The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-07
" WILLIAM LIE QUEUX,
copYRIGHrED, 1891, BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUX.


"Iisten !'' cried the Prime Minister, at
last losing patience, and throwing open
the window wide. "Listen! The people
of London are clamouring for news
Give it to them, and let them depart.
nThey'll be able to read it in this papers
presently Let them pay their pennies
for it, he sneered.
"But that is not official" the Premier
argued. and before his colleague had time
to reply the messenger stationed outside
the door entered, bearing telegram,
which he took to Lord Warnham.
ssThe representative of, Reuters Agency
has brought this telegram just received
| from ST. Petersburg, and desires to know
whether you haGe any confirmation OF the
abandonment of thu proposed host1iltles
against u.s. the man said.
ssOh, tell him have nothing to COM
municate." cried his lordshlp hastily.
"And, look here. don't bother me again
with any inquiries from the Press. "
Very well, your lordship,'' the nessen-
ger answered, and at once withdrew:
HWhy not make an official declaration?'
| The MARQUIS urged. sit would avoid
great deal of unnecessary worry and anx-
| iety."
For a long time the Foreign Minister
held out. until at length he became con-
WINGED by Lord Maybury's forcible argu-
ments in favor of publicity, and gave bis
sanction to a statement being made in the
House of Commons. Presently we all
| three proceeded there and at once the
| news spread like wildtire. within Parlia-
ment and without, that the latest news
| from St. Petersburg was to be ohclaily
announced. From the glass swing-door
of the Press gallery l watched the House
rspidly fill to OVERLOOKING even to its
galleries, and when all had assembled the
| excitement for about ten minutes was IN
| tense 1t was q memorable scene, more
impressive perhaps than any OF the many
that have taken place within those SOM
bre panelled walls.
| Presently, prefaced Dy the speaker
| loud "Oder-r-r! Orderi" slim, grey
| haired figure rose from the Government
bench and. explained that tho news con-
| tanned in the "Novoe Vremya" was en-.
tirely false, and assured the House that
war had not been, and would not be, de-
clared against England.
The final sentence of this welcome an
nouncement was lost in q terrific out
burst OF applause. So excited were some
of the Younger mem bers that they tossed
their hats high in the air ike schoolboys,
and the yociferous cheering of the For
eipu Minister was continued, loud and
long, Notwithstanding the Speaker dig
nitied and formal efforts to suppress 1t.
| The scene was tie most enthusiastic and
tSUITTlD2 tu1U llebA 0fCl "ibAOSoONs Cne
even this was eclipsed by the terrific en-
tl,usiasm found prevailing among. the
multitude when, quarter OF an hour
later, I fought my way through the
.hrong to gaze outside
| The great concourse of citizens, wildly
excited, were almost mad with delight.
Publicly from the steps of st. Stephens
Hall, the official statement had been
shouted, and the multitude sent mp such
an outburst Of applause that it echoed far
and wide from the dark walls of Parlia-
ment and Abbey, church and hospital.
The more enthusiastic ones yelled them
selves hoarse with joyful shouts. while
others started to sing "God save the
Queen until. takon up by all, the
National Anthem echoed through the
streets again and again. Then, cheer
upon cheer was given for "Warnham"
and for GOOD old Maybury." the women
| joining in Eonoring England's greatest
statesman. 1t was popularity believed
that by thu efforts of these two men war
had been averted, and it was not therefore
surprising when they both left together
and entered carriage to drive to Down
| ing street that the crowd embarrassed the
horses and fifty stalwart patriots dragged
the carriage in triumph to its destination
while such an ovation was accorded them
on every side that even the excitement of
the declaration of the poll at their cleo.
ton was paltry in comparison.
l sat with them IN the carriage, and as
We were dragged onward through the
dense surging crowd the Marquis turned
to the Foreign Minister and exclaimed,
with smile
"Sureiy you can never regard yourself
as unpopular after this?''
"Ah!s' exclaimed the other sadly, with
a heavy sigh. sit is you they are cheer
ing, not myself. The people call you
good old Maybury, but they have never
called me good old Warnham,' and will
never do SO. / am still unpopular and
shall be always
ITO be continued)