Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-23
Continued

Once across road and up three Sc
ries of steps of the other garden ter.
race, behind a breastwork of sand.
bags, the company rested. Most of
them had fallen asleep on the ground
after finishing their rations, logs of
men In animal exhaustion. Some of
those awake were too weary to give
to each other more than a nod and
smile. They had witnessed too much
horror that day to talk about it. But
Stransky foraged.
Marta, coming out on the veranda,
saw him.
"You are tired You are hungryi"
she said with urgent gentleness.
"Come in!"
He followed her into the house and
dropped on leather chair before a
shining table In room paneled with
oak, wondering at her and at himself.
No woman of Marta's world had ever
spoken in that way to him. But It
was good to sit down. Then a maid
with a sad. winsome face and tender
eyes brought him wine and bread and
cold meat and jam. He gulped down
a glassful of wine; he ate with great
mouthfuls in the ravenous call of
healthy, exhausted tissues, while the
maid stood by to cut more bread.
when 1t comes to eating after fight.
ing"
He looked up when the first pangs
of hunger were assuagesl. Enormous,
broadehouldered, physical, his cheeks
flushed with wine, his eyes opened
wide and brilliant with the fire that
was In his nature-eyes that spoke the
red business of anarchy and war.
Say, but you're pretty!"
Springing up, he caught her hand
and made to kiss her in the brashness
of impulse. Minna struck him sting
ing blow in the face. He received it
as a mastiff would receive a bite from
a pup, and she stood her ground, her
eyes challenging his fearlessly.
$50 you are like that!" he said
thoughtfully. ut was a good one, and
you meant it, too"
Decidedly" she answered. There's
more where that came from!"
Then little Clarissa Eileen entered
and pressed against her mothers
skirts, subjecting Stransky to child
hoods scrutiny. He waved a finger
at-her and grinned and drew his eyes
together in a squint at the bridge of
his nose, making a funny face that
brought laugh. ~. ~. g.ss4aaaa.-.
"Your child?" Stransky asked Minna.
Eyes,"
where's her father2 Away fight.
ing9"
II don't know where he isl"
"Oh!" he mused. WAS that blow
for him at the same time as for me2"
he pursued thoughtfully.
Eyes, for all of your kind"
"M-m-m!" came from between his
lips as he rose. Would you mind hold
ing out your hand?" he asked with a
gentleness singularly out of keeping
with his rough aspect.
"Why?" she demanded.
1--WE never studied any books of eti.
Quette of polite society, and am
poor sort at making speeches, anyhow.
But want to kiss a good woman's
hand by way of apology. never
kissed one in my life. but I'm getting
a lot of new experiences today. Will
your"
She held out her hand at arms
length and flushed slightly as he
pressed his lips to 1t.
sVott inI do o,,k aItoao
he said smiling. "And you certainly
are pretty" he added, passing out of
the door as jauntily as IL he were ready
for another fight and just in time to
see the colonel of the regiment come
around the house. He stood at the
salute. half proudly. half defiantly, but
in nowise humbly.
"Well, Major Dellarmel" was the
colonel's greeting of the company com.
mander.
"Major?" exclaimed Dellarme.
"Yes. Partow has the power. Four
of the aviators have iron crosses al
ready and promotion, too; and you
are a major. Company G got into q
mess and the whole regiment would
have been in one unless you held on.
So let you stay. It all came out
right. as Lanstron planned-right so
far. But your losses have been heavy
and here you are in the thick of it
again. Your company may change
places with Company e. which has
had relatively easy time"
"No. sir; We would prefer to stay"
Dellarme answered quietly.
"Goodl Then you will take this
battalion and I'll transfer Groller to
Alvery's. Bad loss, Alvery7-shrapne
The artillery has been doing ugly
work, but that is all in favor of the
defensive. II we can hold them on
this line till tomorrow noon, it's all
We want for the present." he con-
cluded.
We'll hold them! Don't worryi"
put in Stransky.
II a private had spoken to a colonel
in this fashion at drill, without being
spoken to, 1t would have been a glar-
ing breach Of military etiquette. Now
that they were at war 1t was differ
ent. Real comradeship between officer
and man begins with war.
81. aI.0 IL