The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-12-31
CHAPT ER I.
A Speck In the Sky.

A Speck In the Sky.
II was Marta who first saw the speck
IN the sky. Her outcry and her bound
from her seat at the teatable brought
her mother and Colonel WesterltnS
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 ap-
pearing above the irregular horizon OF
tho Brown range, In view Of land
acape that centuries of civilization had
Tertii2ed and cultivated and formed.
At the base of the range ran line
OF white stone posts, placed By inter
national commissions OF surveyors 10
the nicely OF an inch's variation. la
ahe very direction Of the specks fight
spur OF foothills extended into tho
plain that stretched away 10 the Gray
range, distinct at the distance OF
thirty miles in the bright afternoon
light. Faithful TO their part in refus'
ing TO climb, the white posts circled
around the spur huggng the levels
In the lap of the spur was La Tir,
the old town, and on the other side
of the boundary lay South La Tir. the
new town. Through both ran the dusty
ribbon of road. drawn straight across
the plain and over the glistening
'tlread OF river. On its way to the
pass of the Brown range IL sklrted the
garden Of The Gallands. which rose in
terraces 20 seyenteenth-century
beuse owe Booking the old town from it's
outskirts. They were such a town. such
q road. such landscape as you may
see On many European frontiers. The
Christian people who lived In the re-
Sion were like the Christian people
you know If you look for the realities
CT human nature under the surface diff
ferences of language and habits.
Beyond the house rose the ruins OF
castle, its tower still intact. Marta al.
ways referred TO the castle as the
baron; for in her girlhood she had a
way OF personifying all inanimate
things. If the castle walls were Gov
cred with hoar frIst, she said that the
baron was shivering; If the wind tore
around the tower. she said that the
baron was groaning over the demo
cratic tendencies Of the time. On such
a summer afternoon as this. the baron
was growing old gracefully. at peace
with his enemies.
Centuries older than the speck in
the Gky was the baron; but the pass
road was many more. countless more.
centuries older than re. 1t had been
a trail for tribes long before Roman
legiors won victory in the pass,
which was acclaimed an imperial tr-
umph. To hold the pass was TO hold
the range. All the blood shed there
would make red river, inundating the
plain.
Beside the old baron. we are par.
venus" Marta would say And what
n parvenu the baron would have been
to the Roman aristocrat!"
"Our family is old enough-none
older in the province!" Mrs. Galland
would reply. Marta. how your mind
does wander! I'd get headache just
contemplating the things you are able
to think OF in five 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
or IN older family whose descendants.
II any survived. were unaware OF their
lineage. had become known as the
'Galland tower. The Gallands were
rooted In the soil OF the frontier; they
we're used to having wars hot breath
blow past their door: they we're 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 plain and
range were the first vista OF landscape
that she had seen: doubtless they
would be the last
Ono or two afternoons week Col
onel Hedworth Westerling. commander
Of tho 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
Gaflands. 1t meant a pleasant half
hour breaking long walk, reliet
from garrison surroundings, and In
view OF the order, received that morn
ing. this was to be farewell call.
He had found Mrs. Galland an agree
able reflection Of an aristocratic past
Ths daughter had what he defined
vaguely as girlish piquancy. He found
1t amusing to try to answer her un
usual questions; he liked the variety
of iier invent.s'e mind, with its flashes
Of downright @atter-of-factness.
Not until tea was served did he men