Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-09-17

Since you've become such a great
MANI" she hazarded is that toe
strong?" This referred to the tea.
No, just right" he nodded
He was studying her with the polite
yelled scrutiny of a man Of the world
A materialist, he would look a woman
over as he would a soldier when he
had been a major-general making an
inspection. She was slim, supple; he
liked slim, supple women. Yes, she
was twenty-seyen, with the vivacity OF
seventeen retained, though she were
on the edge Of beng an old maid &C.
cording to the conventional notions
Necks and shoulders that happened to
be at his side at dinner, he had found
when they were really beautiful, were
not averse TO his glance of appreci.
atiVe and discriminating admiration OF
physical charm. But he saw her
shrug slightly and caught a spark from
her eyes that made him vaguely con.
scious of an offense to her sensibfli.
ties, and he was wholly conscious that
the suggestion, bringing his faculties
up sharply, had Ele pleasure of novel
sensation.
How fast you have gone ahead"
she said. THAT little prophecy OF
mine did come true. You are chief of
staff"
After a smile of satisfaction he cor
rected her.
Not quite; vice-chief-the right.
hand man of His Excellency. l am a
buffer between him and the heads of
divisions. This has led to the errone-
Gus assumption which l cannot too
forcibIy deny"
He was proceeding with the phrase
ology habitual whenever men or WON.
en-, to 1atter him, had intimated that
they realized that he was the actual
head of the army. His Excellency,
with the prestige of career, must be
kept specifically enjoying the forms
Of authority. To arouse his jealousy
might curtan Westerffng's actual
power.
yes, yes!" breathed Marta softly,
arching her eyebrows a trifie as she
would when looking all around and
through a thing or when she found
any one beating about the bush. The
little frown disappeared and she
smiled 1dingly. You know
I'm not a perfect goose!" she added.
Had your been made chief of staff in
name, too, all the old generals would
have been in the sulks and the young
generals jealous" she continued. "The
one way that you might have the
power to exercise was by proxy
This downright frankness was an
other reflection of the old days before
he was at the apex of the pyramid.
Now it was so unusual in his expert
ence as to be almost a shock On the
point of arguing, he caught a mis-
chievous, delightful Isn't that so?'' in
her eyes, and replied
Yes, l shouldn't wonder if it were!''
Why shouldn't he admit the truth to
the one who had rung the bell of his
secret ambition long ago by recogniz-
ing III 1A1u thS dDllllg W IGdCu us
goal? He marvelled at her grasp of
the situation
1T wasn't so very hard to say, was
it?" she asked happily, in response to
his smile. Then, her gift of putting
herself in another's place, while she
strove to look at things with his pur.
pose and vision, in full play, she went
on In different tone, as much to her.
self as to him: You have labored to
make yourself master of a mighty or.
ganizatiOn. You did not care for the
non-essentials. You wanted the reality
of shaping results"
Yes, the results, the power!" he
exclaimed.
Fifteen hundred regiments!" she
continued thoughtfulIy, looking at a
given point rather than at him. Every
regiment a blade which you would
bring to an even sharpnessi Every
regiment unit OF harmonious whole
knowing how to screen itself from fire
and give fire as long as hidden, in
answer to your will if war comes! That
is what you live and plan for, isn't it %
yes, exactly! Yes, you have it!'
he said His shoulders stiffened as he
thrilled at seeing q picture Of him.
self. as he wanted to see himself, done