The Monticellonian., 1915-03-04
CHAPTER xVI-Continued.


 This is like you-like what l want you to bel" he said. You are right" He caught her hand, inclesing 1t en- tirely in his grip, and she was sen sible, in kind of dazed horror, of the thrill of his strength. Nothing can stop us! Numbers will win! Hard fighting in the mercy of quick end!" he declared with his old rigidity of five against three which WAS welcome to her. Then" he added and then"
 "Then!" she repeated, averting her glance. Then" There the devil ended the sentence and she withdrew her hand and felt the relief of one es- eaping suffocation, to find that he had realized that anything further during that interview would be banality and was rising to go.
 T don't feel decentl" she thought. Society turned on Minna for a hu- man weakness, but I'm not human being! I am one of the pawns of the machine of war!"
 Walking slowly with lowered head as she left the arbor, she almost ran into Bouehard. who apologized with the single word "Pardon!" as 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. '.I am almost on the point of accusing you of being a poet"
 "Accusing!" she replied. Then you must think that I would write bad poetry"
 "On the contrary, I should say ex- cellent-using the sonnet form," he re- turned.
 'I might make counter accusa- tion, 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 a kind of routine. Their cramped quarters became a refuge to Marta in the trial of her secret work under the very nose of the staff With little Clarissa Eileen they formed the only feminine society in the neighborhood. On sunshiny days Mrs. Galland was usually to be found in her favorite chair outside the tower door; and here Minna Set the urn on table at four-thirty as iu the cid days.
 No member of the staff was more frequently present at Martas teas than Bouehard. who was developine his social instinct late in life by sit ting in the background and allowins others to do the talking while he watched and listened. In his hearing Martas attitude toward the progress of the war was sympathetic but never interrogatory. while she shared atten tion with Clarissa Eileen, who was il danger of becoming spoiled by officer, who had children of their own at home After the reports Of killed and wound ed, which came with such appallin. regularity, 1t was a relief to hear o the days casualties among Clarissa, dolls. The chief of transportation 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 witl his own hands: and the chief medica officer was as concerned when sh caught cold as If the health of th army were at stake.
 We mustn't get too set up over al this attention, Clarissa Eileen, my Il val" said Marta to the child. "Yo, are the only little girl and l am tn only big girl within reach If ther were lots of others 1t would be dil ferent"
 Bouchard was losing flesh; his eye were sinking deeper under heavie frown. His duty being to get infol nation, he was gaining none. HI duty being to keep the Grays' secrets there was a leak somewhere in hi own department. He quizZed subord mates; he made abrupt transfers, to n avail
 Meanwhile, the Grays were takin the approaches to the main line c defense, which had been thought relf lively immaterial but had been foun shrewdly placed and their vulnerabi ity overestimated. The thunders c batteries hammerino them hacama routine of existence, like the passin of trains to one living near a railroad The guns went on while tea was De