Abilene weekly reflector., 1915-02-04

Watched the Bursting Of Shells Over
the Enemy's Lines. i.
batting the bull. A rtsk-a risk-Dut
my boy, / am going to-"
Partow's head, which was bent in
thought. dropped with a jerk. A con-
vulsion shook him and he fell forward
onto the map, his brave old heart in
Its last hutter, and Lanstron was alone
in the silent room with the dead and
his responsibility.
"The ordar that knew he was about
to speak, Marta, gave for him." Lam
stron concluded. 1T seemed to me
an inspiration-his last inspiration
to make the counter-attack q feint"
"And you're acting chief of staff,
Lanny7 You against Westerling?"
"Yes."
The colonel Of the 12Sth and Captain
Fracasse we're eating their biscuits to-
gether and making occasional remarks
rather than holding q conversation.
We'll, Westerling Is q held-mar-
shal," said the colonel.
Yes, he's got something out Of III"
"The men seem to be losing spirit
there's not doubt Of i'll" exclaimed the
colonel. more aloud to himself than
to Fracasse. after a while.
mo wonderl" replied Fracasse. Mar
tinet though he was, he spoke in grum-
bling loyalty to his soldiers. What
kind of spirit is there in doing the
work Of navvies? Spirit No SOL
diers ever fought better-in invasion,
at least. Look at our losses! Spirit!
Westerling drives US In. He thinks
We can climb Niagara Falls! He"
stop! You are talking like an an
archist!" snapped the colonel. How
can the men have spirit when you feel
that way?"
Il shall continue to obey orders and
do my duty, sir!" replied Fracasse.
And they will. too, or I'll know the
reason why"
There was a silence, but at length
the colonel exploded;
81 suppose WesterlIng knows what
be is doing!"
"Still we must go on! We must
win!"
"Yes, the offensive always wins in
the end. We must go on!"
And once we have the range-yes,
once we've won one vital position-the
men will recover their enthusiasm and
be crying: On to the capital!'"
Right! We we're forgetting history.
We were forgetting the volatility of
human nature"
Far up on peak among the birds
and aeroplanes. in a rooted, shell-proof
chamber. with a telephone orderly at
his side. a powerful pair of fleld-glasses
and range-fnders at his elbow, and a |
telescope before his eye. Gustave Eel
Ter, one time gardener and now acting |
colonel of artillery. watched the burst
of shells over the enemy's lines. While
)ther men had grown lean ON war, he
had taken on enough flesh to I'LL out |
he wrinkles around his eyes that
'hone with an artists enjoyment Of
his work. Down under. cover Of the
idge were his guns, the keys Of the
instrument that he played by calls :
'ver the wire. Their barking was =
to his ears; errors Of or
,hestration were errors in aim. He
alked as he watched, his lively fea.
ures reflective Of his Impressions.
"Oh, pretty! Right into their tum-
niesl Right in the nosel Ia. Ia, Ia!
sut that's off-and SOS thatl Tell
battery c they're ffty yards over. Oh.
gods and shiny little fishes
two smacks IN the same spotl
Iumphi Tell Battery c that the
rouble with that gun is worn riding;
hats why it's going short. Elevate 1t
or another hundred yards-but It
ught not to wear out 80 soon. I'd like
. kick the maker or the inspector. The
sllows In B n win accuse rs Of mat.
sntioR,. It's time to drop q shell on