The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-03-26
you've had terrible shock-vhea

you are stronger" said the doctor.
When you have had something to
eat and drink" observed the practical
Nina authoritatively.
Marta would not have the food
brought to her. She insisted that she
was strong enough to accompany
Minna to the tower While Minna
urged mouthfuls down Marta's dry
throat as she sat outside the door Of
the sitting-roO with her mother
number of weary dust-streaked faces,
with feverish energy in their eyes,
peered over the hedge that bounded
the garden on the side toward the pass.
These scout skirmishers of Stransky's
men Of the SD Regiment of the
Browns made reckoning gestures as
to crowd, before they sprang over
the hedge and ran swiftly, watchfully.
toward the linden stumps, closely fol-
lowed by their comrades. Soon the
whole garden was overrun by the lean,
businesslike fellows, their glances all
ferret-like to the front.
Look, Minna." exclaimed Marta.
THE giant who carried the old man in
pickaback the first night of the war;"
| Minna was flushing, but the flush
| dissipated and she drew up her chin
when Stransky, looking around, recog-
nized her with merry, confident
wave of his hand.
See, he's a captain and he wears
an iron cross" said Marta as Stransky
fastened toward them.
"He acts like it," assented Minna
grudgingly.
Eager, leviathan, his cap dotted with
a sweeping gesture as he made low
bow, Stransky was the very spirit OF
retributive victory returning to claim
the ground that he had lost.
well, this is like getting home
again!" he cried.
so l see!" said Minna eQuivocally
Stransky drew his eyes together
sighting them on the bridge of his nose
thoughtfully at this dubious reception
Il came back for the chance to kiss
good woman's hand" he observed
with q profound awkwardness ant
looking at Minna's hand. You
hand!" he added, the cast in his eye
Strengthening as he looked directly a
her appealingly.
She extended her fingertips and h
pressed his lips to them.
81 kept seeing the way you locke
when you belted me one in the face.
he went on, land knocked any ar
archism out of me that was left afte
the shell burst. l kept seeing you
face in my last glimpse when tn
Grays made me run for it from you
kitchen door before had half chanc
for the Grafton crying for voice. 70
were in my dreams! You were in ba
tie with mel"
"This sounds like a disordere
. mind" observed Minna. 1--WE hear
, men talk that way before"
"Oh, have talked that way to oth'
women myself" said Stransky.
YES" said Minna bitterly. His ca
, dor was rather unexpected.
II have talked to others in passir
+ on the high road" he continued. "B
never after a woman had struck me
: the face. That blow sank deep-dee
l deep as what Lanstron said when
revolted on the march. say it to yc
with this"-he touched the crosse
my breast. And I'm not going to 81,
you up. It's a big world. There
!. room in it for a place for you after tt
3 war is over and I'm going to make II
place. Good-by till I'm back-back
stay! Good-by, little daughter!"
added with a wave of his hand to Cla
issa as he turned to 60. Maybe "
shall have our own automobile SON
day. Its no stranger than what's bee
happening to me since the war began
III you don't marry him, Minna, I
-Ill--" Mrs. Galland could not fir
words for the fearful thing that ST
would do.
Marry him! have only met hi
three times for about three minute
each time!" protested Minna. ST
was as rosy as a girl and in her conf
sion she busted herself relying the RI
bon on Clarissa Eileen's hair. *
called you little daughter!" she ga
softly to the child as she withdrew in
the tower.
Marta remained in the chair by Il
doorway of the tower, weak and liz
less. Now her lashes were close'
again they opened slightly as her ga
royed the semicircle Of the horizon.
mounted officer and his orderly gallo
ing across the fields to the pass ROT
caught her desultory attention al
held it, for they formed the most II
petuous object on the landscape. VIII
the officer alighted at the foot Of Il
garden and tossed his reins to the {
Derby she detected something famili
about him. He leaped the garden wi
at a bound and, half running, came
ward the tower. Not until he lifted b
cap and waved it did she associate Ii
I 1.-the, dapper artillerist with stoop
old gardener in blue blouse and to