
be missed from the flock. Others
have no homes-at least not much of a
one"-here her temper rose again
taxes being so high in order that you
may organize murder and the destruc-
ton of property"
Nov really, Miss Galland," he be-
gan solicitously, Il have been assigned
to move the civil population in case Of
attack. Your children ought"
After school! You have your duty
this morning and have mine!" Marta
interrupted pleasantly, and turned
toward the chapel.
They are putting sharpshooters in
the church tower to get the aero
planes, and there are lots Of the little
guns that fire bullets SO fast you can't
count 'em-and little spring wagons
with dynamite to blow things up
and" Jacky Werther ran on in a
series Of vocal explosions as Marta
opened the door to let the children
go in.
= yet you camel" said Marta with a
hand caressingly on his shoulder.
ut looks pretty bad for peace, but
we came" answered Jacky, round
eyed, in loyalty. WED come right
through bullets cause we said we
would If we wasn't sick, and we wasn't
sick"
my seven disciples-seven!" ex-
claimed Marta as she counted them.
And you need not sit on the regular
seats, but around me on the platform.
IL Will De more lutlmdt6.
That's grand" came in chorus.
They did not bother about chairs, but
seated themselves on the floor around
Marta's skirts.
The church clock doomed out it's de-
liberate strokes through ten, the hour
set for the lesson, and all counted
them-one-two-th Marta was
thinking what dismal little effort
theirs was, and yet she was very hap
by, tremblingly happy in her distrac-
ton and excitement, that they had not
waited for her at the door of the
chapel in vain.
She announced that there would be
no talk this morning; they would only
say their oath. Repeating in concert
the pledge to the boys and girls of
other lands, the childish voices pecu.
liarly sweet and harmonious in con.
trast to the raucous and uneven
sounds of foreboding from the street,
they came in due course to the words
of the concession that the oath made
to militancy:
'If an enemy tries to take my
land"
"Children-I-" Marta INTERRUPTED
with a sense of wonder and shock.
They paused and looked at her ques-
tioningly. Il had almost forgotten
that part!" she breathed confusedly.
That's the part that makes all
we're doing against the Grays right"
put in Jacky Werther promptly.
"As l wrote 1t for you! I shall ap-
peal to his sense of justice and reason
with him"
Jaws dropped and eyes bulged, for
above the sounds of the street rose
from the distance the unmistaka
cracking of rife fire which, as they
listened, spread and increased in vol.
ume
60 on-on to the end of the oath!
1t will take only a moment" said
Marta resolutely. ct isn't much, but
It's the best we can dol"
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