Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-12-03
CHAPTER xIv-contInued.

The subjective enjoyment of the
declaration kept him from any keen
notice Of the effect Of his words
Lanny was right. It had been a war
of deliberate conquest; war to
crafty personal ambition All her life
Marta would be able to live over again
the feelings Of this moment. 1t was as
If she were frozen, all except brain
and nerves, which were on fire, while
the rightly of ice kept her from
springing from her chair in contempt
and horror. But a purpose came on the
wings Of diabolical temptation which
would pit the art of woman against
the power Of a man who set millions
against millions in slaughter to crafty
personal ambition. She was thankful
that she was looking down as she
spoke, for she could not bring herself
to another compliment Her throat
was too chilled for that yet.
The one way to end the feud be-
tween the two nations was a war that
would mean permanent peace" he ex-
planned, seeing how quiet she was and
realizing, with a recollection of her
children's oath, that he had gone lit
tie too far. He wanted to retain her
admiration. 1t had become as precious
to him as q new deIicacy to Lucullus.
Yes, / understand" she managed
to murmur; then she was able to look
mp. It's all SO tmmense!" she added.
Your ideas about war seem to be a
great deal changed" he limited
casually.
AS ] expressed them at the hotel
you meant" she exclaimed. THAT
seems ages ago-ages The perplex-
ity and indecision that, in a space of
silence, brooded in the depths Of her
eyes came to the surface in wavering
lights. Yes, ages! ages!" The waver-
ing lights grew dim with a kind of hor-
ror and she looked away tixedly at a
given point
He was conscious of a thrill; the
thrill that always presaged victory for
him. He realized her evident dis
tress; he guessed that terrible pie
lures were moving before her vision.
You see, ] have been very much
stirred up, she said half apoIogetical-
~. There are some questions want
TO ask-quite practical, selfish ques-
tions. You might call them questions
Of property and mercy. The longer
the war lasts the greater will be the
loss OF life and the misery?"
Yes, for both sides. and the heavier
the EXPENSE and the taxes"
IF you win, then we shall be under
your fag and pay taxes to your"
Yes, naturally.
THE Browns do not increase in
population; the Grays do rapidly. They
are great, powerful, civilized race.
They stand for civilizatiou!"
Yes, facts and the worlds opinion
agree" he replied. Puzzled he might
well be by this peculiar catechism. He
could only continue to reply until he
should see where she was leading.
And your victory will mean a new
frontier, new order of international
relations and a long peace, you think?
Peace-a long peace!"
Was there ever a soldier who did
not fight for peace? Was there ever a
call for more army-corps or guns that
was not made in the name of peace ?
He had his ready argument, spoken
with the forcible conviction OF an ex-
pert.
This war was made for peace-the
only kind of peace that there can be, .
he said. My ambition, if any glory
comes to me out Of this war. is to have
later generations say: He brought
peace!'
Though the premier, could he have
heard this, might have smiled, even
grinned, he would have understood
Westerling's Inconsistencies of incon-
sistency. The chief of STAFF had set
himself task in victory which had
no military. connection. Without know
ing why. he wanted to win ascendancy
over her mind.
The man Of action!" exclaimed
Marta, her eyes opening very wide. as
they would to let in the light when
she heard something new that pleased
her or gave food for thought. The
man OF action. who thinks Of an ideal
as 9 thing not of words but as the end
of actionI"
Exactly" said Westerlng. sen.
sible Of another of her gifts. She
could get the essence of a thing in a
few words. When We have won and
set another frontier, the power of our
nation will be such IN the world that
the Browns can never afford to attack