Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-11-04
TheI..ast Shot
FREDERICK PALMER
CcoOyright. 1914. b. Charles scribners sonsl

| 10 get away SNpubeu the lid5uAs All
| we know is what is written in our in
struch ms, and we shall act on them
when the thing starts. Then we are
in command Meanwhile, get ready"
Then the major became aware Of a
young woman who was going in the
wrong direction. Her cheeks were
flushed from her rapid walk, her lips
we're parted. showing firm, white
teeth, and her black eyes were re-
| garding him in blaze of satire g.
amusement; an emotion, whatever 1t
was. that thoroughly centered his at
tention
"MademoiselIe, am very sorry, 1rt
unless you live In this direction" he
said very politely, you may not go any
! farther Until we have other orders
or they attack every one is supposed
| to remain in his house or his place Of
business
This is my place OF busiDess!"
| Marta answered. for she was already
: opposite a small. disused chapel which
was her schoolroom. where a half
dozen of the faithful children were
gathered around the masculine impor-
lance of Jaeky Werther. one of the
older boys.
"Then you are Miss GaIlandi" said
the major, enlightened His smile had
an appreciation of the irony of her oe.
eupation at that moment. Your chill
dren are very loyal They would not
tell me where they lived. so we had
to let thcm stay there"
Those who have homes" she said
| identifying each one OF the faithful
with a glance, nave so many broth
ers and sisters that they will hardly
be missed from the flock Others
have no homes-at least not much of
ona"-here her temper rose again
taxes being 30 high in order that you
may organize murder and the destruc-
tion of property"
Nov really, Miss Galland," he be-
/ gan solicitously, Il have been assigned
to move the civil population in case of
attack. Your children ought"
After school! You have your duty
this morning and have minel" Marta
interrupted pleasantly. and turned
toward the chapel
They are putting sharpshooters In
the church tower to get the aero
planes, and there are lots of the little
guns that fire bullets so fast you can't
count 'em--and little spring wagons
with dynamite TO blow things up
and" Jacky Werther ran on in
serios Ct vocal explosions as Marta
opered the door to let the children
go In.
yet you camel" said Marta with
hand caressingly on his shoulder.
1T looks pretty bad for peace, bu.
we came" answered Jaeky. round
eyed. in loyalty. Wed come right
through bullets cause we said we
would II we wasn't sick. and we wasn't
sick"
MY seven disciples seven!" ex-
claimed Marta as she counted them.
And you need not sit on the regular
seats. but around me on the platform
II will be more intimate"
That's grand!" came in chorus.
Tacy did not bother about chairs, but
seated themselves on the floor around
Marta's skirts,
The church clock doomed out its de-
liberate strokes through ten. the hour
set for the lesson, and all counted
them -one--two--three. Marta was
thinking what dismal little effort
theirs was. and yet she was very hap
by, tremblingly happy in her dlstrac-
ton and excitement, that they had not
waited for her at the door of the
chapel in vain.
She announced that there would be
no talk this morning: they would only
say their oath. Repeating IN concert
/ the pledge to the boys and girls of
other lands, the childish voices pecu-
liRrly sweet and harmonious in con.
trast 20 the raucous and uneven
sounds OF forebcding from the street,
they came in due course to the words
of the concession that the cath made
to militancy
"lf an enemy tries to take my
land"
"Children-f--" Marta interrupted
with a sense of wonder and shock
They paused and looked al her aues
tioningly Il had almost forgotten
that part!" she breathed confusedIy
That's the part that makes all
we're doing against the Grays right
put In Jacky Werther promptly
AS l wrote it for you! / shall APP
peal to his sense of justice and reason
with him"
Jaws dropped and eyes bulged. fol
above the sounds OF the street ros,
fron the distance the unmistakabl,
cracking OF rifle fire which, as the,
listened. spread and Increased In vol
ume.
Go on--on to the end OF the oath
II viii take only a moment" sale
Marta resolutely 1T isn't much bu
us the best we can do"
CHAPTER TX.