The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-03-26

victory, and it seems that the "o'i'"
voice that answered is yours, Miss ua,
land. So, General Westerling, the leaa
in information was over this wire l'ou'
our staff into the Browns heaaqu"',
tiers, as Bouchard believed ana as
came to believe
So long had Marta expected this NV
ment of exposure that it brought Nv
shock. Her spirit had undergone illaH'
subtle rehearsals for the OCCASION :,
Yes, that Is true" she heard hersen
saying, a little distantly, but 'e''
quietly and naturally. -
Westerling fell back as from pio"
In the face. His breath came haru AZ
first, like one being strangled. llen
it sank deep in his chest and MS eyeo
were bloodshot, as a bulls IN MS ma.
effort against the matador, He ralseu
quivering, clenched fist and tooh
step nearer her.
But far from flinching, Marta seelheu
to be greeting the blow, as II she au'
mitted his right to strike. she was
without any sign Of triumph ana VIII
every sign of relief. Lying was at al
end. She could be truthful.
DO you recall what | said in the re-
ception-room at the hotel?" she askeu'
The question sent flash into a MD
den chamber of his mind. Now the
only thing he could remember OF tha'
interview was the one remark winch
hitherto he had never included in MS
recollection Of it.
You said | could not win" He drew
cut the words painfully.
when you said that you brought on
this war to crafty your ambition
chose to be one of the weapons OF
war; | fought for civilization, for my
home, with the only means l mac
against the wickedness of victory OF
conquest-the precedent of 1t in TINS
age-a victory which should glorlfy
such trickery as you practised on your
people"
II should like to shoot you dead!'
cried Bellini.
"And you let me make love to you!'
Westerling said in dazed, cropping
monotone to Marta.
Such a wreck was he of his former
self that she found it amazing that she
could not pity him. Yet she might
have pitied him had he plunged into
the fight; had he tried to rally one OF
the broken regiments; had he been
able to forget himself.
Rather you made love to yourself
through me-" she answered, not harsh
ly, not even emphatically, but merely
as a statement of passiOnless fact. III
you dared to endure what you ordered
others to endure for the sake Of YOU
ambition; If"
She was interrupted by sharp ziI
in the air. Westerling lodged ant
looked about wildly. 3
What is that?" he asked. "What?'
Five or six tips followed like {
charge of wasps flying at speed tina
made them invisible. Marta felt ,
brush of air past her cheek and Yves
terling went chalky white. 1t was tn
first time he had been under fire, Blu
these bullets were only strays. NJ
more came.
Come, general, let us be going!'
urged the aide, touching his chief OF
the arm.
Eyes, yes!" said Westerling hur
riedly.
Francois, who had picked up the Goa
that had fallen from Westerling's
shoulders with his start at the buzzing
held it while his master thrust his
hands through the sleeves.
"And this is WISER" said the aide
christening the detachable insignia Of
rank from the shoulders of the great
coat. Its wiser, too, that we walk,
he added.
Walk? But my carl" exclaimed
Westerling petulantly.
I'm afraid that the car could not
get through the press in the town.
was the reply. Walking is safer"
The absence in him of that quality
which is the soldiers real glory, the
picture of this deserted leader, this
god of a machine who had beer
crushed by his machine, his very lacE
of stoicism or courage-all this sud
denly appealed to MaSta's quick sym
pathies. They had once drunk tea to
gether
ooh, it was not personal! I did no
think of myself as person or of 20,
as one-only Of principles and Of thou
sands of others-to end the killing-t,
save our country to its people! Oh
I'm sorry and, personally, I'm horrible
-horrible!" she called after him in ,
broken, quavering gust Of words which
he heard confusedly in tragic mockery
He made no answer; he did not ever
look around. Head bowed and hardl,
seeing the path, he permitted the aid,
to choose the way, which lay acros,
the boundary Of the Galland estate.
CHAPTER XXI.