The Monticellonian., 1915-01-28

was not for Dellarme to ask questions
of a prize-medallist graduate of the
school for officers in blue blouse and
crownless straw hat. His expert sur
vey assured him that before another
rush the enemy had certain prepare
lions to make He might give his
| fighting smile a recess end permit
himself a few minutes relaxation
Looking around to ascertain what
damage had been done to the house
and grounds, he became aware of
Marta's presence for the first time.
Miss Galland, you-you weren't
there during the fghting?" he cried
as he ran toward her.
Yes she said rather family.
IF l had known that l should have
been scared to DEATH"
But l was safe behind the pillar"
she explained.
Miss Galland, you're such good
soldier-please-an I'm sure you have
not had your breakfast, and all good
soldiers never neglect their rations,
not at the beginning of a war! Miss
Galland, please" Yes, as he meant
it, please be good fellow.
She could not resist smiling at the
charming manner of his plea. She felt
weak and strange-a little dizzy. Be
sides, her mothers voice now came
from the doorway and then her moth
er's hand was pressing her arm.
Marta, if you remain out here, l
shalt" announced Mrs. Galland.
q was just coming in"
Dellarme, his cap held before him in
the jaunty fashion of officers, bowed,
his face beaming his happiness at her
decision.
Gomez" Mrs. Gallapd slipped her
hand into Marta's. 1.-TWO women can't
fight both armies Come! l prescribe
hot coffee 1t is waiting; and, do you
know, I find a meal in the kitchen
very cozy."
Being human and not heroine fed
on lotos blossoms, and being exhaust
ed and also hungry, when she was
seated at table. with Minna adroitly
urging her, Marta ate with the relish
of little Peterkin in the shell crater
munching biscuits from his haversack,
but the movement of the minute-hand
on the clock-face became uncanny and
.merciless to her eye in its deliberate
regularity. Dellarme had been told
to hold on until noon, she knew. Was
he still smiling? Was Teller still
happy in playing stream OF lead
from the automatic? Was the second
charge of the Grays, which must have
come to close quarters when the guns
went silent, going to succeed?
Mrs. Galland had settled down CON
scientiously to play solitaire, favor
lite pastime of hers; but she failed
to win as she complained to Marta,
because of her stupid way this morn
ing of missing the combination cards.
After a long intermission came an
other outburst from Dellarme's men,
which she interpreted as the response
to another rush by the Grays; and this
yelping of the demon was not that
of the hound after the hare, as in
the valley, but of the hare with his
back to the wall When it was over
there was no cheer. What did this
mean? Without warning to her mother
she bolted out of the kitchen. Mrs.
Galland sprang up to follow, but
Minna barred the way
"One is enough" she said firmly,
and Mrs Galland dropped back into
her chair.
In the front rooms Marta found
havoc beyond her Imagination. A por-
ton of the ceiling had been blown out
by shell entering at an upstairs win
dow; the hardwood floors were lit
tered with plaster and window-glass
and ripped into splinters in places.
(To BE CONTINUED0