Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-10-11
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? .Convrcht, 1914, by Charles scribners Sons)

So long had Marta expected this mo- ment of exposure that t drought no shock. Her spirit had undergone many subtle rehearsals for the occasion.
 aYes, that is true,' she heard herself saving, little distantly, but Very quietly and naturally.
 Westerling fell back as from blow in the face. His breath came hard at first. like one being stmngled Then fl sank deep in his chest and his eyes were bloodshot, as a bulls in his final effort against the matador. He raised ouivering, clenched fist and took a step nearer her.
 But far from f1inching, Marta seemed to be greeting the blow, as if she ad- mitted his right to strike. She was without any sign of triumph and with every sign of relief Lying was at an 1 end. She could be truthful Do you recall what I said in the re- ception-room at the hotel?" she asked. The question sent a flash into a hid den chamber of his mind. Now the only thing he could remember of that interview was the one remark which hitherto he had never included fin his recollection of it.
 You said could not win" He drew out the words painfully. "When you said that you bEought on this war to gratify your ambition, chose to be one of the weapons of war: I fought for civilization, for my home, with the only means I had against the wickedness of a victory of conquest-the precedent of it in this age-a victory which should glorify such trickery as you practised on your people,
 q should like to shoot you dead!" cried Bellini.
 And you let me make love to you!" Westerling said in a dazed, groping monotone to Marta.
 Such wreck was he of his former self that she found it amazing that she could not pity him. Yet she might have pitied him had he plunged into the fight; had he tried to rally one of the broken regiments; had he been able to forget himself.
 Rather, you made love to yourself through me-" she answered, not harsh ly, not even emphatically, but merely as 6 statement of passionless fact. If you dared to end...e Hnat you ordered others to endure for the sake of your ambition; if
 She was interrupted by sharp zip in the air Westerling lodged and looked about wildly.
 What is that" he asked. "What?"
 Five or six zips followed like a charge of wasps flying at speed that made them invisible. Marta felt brush of air past her cheek and Wes- terling went chalky white. It was the first time he had been under fire. But these bullets were only strays. No more came.
 Come, general, let us be going!" urged the aide, touching his chief on the arm.
 Yes, yes!" said Westerling hur- riedly.
 Francois, who had picked up the coat that had fallen from Westerling's shoulders with his start at the buzzing, held it while his master thrust his hands through the sleeves.
 And this is wiser" said the aide, unfastening the detachable insignia of rank from the shoulders of the great coat. It's wiser, too, that we walk" he added.
 Walk? But my carl" exclaimed Westerling petulantly.
 I'm afraid that the car could not get through the press in the town." was the reply. ".Walkine is safer"
 The absence in him of that quality which is the soldiers real glory, the picture of this deserted leader, this god of machine who had been crushed by his machine, his very lack Of stoicism or courage-all this sud denly appealed to Marta's quick sym pathies. They had once drunk tea to- gether.
 "Oh, it was not personal! did not think of myself as person or of you as one-only of principles and of thou sands of others-to end the killing-to save our country to it's people! Oh, I'm sorry and, personally, I'm horrible -horrible!" she called after him in a broken, quavering gust of words which he heard confusedly in tragic mockery.
 He made no answer; he did not even look around. Head bowed and hardly seeing the path, he permitted the aide to choose the way, which lay across the boundary of the Galland estate.
 CHAPTER XXI.