Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-09-23

2
in distress:
But your hand-oh, your hand!"
! His left hand hung limp from the
wrist, cut, mashed and bleeding. Its
nerves numbed, he had not as yet felt
any pain from the injury. Now he re-
garded It in kind OF awakening stare
Of realization of deformity to come.
"Wool-gatheriDg again!" he NUT
| tered to himself Grossly.
Then. seeing that she had turned
white. he thrust the disgusting thing
behind his back and twinged with the
movement. The pain was arriving.
1T must be bandaged, | lave a
handkerchief she begged. I'm not
going 10 faint or anything like thati"
Only bruised-and it's the left. /
am glad 1t was not the right" he re-
piled. Westerling arrived and Joined
Marta in offers OF assistance just as
they heard the prolonged honk OF an
automobile demanding the right Of
way at top speed in the direction Of
the pass.
THANK you, but they're coming for
me" said Lanstron to Westerling as
be glanced up the road
Westerling was looking at the wreck
Lanstron. who recognized him as an
officer. though Ia mutt, kicked a bit OF
the torn cloth over some apparatus to
hide It, At this Westerling smiled
family. Then Lanstron saluted as Of
ficer TO officer might salute across the
white posts, giving his name and re-
ceiving in return Westerlings
They made a contrast, these two
men. the colonel of the Grays. swart
and sturdy, his physical vitality so evil
dent, and the captain of the Browns,
some seven or eight years the junior,
bareheaded, in dishevelled fatigue
uniform, his lips twitching, his slender
body quivering with the pain that he
bold forehead and delicate. sensitive
features suggested a man of nerve and
nerves who might have left expert
ments in laboratory for an adventure
in the air. There was kind of chal-
lenge In their glances; the challenge
OF an ancient feud of their peoples;
of the professional rivalry of polite
duellists. Lanstron's slight figure
seemed to express the weaker number
Of the three million soldiers of the
Browns; Westerling's. bulkier one. the
four million five hundred thousand OF
the Grays.
you had a narrow squeak and you
made very snappy recovery 1T the
last second said westerling. passing
a compliment across the white posts.
That's in the line of duty for you
and me, isn't it?' Lanstron replied.
his voice thick gith pain as he forced
u smile.
There was no pose in his fortitude.
He was evidently disguised with him
self over the whole business, and he
turned to the group of three officers
and a civilian who alighted from big
Brown army automobile as If be were
prepared to have them say their worst.
They seemed between the impulse of
reprimanding and embrach him.
Il hope that you are not surprised at
the result" said the Oldest OF the Of
ficers a man OF late middle age. rather
affectionateiy and teasingly. He wore
single order on his breast. a plain
iron cross. and the insignia OF his rank
was that OF field-marshal.
Not now. | should be again, sir"
said Lanstron, looking full at the field
marshal in the appeal OF one asking
for another chance. Il was wool-gath
ering. But shall not wool-gather next
time I've got reminder more urgent
than a string tied around my finger"
Yes. that hand needs immedis te at
| tention," said the doctor. He and an
other officer began helping Lanstron
into the automobile.
| "Good-byl" he called @ the young
girl. who was still watching him with
| big, sympathetic eyes Il am coming
back soon and land in the field. here.
and when / do. I'll claim bunch of
| flowers"
DO! What fun!" she cried. as the
car started.
The fiold.marshal was Partow, their
chief of starr" westerling asked.
Yes" said Mrs. Galland. Il remem
Der when he was young infantry Off
Ger before the last war. before he had
won the iron cross and become 60
great. He was not OF an army family
"a doctors son, but very clever and
skilful"
Getting a little old for his work!
remarked Westerling. But apparent
ly he is keen enough to take . per
sonal interest in anything new"
Wasn't it thrilling and-and ter
rible," Marta exclaimed.
Yes, like war at our own dsoi
again" replied Mrs GRlisnd, who knew
war She had seen war raging osl th'
pass road ''Lanstron. the young mai
said his name was" she resumed afiei
pause. NO doubt the LanstrOas o
Thorbourg. An old family and maR!
of them in the army"
The way he refused 10 give in-ths
was fine!" said Marta.
/ Westerling, who had been eAgrosse'
in his own thoughts. looked up.
: Courage 1 the cheapest thing al
q army has. You can get hundreds .
; young officers who are glad to take
3 risk OF that kind The thing Is" al.
: his angers pressed In on the palm }
I his hand in a noundtnv yasture of tn