The Monticellonian., 1915-04-01

lowed by their cOulfduSS. SUN eAO
whole garden was overrun by the lean,
businesslike fellows, their glanees all
ferret.like TO the front.
Look. Minnal" exclaimed Marta.
THE giant who carried the old man In
pickaback the first night of the war!
Minna was flushing, but the flush
eissipated and she drew UP her chin
when Stransky, looking around, reeog-
nized her with a merry, confident
wave of his hand.
See, he's a captain and he wears
an iron cross!" said Marta as Stransky
fastened toward them.
He acts like it," assented Minna
grudgingly.
Eager. leviathan, his cap dotted with
a sweeping gesture as he made low
bow, Stransky was the very spirit OF
retributiye victory returning to claim
the ground that he had lost.
We'll. this is like getting home
again!" he cried.
so | see!" said Minna equivocally.
Stransky drew his eyes together,
sighting them on the bridge of his nose
thoughtfully at this dubious reception.
Il came back for the chance to kiss
a good woman's hand" he observed
with profound awkwardness and
looking at Minnas hand Your
hand!" he added, the cast in his eyes
Strengthening as he looked directly at
her appealingly.
She extended her fnger-tips and he
pressed his lips to them.
Il kept seeing the way you looked
when you belted me one in the face"
he went on, and knocked any an
archism out of me that was left after
the shell burst. l kept seeing your
face in my last glimpse when the
Grays made me run for it from your
kitchen door before | had half chance
for the Grafton crying for voice. You
were in my dreams! You were in bat
tie with mel"
This sounds like disordered
mind observed Minna. I've heard
men talk that way before"
"Oh, have talked that way to other
women myself" said Stransky.
Yes" said Minna bitterly. His can
dor was rather unexpected
Il have talked to others in passing
on the high road" he continued. But
never after woman had struck me in
the face. That blow sank deep-deep
deep as what Lanstron said when
revolted ON the march l say it to you
with this''-he touched the erosion
my breast. And I'm not going to give
you up. It's a big world. There's
room in it for a place for you after the
war is over and I'm going to make the
place. Good-by till In blackjack to
stay! Geod-by, little daughter he
added with a wave of his hand to Glar-
issa as he turned to go. Maybe we
shall have our own automobile some
day. It's no stranger than what's been
happening to me since the war began.
IF you don't marry him, Minna, I'll
Ill" Mrs. Galland could not find
words for the fearful thing that she
would do.
Marry him! l have only met him
three times for about three minutes
each timei" protested Minna. She
was as rosy as girl and in her eenfu-
sion she busted herself relying the rib
bon on Clarissa Eileen's hair. He
called you little daughter!" she said
softly to the child as she withdrew into
the tower
Marta remained in the chair by the
doorway of the tower. weak and list
a
again they opened slightly as her gaze
roved the semicirele of the horizon. A
mounted officer and his orderly gallop-
ing across the fields to the pass road
caught her desultory attention and
held it. for they formed the most i'm
petuous object on the landscape. When
the officer alighted at the foot of the
garden and tossed his reins to the or
derby, she detected something familiar
about him. He leaped the garden wall
at bound and, half running, came to-
ward the tower. Not until he lifted his
cap and waved ii did she associate this
1.-the, dapper artillerist with a stopped
old gardener in blue blouse and torn
straw hat who had once shuffled among
the flowers at her service.
Hello Helloi" he shouted in
clarion greeting at sight of her. Hello,
my successor
Only in the whiteness of his hair
was he like the old Teller fiis tone,
the boyish sparkle of his black eyes,
those full. expressive lips playing
over the brilliant teeth, his easy grace,
his quick and telling gestures-they
were of the Feller of cadet days
nderful-wounded! Wonderful!
Was there ever such woman?" he
cried. Destiny has played with us
1t sent spy to your garden 1t put
you in my place. A strange service,
ours-yes. destiny is in it"
Yes" she breathed painfully, his
suggestion striking deep.
ITO BE CONTINUED
Al