The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-03-04
CHAPTER xvi-centlnusd.

This 10 like you-like what I want
you to be!" he said. "You are right"
He caught her hand. inclosing 1t en-
tirely In his grip. and she was SEN
sible. in kind of daxed horror. OF. the
thrill Of his strength. Nothing can
stop us! Numbers will win! Hard
aghting In the mercy of quick end!"
hs declared with his old rigidity Of
I'VE against three which was welcome
to her. "Then." he added and
then"
"Theni" she repeated. averting her
glance. "Then-" There the devil
ended the sentence and she withdrew
her hand and felt the relief of one es-
Gaping suffocation, to fnd that he had
realized that anything further during
that interview would be banality and
was rising to 60.
II don't feel decent" she thought.
"Society turned ON Minna for . hu.
man weakness, but I'm not . human
being! am one Of the pawns Of the
machine Of war!"
Walking slowly with lowered head
q she left the arbor. she almost ran
into Bouchard. who apologized with
the single word "Pardon!" rs he lifted
his cap in overdone courtesy. which
his stolid brevity made the more con.
spicuous.
Miss Galland. you seem lost in ab-
straction." he said in sudden loquac-
ity. Il am almost on the point Of
accusing you Of being . poet"
Accusing" she replied Then you
must think that l would write bad
poetry"
"On the contrary, l should say ex.
cellent-using the sonnet FORM" he re.
turned.
II might make q counter accuse.
ton. only that yours would be the
epic FORM" answered Marta. For you,
too. seem fond Of rambling"
There was . yelled challenge in the
hawk eyes. which she met with com.
monplace politeness in hers, before
be again lifted his cap and proceeded
on his way.
For the next two weeks Marta's role
resolved itself into kind of routine
Their cramped quarters became q
refuge to Marta In the trial of he,
secret work under the very nose oi
the stan. With little Clarissa Eileen
they formed the only feminine society
In the neighborhood. On sunshin,
days Mrs. Galland was usually to b.
found in her favorite chair outstd.
the tower door; and here Minna SCI
the urn on table at four-thirty as IL
the old days.
No member Of the staff was NOR,
frequently present at Marta's tea,
than Bouchard. who was developin,
his social instinct late in life by sit
ting in the background and allowin,
others to do the talking while h,
watched and listened. In his hearing
Marta's attitude toward the progress
OF the war was sympathetic but neve
interrogatory, while she shared atten
ton with Clarissa Eileen, who was /,
danger of becoming spoiled by officer
who had children of their own at home
@~@s~@ ~AS ASkoA 10 VI AIltcu anu WOunO
ed, which came with such appallin,
regularity. 1t was relief to hear O
the days casualties among Clarissa'
dolls. The chief of transportatio,
and supply rode her on his shoulder
the chief Of tactics played hide-and
seek with her; the chief enginee
built her doll house of stones will
his own hands; and the chief medica
ofhcer was as concerned when sh
caught cold as If the health of tn
army were at stake.
We mustn't get too set up over Al
this attention. Clarissa Eileen, my n
val." said Marta to the child. "Yo
arc the only little girl and l am tn
Snly big girl within reach. II ther
Yere lots Of others It would be dil
Aren't"
Doa.hAr4 vss losing 6ssh: his eye