The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-02-13
CHAPTER xv-Continued.

CHAPTER xv-continued.
"Yes% the monosyllable was de-
tached, dismal, labored. "A woman
can be that" she exclaimed in an I'M
certain tone, which grew into the dis
traction Of clipped words and broken
sentences. "A woman play-acting-a
woman acting the most revolving n.y.
pocrisy-influences the issue between
two nations! Her deceit deals In the
lives of sons precious to fathers and
mothers, the fate of frontiers, OF insti-
tutions! Think of It! Think OF ma
chimes costing countless millions-ma-
chimes of flesh and blood, with their
destinies shaped by one little bit OF
lying information! Think Of the folly
of any civilization that stakes it's tri-
umphs on such a gamble! Am / not
right? Isn't 1t true? Isn't it?"
yes, yes, Marta! Butt" II
she were weakening 1t was not his
place to try to strengthen her purpose.
1T will the sooner end fighting,
won't it, Lanny?" she asked in
small, tense voice.
yes"
"And the only real end that means
real peace Is to prove that the weak
can hold back the strong from their
threshold?"
yes"
Even now Westerling might be on
the veranda, perhaps waiting for news
that would enable him to crush the
weak: to prove that the law Of five
pounds of human flesh against three
and Ave bayonets against three, is the
law Of civilization.
"Yes, yes, yes!" The construction
was gone from her throat; there was
q drum-beat In her soul. depend on
me, Lanny!" 1t was Fellers favorite
phrase spoken by the one who was tc
take his place. Yes, I'm ready tc
make any sacrifice now. For what an
II What Is one woman compared tC
such q purpose? l don't care what IL
said of me or what becomes Of me Il
we can win! Good-by, Lanny, till
call you up again! And God with us!
God with us!" as Partow had said
over and over The saying had come
to be repeated by hard-headed, agnos
tic staff-officers, who believed that tn,
deity had no relation to the efficienc,
of kun-fire. The Brown infantrymer
even were beginning to mutter it IL
the midst of action
Waiting on the path Of the secont
terrace for Westerling to come, Mart,
realized the full meaning Of her task
Day In and day out she was to hav
suspense at her elbow and the horro
of hypocrisy on her conscience, tn
while keeping her wits nicely ba
anced. When she saw Westerling az
pear on the veranda and start over tn
lawn she felt dizzy and uncertain O
her capabilities.
Il have considered all that you hav
said for my guidance and have d.
cided." she began.
She heard her own voice with tn
relief of a singer In a debut who, wit
knees shaking, finds that her note
are true. She was looking directl
at westerling In profound seriousness
Though knees shook, lips and chi
could aid eyes in revealing the pair
full fatigue of q battle that had rage
IN the mind Of q woman who wen
away for half an hour to think 70
herself.
Il a .::,ss concluded" she went OF
THAT II Ia an occasion for the Sal
Rice of private ethics to a great pul
pose. the sooner to end the slaugi
ter"
IAN truel" whispered an inne
voice. It's tone was Lanny's, in tn
old days of their comradeship. 1t CAV
her strength. All true!
Eyes, an end-a speedy end!" sal
westerling with a fine. infiexible en-
phasis. THAT IL your prayer an
mine and the prayer Of all lovers q
Humanity"
1T Is little that / know, but sue
as It IL you shall have It," she begal
conscious Of his guarded scrutiny
When she told him Of Bordir, tn
weak point In the first line of th
Browns defense, she noted no chang
In his steady look; but with the mel
tion of Engadir IL the main line sh
detected a CLEAN In his eyes that ha
the merciless delight of a cuttin
edge Of steel. 81 have made my sa'
rifice to some purpose? The info
nation is worth something to youl
she asked wistfully.
Yes. yes! Yes. It promises ths
way" he replied thoughtfully.
Quietly he began a considerate cat
chism. Soon she was subtly unde
standing that her answers lacked II
convincing details that he sough
She longed to avert her eyes from hi
for an instant, but she knew that tn
would be fatal She felt the force z