Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-23

0rb over the Slz0 Oh Cnoir DAB.
Some doctors Of different regiments
thrown together in the havoc OF rem
nants Of zmany organizations, with the
help of hospital.corps men, were try
ing to extricate the wounded from
among the dead. They heard WON.
They did not wonder at her presence.
for there was nothing left in the world
for them to wonder at. Had an imp
from hell or an angel from heaven ap-
peared. or shower Of diamonds fallen
from the sky. they would not have
been surprised. .Aheir duty was clear;
there was work of their kind to do,
endless work. Units Of the broken ma
chine, in the instinct OF their calling
they struggled with the duty nearest
at hand. They begged her to 90 back
to the house: this was no place for
her.
But Marta did not want safety. Dan
was helping, actually helping; that
was enough. She envied the peaceful
dead-they had no nightmares-as she
aided the doctors in separating the
bodies that were still breathing from
those that were not; and she steeled
herself against every CHASTITY sight
save one, that Of man lying with his
legs pinned under a wagon body. His
jaw had been shot away Slowly he
was bleeding to death, but he did not
realize 1t. He realized nothing in his
delirium except the nature of his
wound He was dipping his finger in
the cavity and. dab by dab, writing
Kill mel" on the wagon body. 1t sent
Keeling waves Of red before her eyes.
Then shell burst near her and doc
tor cried out:
"She's hit!"
But Marta did not hear him. She
heard only the dreadful crack of the
splitting shrapnel jacket She had a
sense of falling, and that was ali
The next that she knew she was In
long chair on the veranda and the
vague shadows bending over her grad
ually Identified themselves as her
mother and Minna.
Il remember when you were telling
OF the last war that you didn't swoon
at the sight Of the wounded, mother,
Marta whispered.
But l was not wounded" replied
Mrs. Galland.
Marta ceased to be only conscious
ness swimming in haze. With the
return Of her faculties, she noticed
that both her mother and Minna were
looking significantly at her forearm;
so she looked at it. too. 1t was
bandaged.
"a cut from a shrapnel fragment"
said doctor. Not deep" he added.
do get an icon CROSSE" she asked
smiling family. 1t was rather pleasant
to be alive.
"All the crosses-iron and bronze
and silver and gold!" he replied.
All firing except occasional scattered
shots had now ceased in the immedi
ate vicinity, though in the distance
could be heard the snarl Of the firmel
resistance that the Grays were max
ing at some other point. The Gallant
house. for the time being. was isolated
in possession OF neither side.
isn't there something else lean d.
| to help with the wounded" Marta
asked. She longed for action in ordel
to escape her thoughts.
you've had terrible shock-wher
you are stronger" said the doctor.
when you have had something tc
eat and drink" observed the practica
Minna authoritatively.
Marta would not have the food
brought to her. She insisted that she
was strong enough to accompany
Minna to the tower. While Minna
urged mouthfuls down Marta's dry
throat as she sat outside the door Of
the sitting-room with her mother q
number OF weary dust-streaked faces
with feverish energy in their eyes
peered over the hedge that bounded
the garden on the side toward the pass
These scout skirmishers Of Stransky'
men Of the SD Regiment of the
Browns made reckoning gestures az
to crowd, before they sprang ovel
the hedge and ran swiftly, watchfully
toward the linden stumps. closely fol
lowed by their comrades. Soon the
whole garden was overrun by the lean
businesslike fellows, their glances al
ferret-like to the front.
Look, Minna!" exclaimed Marta
"The giant who carried the old man II
pickaback the first night of the war;
Minna was flushing, but the fiusl
dissipated and she drew up her CHR
when Stransky, looking around, recog
nized her with a merry, confident
wave of his hand.
"See, he's captain and he wears
an iron cross:" said Marta as Stransky
fastened toward them.
HE acts like IT," assented Minns
grudgingly.
Eager, leviathan, his cap doffed with
sweeping gesture as he made low
bow, Stransky was the very spirit Of
retributive victory returning to claim
the ground that he had lost.
"well, this is like getting home
again!" he cried.
80 I see!" said Minna equivocally
Stransky drew his eyes together
sighting them ON the bridge of his nose
thoughtfully at this dubious reception
Il came back for the chance to kist
good woman's hand" he observed