Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-11-12

was not for Dellarme 70 agG questions
Of a priZe-medallist graduate of the.
school for officers in a blue blouse and
crownless straw hat His expert sur
vey assured him that before another
rush the enemy had certain prepara-
tons TO make. He might give his
fighting smile a recess and permit
himself a few minutes relaxation
Looking around to ascertain what
damage had been done - the house
and grounds, he became aware Of
,Marta's presence for the FIRST time
Miss Galland, you-sou weren't
there during the fighting" he crisd
as he ran toward her.
Yes" she said rather family
If l had known THAI ! should have
been scared to deathl"
But I was safe behind the pillar, -
she explained.
Miss Gailand, you're such a good
soldier-please-and I'm sure you have
not had your breakfast, and all good
soldiers never neglect their Tations.
not at the beginning of war. Miss
GaIland, please" Yes, as he meant
it, please be a good fellow
She could not resist smiling at the
charming manner of his plea. She felt
weak and strange-a little dizzy. Be
sides, her mothers voice now came
from the doorway and then her moth
er's hand was pressing her arm.
Marta, if you remain out here, I
shalt" announced Mrs. Galland.
L was just coming in
Dellarme. his cap held before him in
the jaunty fashion OF officers, bowed
his face beaming his happiness at her
decision.
"Come!" Mrs. GalIaDd slipped her
hand into Marta's 1.-TWO women can't
fight both armies. Come! l prescribe
hot coffee 1t is waiting; and, do you
know, I find a meal in the kitchen
very cozy."
Being human and not heroine fed
on lotos blossoms, and being exhaust
ed and also hungry, when she was
seated at table, with Minna adroitly
urging her, Marta ate with the relish
of little Peterkin in the shell crater
munching biscuits from his haversack,
but the movement of the minute-hand
on the clock-face became uncanny and
merciless to her eye in its deliberate
regularity. Dellarme had been told
to hold on until noon, she knew. Wac
he still smiling? Was Teller still
happy in playing str cam of lead
from the automatic? Was the second
charge of the Grays, which must have
come to close quarters when the guns
went silent, going to succeed?
Mrs. Galland had settled down con-
scientiously to play solitaire, favor
tie pastime of hers; but she failed
to win, as she complained to Marta,
because Of her stupid way this morn
ing Of missing the combination cards.
After a long intermission came an
which she interpreted as the response
to another rush by the Grays; and this
ye1ping of the demon was not that
of the hound after the hare, as in
the valley, but of the hare. with his
back to the wall. When it was over
there was no cheer. What did this
mean? Without warning to her mother
she bolted out of the kitchen. Mrs.
Galland sprang up to follow, but
Minna barred the way
"One is enough!" she said firmly,
and Mrs. Galland dropped back into
her chair.
In the front rooms Marta found
havoc beyond her Imagination. A por-
ton of the ceiling had been blown out
by shell entering at an upstairs win.
dow; the hardwood floors were lit
tered with plaster and window-glass
and ripped into splinters in places.
TO BE CONTINUEDD