The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-22
Chapter XIV.
THE MAN OF THE HOUR.

% things of Ella could 1 CLEAN. Time
could never eTace the bitter memories OF
the past. The police had, at Lord Warn
HAMS instigation, exerted every EFFORT to
trace her, but without avail. she had
oisa ppeared with rapidity that was as
founding, for apparently expecting that
some attempt might be- made to follow
her, she had ingeniously taken every pre-
caution to battle her pursuers in the same
manner as her mother had done. The
cause of her sudden flight was an enigma
only eQualled by my discovery or her por-
trait in the Earl's possession. Although
had several times in conversation led
up to the subject of photographs, and
shown him Elias picture, that had been
taken by firm in Regent Street, the
astute old statesman made no sign that
he already had her counterfeit present.
ment hidden among his most treasured
possessions. When / recollected, as I
often did, how on gazing upon It while
believing me engrossed in the writing
of dispatch. the sight of it had affected
him, the new phase of the mystery per-
picked me sorely. That they had been
previously acquainted seemed more than
probable, and his lordship's earnest desire
to secure knowledge Of her whereabouts
lent additional color to this opinion.
Daily the aged statesman grew more
gloomy and misanthropic. He lived
alone, in an atmosphere Of severe official
dom. His only exception was formal
visit on rare occasions to a reception at
one or other of the principal embassies,
or attendance on her Majesty at Osborne
or Balmoral; his brief, far seeing sugges-
tions at the Cabinet Councils were always
adopted unanimously, and his peremptory
notes to the Powers incontrovertiblo
marvels of diplomacy. He hated society,
and never went anywhere without some
strong motive by which he could further
his country's interests. His eccentricities
were proverbial, his caustic observations
on men and things the delight of leader
writers on Government journals, and as a
director of England's foreign policy he
was feared, yet admired, in every capital
in Europe. He, however, cared not jot
for notoriety, but with an utter disregard
for all else served his country with
slavish devotion that even the most scath-
ing Opposition gutter. journal could not
fail to recognize.
1t was common talk that some strange,
romantic incident had overshadowed his
life, but with that innate secrecy that was
part of his creed he never cOnfided in any
body. Notwithstanding his frigld Gym
icism, however, he was nevertheless SYM
pathetic, and at any mention OF Elias
name he would riYet his searching eyes
upon me, while across his white brow,
furrowed by the heavy responsibilities of
State through SO many years, would
spread an expression of regret. anxiety,
or pain. But he spoke seldom upon that
subject. That he regarded my marriage
as deplorable fiasco, was we'll aware.
but felt that in his cold heart, hardened
as it was by the artful subterfuges Of suo-
cessful diplomacy, there yet remained
spark OF pity, for he still regarded me as
his prOtege.
On the day after Ella had fed l called
at Andrew Beck S office at Winchester
House, Old Broad-street, but found he
had sailed few days before by the Union
Liner Scot for Cape Town. OF late he had
bean connected With several South Afri-
can gold ventures of enormous extent.
ana il the interest of some of the COM
panies most prominently before tho public
had undertaken rna journey. His great
weAlrr. is cont inafion with that of bis
assJei stes, Fad iDst iied public confidence,
ana lssie Md Commenced that feverish
tendency il tise "iTY that quickly deyel-
upeG. n:lG WIS .a5er l.oown as the "gold
i3Com 1h& movement of the popular
Ill, Epber toi Vest RatlanC shire were
ca5ied AMI cilroDicled in the newspapers
d di iaea.lF as ii he ware prince of a
rel Ling houss, and il was with extreme
TAI factl N tfla5 me morning in June l
EaS IS announced that the mail had ar
riyei 1T southampton from the Cape
bra'ilg him on hoard, the s3Jne paper
pEin Ing an account OF an interview re-
g'rfiiHg cold prnsnsais in South Africa
when h h. g-Val It's representative before
l.e left the STEAMER. l was down at Warn
ham at the time, Tut three days later re-
turned to London, and that same night
sought Beck at the House of Commons.
l found him in the Members Lobby,
bustIing aboutin his ill-fitting evening
clothes and crumpled shirt-front, looking
sun-tanned and well; tribe more arro-
gant, perhaps, but nevertheless easy going
ma heartily, and the night being warm
We lit cigars and walked out upon the
terrace beside the Thames. Big Ben was
Ginning tho midnight hour. 1t was
bright and Etarlit above, but before US
the river ran darkly beneath the arches
OF Westminster Bridge, its ripples glis-
tened under the gas lamps, across on the
opposite banks in the row of buildings
comprising st. Tbomas's Hospital lights
glimmered family in the windows of the
wards, while here and there on the face
of the black, silent highway, lights,
white, red and green, shone out in silent
warning.
AS we set foot upon the long deserted
terrace, strolling slowly forward in the
balmy refreshing night air, my thoughts
wandered back to the last occasion when
we had spent an evening together beside
the Thames, that memorable night at
the Nook, when we had afterwards dis
covered Dudley Ogle lying dead.
During the first half-hour we discussed
the progress of several questions of for
eign policy which had been pursued dur
ing his absence, and he, an enthusiast in
politics, confided in me his intention to
head select circle of his party to de-
mapd a commission of inquiry into the
working of our mobilization scheme for
home defense.
Zone would think that you desired to
obtain further notoriety," laughed.
. 'Surely you are popular enough, you are
the man of the hour
We'll, suppose I am,'' he answered,
trifie proudly, halting suddenly, lean
ing with his back to the stone parapet
and putting vigorously at his cigar. "But
it isn't for the sake of notoriety that Pm
pressing forward this inquiry. 1t is for
the benefit of the country generally. The
scheme for the mobilization of our forces
in case of invasion is utterly rotten, and
had we been compelled to fight a little
time ago when France and Russia were
upcn the point of declaring war we should
have been in wretched plight. The
scheme is all very well on paper, but l
and my friends are determined to ascer-
tain whether it will act. 1t has never
been tested. and no doubt is utterly I'M