The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-01-23

had grown colder and moro me-
chanical in the attitude that COM
pleted his isolation Walking yigor-
ously along the path toward the tower,
the exercise OF his muscles. the feel
OF the cool. moist air on his face,
brought back some Of the buoyancy Of
spirit that he craycd A womans fig
ure, with a cape thrown over the shout
ders and the head bare, doomed out Or
the mist
Il couldn't stay in-not tonight,
Marta said as Nesterling drew near.
Il had 10 see It's only a quarter Of
an hour now, isn't it?'
she seemed 50 utterly frail and
distraught that Westerling, in an inn
pulse of protection, laid his hand on
her relaxed shoulders.
Our cause Is at stake tonight" he
declared, yours and minel We must
win, you and IL II IS our destiny"
oYou and II" repeated Marta why
you and i"
II seemed very strange TO be think.
ing of any two persons when hundreds
Of thousands were awaiting the signal
for the death prepared by him. lie
mistook the character Of her thought
in the obsession Of his egoism.
what do lives moan?'' he cried with
n sudden desperation, his grip OF her
shoulders tightening 1T is the law
OF nature for man 90 fight. Unless he
fights he goes 20 seed. One trouble
with our army Is that il was soft from
the want OF war IT is the law OF ma
ture for the nttest 60 survive! Other
sons will be born to take the place OF
those who die tonight There viii be
all the more room for those who live.
Victory Will create new opportunities.
What So a million out OF the billions
on the face Of the earth? Those who
lead alone count-those who dwell in
tho 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 try 60 draw away think
ing OF his hold in no personal sense
but as a part OF his self-revelation. "All
all Is at stake therei" he continued,
staring toward the range. "Ita the
RubIcon! have put my career on to-
nights cast! Victory means that the
world viii be at our feet-honor. po-
sition, power greater than that OF any
other two human beingsl DO you
realize what that means-the honor
and the power that viii be ours? !
shall have directed The greatest army
tho world has ever known to viCtory!'
And defeat meaus-what does de-
feat ?" she asked narrowly, calm
~: and the pointed question released
her shoulders from the wise.
What had been shadow IN his
thoughts became q live monster, strik-
ing him with the force OF a blow. lie
forgot Marta Yes, what would de
feat mean to him? Sheer human ma
ture broke through the bonds of men
tai discipline weakened by sleepless
nights. Convulsively his head dropped
rs lie covered his face.
Defeat Fail! That I should fall"
he moancd
Then il was that she saw him in the
reality OF his littleuess which she had
OWNED this wouldbe cohqueror. She
saw him as his intimates often see the
great man without his front Of Jove.
Don't we know that Napoleon had mo-
ments of privacy when he Whined and
threatened suicide? She wondered ~
Lanny, too. were like that--if II were
not the nature of all conquerors who
could not have their way. Il seemed
TO her that Westerling was beneath
the humblCst private in his army be.
meath even that fellow with the liver
patch ON his cheek who had broken
the chandelier IN the sport OF brutal
passion. an sense of her own part was
submerged in the sight Of a chief OF
staff exhibiting no more stoicism than
a petulant. spoiled schoolboy
While his head was still bent the ar
/ tnlery began its crashing thunders and
the sky became light with flashes Ills
hands stretched out toward the range
clenched end pulsing with defiance and
/ command
Go in! Go ia. as l told youl" he
cried "Stay IN alive or dead Stay
! till ! tell YOU TO come out STAY
cant do any more You must do II
/ now"
Then this may be truly the end.
thought Marta III the assault fails
And silently she prayed that i would
fail; while the flashes lighted Wester
! lings set features implorine success
In the Browns headquarters as ID
the Grays', telegraph instruments Wer,
silent after the preparations were over
Here. also, officers walked rcstlessly
CHANGING az their Watches They. too
wgc glad that the mist continued /
meant no wind When the telegraph
did speak Il Was with another messags
from some aerostatio officer saying,
"still favorable, which was taken at