The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-11-06

about him which girl OF twenty-seven
can better understand than a girl OF
seventeen. His reason for wanting 10
old acquaintance" He could have lit
tie interest in her. and her interest in
him was that he was head of the Gray
army. His work had intimate relation
TO that which the Marta OF twenty
seven. a Marta with a mission. had set
for herself
A page came TO tell Westerling that
Miss Galland would be down directly.
When she appeared she crossed the
room with flowing. spontaneous vital
ity that appealed 10 him as something
familiar.
Ten years. isn't it7" she exclaimed
as she seated herself on the other side
OF the tea-table. And. let me see. you
took two Jumps. IL | remember?"
None now" he said.
do you find It fatteniRgH" she
asked
He recognized the mischievous
sparkle OF the eyes. the quiZzical turn
OF the lips. which was her asset in
keeping any question from being per-
sonal. Nevertheless, he flushed slightly.
"A change of taste" he averred.
Since you've become such a great
man?" she hazarded. "Is that too
strong?" This referred to the tea
mo, Just right" he nodded.
He was studying her with the polite.
yelled scrutiny of a man OF the world.
A materialist, he would look woman
over as he would a soldier when he
had been a major-general making an
inspection. She was slim, supple; he
| liked slim. supple women. Yes, she
was twenty-seven. with the vivacity OF
seventeen retained, though she were
on the edge of being an old maid ac-
cording to the conventional notions.
Necks and shoulders that happened TO
! be at his side at dinner, he had found.
when they were really beautiful, were
not averse TO his glance OF appreci-
ative and discriminating admiration OF
| physical charm. But he saw her
shrug slightly and caught a spark from
her eyes that made him vaguely con-
scious OF an offense to her sensibili-
ties, and he was wholly conscious that
the suggestion. bringing his faculties
up sharply. had the pleasure of a novel
| sensation.
How fast you have gone ahead! a"
she said. That little prophecy OF
mine did come true. You are chief OF
staffiG
After a smile OF satisfaction he cor
rected her.
Not quite; vice-chief-the right
hand man OF His Excehency. am a
buffer between him and the heads OF
divisions. This has led to the errone-
Gus assumption which / cannot too
forcibly deny"
| He was proceeding with the phrase
ology habitual whenever men or wom-
en-, to fiatter him, had intimated that
they realized that he was the actual
head OF the army. His Excellency
with the prestige OF a career, must be
kept soporifically enjoying the forms
OF authority. To arouse his jealousy
might curtal WesterlIng's actual
power
Yes, yes!" breathed Marta softly
arching her eyebrows a trifie as she
would when looking all around and
through a thing or when she found
any one beating about the bush. The
little frown disappeared and she
smiled understsndingly. You know
I'm not a perfect goose!" she added.
Had you been made chief OF staff in
name, too, all the old generals would
have been In the sulks and the young
generals jealous" she continued. The
one way that you might have the
power to exercise was by proxy"
This downright frankness was an
other reflection OF the old days before
he was at the apex OF the pyramid
Now IL was so unusual In his expert
ence as TO be almost a shock. On the
point Of arguing. be caught a mis-
chievous. delightful Isn't that so?" In
her eyes. and replied:
Yes, l shouldn't wonder II It were f"
Why shouldn't he admit the truth n
the one who had rung the bell OF his
eecret ambition long ago by recogniz
ing In him the ability TO reach bis
goal7 He marvelled at her grasp OF
the situation.
1T wasn't so very hard to say. was
it?" she asked happily. in response 70
his smile. Then. her gift Of putting
herself In another's place. while che
ttrove TO look at things with his pur.
pose and vision. IN full play, she went
on In a different tone. as much To her.
self as TO him: You have labored 10
make yourself master OF a mighty or.
ganizatlon. You did not care for the
non-essentials. You wanted the reality
OF shaping results"
yes. the results. the power!" be
exclaimed.
Fifteen hundred regimentsi" she
continued thoughtfully. looking az a
given point rather than at him. Every
regiment a blade which you would
bring 10 an even sharpnessl Every
regiment unit OF harmonious whole.
knowing how 20 screen Itself from fire