Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-12

TERBURY EVENING
 As he walked hls steps increased il speed and vigor. Now, for the first time, he fully appreciated the great mental strain that he had undergone in the past ten days-the unnatural ten sion; the suppressed but perpetual sense of impending recall; the conse- quently high pressure at which work and even existence had been carried on. And as he hurried forward the natural reaction to this state of things came upon him in flood of security and con fdence-a strong realization of the tenn porary respite and freedom fer which no price would have seemed foo high. The moment for which he had uncon- sciously lived ever since Chilcote's first memorable proposition was within reach at last, safeguarded by his own action.
 The walk from Cnfford's inn to Grosvenor square was long enough to dlspel any excitement that his inter view had aroused, and long before the well known house came into view he felt sufficiently braced mentally and to seek Eve in the morning room, where he instinctively felt she would still be waiting for him.
 Thus he encountered and overpassed the obstacle that had so nearly threat ened ruin, and. with the singleness of purpose that always distinguished him, he was able. once having passed 1t, to dismiss it altogether from his mind. From the moment of his return to Chil. cote's house no misgiving as to his own action, no shadow of doubt, rose to trouble his mind. His feelings on the matter were quite simple. He. had in ordinately desired certain opportuni- ty.. One factor had arisen to debar that opportunity, and he, claiming the right of strength, had set the barrier aside. In the simplicity of the reasoning lay Its power to convince, and were tonic needed to brace him for his task he was provided with one in the master full sense of difficulty set at naught. For the man who has fought and con Quered one obstacle feels strong to vanquish score.
 It was on this day, at the reassem- bling of parliament. that Fraide's great blow was to be struck. In the ten days since the affair of the caravans had been reported from Persia public feeling had run high, and it was upon the pivot of this incident that Loder's attack was to turn, for. as Lakeley was fond of remarking. '.In the scales of public opinion one dead Englishman has more weight than the whole east ern question" It had been arranged that, following the customary proce- dure. Loder was to rise after questions at the morning sitting and ask leave to move the adjournment of the house on a definite matter of urgent public i'm portance, upon which-leave having been granted by the rising of forty members in his support-the way was to lie open for his definite attack at the evening sitting. And 1t was with a mind attuned to this plan of action that he retired to the study imme- diately he had breakfasted and settled to final revision of his speech before an early party conference should com pei him to leave the house. But here again circumstances were destined to change his programme. Scarcely had he sorted his notes and drawn his chair to Chilcote's desk than Renwick enter ed the room with the same air of i'm portant haste that he had shown on a previous occasion.
 "A letter from Mfr. Fraide, sir. But there's no answer" he said, with un- usual brevity.
 Loder waited till he had left the room; then he tore the letter open. He read:
 My Dear Chilcote - Lakeley Is the re- cipient of special and very vital news from Meshed-unofYicial. but none the less alarming Acts of Russian aggres- sion toward British traders are reported to be rapidly increasing. and 1t is stated that the authority of the consulate Is treated with contempt. Pending possi- ble confirmation of this. I would suggest that you keep an open mind on the sub ject of tonight's speech. By adopting an - even an unprepared - atti- tude you may find your hand materially strengthened. shall put my opinions be- fore you more explicitly when we meet. Yo,,rs faithfully
 HERBERT rRAIDE.
 The letter. worded with Fraide's usu- al restraint. made strong impression pn its recipient. The thought that his speech might not only express opinions already tacItly held. but voice situa- tion of intense and national impor- tance, struck him with full force. For many minutes after he had grasped the meaning of Fraide's message he sat neglectful of his notes. his elbows resting on the desk. his face between his hands, stirred by the suggestion that here might lie a greater opportu- nity than any he had anticipated.
 Still moved by this new suggestion, be attended the party conclaye that Fraide had convened ana afterward lunched with and accompanied his leader to the house. They spoke very little as they drove to Westminster. for each was engrossed by bis own thoughts. Only once did Fraide allude to the incident that was paramount in both their minds. Then. tuping to Loder with a smile of encouragement. he laid his fingers for an instant or his arm.