The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-23

ic quarter was, in peace and war, the
quietest part OF an always orderly
town. It was evident that the man
spied alone.
Holding her head very high, she
started across the street: but she had
not taken three steps when the shad-
ow detached itself and walked rapid
ly out into the moonlight. She gave
a sharp cry and shrank back. 1t was
Franz Won Nettelbeck.
you" she stammered. They
sent you"
They? And why should I alarm
you? Am l so formidable?" He utter
ed his Short harsh laugh and lifted
his cap. His head was bandaged;
there was a deep scar along the out
er line OF his right cheek. His face
was gaunt and lined; and his Shout
ders sagged until he suddenly be-
thought himself and flung them back
with a deathless instinct.
Gisela smiled and gave him her hand
with a graceful Npontaneity. THE
sense Of being watched always shakes
the nerves a bit. and 1 have felt up
to nothing myself for a long time.
Why did not you come up to the win
dow when you recognized me?'
Came To Her As Soon A Able.
81 was SO sure of welcome! And
yet as soon as / was ut to travel 1
came here to see you. / intended to
send in my card tomorrow. But
could not help haunting your window
tonight, and when 1 had the good
fortune to see you sitting there-with
the moon shining on your beautiful
face"
MY face is no longer beautiful,
You are a thousand times more
beautiful than ever"
Something else vibrated along those
steel nerves. but she said briskly:.
standing so long must have tired
you. Come in and rest. 1t is lateI
but II there are still conventions in
this crashing world l have forgotten
them"
Her rooms were always prepared
for a sudden visit Of the police. ia
firing squad were her fate it would
not have been invited through the
usual channels. Even the arms to
be worn on the morrow were in the
cellars and attics OF citizens so respec-
table as almost to be nameless.
He followed her through the COM
mon entrance OF the apartment house
into her Saal. II was a IarSe COM
IOOIh Will many dGEp >.
and on the gray walls werS q few
portraits of her scowling ancestors,
contributed long since by her mother.
A tall porcelain stove glowed softly.
Gisela drew the curtains and u. sew
eral candles. She disliked the nard
glare OF electricity at any time, and
she admitted with a curious thrill OF
satisfaction that those manifo5.!v sim
cere words OF her old lover n ad given
her vanity a momentary resurrection.
Her suspicious were oy no means
allayed, even when she met his eyea
blazing with passionate admiration,
but why not play the old Eams Of the
gods for an horu What better prepar-
alton for the morrow than to relax
and forget?
Poor Franz" Her voice was the |
same rich contralto whose promise /.
had routed the Rowland millions !
years ago. "Our poor gallant meni
When will this terrible war hnish?"
Curses United States.
ASK your United States of Amer !
ica." And he cursed that supernuous |
nation roundly. 1--WE had some chance |
before. Not so much. bat still lsome. |
Now we shall be beaten TO our knees, |
stamped into the dust, straight down |
to hell" He threw himself into q |
chair and pressed his hands against |
his face.
But when." Gisela watched him
warily. II these were tactics they |
were admirable: but who more full OF |
thestric devices than the Kaiser he
adored?
Years hence. no doubt-if we con-
tinue to hold the social-Democrats in
hand and drug the people. Well |
hight on until our enemies might |
proves that they are right and we |
were fools That Is all there IL to |
war"
Gisela sat down and let her hands
fall into her lap with a little pathetic I
motion of weakness. Sometimes I |
wish the Socialists were strong
enough enough TO win and end # ALL"
she said, plaintively.
"Oh, no, you don't You are a
Iunker. for all your independent no.
lions, and trying to put some OF your
OWN nerve into the women. read /
Tou witE great amusement before tie
war. But no one knows better than
that the triumph Of do
nocracy In Germany would mean the
md OF us"
81 cannot see that we are enjoying
many privileges at present-unless Il
% the privilege TO lie rather 'han ne
led to. And when our enemies do
win We shall be pried out. root and
branch. So, why not save our skins
1t all events? 7 do not mean mine,
II course-nor. for that matter, am I
OF our class; but OF tho hun
ireds of thousands of our dear young
men who might be spared"
Better die and have done with Il.
And there IL always hope"
Hooper"
Always Living In Hope.
"Oh-in the separate peace. the ulti-
nate submersible. some new inven-
miracle that has come to
he rescue more than once I'm history.
There are times when my faith in the
iestiny OF Germany to dominate the
world is so great that cannot beIie1
I possible for her to fail-in spite OF
everything!
And everything is against US. ]
iever realized # until lay there in
he hospital. ! was too busy before,
md that was my first serious wound
)h. God. what fools We were. What
often diplomacy. Even l despissd the
Jnited states; but as ] lay there in
Berlin their irresistible almighty
'Ower seemed to pass before me in o
that nearly destroyed my
easou. 1 knew the country well I
n -