The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-02-05

| AO L1dA VI dCC1Ou. SACIdAAACo
Marta, her eyes opening very wide, as
they would to let in the light when
she heard something new that pleased
her or gave food for thought "The
man Of action, who thinks of an ideal
as thing not of words but as the end
of action!"
'Exactly!" said Westerling, SEN
sible Of another Of her gifts. She
| could get the essence of thing in a
few words. when we have won and
set another frontier, the power of our
nation will be such in the world that
the Browns can never afford to attack
u.s." he went on. Indeed, no two of
the big nations of Europe can afford
to make war without our consent. We
shall be the arbiters of international
discussions. We shall command peace
yes, the peace of force, of fact! If
it could be won in any other way |
should not be here on this veranda in
command of an army. Of invasion.
That was my idea-for that planned"
He was making up for having over
shot himself in his confession that he
| had brought on the war as a final
step for his ambition.
"You mean that you can gain peace
by propaganda and education only
when human nature has SO changed
that we can have law and order and
| houses are safe from burglary and
| pedestrians from pickpockets without
policemen? Is that it?' she asked.
eyes, yes! You have it! You have
found the wheat in the chaff."
Perhaps because I have been see
| ing something of human nature-the
human nature of both the Browns and
the Grays at war. I have seen the
Browns throwing hand-grenades and
the Grays in wanton disorder in our
| dining-room directly they were out Of
touch with their oficers!" she said
sadly, as one who hates to accept dis
illusionment but must in the face of
logic.
Westerling made no reply except to
nod, for a movement on her part pre-
| occupied him. She leaned forward,
as she had when she had told him he
would become chief of staff, her hands
claspede over her knee, her eyes burn
ing with question. It was the atti-
tude of the prophecy. But with the
prophecy she had been little mys-
tica1; the fire in her eyes had precipi-
tated an idea. Now it forged another
question.
"And you think that you will win ?"
VIM" she repeated with the slow en-
phasis which demands a careful an
swer.
The de1iberateness of his reply was
in keeping with her mood. He was de-
tached; he was a referee.
Eyes, I know that we shall. Num-
bers make it so, though there be no
choice of skill between the two sides"
His tone had the confidence of the
flow of mighty river in it's destina-
ton on it's way to the sea. There was
nothing in it of prayer, OF hope, of des-
peration, as there had been in Lam
stron's 1--WE shall win!" spoken to Der
in the arbor at their last interview.
She drew forward slightly in her chair.
Her eyes seemed much larger and
nearer to him. They were sweeping
him up and down as if she were seeing
the slim figure of Lanstron in con-
trast to Westerling's sturdiness; as If
she were measuring the might of the
five millions behind him and the three
| millions behind Lanstron. She let go
half-whispered "Yes!" which seemed
to reflect the conclusion gained from
the power of his presence.
"Then my mothers and my own in
terests are with you-the interests of
peace are with you!" she declared.
She did not appear to see the sud-
den, uncontrolled CLEAN Of victory in
| his eyes. By this time it had become
habit for Westerling to wait silently
| for her to come out of her abstrac-
lions. To disturb one might make it
unproductive.
"Then if want to help the cause of
peace I should help the Graysl"
The exclamation was more to her
self than to him. He was silent. This
/ girl in a veranda chair desiring to aid
him and his five million bayonets and
four thousand guns! Quixote and the
windmills--but 1t was amazing; it was
fine! The golden glow Of the sunset
was running in his veins in paean
Of personal triumph. The profile
turned ever so little. Now it was
looking at the point where Dellarme
had lain dying. Westerling noted the
smile playing on the lips. 1t had the
quality of a smile over a task COM
pleted-Dellarme's smile. She start.
ed; she was trembling all over In the
resistance of some impulse-some i'm.
pulse that gradually gained Roadway
and at last broke its bonds.
For 1 can help--I can help!" she
cried out, turning to him in wild in.
decision which seemed to plead for
guidance. Its so terrible-yet IL II
would hasten peace-T-I know much
of the Browns plan Of defense!
know where they are strong in the