The Monticellonian., 1915-01-14

AT the turn or the ROAD IN front oi
the castle she saw the gunners of the
batteries making an emplacement for
their guns in a field OF carrots that
had not yet been harvested. The roots
of golden yellow were mixed with the
tossing spadefuls of earth.
shadow like a great cloud in mad
flight shot over the earth, and with the
gunners she looked up to see Gray
dirigible. Already it was turning
homeward; already 1t had gained its
object as scout. On the fragile plat
form of the gondola was man, SEEM
ingly human mite aiming a tiny toy
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! ex-
claimed the artillery commander. Both
he and his men forgot their work In
watching the spectacle of aerial David
against aerial Goliath. IF our man
lands with his little bomb, oh, my
he grinned. That's why he is SO
high. He's been waiting up there"
Pray God he Wilt" exclaimed one
of the gunners.
Look at him volplane-motor at
full speed. tool"
Into it! Making surei 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 yellowish
smoke. rolling out into purple cloud
that spread into prismatic mist over
the descent of cavorting human bodies
and broken machinery and twisted
braces, flying pieces of tattered or
burning cloth. David has taken Goliath
down with him in a death grip.
An aeroplane following the dirigible
as screen, hoping to get home with
information II the dirigible were lost,
had escaped the sharpsheoters 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 failed
of the bull s-eye, but their bullets, rim
ming the target, Gripping the motor.
and cutting braces, brought the crum-
ping wings about the helpless pilot.
The watching gunners uttered Abs!
of horror and triumph as they saw him
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 Galland
house. Marta had to pass to one side
of the path, now blocked by army
wagons and engineers materials and
tools Soldiers carrying sand-bags
we're taking the shortest cut, tram
ping the flowers on their way.
DO you know whose property this
is?" she demanded in burst of an
ger.
"Ours-the nation'si" answered one,
perspiring freely at his work. Scr
ry!" he added on second thought.
Already parts of the first terrace
were shoulder-high with sand-bags and
one automatic had been set in place,
Marta observed as she turned to the
veranda. There her mother sat in her
favorite chair, hands relaxed as they
rested on its 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 her
usual pleasant tone. So far as she
was concerned, the activity on the
terrace did not exist. She seemed OBJ
lfyious of the fact of war.
Martas 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 their
wives.
Marta. whatever happens one
should go regularly about what he
considers his duty" said Mrs. Galland.
"They have been as considerable as
they could, evidently by Colonel LA-A-
stron's ORDERS" she proceeded. nod
ding toward the industrious engineers.
And they've packed all the paintings
and works of art and put them in the
cellar, where they will be safe"
The captain of engineers in com
mand, seeing Marta. hurried toward
her.
Miss Galland. isn't it?" he asked.
q have been waiting for you. II
we'll, | found that l could not make
the situation clear to your mother.
He thinks me in my second child
hood or out of my head, Mrs. Galland
explained with shade of tartness.
And he has been so polite in trying
to conceal his opinion too" she added
with a comprehending smile.
Tie captain flushed in embarrass-
ment.
II can't speak too strongly" he
declared when he had regained his
composure. Though everything seems
II - ~