The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-31


March % that Loder. in response to a
long standing invitation. lunched quiet
~ with the Fraides. Being delayed by
some communications from Wark, he
was a few minutes late i'm keeping his
appointment. and on being shown into
the drawing room found the little group
of three that was to make up the party
already assembled-Fraide, Lady Sa-
rah-and Eve. As he entered the room
they ceased to speak, and all three
turned in his direction.
In the first moment he had a vague
impression Of responding suitably &c
Lady Sarah's cordial greeting. but he
knew that Immediately and uncon-
sciously his eyes turned to Eve, while
quick sense Of surprise and sat1sfac-
tion passed through him at sight OF
her For an instant he wondered how
she would mark his avoidance of her
since their last eventful interview; then
instantly he blamed himself for the
passing doubt For, before all things,
he knew her to be woman of the
world.
He took Fraide's outstretched hand,
and again he looked toward Eve, wait
ing for her to speak.
She met his glance, but said nothing.
Instead of speaking she smiled at him
"a smile that was far more reassuring
than any words, a smile that in
single second conveyed forgiveness,
appreciation and a warm, almost ten
der sense Of sympathy and comprehen-
sion. The remembrance of that smile
stayed with him long after they were
seated at table and far into the future
the remembrance of the lunch itself,
with its pleasant private sense of sat
isfaction, was destined to return to
him In retrospective moments. The
delightful atmosphere of the Fraides'
home life had always been a wonder
and an enigma TO him, but on this day
he seemed to grasp its meaning by
new light as he watched Eve often
under its influence and felt himself
drawn imperceptibly from the position
of a speculative outsider to that OF an
intimate. 1t was a fresh side to the
complex, fascinating life of which
Fraide was the master spirit
These reflections had grown agree
ably familiar to his mind. The talk,
momentarily diverted into social chan
nels, was quietly drifting back to the
inevitable question of the situation"
that in private moments was never far
from their lips. when the event that
was to mark and separate that day
from those that had preceded it was
unceremoniously thrust upon them.
Without announcement or apology, |
the door was suddenly flung open and |
Lakeley entered the room.
His face was trimming with excite |
ment. and his eyes flashed. In the I
first haste of the entry he failed to see |
that there were ladies in the room and, |
crossing instantly to Fraide. laid an
open telegram before him. This is /
official, SIR he said. Then at last he |
glanced round the table.
Lady Sarah!' he exclaimed. "Can
you f. give me? But I'd have given
a hundred pounds to be the first with /
this. He glanced back at Fraide.
Lady Sarah rose and stretched out |
her hand. MIR. Lakeley," she said, Il
more than understand There was
thrill in her warm, cordial voice, and
her eyes also turned toward her hus-
band.
OF the whole party Fraide alone was
perfectly calm. He sat very still. his
as his eyes scanned the message that
meant so much.
Eve, who had sprung from her seat
and passed round the table at sound of
Lakeley's news. was leaning over his
shoulder reading the telegram with
him. At the last word she lifted her
head. her face flushed with excitement.
How splendid 1T must be to be a
man. she exclaimed. and without
generalization her eyes and Loder's
met.
In this manner came the news from
Persia and with it Loder's definite
call. In the momentary stress of ac-
ton it was impossible that any thought
OF Chilcote could obtrude itself Events
had followed each other too rapidly,
decisive action had been too much
thrust upon him. to allow of hesita-
ton. and it was in this spirit. under
this vigorous pressure. that he made
his attack upon the government on the
day that followed Fraide's luncheon
party.
That iuiefinable attentiveness. that
alert sensation of impending storm,
that is so strong an index of the par {
,n that memorable 1st OF April 1t
was obvious in the crowded benches
IN both sides of the house. in the one
ness of purpose that insensibly made
Itself felt through the ranks of the op-
position aud found definite expression
n Fraide's stiff figure and tightly shut
fps, in the unmistakable uneasiness
hat lay upon the ministerial benches.
But notwithstanding these indica-
ions of battle the early portion of the !
proceedings was unmarked. by excite
nent being t.nged with the purposeiess I
ack of vitality that had of late marked
Ill affairs of the Scarborough ministry,
Ind ii was not until the adjournment
# the house for the Easter recess had
1t last been moved that the spirit of
activity lowering in the air descended
md galvanized the assembly into life. ,
( was then. amid stir OF interest, I
hat Loder slowly rose.
Many curious incidents have marked
he saeechmaking annals of the house |