The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-03-12

cnirit tlldt A0 NldNeu. "A NOmduS tg
IRE, with a cape thrown over the Shout
doris and the head bare, doomed ont y,
the mist.
Il couldn't stay in-lot tonight y
Marta said as Westerling drew near
a had to see. It's only quarter Of
an hour now, isn't it?'
She seemed SO utterly trail 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 mus,
win, you and l! 1t is our destiny"
"You and II" repeated Marta. "Why
you and II"
| It seemed very strange to be think.
| INK 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
q sudden desperation. his grip of her
shoulders tightening. 1T is the law
Of nature for man to fight. Unless he
fights he goes to seed. One trouble
with our army Is that it was soft from
the want of war. II is the law of ma.
ture for the tittest 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 a 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
do" The pressure of his strong hands
In the unconscious emphasis of his
passion became painful; but she did
not protest or tr! to draw away, think
ing of his hold In no personal sense
but as part Of bis self,revelation. All
all Is at stake there" he continued,
staring toward the range. Its the
Rubicon. have put my career on to-
nights cast! Victory means that the
world will be at our feet-honor, DO
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
he world has ever known to victory"
And defeat means-what does de-
eat mean" she asked narrowly, calm
y; and the pointed question released
Ter shoulders from the wise.
What had been shadow in his
thoughts became live monster, strik-
ng him with the force Of a blow. He
orgot Marta. Yes, what would de-
eat mean to him? Sheer human ma.
ure broke through the bonds Of men.
al discipline weakened by sleepless
lights. Convulsively his head dropped
8 he covered his face.
Defeat! Fail! That ! should fall"
e moaned.
Then 1t was that she saw him in the
ealify of his littleness, which she had
vsned s.,.a,iuan6Gua,ssss dhe
94txsanaS1ntIms 1td SkNne
reat han without his front Of Jove.
ont We know that Napoleon had mo.
ents Of privacy when he whined and
lreatehed suicide? She wondered If
amy, too, were like that-if it were
Of the nature of all conquerors who
)uid not have their way. 1t seemed
hSr that Westerling was beneath
le 4umblest private in his army-be'
eath even that fellow with the liver
atch on his cheek who had broken
le chandelier in the sport Of brutal
ase6on. All sense of her own part was
lD1 Merged in the sight of chief OF
AN exhibiting no more stoicism than
p4ulant, spoiled schoolboy.
While his head was still bent the ar
lle}y began its crashing thunders and
he Eky became light with flashes. His
ants stretched out toward the range
leRhed and pulsing with defiance ant
ON. nand. .sss@~rs, - 3 %
:" % in! Go in. sg'I told you!" he
rief "stapfh, alive or dead! Sta,
~ Itch you to come out: Stay!
ami do any more! You must do i
shen this may be truly the end,
nqEeht Marta, "if the assault fails
I'D silently she prayed that it woul'
ali while the flashes lighted Wester
I'M set features, imploring success
IL
the Browns headquarters, as IL
my rays', telegraph instruments wer
'ile after the preparations were over
He4 also, officers walked restlessly
zia ling at their watches. They. toe
vel glad that the mist continued
me- h no wind. When the TELEGRAPH
did beak it was with another messag
troy some aerostatic officer saying
'Sti favorable" which was taken
oncs to Lanstron, who was with tn
star chiefs around the big table. The
nod Id at the news and smiled to on
amos er: and some who had been pat
ing at down and others rose to begi
pa sn afresh,
10 could have emplaced two line
of ~ homatics. one above the other!
excl Mmed the chief of artillery.
.Lot would have given too muC