Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-10-28
CHAPTER II.


II rise to move an amendment" said
Jonathan Boldwood, in deep, strong
voice.
ION the platform; get upon the plat
form, Boldwood," roared the crowd.
Let's hear thee, man, thou hast always
summat good to- say. Brave Boldwood!
Three cheers for Boldwood"
And there was shout which seemed as
il it would rend the roof Of the building,
thrill OF delight as at the appearance
Of some favorite actor. The crowd made
way for the orator, and the applause
grew deafening Us he scrambled on the
platform, shook his rough name, folded
his arms, and looked round the assembly,
those eyes of his shining like Goals Of fire.
"You want to hear me speak, friends"
be said, in his deep. thrilling voice. You
shall! You have had plenty of fustian
from these gentlemen. You shall have a
little bit of sound cloth from me-stuff
that will stand wear and tear, not devils
dust that will come to bits directly you
pull at IT," And then he began to attack
the Coleners speech. He took the old,
old story, point by point, from the Revo-
lutionist's side; he laughed to scorn the
old institutions, the old opinions, bishops
and peers, church and state, royal sine
cures, royal allowances, princely no.
bodies. useless functionaries. He spoke
with the force and yigor of Danton, with
the fincsse Of Mirabeau; he spoke as
rebel against his queen and against his
God. His finest points were barbed with
blasphcmy: but he had the audience with
him from the moment he opened his
mouth. He swayed them as the wind
sways the reeds by the river. He flung
back the coarse, iron gray hair from his
low, broad brow, and stood like tower,
while the hall rang with applause, varied
by timorous Kisses from the Conservative
minority.
Lashmar rose and came to the front
Of the platform, Drawing that multitude
Of eyes, that broad glare Of light. He
stood up before men; and natures un-
kindness was claim upon the respect Of
even the lowest among the crowd.
There was considerable applause from
the Conservative minority after Lord
Lashmar's speech. Boldwood sat facing
the audience. his arms folded upon the
back of q chair, glazing at them from
under those bushy brows of his, with eyes
that seemed always to shine with the
same angry light; anger at fate, lie, for
tune-a world in which for him all things
were adverse and cruel. Suddenly these
arose a murmur Of voices, excited voices
in the crowd just below the platform
murmurs in which he caught his own
name, and then the word "Fire!' Some
men by the corner Of the platform were
talking about him, looking up at him.
He bent down and questioned one Of
them. Whats the matter, mate?'
'Goldwin's! You live at Goldwin's,
don't you?"
Eyes"
"Goldwin's is afire."
The demagogue bounded from his chair,
dropped of the platform and pushed his
way through the crowd, muttering as he
went:
Great heavens! And that child-lock-
ed in her room on the fourth story"
| He clutched the man by the shoulder.
"What about this fire" he gasped. us
| it true? Who brought the news?
| When?'
"Not five minutes ago; there's lot has
run off to see. There was lot of 'em
herc-a lot Of Goldwin's people,
Boldwood waited to hear no further,
but pushed his way to the door. The
news had wrought confusion in the hall
already, and the crowd was surging out
wards. There was 4 greater excitement,
q 6ercer fever Of emotion to be had out
OF doors than the finest speaker could
o6tae within, 4 great 6Ee vas one o< TIE