Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-12-17
CHAPTER xvI-continued.

"This is like you-like what I want
you to bet" he said you are right"
He caught her hand, inclosing it en-
tirely in his grip, and she was SEN
sible, in a kind Of dazed horror, of the
thrill Of his strength Nothing can
stop US! Numbers viii win! Hard
fighting in the mercy of a quick end!"
ne declared with his old rigidity of
five against three which was welcome
to her Then" he added - and
then"
Them she repeated, averting her
glance. Then" There the devil
ended the sentence and she withdrew
her hand and felt the relief of one es-
Gaping suffocation, to find that he had
realized that anything further during
that interview would be banality and
was rising to go.
= don't feel decent" she thought.
Society turned on Minna for hu-
man weakness, but I'm not human
being! / am one of the pawns of the
machine of war!"
Walking slowly with lowered head
as she left the arbor, she almost ran
into BouchaTd who apologized with
the single word "Pardon!" as he lifted
his cap in oyerdone courtesy, which
his stolid brevity made the more con-
spicuous
Miss Galland you seem lost in alb
stractlon, he said in sudden loquac-
ity Il am almost on the point of
accusing you of being a poet"
"Accusins!" she replied. Then you
must think that l would write bad
poetry"
ION the contrary, ] should say ex-
celent-using the sonnet form" he re-
turned.
Il might make counter accusa-
ton, only that yours would be the
epic form, answered Marta. For you,
too, seem fond of rambling"
There was a yelled challenge in the
hawk eyes, which she met with com
monplace politeness in hers. before
be again lifted his cap and proceeded
on his way.
For the next two weeks Marta's role
resolved itself into a kind of routine.
Their cramped quarters became a
refuge to Marta in the trial of her
secret work under the very nose Of
the staff With little Clarissa Eileen.
they formed the only feminine society
in the neighborhood. On sunshiny
days Mrs. Galland was usually to be
found in her favorite chair outside
the tower door; and here Minna set
the urn on a table at fourthirty as in
the old days
No member of the STAFF was more
frequently present at Marta's teas
than Bouchard, who was developing
his social instinct late in life bv sit
ting in the background and allowing
others to do the talking while he
watched and listened. In his hearing.
Marta's attitude toward the progress
OF the war was sympathetic but never
inteTrogatory, while she shared atten-
ton with Clarissa Eileen. who was in
danger OF becoming spoiled by officers
who had children of their own at home.
After the reports of killed and wound
regularity, IL was a relief to hear of
the days casualties among CIarissa's
dolls. The chief of transportation
and supply rode her on his shoulder.
the chief of tactics played hide-and-
seek with her; the chief engineer
built her a doll house of stones with
his own hands; and the chief medical
officer was as concerned when she
caught cold as if the health of the
army were at stake.
We mustn't set too set up over all
this attention, CIarissa Eileen, my RI
val said Marta to the child. You
are the only little girl and / am the
only big girl within reach. II there
were lots of others it would be diff
ferent"
BOuchard was losing flesh; his eyes
were sinking deeper under a heavier
frown. His duty being to set infor-
nation, he was gaining none. His
duty being to keep the Grays' secrets,
there was a leak somewhere in his
own department. He quizzed subordi-
mates: he made abrupt transfers, to no
avail
Meanwhile, the Grays were taking
the approaches to the main line of
defense, which had been thought rela-
lively immaterial but had been found
shrewdly placed and their vulnerable,
ity overestimated. The thunders of
batteries hammering them became 8
routine of existence, like the passing
of trains to one living near a railroad
The guns went on while tea was be-