Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-09-23
CHAPTER 1.
A speck In the sky

after her onto the lawn RhSfe Lhey
became motionless figures, screening
their eyes with their hands. The new
est and most wonderful thing in the
world at the time was this speck ap-
pearing above the irregular horizon Of
the Brown range. In view Of land
scape that centuries Of civilization had
fortified 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 inch's variation. In
abe very direction OF the specks flight
"a spur OF foothills extended into the
plain that stretched away to the Gray
range, distinct at the distance of
thirty miles in the bright afternoon
light. Faithful to their part in refus-
ing to climb. the white posts circled
around the spur hugging the levels.
ln the Zap Of the spur was La Tir,
abe old town, and on the other side
of the boundary lay South La Tir, the
new town. Through both ran the dusty
ribbon Of - road, drawn straight across
the plaiss and over the glistening
Lhread .f river On its way to the
pass OF the Brown range II skirted the
gardsn of the Gallands, which rose In
terraces TO eYenteenth-century
house overlooking the old town from its
outskirts. They we're such town. such
a road. such a landscape as you may
bee on many European frontiers The
christian people who lived in the re-
gion we're like the Christian people
you know II you look for the realities
Df human nature under the surface diff
ferences OF language and habits
Beyond the house rose the ruins OF
castle, its tower still intact Marta al.
ways referred TO the castle as the
baron: for In her girlhood she had
way personlfying all inanimate
things. II the castle walls were Gov
cred with hoar frost. she said that the
baron was shivering; II the wind tore
around the tower. she said that the
baron was groaning over the demo
cratic tendencies OF the time. On such
n summer afternoon as this. the baron
was growing old gracefully. at peace
with his enemies.
Centuries older than the speck in
she sky was tho baron. but the pass
road was many more, countless more,
centuries older than he II had been
a trail for tribes long before Roman
legions won victory In the pass.
(which was acclaimed an imperial tri-
hmph. To hold the pass was to hold
khe range. All the blood shed there
would make red river. nundating the
plain.
Beside the old baron, we are par
venus" Marta would say And what
a parvenu the baron would have been
No the Roman aristocratl"
Our family is old enough none
older In the provlnce!" Mrs Galtand
would reply. Marta, how your mind
does wanderl I'd get headache just
contemplating the things you are able
no think of In five minutes"
The first GallaDi had built a house
on the land that his king had given
him for one of the most brilliant feats
Of arms In the history of the pass.
Even the tower. raised TO the glory
of an older family whose descendants
NJ any survived. were unaware of their
nineage. had become known as this
OAKLAND tower. The Galiands yer,
rooted In the soil OF the frontier; the,
- were used to having wars hot breatl
blow past their door; they were q
home in the language and CUSTOMS o
two peoples: theirs was a peculiar ira
dition, which Marta had absorbed wit
her first breath, Town and plain an
range were the first vista OF landscap
that she had seen; doubtless the
would be the last
One or two afternoons a week Co
onel Hedworth Westerling. commando
of the regimentai post OF the GEAys O
the other side OF the white post
stretched his privilege of crossing III
frontier and appeared for tea at ii
Gallands. Il meant pleasant bal
hour breaking long walk, rali.
from garrison surroundings. and
view OF the order. received that morl
ing, this vas to be farewell call
lie ha.d found Mrs. OAKLAND an agre
able reflection of an aristoerstic pas
The daughter had what he detlue
vaguely as girlish phquancy He fouz
e amusing to try TO answer her u
usual questions: he liked the variel
OF her inventive mind. with its fash,
of downright matterof-factnsss.
Not until tea was served did he me
Tion his oew assignment; he was goiI
40 the general stan at the capital. MI
Galland murmured her congratulatiol
In conventional fashion.
Martas eheir was drawn back fro
the table She leaned forward in
9ayorite position Of hers when she w
intensely interested. with haut
clasped over her knee, which h
mother always found aggravating
1omboyish She had mass OF lustro
black hair and a mouth rather lar
in repose but capable of ehangi
curves Of emotion. Her lA~ge. 6R
eyes, luminously de- under 10
lashes. il not the rest o. her ace, b
beaEty. Her head was bent, I