The Red Cloud chief., 1915-03-18

brought back some OF the buoyancy OF
spirit that he craved A womans fig.
ure, with cape thrown over the shout.
ders and the head bare. doomed out OF
| the mist.
| II couldn't stay in--not tonight"
Marta said as Westerling drew near
Il had to see. It's only a quarter OF
an hour now. isn't III"
She seemed so utterly frail and
distraught that Westerling. In an i'm
pulse Of protection. laid his hand on
her relaxed shoulders.
Our cause is at stake tonight" he
declared, yours and mine! We must
win, you and I! 1t is our destiny!"
"You and II" repeated Marta. why
you and II"
IL seemed very strange to be think.
ing OF any two persons when hundreds
OF thousands were awaiting the signal
for the death prepared by him. He
mistook the character OF her thought
In the obsession of his egoism.
What do lives mean?" he cried with
sudden desperation. his grip of her
shoulders tightening. 1T Is the law
OF nature for man to fight. Unless he
lights he goes to seed. One trouble
with our army is that 1t was soft from
the want OF war. 1t is the law of ma
ture for the fittest to survive! Other
sons will be born to take the place of
those who die tonight. There will be
all the more room for those who live.
victory Will create new opportunities.
What Is million out OF the billions
on the face Of the earth? Those who
lead alone count-those who dwell in
the atmosphere Of the peaks. as we
do!' The pressure of his strong hands
In the unconscious emphasis OF his
passion became painful; but she did
not protest or try to draw away, think
ing Of his hold in no personal sense
but as part Of his selfrevelation. "All
all Is at stake there!" he continued,
staring toward the range. "Its the
Rubicon! have put my career on to-
nights cast! Victory means that the
world will be at our feet--honor, DO.
sition. power greater than that of any
other two human beings! Do you
realize what that means-the honor
and the power that will be ours? |
shall have directed the greatest army
the world has ever known to victory!"
And defeat means-what does de.
feat mean?" she asked narrowly, calm.
ly: and the pointed question released
her shoulders from the wise.
What had been a shadow I'm his
thoughts became live monster, strik.
Ing him with the force of blow. He
forgot Marta. Yes. what would de.
feat mean to him? Sheer human ma.
ture broke through the bonds Of men.
tai discipline weakened by sleepless
nights. Convulsively his head dropped |
as he covered his face.
Defeat! Fail! That I should fall"
he moaned.
Then 1t was that she saw him In the
reality Of his littleness, which she had
OWNED; this would-be conqueror. She
saw him as his intimates often see the
great man without his front of Jove.
Don't we know that Napoleon had mo.
ments OF privacy when he whined and
threatened suicide? She wondered IL
Lanny, too, were like that-if It were
not the nature of all conquerors who
could not have their way. 1t seemed
TO her that Westerling was beneath
the humblest private in his army-be.
meath even that fellow with the liver
patch on, his cheek who had broken
the chandelier in the sport of brutal
passion. All sense OF her own part was
submerged In the sight Of chief Of
staff exhibiting no more stoicism than
petulant. spoiled schoolboy.
While his head was still bent the ar.
tillery began Its crashing thunders and
the sky became light with flashes. His
hands stretched out toward the range.
clenched and pulsing with defiance and
go in! Go in, as I told you'll" he
cried. Stay in. alive or dead! Stay
till tell you to come out! STAY!
cant do any more! You must do It
now!"
Then this may be truly the end"
thought Marta. "if the assault fails"
And silently she prayed that It would
fail; while the flashes lighted Wester.
ling's set features. imploring success.
In the Browns headquarters, as in
the Grays'. telegraph instruments were
silent after the preparations were over.
Here. also, officers walked restlessly.
at their watches. They, too,
we're glad that the mist continued. 1t
meant no wind When the telegraph
did speak it was with another message
from some aerostatic officer saying,