Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-03-19

Lanstron resigned he became chief.
'Partow might have this dream be-
fore he won, but would he now?"
asked the vice-chiet. mo. He would |
go on!" h.
yes" said another officer. "The |
world will ridicule the suggestion; our
people will overwhelm US with their
anger. The Grays will take it for a
sign of weakness"
mot If We put the situation rightly
to them,"~ answered Lanstron. mot
IL we go to them as bravo adversary
to brave adversary, in fair spirit"
1--WE can-we shall take the range!"
the vice-chief went on in a burst of
rigid conviction when he saw that
opinion was with him. Nothing can
stop this army now!" He struck the
table edge with his fist, his shoulders
stiffening
"Please-please, don't!" implored
Marta softly. at sounds so like Wes-
terling!"
The vice-chief started as If he had
received a sharp pin-prick. His Shout
ders unconsciously relaxed. He began
a fresh study Of certain point on the
table top. Lanstron, looking first at
one and then at another, spoke again,
his words as measured as they ever
had been in military discussion and
| eloquent. He began outlining his own
message which would go with Partow's
to the premier, to the nation, to every
regiment Of the Browns, to the Grays,
to the world, He set forth why the
Browns, after tasting the courage of
the Grays. should realize that they
could not take their range. Partow
| had not taught him to put himself in
other mems places in vain. The boy
who had kept up his friendship with
engine drivers after he was an officer
know how to sink the plummet into
human emotions. He reminded the
Brown soldiers that there had been
providential answer to the call of
God with us!" he reminded the pee
pie Of the lives that would be lost to
no end but to engender hatred; he
begged the army and the people not
to break faith with that principle of
mot for theirs, but for ours" which
had been their strength.
II should like you all to sign ito
make it simply the old form of the
staff has the honor to report" he said
finally.
There was hush as he finished
the hush Of a deep impression when
one man waits for another to speak.
All were looking at him except the
vice-chief, who was still staring at the
table as if~he had beard nothing. Yet
every word was etched on his mind
The man whose name was the symbol
Of victory to the soldiers, who would
be more than ever hero as the news
Of his charge with the African Braves
travelled along the lines, would go on
record to his soldiers as saying that
they could not take the Gray range.
This was "a handicap that the vice
chief did not care to accept; and he
knew how to turn a phrase as well as
to make a soldierly decision. He
looked up smilngly to Marta.
II have decided that l had rather
not be a Westerling, Miss Galland,'
he said. well make it unanimous.
And you" he burst out to Lanstron-
you legatee of old Partow; I've al
ways said that he was the biggest man
Of our time. He has proved 1t by
catching the spirit of our time and in.
carnating It,"
Vaguely, in the whirl Of her 10y
Marta heard the chorus of assent as
> the officers sprang to their feet in the
i citation Of being at one with their chief
again. Lanstron caught her arm, fear
ing that she was going to fall, but a
burning question rose in her mind to
steady her.
Then my shame-my sending men
to slaughter-my sacrifice was not in
vain?" she exclaimed
II
| The sea of people packed in the
Il great square Of the Brown capital
made roar like the thunder Of waves
against breakwater at sight of q
; white spot on background of gray
6IOue, WHICH was lu6 uSdu OF an emil
nent statesman.
ut looks as If our government
would last the week out" the premier
chuckled as he turned to his colleagues
at the cabinet table.
AS yet only the brief bulletins whose
publication in the newspapers haC
aroused the public to a frenzy hac
\ been received. The cabinet, as eager
for details as the press, had remained
up, awaiting a fuller official account.
I'VE have long communication In
preparation" the staff had telegraphed
) Meanwhile. the following is submit
ted"
Good heavens! Ito not from the
army! It's from the gravel" ex
claimed the premier as he read the
first paragraphs of Partows message
"Of all the concealed dynamite ever!'
he gasped as he grasped the full mean
s ing of the document, that piece O
news, as staggering as the victory 1t
| i i