The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-01-02

their guns in a field Of carrots tnal
had not yet been harvested. The roo's
of golden yellow were mixed Win tne
tossing spadefuls of earth. i
A shadow like a great cloud In mao
fight shot over the earth, and with tue
gunners she looked up to see gray
dirigible. Already 1t was turning
homeward; already 1t had gained us
object as a scout. On the fragile pat
form of the gondola was man, seeil-
ingly human mite aiming tiny toS
gun. His target was one Of the brown
aeroplanes.
They're in danger of cutting their
own envelope. They can't get the an
gle! The plane is too high! eA'
claimed the artillery commander. both
he and his men forgot their WORK III
watching the spectacle of aerial Da'lu
against aerial Goliath. IF our man
lands with his little bomb, oh, my!
he. grinned. That's why he IS 80
high. He's been waiting up there.
Pray God he will" exclaimed one
of the gunners.
Look at him volplane-motor al
full speed. too"
Into it! Making sure! Oh, splen-
o." cried the artillery commander.
A ball of lightning shot forth sheets
of flame Dirigible and plane were
hidden in an ugly swirl of yellowlsn
smoke, rolling out into purple ciouu
that spread into prismatic mist over
the descent of cavorting human boules
! and broken machinery and twlsleu
braces, flying pieces of tattered OF
burning cloth. David has taken Gollalh
down with him in a death grip
An aeroplane following the diriglble
as a screen, hoping to get home WIN
information if the dirigible were lost'
had escaped the sharpshooters in the
church tower by flying around the
| town. However. it ran within range OF
| the automatic and the sharpshooters
| on top of the castle tower. They falleu
of the bulTs-eye, but their bullets, rim
ming the target, Gripping the motor
and cutting braces, brought the crum-
pling wings about the helpless pilot.
| The watching gunners uttered Ans!
of horror and triumph as they saw MN
fall, gliding this way and that. IN the
| agony of slow descent.
Come, now" called the artillery
| commander. I'VE are wasting pre-
cious time"
Entering the grounds OF the Gallano
house, Marta had to pass to one SIDE
of the path, now blocked by army
wagons and engineers materials ana
tools. Soldiers carrying sand-bags
we're taking the shortest cut, tram
pling the flowers on their way.
do you know whose property this
is?" she demanded in burst OF an
ger.
"Ours-the nation's!" answered one,
perspiring freely at his work. Sor'
ry," he added on second thought.
Already parts of the first terrace
we're shoulder-high with sand-bags and
one automatic had been set in place
| Marta observed as she turned to the
! yeranda. There her mother sat in her
favorite chair. hands relaxed as they
rested on it's arms, while she looked
out over the valley in the supertran'
| guilty that comes to some women
under a strain-as soldiers who have
been on sieges can tell you-that some
psychologists interpret one way and
some another, none knowing even
their own wives.
Marta, did any of the children
Gomez" Mrs. Galland asked in heI
usual pleasant tone. So far as she
was concerned the activity on the
terrace did not exist. She seemed OBJ
livious of the fact Of war.
Marta's monosyllable absently an
swering the question was expressive
Of her wonder at her mother. Most
girls do not know their mothers much
better than psychologists know theil
wives.
Marta, whatever happens ont
should go regularly about what hi
considers his duty" said Mrs. Galland
They have been as considerable al
they could. evidently by Colonel L.-.
stron's ORDERS" she proceeded. nod
ding toward the industrious engineers
And they've packed all the painting.
and works of art and put them in thu
cellar, where they will be safe"
The captain Of engineers in com
mand, seeing Marta, hurried towart
her.
Miss Galland. isn't it?" he asked
81 have been waiting for you. II
we'll, | found that l could not maxi
the situation clear to your mother"
; He thinks me in my second child
hood or out of my head" Mrs. Gallan,
explained with a shade of tartness
And he has been so polite in tryin
to conceal his opinion, too" she adde,
with a comprehendhg smile.
The captain flushed in embarrass
ment.
II can't speak too strongly" h
declared when he had regained hi
composure. Though everything seem
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