The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-11-14
CHAPTER !.
A Speck In the Sky.

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 ap-
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 a 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 speck's flight
q 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
light. 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 lay South La Tir, the
new town. Through both ran the dusty
ribbon of a road, drawn straight across
the plain and over the glistening
thread of a river. On its way to the
pass of the Brown range 1t skirted the
garden of the Gallands, which rose in
terraces to mountaineering
house overlooking the old town from Its
outskirts. They we're such town. such
q road, such a landscape as you may
see on many European frontiers. The
Christian people who lived in the re-
gion were like the Christian people
you know II you look for the realities
of human nature under the surface diff
ferences of language and habits.
Beyond the house rose the ruins of a
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 II the castle walls were COW
cred with hoar frost, she said that the
baron was shivering; II the wind tore
around the tower, she said that the
baron was groaning over the demo-
cratic tendencies of the time. On such
q summer afternoon as this, the baron
was growing old gracefully. at peace
with his enemies.
Centuries older than the speck in
the sky was the baron; but the pass
road was many more, countless more,
centuries older than he. 1t had been
trail for tribes long before Roman
1egions won a victory in the pass,
which was acclaimed an imperial tri'
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
q parvenu the baron would have been
to the Roman aristocrat!"
Our family is old enough-ilone
older in the province!" Mrs. GallanG
would reply. Marta, how your mind
does wander! I'd get headache just
contemplating the things you are able
w VI I'VE HluulcS.
The first Galland had built a house
on the land that his king had giver
MIN for one of the most brilliant feati
of arms in the history Of the pass.
Even the tower, raised to the glor,
of an older family whose descendants
II any survived, we're unaware of thei
lineage. had become known as tn,
Galland tower. The Gallands wer,
rooted in the soil of the frontier; the,
were used to having wars hot breatl
blow past their door; they were a
home in the language and customs o
two peoples; theirs was a peculiar ira
dition, which Marta had absorbed wit
her first breath. Town and plain an
range were the first vista of landscap
that she had seen: doubtless the
would be the last
One or two afternoons a week Co
onel Hedworth Westerling. commando
OF the regimental post Of the Grays O
the other side Of the white post.
stretched his privilege of crossing tn
Gpntier and appeared for tea at tn
Hands. II meant a pleasant hal
bur breaking a long walk. a relic
from garrison surroundings. and 1
view Of the order. received that mor1
ing. this was to be a farewell call.
He had found Mrs. Galland an agre,
able reflection of an aristocratic pas
The daughter had what he define
vaguely as girlish piquancy. He foun
II amusing to try to answer her III
usual questions: he liked the variet
OF her Inventive mind, with its flashe
OF downright matter-offactness.
Not until tea was served did he mel
ton his Jew assignment; he was goin
70 the general staff at the capital. Mr.
Galland murmured her congratulation
In conventional fashion.
Martas chair was drawn back fror
the table. She leaned forward in
favorite position OF hers when she wa
intensely interested. with hand
clasped over her knee, which he
mother always found aggravatingl
tomboyish. She had a mass of lustrou
black hair and a mouth rather larg
In repose, but capable of changin
curves OF emotion. Her large, dar
eyes, luminously deep under lon
Iashss. II not the rest Of 'her face, ha
beanfy. Her head vas bent Ii