Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-12


Continued from Yesterdays starr
NOR the briefest moment the man
l. looked at Manning and felt maj
astonishing relief. Then. as
Manning exclaimed, Anna Blum
passed him quickly and stooo
a . ward inside the room. Win net
hands out. and cry OF Anton.
To the man who had been Anton
Rlum. that was in some way the most
dreadful moment of this whole dreaa-
full hour. He had fought with an ms
strength 10 hold on to hlmSen; ana
in the very moment OF victory ne
felt himself betrayed, felt sanity snip
and his hard-won footing fail beneath
his feet This woman belonged to the
xenseless, interminable dream which
had no relation to reality. She stood
there between himself and Manning,
broad figure with an anxious. comedy
face. He knew her face, every line or
il: he knew the battered felt hat. the
faded cape with straps that crossed
the ample bosom; he knew the voice
that said "Anton!" 1t was Tante
Anna-and she belonged TO a horrible,
formless dream.
Manning looked over Annals Shout.
der and saw the man he had lett
sleeping standing CHASTITY between the
windows. O'Neill's bandage about his
head and a crumpled paper at his
feet. The long folds of the white
coverlet gave him a strange, fantas.
tic height. But before the terror in
the mans eyes all other strangeness
died.
Manning came into the room, shut
ting the door behind him, and the
man called out hoarsely:
Monkey
Anton said Anna Blum again.
She came toward him. But Manning
was before her.
WHO are YOU" he said, quick and
sharp.
The man took a blind step forward
and caught at him with his great
ha nds.
Monkey! Who's that?"
A shaking hand pointed at Anna,
who stood grave-eyed and motionless,
her hands locked together, her mouth
twitching a little.
Monkey, is there any one there
or am I mad? I tell you / can see
her. She was in the dream; but L
can see her Just as plainly as can
see YOU Monkey" The voice
broke, gasping. The whole great
form shook as Manning tried to steady
MY dear chap, hold up. You're all
right; you're not seeing things; you're
as right as rain. This is Frau Blum,
who"
The man had his hands on Man.
ning's shoulders; his face was con-
yulsed: his teeth chartered.
"You-see-her-too
"YeS-Of course / do
Nothing mattered except the tor.
ture of uncertainty in the eyes that
searched his face. Manning saw the
uncertainty break into bewilderment.
you can see her? She's here?" The
words were jerked out and, even SO,
hardly audible.
''Yes, yes-I say. hold up"'
For 4, mopent the mans whole a
reeled back. iurched to the table.
caught at it, and came down heavily
he looked long and steadily at Anna
Blum. Long and steadily Anna Blum
looked back at him. AT last he turned
his head. looked at Manning. and
spoke as man speaks when he has
come to the last or his strength.
Monkey must know-she knows
make her speak" With the last
word he put his arms on the table.
and bending forward. laid his head
upon them.
Manning's look of pity and con-
Germ passed into one of sharp inquiry
as he swung round on Anna.
well, Frau Blum? What have you
Ito say? You'll handy stick to last
nights story now, I imagine"
NO" said Anna There was
great sadness in her voice, but no
fear. She took a chair and sat down
by the table. The bowl of snowdrops
was between her and the man WHO
had been as a son to her for ten years.
She said. mo. / have understood"
She took out a clean, folded hand.
kerchief, shook it out, and wiped her
brow. Then she undid her cape and
pushed it back.
Manning, leaning over the high
hacked chair at the end Of the table,
watched her closely. When she had
sighed and said:
yes 1 will speak now, Herr
Major"
You'd better" said Manning. and
saw ner head lift little.
Il am not afraid. have done no
wrong. 1 will tell you everything
now"
'Wait a minute" said Manning.
He went over TO the man, whose
face was hidden. and touched him on
the shoulder. Then he said in English:
Shell speak. Can you follow the
German"
The man moved, raised his head
little, nodded, and resumed his for
mer position. Manning went back TO
the head of the table.
"Now Fran blum $"
Anna nodded.
Yes. now / will speak" She paused
for a moment as if considering. II
must begin at the beginning, or you
win not understand" She frowned
slightly, and began to speak slowly.
with pauses here and there. Every
now and then she looked over the
table at the man, who lay half across
it with his head on his arms. Then
her eyes came back to Manning
again--round, serious eyes. very clear
and blue.
when the war came. we were
living in the Schwarzwald. My man
had inherited a little holding there.
and we We're just making living,
no more. Everything had been very
much neglected. Then the war came
and my husband was called up--n0t
lust at first, you understand. but after
Christmas. He went TO garrison duty.
and then to the Russian front. And
then 1 heard that he was killed. That
fF1 VN&il. aR,l 10 nsYs - h.