Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-09-19


 der in this than in commanding bat tery ill crisis"
 Suppose that the Grays win? Sup pose that La Tir is permanently theirs?"
 They shall not win! They must not!" Lanstron exclaimed, his tone as rigid as Westerlng's toward her sec ond prophecy.
 "Yet if they should win and Wester- ling finds that I have been party to this treachery, as shall be now that l am in the secret. think of the posi- ton of my mother and myself!" she continued. Has that occurred to you, friend, in making our property, our garden, our neutrality, which is our only defense, a factor in one of your plans without our permission?"
 Her eyes, blue-back in appeal and reproach, revealed the depths of a wound as they had on the terrace steps before luncheon, when he had been appraised of feeling for him by seeing it dead under his blow. The logic of the chief of intelligence withered. He understood how a friendship to her was, indeed, more sacred than patriotic passion. He realized the shame of what he had done now that he was free of professional influences.
 You are right. Marta!" he replied. Tt was beastly of me--there is no ex- cuse."
 He looked around to see an orderly from the nearest military wireless sta ton.
 T was told it was urgent, sir" said the orderly, in excuse for his intrusion. as he passed telegram to Lanstron.
 Immediately Lanstron felt the touch of the paper his features seemed to take on a mask that concealed his thought as he read:
 '.Take night express. Come direct from station to me. Partow."
 This meant that he would be ex- pected at Partow's office at eight the next morning. He wrote his answer; the orderly saluted and departed at g. rapid pace; and then, as a matter of habit of the same kind that makes some men wipe their pens when lay ing them down, he struck a match and set fire to one corner of the paper, which burned to his fingers ends be- fore he tossed the charred remains away. Marta imagined what he would be like with the havoc of war raging around him-all self-possession and mastery; but actually he was trying to reassure himself that he ought not to feel petulant over holiday cut short
 T shall have to go at once," he said. Marta, if there were to be war very soon-within a week or two weeks what would be your attitude about Eel ler's remaining?"
 ITO carry out his plan, you mean?" "Yes"
 There was a perceptible pause on her part.
 Let him stay" she answered. T shall have time to decide even after war begins
 But instantly war begins you must go!" he declared urgently.
 'You forget a precedent" she re. minded him. "rhe Galland women have never deserted the Calland house!"
 T know the precedent But this time the house will be in the thick of the fighting"
 Tt has been in the thick of the fight ing before" she said, with gesture of tmpatience.
 Marta, you will promise not to re- main?" he urged
 Isn't that my affair."" she asked Aren't you willing to leave even that to me after all you have been telling how you are to make a redoubt of our lawn, inviting the shells of the enemy into our drawing-rOom?
 What could he say? Only call up from the depths the two passions of his life in an outburst, with all the force of his nature in play.
 "I love this soil. my country's soil, ours by right-and love you. l would be true to both!"
 Love! What mockery to mention that now!' she cried chokingly Its MOHSlfOuS.
 '1-I-" He was making an effort to keep his nerves under control.
 This time the stiffening elbow failed. With lurching abruptness he swung his right hand around and seized the wrist of that trembling, injured hand that would not be still. She could not fail to noice the movement, and the sight was a magic that struck anger out of her.
 'Lanny, am hurting you!" she cried mise~ably.
 A httle," he said, will finally domi- nant over its servant, and he was smiling as when, half stunned and in agony-and ashamed of tue fact-he had risen from the debris of cloth and twisted braces. Its all right" he con- cluded
 She threw back her arms, her head raised, with a certain abandon as if She would bare her heart.
 Lanny, there have been moments when l would have liked to fly to your arms. There have been moments when have had the call that comes to