The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-03-06

terling shot back. For great gains
there must be great risks"
I'VE prepare for the movement
your .excellency," answered Turcas.
1t was a steel harness Of his own
will that Westerling wore, without ad-
hitting that 1t CALLED him, and he lalo
ii off only in Marta's presence. WIN
her. his growing sense of isolation mao
the relief of companionship. She be-
came a kind of mirror Of his egoism
and ambitions. He liked to have her
think of him as a great man unruf1ed
among weaker men. In the quiet ana
seclusion of the garden, Involuntary
as one who has no confidant speaks
to himself, reserving fortitude for his
part before the staff, while she, under
the spell Of her purpose, silently, with
serene and wistfully listening eyes,
played hers, he outlined how the final
and telling blow was to be struck.
I'VE must and we shall win!" he
kept repeating.
Through a rubber disk held to his
ear in the closet of his bedroom
voice, tremulous with nervous fatigue,
was giving Lanstron news that all his
aircraft and cavalry and spies could
not have gained; news worth more
than a score of regiments; news fresh
from the lips Of the chief OF staff OF
the enemy. The attack was to be
made at the right of Engad:r, its CEN
ter breaking from the redoubt manned
by Fracasses men.
Marta, you genius!" Lanstron cried.
you are the real general! YOU"
Not that, pleased" she broke in.
I'm as foul and depraved as a dealer
In subtle poisons in the middle ages!
Oh, the shame of II, while / look into
his eyes and feign admiration, feign
everything which will draw out his
plans! / can never forget the sight
of him as he told me how two or three
or four hundred thousand men were
to be crowded into ram, as he called
ia ram of human flesh!-and guns
enough in support, he said. to tear any
redoubts to pieces; guns enough to
make their shells as thick as the bull
lets from an automatic!"
We'll meet ram with ram! Well
have some guns, tool" exclaimed Ian
stron. We'll send as heavy q shell
fire at their infantry as they send into
our redoubts."
Don't. It's too like Westerling. II
has become too trite!" she protested
THE end! II I really were helping
toward that and to save lives and oul
country to its people, what would my
private feelings matter? My honor
my soul-what would anything mat
ter? For that, any sacrifice. I'm
only one human being-a weak. luna
tic sort of one. just now!"
Marta, don't suffer so! You are
overweight. YOU"
81 can say all that for you, Lanny,
she interrupted with the faintest laugh
1--WE said it so many times to myself
Perhaps when / call you up again
shall not be SO hysterical."
Lanstron was not thinking of war o.
wars combination when he hung VI
the receiver 1t was some moment
before he returned to the staff room
and then he had mastered his emo
ton. He was the soldier again.
An hour or so before the attack tn
telegraph instruments in the Gallan
house had become pregnantly silent
There were no more orders to give
no more reports to come from tn
troops in position until the assault wa
made. officers of supply ceased t
transmit routine matters over the wire
while they strained their eyes towar
the range. officers of the staff move
about restlessly, glancing at thei
watches and going to the windows FRI
Quently to see If the mist still held.
No one entered the library wher
Westerling was seated alone wit
= nothing to do. His suspense was ths
of the mothers who longed for new
of their sons at the front; his helpless
: ness that of a man in hospital lobb
!, waiting on the result of an operatio
: whose success or failure will save Q
. wreck his career. The physical desir
!" of movement, the conflict with som,
thing in his own mind, drove him OF
Of doors.
:. Westerling was rather pleased wit
A the fact that he could still smile
A pleased with the loyalty of younge
v officers when, day by day, the sta
q had grown. colder and more m
=, chanical in the attitude that COZ
pleted his isolation. Walking vigo
. ously along the path toward the towe
the exercise of his muscles, the fe
!. of the cool, moist air on his fac
a brought back some of the buoyancy
spirit that he craved. A womans fl
ure, with a cape thrown over the shou
!. ders and the head bare, doomed out
. the mist.
ri Il couldn't stay in-not tonight
70 Marta said as Westerling drew nes
y. Il had to see. It's only a quarter
j. an hour now, isn't it,"
% She seemed SO utterly frail al
" distraught that Westerling, in an IL
I pulse Of protection, laid his hand {
% her relaxed shoulders.
Our cause is at stake tonight"
I. declared, yours and mine! We mu
Is win, you and 1! 1t is our destiny!"
You and II" repeated Marta. "Wl
!" you and II"
II 1t seemed very strange to be thin
n ing Of any two persons when hundre