Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-02-25
asha.n hit.

But Marta ulu not near MIN. on
heard only the dreadful crack OF tn
splitting shrapnel jacket She had
sense OF falling. and that was all.
The next that she knew she was II
4 long chair on the veranda and tn,
vague shadows bending over her grad
ually identified themselves a. hel
mother and Nina.
II remember when you were telling
OF the last war that you didn't swoor
at the sight of the wounded. mother,
Marta whispered.
But | was not wounded" replied
Mrs. Galland.
Marta ceased to be only q conscious.
ness swimming in O haze. With the
return of her faculties. she noticed
that both her mother and Nina were
looking significantly at her forearm;
so she looked at II. too. 1t was
bandaged.
"A cut from q shrapnel fragment"
said q doctor. Not Deep" he added.
do l get an iron cross ?" she asked,
smiling family. It was rather pleasant
to be alive.
"All the crosses-iron and bronze
and silver and goldI" he replied.
Ali firing except occasional scattered
shots had now ceased In the immedi-
ate vicinity, though in the distance
could be heard the snarl Of the firmer
resistance that the Grays were max
ing at some other point. The Galland
house, for the time being, was isolated
I'm possession of neither side.
isn't there something else can do
to help with the wounded?" Marta
asked. She longed for action in order
to escape her thoughts.
You've had a terrible shock-when
you are stronger" said the doctor.
When you have had something to
eat and drink" observed the practical
Minna authoritatively.
Marta would not have the food
brought to her. She insisted that she
was strong enough to accompany
Minna to the tower. While Minna
Urged mouthfuls down Marta's dry
throat as she sat outside the door Of
he sitting-room with her mother
lumber of weary dust-streaked faces,
With feverish energy in their eyes,
,eered over the hedge that bounded
he garden on the side toward the pass.
'hese scout skirmishers Of Stransky's
men of the SD Regiment Of the
Browns made reckoning gestures as
o a crowd, before they sprang over
he hedge and ran swiftly, watchfully,
oward the linden stumps, closely fol.
owed by their comrades. Soon the
hole garden was overrun by the lean,
fellows, their glances all
srret-like to the front.
Look, Minna!" exclaimed Marta.
The giant who carried the old man in
lckaback the first night Of the war;"
Minna was flushing, but the flush
Issipated and she drew up her chin
hen Stransky, looking around, recog-
ICED her with a merry, confident
ave of his hand.
See, he's a captain and he wears
! iron cross!" said Marta as Stransky
toward them.
"He acts like i'll" assented Minna
rudgingly.
Eager, leviathan, his cap doffed with !
sweeping gesture as he made low
wv, Stransky was the very spirit of 1
tributive victory returning to claim {
q ground that he had lost. I
"Well, this is like getting home &
,ain!" he cried. I
80 l see!" said Minna eQuivocally. t
Stransky drew his eyes together
ghting them on the bridge Of his nose l
oughtfully at this dubious reception. {
II came back for the chance to kiss {
good woman's hand" he observed I
It'll a profound awkwardness and r
oking at Minna's hand. Your t
Ind!" he added, the cast In his eyes G
as he looked directly at
n appealingly.
She extended her finger-tips and he
essed his lips to them. n
81 kept seeing the way you looked
hen you belted me one in the face"
went on. "and knocked any an
chism out OF me that was left after 4
Q shell burst. l kept seeing your =
ce In my last glimpse when the Z
'ays made me run for 1t from your a
tchen door before had half q chance "
the grafton crying for voice. You h
sre in my dreams! You were in bat n
; with mel" r
This sounds like q disordered Il
ind" observed Minna. "Tve heard q
en- talk that way before" n
"Oh, have talked that way to other Ii
omen myself" said stransky.
YES" said Minna bitterly. His can
r was rather unexpected.
Il have talked to others in passing NJ
the high road" he continued. but
yer after a w0man had afrnohr ma In | =,