The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1915-02-04

part of the hall There she paused,
held by the scene that a score or
more Gray soldiers, who had riotously
crowded into the dining-room, were
enacting. They were members Of
Fracasse's company of the Grays
whom Marta had seen from her win
dow the night before rushing across
the road into the garden.
When, finally, they burst into the
redoubt after it was found that the
Browns had gone, all, even the judges
son we're the war demons own The
veneer had been warped and twisted
and burned off down to the raw ami
NAL flesh. Their brains had the fever
itch of callouses forming. Not sign
of brown there in the yard; not sign
of any tribute after all they had en-
duredi They had not been able to lay
hands on the murderous throwers of
hand-grenades. Far away now was
barrack-r0om geniality; In oblivion
were the ethics of an inherited civili-
cation taught by mothers, teachers and
church.
But here was a house-a house OF
the Browns; a big, fine house! They
would see what they had won-this
was the privilege of baff1ed victory.
What they had won was theirs! To
the victor the spoils, Pell-mell they
crowded into the diningroom, Hugo
with the rest, feeling himself straw
on the crest of wave, and Pilzer,
most bitter, most ugly of all, his short,
strong teeth and gums showing and
his liver patch red, lumpy, and trem-
bling In crossing the threshold OF
privacy they committed the act that
leaves the deepest wound of wars In
heritance, to go on from generation
to generation in the history of fami-
lies
"A swell diningroom! l like the
chandeliers" roared Pilzer.
With his bayonet he smashed the
only globe left intact by the shell fire.
There was laugh as shower OF
glass fell ON the floor Even the
judges son, the son of the tribune of
law, joined in. Pilzer then ripped up
the leather seat of a chair. This in
troductory havoc whetted his appetite
for other worlds of conquest, as the
self-chosen leader of the increasing
crowd that poured through the door
way.
Maybe there's food" he shouted.
Maybe there's wine!"
Food and wine!"
Eyes, winei We're thirsty"
And maybe women! I'd like to kiss
a pretty maid servant" Pilzer added
starting toward the hall.
Stop" cried Hugo, forcing his way
in front of Pilzer.
He was like 40 one of the Hugos of
the many parts that his comrades had
seen him play. His blue eyes had be-
come an inflexible gray. He was stand
ing half on tiptoe, his quivering
muscles in tune with the quiyering
pitch of his voice:
I'VE have no right In here! This is
a private housed"
"Out of the way, you white-livered
little ratln cried Pilzer, "or I'll prick
the tummy of mammals darling!"
What happened then was so sudden
and unexpected that all we're vague
about details. They saw Hugo in a
catapultie lunge, mesmeric in its swift
ness. and they saw Pilzer go down. his
leg twisted under him and his head
banging the floor Hugo stood, half
ashamed, half frightened, yet ready
for another encounter.
Fraeasse, entering at this moment,
was too intent on his mission to con-
slider the rights of a personal differ
ence between two of his company.
There's work to do Out of here.
he announced, rounding his men to-
ward the door with commanding ges-
lures I'VE are going in pursuit."
Marta who had observed the latter
part of the scene from the shadows of
the hail. knew that she should never
forget Hugo's face as he turned on Pill
ger. while his voice of protest struck
a singing chord in her jangling nerves
1t was the voice of civilization, of one
who could think out of the orbit CT a
whirlpool of passionate barbarism
| She could see that he was about to
J spring and her prayer went with his
/ leap. She gloried in the impact that
! felled the great brute with the liver
patch ON his cheek, which was like a
! birthmark of war.
CTO BE CONTINUED