The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-02-20
CHAPTER xvl-Continued.

CHAPTER xvi-Continued.
This is 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 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 "a
then"
Them" 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 find that he had
realized that anything further during
that interview would be banality and
was rising to go.
Il don't feel decent" she thought
Society turned on Minna for hu-
man weakness, but I'm not a human
being! l am one OF the pawns of the
machine of war;"
Walking slowly with lowered head
as she left the arbor, she almost ran
into Bouchard. 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 alb
straction." he said In sudden loquac-
ity. Il am almost on the point Of
accusing you Of being a poet"
Accusing" she replied. Then you
must think that / would write bad
poetry"
"On the contrary. should say ex-
cellent-using the sonnet FORM" he re-
turned.
81 might make a counter accusa-
ton, only that yours would be the
Epic FORM" answered Marta. For you,
TOO, seem fond of rambling"
There was yelled challenge in the
kawk 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 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 q table at four.thirty as in
the cid days.
No member Of the stan was more
frequently present at Martas teas
than Bouchard, who was developing
his social instinct late in life by sit.
ting In the background and allowing
others to do the talking while he
watched and listened. In his hearing.
Marta's attitude toward the progress
OF the war was sympathetic but never
interrogatory. while she shared atten-
ton with Clarissa Eileen, who was in
danger Of becoming spoiled by officers
who had children Of their own at home.
After the reports Of killed and wound.
ed. which came with such appalling
regularity. 1t was relief to hear of
the days casualties among Clarissa' g
dolls. The chief of transportation
and supply rode her on his shoulder:
the chief Of tactics played hide-and.
seek with her; the chief engineer
built her a doll house Of stones with
his own hands: and the chief medical
oficer was as concerned when she
caught cold as II the health of the
army were at stake.
I'VE mustn't get too set up over all
this attention, Clarissa Eileen, my ri.
val" said Marta to the child. You
are the only little girl and am the
only big girl within reach. II there
we're lots Of others 1t would be diff.
ferent"
Bouchard was losing flesh; his eyes
were sinking deeper under a heavier
frown. His duty being to get infor-
nation, he was gaining none. His
duty being to keep the Grays' secrets,
there was leak somewhere in hN
own department. He quizzed subord
mates; he made abrupt transfers, to
avail.
Meanwhile. the Grays we're talq
the approaches to the main linz
defense. which had been thought
lively immaterial but had been
shrewdly placed and their vuln(
fly overestimated. The thumb
batteries hammering them beq
routine Of existence. like the
OF trains to one living near .
The guns went on while tea