Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-25
XIV.


Having taken definite step in any direc-
ton. It was not In Loder's nature to wish
It retraced- His face was set. but set with
discrimination. when he closed the outer
door OF his own rooms and passed quietly
down the stairs and out into the silent
court The thought OK Chiicote. his pitiable
condition. his sorhid environments. were
things that required firm win to drive
into the background of the imagination;
but whole inferno of such visions would
not have daunted Loder on that morning
as, unobserved by any eyes, he left the lit
TIE court yard with Its grass, Its trees its
pavement-au so distastefully famiiiar-and
passed down the Strand toward life and
action.
As he walked. his steps Increased In 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 tension; the suppressed. but per-
petual. sense Of impending recall: the con-
sequently high pressure at which work.
and even existence. had been carried on.
And as he hurried forward the natural re-
action to this state of things came upon
him In flood of security and confidence
strong realization of the temporary res
pite and freedom for which no price would
have seemed too high. The moment for
which he had unconsciously lived ever since
Chilcotes first memorable proposition was
within reach at last-safeguarded by his
own action
The walk from Clifford's Inn to Grosve-
nor Square was long enough to dispel any
excitement that his interview had reused:
and long before the well-known house came
into view he felt sufficiently braced men,
tally and physically 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 threatened
ruin; and with the singleness of purpose
that always distinguished him. he was able
once having passed it. to dismiss II al
together from his mind From the moment
OF his return to Chilcotes house no mis-
giving as to his own action, no shadow OF
doubt. rose to trouble his mind. His feel
ings on the matter were quite simple He
had Unfortunately desired a certain oppor-
tunfty; 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
MIN Tor his task. he was provided with one
in the masterful sense of difficulty set at
nought For the man who has fought and
conquered one obstacle feels strong to van
Quish q score
parliament. that Fraide's great blow was
to be struck. In the ten days since the az
fair OF the caravans had been reported from
Persia public feeling had run high. and 1t
was upon the pivot of this incident that
Loder's attack was to turn: for as Lakely
was fond Of remarking. Tn the scales
OF public opinion, one dead Englishman
has more weight than the whole eastern
question:! 1t had been arranged that fol-
lowing the customary procedure, Loder was
to rise after questions at the morning sit
ting and ask leave to move the adjourn
ment OF the house on a definite matter of
urgent public Importance; 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 mind
40 Nd - !, t- IL
tired to the study Immediately after he had
breakfasted and settled to a final revision
of his speech before an early party confer
ence should compel him to leave the house
But here again circumstances were des-
tined to change his program. Scarcely had
he sorted his notes and drawn his chair
to Chilcote's desk than Renwick entered
the room with the same air Of important
haste that he had shown on a previous
occasion
"A letter from Mr.. F'raide, sir. But there
Is no answer" he said with unusual
brevity.
Loder waited till he had left the room.
then he tore the letter open. He read:
: "My Dear Ghilcote: Lakely is the re-
cipient of special and very vital news from
Meshed-unoficial. but none the less alarm
ing Acts of Russian aggression toward
British traders are reported to be rapidly
increasing, and 1t is stated that the au-
thority of the consulate is treated with
contempt Pending possible confirmation
OF lnlS, l. WOulU suggest tndt you keep an
open mind on the subject of tonght's
speech. BY adopting an anticipatory-even
an unprepared-atttude you may find your
hand materially strengthened. I shall put
my opinions before you more explicitly
when we meet. Yours faithfully
HERBERT FRAIDE."
The letter worded with Fralde's usual
restraint, made a strong impression on it's
recipient. The thought that his speech
might not only express opinions already
tacltly held, but voice a situation of in
tense and national Importance 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 be-
tween his hands, stirred by the suggestion
that here might lie a greater opportunity
than any he had anticipated.
Still moved BY this new suggestion. he at
tended the party eonclave that Fraide had
convened, and afterward lunched with and
accompanied his leader to the house. They
spoke very little as they drove to West
minister for each was engrossed by his own
thoughts. Only once did Fraide allude TO
the incident that was paramount in both
their minds Then, turning to Loder with a
smile of encouragement he had laid his
fingers for an instant on his arm.
siChilcote" he said, when the time