Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-03-05

land. So, General Westerling, the leak
in information was over this wire from
our staff into the Browns headquar-
tiers, as Bouchard believed and as /
came to believe"
So long had Marta expected this mo-
ment of exposure that it brought no
shock. Her spirit had undergone many
subtle rehearsals for the occasion.
yes, that is true" she heard herself
saying, little distantly, but very
quietly and naturally.
Westerling fell back as from blow
In the face. His breath came hard at
first, like one being strangled. Then
it sank deep in his chest and his eyes
were bloodshot, as bulls in his final
effort against the matador. He raised
a quivering, clenched fist and took a
step nearer her. ......
But far from flinching, Marta seemed
to be greeting the blow, as if she ad-
mitted his right to strike. She was
without any sign Of triumph and with
every sign of relief. Lying was at an
end. She could be truthful.
do you recall what said in the re-
ception-room at the hotel?" she asked.
The question sent flash into a hid
| den chamber of his mind. Now the
only thing he could remember of that
interview was the one remark which
hitherto he had never included in his
recollection of it.
you said could not win" He drew
out the words painfully.
when you said that you brought on
this war to crafty your ambition,
chose to be one of the weapons of
war; I fought for civilization, for my
home, with the only means l had
against the wickedness of a victory of
| conquest-the precedent Of it in this
age-a victory which should glorify
such trickery as you practised on your
people,"
g. should like to shoot you dead!"
cried Bellini.
And you let me make love to your
Westerling said in dazed, cropping
monotone to Marta.
Such a wreck was he Of his former
self that she found it amazing that she
could not pity him. Yet she might
have pitied him had he plunged into
the fight; had he tried to rally one OF
the broken regiments; had he been
able to forget himself
Rather, you made love to yourself
through me-" she answered, not harsh
ly, not even emphatically, but merely
as statement of passionless fact. I'll
you dared to endure what you ordered
others to endure for the sake of your
ambition; if"
She was interrupted by sharp ziI
in the air. ,Westerling lodged ant
looked about wildly.
What is that?" he asked. What"
Five or six tips followed like {
charge of wasps flying at speed thai
made them invisible. Marta felt {
brush of air past her cheek and Yves
terling went chalky white. 1t was the
first time he had been under fire. Blu
these bullets were only strays. NJ
more came.
Come, general, let us be going!'
urged the aide, touching his chief OF
the arm.
Eyes, yes!" said Westerling hur
riedly
Francois, who had picked up the Goa
that had fallen from Westerling''
shoulders with his start at the buzzing
held it while his master thrust his
hands through the sleeves.
And this is WISER" said the aide
christening the detachable insignia O
rank from the shoulders Of the great
coat. tits wiser, too, that we walk,
he added.
Walk? But my carl" exclaimed
Westerling petulantly.
I'm afraid that the car could no
get through the press in the town,
| was the reply. Walking is safer"
The absence in him Of that qualit!
which is the soldiers real glory, thu
picture of this deserted leader, thi'
god of a machine who had beer
crushed by his machine, his very lacl
of stoicism or courage-all this sud
, denly appealed to Martas quick sym
pathies. They had once drunk tea to
, gether.
, ooh, it was not personal! did no
: think of myself as a person or of yol
as one-only Of principles and of thou
: sands of others-to end the killing-t,
save our country to it's people! oh
, I'm sorry and, personally, I'm horrible
, -horrible!" she called after him in
| broken, quavering gust of words whicl
) he heard confusedly in tragic mockery
, He made no answer; he did not ever
| look around. Head bowed and hardl
seeing the path, he permitted the aid
7 to choose the way, which lay acros
! the boundary of the Galland estate.
: CHAPTER XXI.