Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-12
CAAPTE S 1.
A sneek in the Sky.

! in the sky. Her cutlery and her bound
from her seat at the teata0le brought
her mother and Colonel Wesierllng
after her onto the lawn. where they
became uaoiionless figures, screening
their eyes with their hands. The new
est and most wonderful thing in the
world at tie time was this speck aT-
psaring above the irregular horizon OF
the Brown range, in view OF land
seape that centuries OF civilization had
ierlilized and cultivated and formed
At the base OF the range ran line
OF white stone posts. placed by inter
national commissions OF surveyors TO
the nicely of an ipch's variation. In
the very direction OF the specA's flight
spur of foothills extended into the
plain that stretched away 10 the Gray
range, distinct at the distance OF
thirty miles in tie bright afternoon
light Faithful to their part in reius-
ing 10 climb, the white pests circ.ed
around the spur. hussins the levels.
In the lap Of the spur was la TI,
the cid to~n. and or the other side
OF the boundary lay South La Tir. the
rev town. Through both ran the dusty
ribbon OF road, drawn straight across
the plain and over the glistenins
pass OF the Brown range il skirted the
garden OF the Gallands, which rose in
terraces to seyeuteench-century
house overlooking the old town from its
outs kris. They were such town. such
road. such landscape as you may
see on many European frontiers. The
Christian people who lived in the re-
gion we're like the Christian people
you know il 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 70 the castle as the
baron, for in her girlhood she had a
way of personifying all inanimate
things. If the castle walls were COW
cred with boar frost, she said tia: the
baron was shivering; il 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 sky was the baron; but the pass
read vas many more, countless more.
centuries older than ne. 1t had been
trai! Tor tribes long before Roman
legioos won z victory in the pass,
which was acclaimed an imperial tri-
the range. All the blood shed there
would make red river, inundesing the
plain.
Beside the old baron. we are par
venus" Marta would say. And nat
q paryenu 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
DIES wander. I'd get headache just
contemplating the things YOU are able
/ TO think Of in five minutes"
( The first Galland had built house
/ on the land that his king had given
MIN for one OF the most brilliant feats
F, OF arms in the history of the pass
! Even the tower, raised to the glory
I of an older family whose descendants
! II any survived, were unaware OF their
lineage, had become known as the
! Galland tower. The Gallanos were
/ rooted in the soil of the frontier; they
/ were used 10 having wars hot breath
! blow past their door; they were at
home in the language and customs OF
two peoples; theirs was a peculiar ira
{ dition, which Marta had absorbed with
J her first breath. Town and plain and
range were the first vista Of landscape
that she had seen; doubtless they
would be the last
One or two afternoons a week Col
I! onel HedTorth Westerling, commander
of the regimentai post OF the Grays on
the other side CT the white posts,
stretched his privilege Of crossing the
frontier and appeared for tea 1T the
Gallands. 1t meant . pleasant half
hour breaking long walk, q relief
from garrison surroundings, and in
view of the order, received that morn
ing, this was to be . farewell call.
i He had found Mrs. Galland an agree
able reflection OF an aristocratfc past
The daughter had what he defined
vaguely az girlish piquancy. He found
it amusing to try to answer her un
usual questions; he liked the variety
Of her inventive mind, with it, dashei
Of downright matter-of.factness.
/ Not until tea was served did he mon
tIon mis- new assignment; no was goinl
to the general star 1t the capital. Mrs
Galland murmured her congratulationl
J in conventional fashion.
Marta's chair vAs drawn back from
! the table. She leaned forward In {
favorite position Of hers when she NJ,
intensely interested. with haD1l
clasped over her knee. which ~
!. mother always found aggrAva&anSiJ
tomboyish. She had . mass q isstrot1l
, black hair and . noath sakAog hrGl