The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-01-05
result must be hers.

result must be hers.
Nam Malissa saw her go to her
room and open the window toward the
west-toward Frt Pillw. Then she
said: "That is all. You may go, Ma
lissa." But Malissa was slow; she
watched her kneel there and taking
forth an old blue towel she had hidden
about her-folded it upon the sill and
knelt.
"An' dat whit war do. Hits de
wimmen whut's hurt"
Early next morning Malissa opened
the door very softly. She had not
risen. The sun flashed through her
curls, the birds sang in the vine by
her window. Then came sullen boom
The head at the window bowed lower.
And again the mighty voice of the
guns rolled across the hills. Jim was
speaking to Marthlema.
"Lord-pardon," she whispered.
But the grim war dogs knew moth
ing of sentiment. The battle was on.
Here and here in the great homes and
humble cabins other women listened,
shuddering. The South had waited for
this test-and prayed that her sons
might unlock those gates that shut in
the great river to the enemy. The north
had smiled. "Take Fort Pillow! Bah.
1t cannot be DONE"
Marthlema imagined it would be a
picturesque dash of sabreurs, a fut-
tering os sashes, stamping of hoofs.
1t was not.
Jim had stolen the foundation for
his guns in the night. At day break
word came from his commander to
rae the earthworks, and the drowsy
men worked silently. A caiscn was
hauled up by hand. The charges wer
pulled to the fore catch. The gun
pointer gazed down the grim barrels
until the blue sentries in the fort were
like ants crawling across the muzzle
of the cannon. "Three hundred yards,
spoke the range finder-the ma word
''fire", and a cloud of white smoke
bellied forth and rolled among the su.
macs.
Below, in the fort, arose great
clouds of dust and flying beams, Their
an echoing crash of a bursting bomb
True to the mark-fine" The gen.
eral smiled, turned his glasses to the
hill where Jim's artillery was working
He saw man with white garment
like a sheet, tied about his head. Then
the general laughed. "He looks like a
desert chieftain-with it on"
The cavalry and infantry lay in the
bushes looking on. A German beer
seller had run screaming from a lit
tie store. Numbers of camp followers
ran about wildly gesticulating, OF
pointing up the hill to where the white
clouds popped out, regularly, and fol-
them disastrously. The German SHOOK
his fist and began to walk back anC
forth-then his feet flew up. A great
spot of blood splashed on the wall Of
the fort, and the Germans headles.
body lay there wiggling its fingers
while his rightsleg shivered and fel
fiat. Then the guns of the fort open
ed and smokes drifted into alleys hid
ing everything. Men had begun to xii
in systematic, businesslike way.
Jim believed in his guns-they were
real sentient pieces of power. HI
would pat them affectionately calling
them endearing names. Now he wa,
saying Keep it up, girls-the mother
land is looking to us today" Then t
his charger, Give old Beth some can
lister and let her argue a while"
Once the gun pointer grinned as h,
yelled through the smoke, Gap. l go
some roses for you" He replied
GIVE Martha some solid shot-tha
baricade is made of brick"
Nanny Malissa sat outside Marth
lema's door. She wanted to pray, "buf
honey, faint nobody lies sol kin eli