The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-02-26
CHAPTER XVl-Continued.

This is like you-like what | want
you to be-" he said. you are right
He caught her hand. inclosing it en-
tirely in his grip, and she was SEN
sible, in a kind of daZed horror, of the
thrill of his strength. Nothing can
stop US! Numbers will win! Hard
fighting in the mercy of quick end!'
he declared with his old rigidity OF
FIVE against three which was welcome
to her. Then" he added - and
then"
Them" she repeated, averting her
glance. Then" There the devil
ended the sentence and she withdrew
her hand and felt the relief of one es-
Gaping suffocation, to find that he had
realized that anything further during
that interview would be banality and
was rising to go.
81 don't feel decent" she thought.
Society turned on Minna for a hui
man weakness, bet I'm not human
s being! / am one of the pawns OF the
machine OF war;
Walking slowly with lowered head
as she left the arbor, she almost ran
into Bouchard, who apologized with
the single word "Pardon!" as he lifted
his cap in overdone courtesy, which
his stolid brevity made the more con
;spicuous.
Miss Galland, you seem lost in alb
straction," he said In sudden loquac
ity. Il am almost on the point Of
accusing you Of being a poet"
"Accusing!" she replied. Then yor
must think that l would write bat
poetry"
ION the contrary, should say ex
,cellent-using the sonnet FORM" he re
turned.
81 might make a counter accuse
ton, only that yours would be tn
epic FORM" answered Marta. For you
too, seem fond of rambling"
There was yelled challenge in tn
hawk eyes, which she met with com
monplace politeness in hers, befor
be again lifted his cap and proceede
on his way.
=
For the next two weeks Marta's rol
resolved itself into kind Of routine
Their cramped quarters became
refuge to Marta in the trial of he
secret work under the very nose {
the staff. With little Clarissa Eileel
they formed the only feminine societ
in the neighborhood. On sunshin
days Mrs. Galland was usually to b
found in her favorite chair outsid
the tower door; and here Minna Sc
the urn on a table at four-thirty as
the old days.
No member Of the staff was moi
frequently present at Marta's tes
than Bouchard, who was developin
his social instinct late in life by 81
ting in the background and allowin
others to do the talking while b
watched and listened. In his hearin
Marta's attitude toward the progre!
of the war was sympathetic but nev'
interrogatory, while she shared atte
ton with Clarissa Eileen, who was
danger of becoming spoiled by office
who had children Of their own at HON
After the reports Of killed and woun
ed, which came with such appallir
regularity, 1t was relief to hear
the days casualties among Clarissa
dolls. The chief of transportatit
and supply rode her on his shoulde
the chief Of tactics played hide-an
seek with her; the chief engine
built her doll house Of stones wi
his own hands; and the chief medic
officer was as concerned when 81
caught cold as IL the health OF Il
army were at stake.
1--WE mustn't get too set up over I
this attention, Clarissa Eileen, my
VAL" said Marta to the child. "Y
are the only little girl and l am t
only big girl within reach. If the
were lots Of others 1t would be d
Gerent-"
Rouchard was losing flesh; his ey