The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-02-25
CHAPTER xv-contlnvsd.


can be that!" she exclaimed in an un.
certain tone. which grew into the dis
traction Of clipped words and broken
sentences. "A woman play.acting-a
woman acting the most revolving by.
pocrisy-induences the issue between
two nations! Her deceit deals In the
lives Of sons precious to fathers and
mothers, the fate Of frontiers, of insti-
tutions! Think of It! Think of ma
chimes costing countless millions-ma-
chimes Of flesh and blood, with their
destinies shaped by one little bit Of
lying information! Think of the folly
Of any civilization that stakes its tri-
umphs on such = gamble! Am l not
right? Isn't 1t true! Isn't it,"
Yes. yes, Marta! But-I-" II
she were weakening 1t was not his
place to try to strengthen her purpose.
1T will the sooner end fighting.
won't 1t, Lanny?" she asked in .
small. tense voice.
"Yes."
And the only real end that means
real peace 10 to prove that the weak
can hold back the strong from their
threshold?"
"Yes."
Even now Westerling might be on
the veranda, perhaps waiting for news
that would enable him to crush the
weak; to prove that the law of five
pounds Of human flesh against three.
and i've bayonets against three. is the
law Of civilization.
"Yes, yes. yes!" The construction
was gone from her throat; there was
. drum-beat in her soul. Depend on
me, Lanny!" 1t was Feller's favorite
phrase spoken by the one who was to
take his place. "Yes. I'm ready to
make any sacrifice now. For what am
I! What is one woman compared to
such q purpose? l don't care what is
said of me or what becomes of me II
We can win! Good-by, Lanny. till l
call you up again! And God with us!"
God with us!" as Partow had said,
over and over. The saying had come
to be repeated by hard-headed, agnos-
tic staff-off1cers, who believed that the
deity had no relation to the efficiency
Of gun-fire. The Brown infantrymen
even were beginning to mutter it in
the midst Of action.
Waiting on the path of the second
terrace for Westerling to come, Marta
realized tho full meaning Of her task.
Day In and day out she was to have
suspense At her elbow and the horror
Of hypocrisy on hAr conscience, the
while keeping her wits nicely bal
anced, When she saw Westerling ap
pear on the veranda and start over the
lava she felt dizzy and uncertain OF
hsf capabilities.
Il have considered all that you have
sa:a for my guidance and l have de
aided." she began.
She heard her own voice with the
relief of singer in debut who, with
knees shaking. finds that her notes
are true. She was looking directly
ut Wester:ing in profound seriousness
Though knees shook. lips and chin
could aid eyes in revealing the pain
full fatigue Of battle that had ragged
in the mind of a woman who wen,
away for half an hour to think fo,
herself.
81 have concluded" she went on
that 1t is an occasion for the sac
rifice of private ethics to a great pur
pese, the sooner to end the slaugh
ter"
"An true!" whispered an inne,
voice. Its zone was Lanny's, in the
old days os their comradeship. 1t gave
her strHhgth. All true!
"Yse. IN end-a speedy end!" said
Wasteriing with fine, inf1exible en-
plasis. THAT is your prayer and
mine and the prayer of all lovers OF
humanity"
ut is little that know, but such
- 1t II you shall have It," she began,
conscious Of his guarded scrutiny.
when she told him Of Bordir, the
vosk polat in the hrst line Of thu