Abilene weekly reflector., 1915-02-04

NO Ouo outcfOu the uUNhfy Wu0Ae
Westerling was seated alone with
nothing to do. His suspense was that
OF the mothers who longed for news
OF their sons at the front: his helpless.
ness that Of = man In q hospital lobby
waiting on the result Of an operation
whose success or failure win save or
wreck his career. The physical desire
Of movement, the conflict with some
thing in his own mind. drove him out
| of doors.
Westerling was rather pleased with
the fact that he could still smile;
pleased with the loyalty Of younger
officers when, day by day, the STAN
had grown colder and more me-
chanical in the attitude that COM
pleted his isolation. Walking vigor-
ously along the path toward the tower.
the exercise OF his muscles. the feel
of the cool, moist air on his face,
brought back some Of the buoyancy OF
spirit that he craved. A woman's fg-
ure, with q cape thrown over the shoul-
ders and the head bare, loomed out OF
the mist.
'I couldn't stay in-not tonight"
Marta said as Westerling drew near.
Il had to see. It's only 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 L! 1t is our destiny!"
"You and II" repeated Marta. why
you and II"
1t 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
a sudden desperation. his grip OF her
shoulders tightening. "It is the law
of nature for man to fight. Unless he
fights he goes to seed. One trouble
with our army Is that 1t was soft from
the want Of war. It 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 Q 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
dol" 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 a part of his self-revelation. "All |
all is at stake there!" he continued, |
staring toward the range. "lts the
Rubicon! have put my career on to-
nights cast! Victory means that the
world will be at our feet-honor, po-
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
Iy; and the pointed question released
her shoulders from the wise.
What had been shadow in 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
IS he covered his face.
Defeat! Fail! That should fall"
he moaned.
Then it was that she saw him in the
reality Of his littleness, which she had
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-
nents of privacy when he whined and
threatened suicide? She wondered if
Lanny, too, we're like that-if it were
lot the nature of all conQuerors who
could not have their way. 1t seemed
o her that Westerling was beneath t
he humblest private in his army-be- t
leath even that fellow with the liver
1atch on his cheek who had broken t
he chandelier in the sport of brutal :
passion. All sense of her own part was
in the sight of chief of
taft exhibiting no more stoicism than
petulant, spoiled schoolboy. ?
While his head was still bent the ar e
illery began it's crashing thnnders and O
he sky became light with flashes. His t
lands stretched out toward the range, s
and pulsing with defiance and n
go in! Go in, as l told you'll" he
ried. "Stay in, alive or dead! Stay Il
i'll tell you to come out! Stay! ]
ant do any more! You must do 1t f
lowi"