The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-05-21

concluded the premier. j admire your
stolidity OF purpose. You have my con-
fdence. shall wait and hold the stu
alton at home the best can. We go
into the hall Of fame or into the gut
ter together. you and II"
For a while after he had hung up
the receiver Westerling's head
dropped. his muscles relaxed, giving
mind and body release from tension.
But his spine was as stiff as ever as
he left the closet, and he was even
smiling to give the impression that
the news from the capital was favor
able.
When he called his chiefs Of divi-
sion II was hardly for a staff council.
Stunned by the losses and repulses.
loyalty Industrious, their opinions un-
asked, they listened to his whirlwind
Of orders without comment-all except
Turcas.
IF they are apprised OF our plan and
are able to concentrate more artillery
than our guns can silence, the losses
will be demoralizing," he observed.
Westerling threw up his head, frown.
ing down the objection.
Suppose they amount to half the
forces that we send inl" he exclaimed
Isn't the position, which means the
pass and the range, worth it?"
Yes. If we both take and hold II;
not If we fall" replied Turcas, quite
unaffected by Westerling's manner.
Failure is not in my lexiconI" Yves
terling shot back For great gains
there must be great risks"
I'VE prepare for the movement
your excellency." answered Turcas.
1t was a steel harness of his own
viii that Westerling wore, without ad
hitting that 1t CALLED him, and he lait
1t on only in Marta's presence. With
her, his growing sense Of isolation had
the relief Of companionship. She be
came a kind of mirror of his egoisn
and ambitions. He liked to have hel
think Of him as a great man unruflet
among weaker men. In the quiet ant
seclusion Of the garden. Involuntary
as one who has no conf1dant speaks
to himself. reserving fortitude for hit
part before the staff. while she, undel
the spell Of her purpose, silently, with
serene and wistfully listening eyes
played hers, he outlined how the fna
and telling blow was to be struck.
I'VE must and we shall winl" b,
kept repeating.
Through q rubber disk held to bill
ear In the closet of his bedroom /
voice, tremulous with nervous fatigue
was giving Lanstron news that all hi
aircraft and cavalry and spies coult
not have gained; news worth NOR,
than score of regiments; news fresl
from the lips Of the chief of staff o
the enemy. The attack was to b,
made at the right of Engadir. its cen
ter breaking from the redoubt manned
by Fracasse's men.
Marta, you geniusl" Lanstron cried
You are the real general! You"
mot that, pleased" she broke In
I'm as foul and depraved as a deale
in subtle poisons In the middle ages
oh, the shame Of It, while look int,
his eyes and feign admiration, feigl
everything which will draw out hi
plans! / can never forget the sigh
Of him as he told me how two or tire,
or four hundred thousand men wer
to be crowded into a ram, as he Gale,
TIA ram of human fieshl-and gun
enough in support. he said, to tear an,
redoubts to pieces; guns enough L
make their shells as thick as the bul
let's from an automaticl"
Wen meet ram with RANT Wei
have some guns, tool" exclaimed Lar
stron. Wen send as heavy a shell
fire at their infantry as they send int
our redoubts."
Don't. It's too like Westerling. |
has become too tritei" she protested
"The endl II l really were helping
toward that and to save lives and GU
country to its people. what would m,
private feelings matter7 My honor
my soul-what would anything mat
teri For that, any sacrifice. Tn
only one human being-a weak, luna
tic sort Of one, Just nowl"
Marta, don't suffer sol You ar
overwrought You"
81 can say all that for you, Lanny,
she interrupted with the faintest laugh
i've said II so many times to myself
Perhaps when / call you up again
shall not be so hysterical"
Lanstron was not thinking of war o
wars combination when he hung u
the receiver. II was some moment
before he returned to the stan room
and then he had mastered his emo
ton. He was the soldier again.
An hour or so before the attack tn
telegraph instruments in the Gallan
house had become pregnantly silent
There were no more orders to give
no more reports to come from tn
troops In position until the assault wa
made. Officers Of supply ceased {
transmit routine matters over the wire
while they strained their eyes towar
the range. officers Of the staff move
about restlessly, glancing at thei
watches and going to the windows frt
nuently TO see II the mist still held.