Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-01-06

! was recovering itS natural commences
+ In the infallibility of his Judgment Of
human beings. He was seeing his sus-
pieions as ridiculous enough TO con-
+ vict 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 il that she could not re-
sist: the exhilaration OF risk and the
control of her faculties. prompted by
a purpose hypnoticalIy compelling.
Both were client, 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 walt.
With darkness the music begins!" he
said slowly, with start of stern
fervor.
The music-the musicl He calls
II music!" ran through Marta's mind
mockingly, but she did not open her
lips.
They wait 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 night broke an ugly fash
and farther up the slope spread the
explosive circle of light OF a bursting
she'll
The signali" he exclaimed.
Right and left the blasts spread
along the Cray lines and right and
left. on tbs instant, the Browns sent
their blasts In reply. Countless tongues
OF flame seemed to burst from count
less craters, and the range to rock in
torment of crashes. In the inter
vening space between the ugly. saw
age gusts from the Gray gun mouths,
which sent their shells from the midst
Of exploding Brown shells, swept the
beams of the Brown search-lights,
their rays lost like sunlight in the vor-
tex or an open furnace door
Splendid! splendid" exclaimed
Westerling, in sweep of emotion at
the sight that had been born of hts
command. Five thousand guns on
our side alone! The world has never
seen the equal OF thisi"
Marta looked away from the range
to his face very distinct in the garish
illumination. II was the face of a
maestro of war seeing all his rehear-
sails and all his labors come true in
symphonic Qualification to the eye
and ear; the face OF a man OF trained
mind, the product of civilization, with
the citation OF a party leader on the
floor of parliament in a crisis.
Soon, now!" said WesterIing, and
looked at his watch.
Shortly, in the direction of Engadir.
to the rear of the steady flashes
broke forth line after line of flashes
as the long-range batteries, which so
far had been silent, joined their might
Ter voices to the chorus, making a CON
tinuous leaping burst of explosions
over the Brown positions, which were
the real object of the attack.
"The moment I've lived fort" ex-
claimed Westerling Our infantry is
starting up the apron Of Engadir! We
held back the fire of the heavy guns
concentrated for the purpose of sap
porting the men with an cutburst.
Three hundred heavy guns pouring in
their shells on space of two acres!
We're tearing Iff5:- redoubts to pieces,
They can't see to fret TSsy can't
live under IL! They're in the crater
of a volcano! When our infantry is
on the edge OF the wreckage the guns
cease. Our infantry crowd in-crowd
into the house that Partow built.
He'll find that numbers count; that
the power Of modern gunfire will open
the way for infantry in masses to take
and hold vital tactical positions! And
--no-no, their fire in reply is not as
strong as l expected"
Because they are letting you in!
1t will be strong enough In due sea
son!" thought Marta in the uncontrol-
liable triumph of antagonism. Five
against three was in his tone and in
every line of his features.
ITS hard for a soldier to leave a
sight like this. but the real news will
be awaiting me at my desk" he con-
cluded. adding. as he turned away:
ITS fireworks worth seeing. and il
| you remain here | will return to tell
you the results"
Turning her back to the range for
| the moment. she saw the twinkle OF
| the lights Of the town and the threads
of light OF the wagon-trains and the
sweep OF the lights of the railroad
trains on the plain; while in the fore
| ground every window OF the house was
ablaze, like some factory on a busy
night shift. She could hear the click
of the telegraph instruments already
reporting the details of tina action az
Sheerfully as Brobdingnagian c-ickets
In their peaceful surroundings. Then
/ out of the shadows Westerling reap
| peared.
The apron OF Engadir is ours!" he
| called. Thanks TO you'll" he added
with pointed emphasis. Back In the
| house he had received congratula.
tions with a nod, as If success we're
n matter of course Before her. ex.
ultation unbent stiffness. and he was
hoarsely triumphant and eager. Its
/ plain sailing now" he went on. "A
break in the main line! We have
only 10 drive home the wedge. and
! tlen-and them" he concluded.
She felt him close. his breath on
/ her cheek.
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