The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-03-05

turning to NeSterllnH, ueI Culloolly
apparently aroused as a matter OF COur.
tesy to his own interest in the sub.
ject.
who do you think he accused?
Why, YOU" he added, with a peculiar
laugh.
She noted the popularity of the
laugh discriminatory.
OH Her eyes opened wide IN
wonder-only wonder, at first Then,
as comprehension took the place OF
wonder, they grew sympathetic. That
explains" she exclaimed. His hate
full glances were those Of delusion. He
was going mad, you mean
Yes" said Westerling. "that-that
would explain it,"
81 have been told that when people
20 mad they always asCrlbe every in
Jury done to them to the person who
happens to have excited their dislike"
she unused.
Which seems to have been the case
here" Westerling assented. He did
not know what else to say. His pride
was recovering its natural confidence
in the infallibility Of his judgment OF
human beings. He was seeing his sus-
| picions as ridiculous enough to con-
Wet him Of brain as disordered as
| Bouchard's.
Marta was thinking that she had
been skating on very thin Ice and
that she must go on skating till she
broke through There was an exhila-
ration about 1t that she could not re-
stst: the exhilaration Of risk and the
control Of her faculties, prompted by
q purpose hypnotically compelling.
Both were silent she watching the
sky, he In anticipation and suspense.
The rose went violet and the shadows
over the range deepened.
"The guns and the troops wait.
With darkness the music begins!" he
said slowly, with a start Of stern
fervor
"The music-the music! He calls
it music!" ran through Marta's mind
mockingly, but she did not open her
lips.
They walt, ready, every detail ar
ranged" he continued proudly.
The sky merged into the shadows of
the landscape that spread and thick
ened into blackness. Out Of the drawn
curtains Of might broke an ugly fash
and farther up the slope spread the
explosive circle Of light Of bursting
shell.
THE signal" he exclaimed.
Right and left the blasts spread
along the Gray lines and right ana
left, on the instant, the Browns sent
their blasts in reply. Countless tongues
of flame seemed to burst from count
less craters, and the range to rock II
torment Of crashes. In the inter
vening space between the ugly, SAT-
age gusts from the Gray gun mouthi,
hich sent their shells from the midt
of exploding Brown shells, swept The
beams Of the Brown search,light,
their rays lost like sunlight in the va
tex Of an open furnace door.
Splendid! splendid" exclaimed
Westerling, in a sweep of emotion 1t
the sight that had been born of lis
command. Five thousand guns IN
our side alone! The world has never
seen the equal of this!"
Marta looked away from the raKe
to his face. very distinct In the garth
illumination. 1t was the face of
maestro of war seeing all his reher.
sails and all his labors come true In
symphonic qualification to the e,e
and ear; the face of a man OF traind
mind, the product Of civilization, with
the citation Of party leader on tie
floor of parliament in a crisis.
Soon, now!" said Westerling, aid
looked at his watch.
Shortly, in the direction of Engadt,
to the rear Of the steady fash,s
broke forth line after line of fiashss
as the long-range batteries, which 10
far had been silent, Joined their NIGH
Ter voices to the chorus, making co..
tinuous leaping burst of explosions
over the Brown positions, which wee
the real object Of the attack.
THE moment I've lived fort" e.
claimed Westerling. Our infantry
starting up the apron of Engadir! We
held back the fire Of the heavy gus
concentrated for the purpose of SUD
porting the men with an outburx
Three hundred heavy guns pouring n
their shells on a space Of two acre!
We're tearing their redoubts to piece!
They can't see to fire! They cart
live under It! They're in the cratr
Of Volcano! When our infantry ia
on the edge Of the wreckage the gus
cease. Our infantry crowd in-cro,d
into the house that Partow butt
: He'll find that numbers count: TIT
the power of modern gunfire will opn
the way for infantry in masses to txe
and hold vital tactical positions! AID
-no-no, their fire in reply is not "a
strong as l expected"
Because they are letting you il!
1t will be strong enough In due Sd. |
son!" thought Marta In the uncontnl. |
liable triumph Of antagonism. Fte