The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-10-24
CHAPTER /.
a speck In the SKY.

Speck In the SKY.
IL was Marta who first saw the speck
insthersky. Her outcry and her bound
from her seat at the teatable brought
her mother and Colonel Westerling
after her onto the lawn. where they
became motionless figures. screening
their eyes with their hands. The new
est and most wonderful thing In the
world at the time was this speck APP
pearing above the irregular horizon OF
the Brown range, In view OF a land
scape that centuries OF civilization had
fortified and cultivated and formed.
At the base Of the range ran line
OF white stone posts, placed by inter
national commissions OF surveyors TO
the nicely OF an inch's variation. In
the very direction of the specks flight
a spur OF foothills extended into the
plain that stretched away to the Gray
range. distinct at the distance OF
thirty miles in the bright afternoon
hight. Faithful to their part In refus-
ing TO climb, the white posts circled
around the spur. hugging the levels.
In the lap OF the spur was La Tir.
the old town. and on the other side
of the boundary ley South Ia Tir, the
new town. Through both ran the dusty
ribbon OF road, drawn straight across
the plain and over the glistening
thread OF a river. On its way to the
pass OF the Brown range IL skirted the
garden OF the Gallands. which rose In
terraces 20 a mountaineering
house overlooking the old town from It's
outskirts. They were such a town. such
a road, such landscape as you may
see on many European frontiers. The
christian people who lived In the re-
gion were like tho Christian people
you know II you look for the realities
of human nature under the surface diff
ferences or language and habits.
- Beyond the house rose the ruins OF a
castle, it's tower still intact. Marta al
ways referred TO the castle as the
baron; for In her girlhood she had
way OF personifying all inanimate
things, II the CASTLE walls were GOV.
cred with hoaf frost, she said that the
eSf6n was shivering; II the wind tore
around the tower she said that the
baron was grooming over the demo-
cratic tendencies OF the time. On such
ia summer afternoon as this. the baron
was growing old gracefully, at peace
with his enemies.
Centuries older than the speck in
the eky was the baron; but the pass
road was many more, countless more,
centuries older than he. IL had been
"a trail for tribes long before Roman
legions won a victory in the pass,
which was acclaimed an imperial tri-
umph To hold the pass was 20 hold
the range All the blood shed there
would make a red river, inundating the
plain
Beside the old baron. we are par
venus Marta would say. And what
"a paryenu the baron would have been
10 the Roman aristocratlo
Our family is old enough--none
older in the provincer Mrs Galland
would reply Marta. how your mind
does wander I'd get headache just
contemplating the things you are able
~ luAnh Vi III I'VE minutes
The first Galland had built a house
on the land that his king had given
MIN for one OF the most brilliant feats
of arms in the history OF the pass.
Even the tower, raised TO the glory
of an older family whose descendants,
III any survived. were unaware OF their
lineage. had become known IA the
Galland tower. The Gallands we're
rooted in the soil OF the frontier; they
were used 10 having wars hot breath
blow past their door; they were at
home In the Language and customs OF
two peoples; theirs was peculiar ira.
dition, which Marta had absorbed with
her first breath. Town and pl-in and
range were the first vista OF landscape
that she had seen; doubtless they
would be the last
One or two afternoons a week Col
onel Hedworth Westerling. commander
of the regimental post OF the Grays on
the other side OF the white posts,
stretched his privilege OF crossing the
frontier and appeared for tea at the
'Gallands. II meant pleasant half
hour breaking a long walk, a relief
nom garrison surroundings, and in
view OF the order. received that morn
ing, this was 10 be farewell call.
He had found Mrs. Galland an agree
able reflection of an aristocratic past.
The daughter had what he defined
vaguely as girlish piquancy. He found
II amusing to try TO answer her un.
usual questions; he liked the variety
of her inventive mind, with its flashes
lof downright matter-of.factness.