The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-02-13
CHAPTER XVI.
MARKING Time.


Flashes from gun mouths and glow
ing sheets of fame from rifles made
ugly revelry, while the beams of
search-lights swept hither and thither.
This kept up till shortly after mid
night, when it died down and, where
ness shrouded the hills. Marta knew
that Bordir was taken without having
to ask Lanstron or wait for confirma-
ton from Westerling.
She was seated in the recess of the
arbor the next morning, when she
powerful steps whose character had
become as distinct to her as those
of a member of her own family. Five
against three! five against three! they
were saying to her; while down the
pass road and the castle road ran the
stream of wounded from last night s
slaughter.
Posted In the drawing-room of the
Galland house were the congratula-
lions of the premier to Westerling,
who had come from the atmosphere of
staff that accorded to him a mill
tary insight far above the analysis of
ordinary standards. But he was too
clever a man to vaunt his triumph
He knew how to carry his honors.
He accepted success as his due, in a
matter-of-course manner that must In
spire confidence in further success.
"You were right" he said to Marta
easily, pleasantly. I'VE did tive did
tive took Bordir with loss of only
twenty thousand men!"
Only twenty thousand! Her revul
sion at the bald statement was re
lieved by the memory of Lanny's WORD
over the telephone after breakfast thai
the Browns had lost only five thou
sand. Four to one was a wide ratio
she was thinking.
Then the end-then peace is sc
much nearer?" she asked.
very much nearer!" he answered
earnestly, as he dropped on the bench
beside her.
He stretched his arms out on the
back of the seat and the relaxed atti
tude, unusual with him, brought int
relief a new trait of which she hat
been hitherto oblivious. The con
queror had become simply a compan
ionable man. Though he was not sit
ting close to her, yet, as his eyes me
hers. she had a desire to move ava!
which she knew would be unwise t
crafty. She was conscious of a Ger
tain softening charm, a magnetism
that she had sometimes felt in tn,
days when she first knew him. Sh
realized, too, that then the charm ha,
not been mixed with the ihdescribable
, intimate quality that 1t held now.
"In the midst of congratulation
after the position was taken las
! night" he declared, 81 confess that
! was thinking less of success than o
= its source" He bent on her loel
y thet was warm with gratitude.
she lowered her lashes eetore 1t
before gratitude that made her par
efrcar in a fresh angie of misery.
There seems 70 be a kind of Z,
I. tally about our relations" he went OF
e Il lay awake Wondering it last night
s His tone ,hsd more than gratitude.
e had the e,ation of discovery.
e "Re Is going to make it harder tina
. aver guessed" echoed her ow
t Wrought. in a flutter of confusion.
4 Yes, 1t was strange our meeting o
r the frontier in peace and then in war
70 she exclaimed at random. The SCUM
W OF the remark struck her as too su
dued; as expectant. when her purpos
n was one of careless depreciation.
- Il have met a great many wome
n as you may have imagined" he pr
10 ceeded. They have passed in fevie'
p They were simply women, witty ar
& frail or dull and beautiful. and OF
10 meant no more to me than anothe
1t Nothing meant anything to me exec
., my profession. But never forgot 20
70 You planted something in mind:
memory Of real companionship."
ID Yes, l made the prophecy tn
8. came true!" she put in. This Dug
to bring him back to himself and b
O. ambitions, she thought.
"Yes!" he exclaimed, his body st
:" fleming free of the back Of the SEQ
ID You realized what was in me. z,
le foresaw the power which was TO
" mine. The tate that azst 6r0ssak