Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-10-01

nc " III Ii a. cA-A OA44NCA"
Finding enough work to dog" Par
tow would ask with a chuckIe when
they met in these days; for he had
made Lanstron both chief of intelli-
gence and chief aerostatic officer.
Young Colonel Lanstron's was the duty
Of gaining the secrets of the Gray
staff and keeping those of the Brown
and organizing up-to-the-moment eff
cheney in the new forces of the air.
He had remarked truly enough that
q better reminder against the folly of
wool-gathering than a string, even
large red string, tied around his fin
ger. Thanks to skillfuI surgery, the
fingers, incapable of spreading much,
were yet serviceable and had firm
grip of the wheel as he rose from the
aeroplane station on the Sunday morn
ing after Marta's return home for
fight to La Tir.
He knew the pattern weaving under
his feet as one knows that of his own
garden from an overlooking window.
Every detail of the staff map ravines,
roads, buildings, battery positions, was
stitched together in the flowing reality
of actual vision No white posts were
necessary to tell him where the
boundary between the two nations lay.
The line was drawn in his brain.
Now that Lanstron was the organ
izer of the aviation corps his own
flights were rare. Mostly they were
made to La Tir. His visits to Marta
were his holidays. All the time that
she was absent on her journey around
the world they had corresponded. Her
letters, so revealing of herself and her
peculiar angles of observation, formee
a bundle sacredly preserved Her
mothers joking reference about her
girlish resolution not to marry sol
der often required to him. There, he
sometimes thought, was the real OBJ
stacle to his great desire.
When he alighted from the plane he
thrust his left hand into his blouse
pocket. He always carried it there,
as If it were literally sewn in place.
In moments of emotion the SCARED
nerves would twitch as the telltale of
his constituencies; and this was some
thing he would conceal from others no
matter how conscious he was Of it him
self He found the Galland veranda
deserted. In response to his ring a
maid came to the open door. Her
face was sad, with a beauty that had
prematurely faded. But it lighted
pleasurably in recognition. Her hair
was thick and tawny, lying low over
the brow; her eyes were a softly
luminous brown and her full lips sensi-
tive and yielding. Lanstron, an init
mate OF the Galland household, knew
her story we'll and the part that Marta
had played in it.
Some four years previously, when a
baby was in prospect for Minna, who
wore no wedding ring, Mrs. Galland
had been inclined to send the maid to
an institution, where they will take
good care of her, my dear. That's
what such institutions are for. 1t is
quite scandalous for her and for US
never happened in our family before!"
Marta arched her eyebrows.
I'VE don't know!" she exclaimed
softly.
How can you think such a thing,
let alone saying it-you, Galland!"
her mother gasped in indignation.
THAT is, if we go far back" said
Marta. AT all events, we have no
precedent, so let's establish one by
keeping her"
But for her own sake! She will
have to live with her shame!" Mrs.
Galland objected. Let her begin
afresh in the city We shall give her
a good recommendation, for she is
really an excellent servant. Yes, she
| strangers"
Still. she doesn't want to go, and II
would be cruel to send her away"
Cruel! Why, Marta, do you think
1 would be cruel? Oh, very well, then
we will let her stay!"
|
Both are away at church. Mrs. Gal
land ought to be here any minute, but
Miss Galland will be later because oil
her children's class" said Minna. viii
you wait on the yeranda?"
He was saying that he would stroll
in the garden when childish footsteps
were heard in the hall, and after 9
curly head had nestled against the
! mothers skirts its owner, reminded o.
| the Importance of manners in the
world where the stork had left her
made a curtesy. Lanstron shook {
small hand which must have lately
been on intimate terms with sugar OIL
jam.
How do you do, flying soldier man? p
| chirruped Clarissa Eileen. 1t was evi
dent that she held Lanstron in higf
favor.
Let me hear you say your name.
said Lanstron.
Clarissa Eileen was triumphant. Sht
had been waiting for days with th'
revelation when he should make tina
old request. Now she enunciated i
with every vowel and consonant cor
rectly and primly uttered; indeed, sh,
repeated it four or five times in proc
Of complete mastery.
"A pretty name. I've often wondered
how you came to give it to her." saiC
Lanstron to Minna.
d You do like it," exclaimed Mimi
with girlish eagerness. Il gave he
the most beautiful name I could thinl
of because '-she laid her hand caress
ingly on the child's' head and a ma
donna-ike radiance stole into her fac
because she might at least have
beautiful name when the dull blaz
OF a recollection now burning in he
eyes-''when there wasn't much pros
pect of many beautiful things COMING
, into her life; though I know, of course
triotism, but it just happens that tn
poles are not for flags but for meat
Knik. is on the trail to IditarOd an