The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-22

crowd before which he was constantly
CT guard. Acting on the sensation, he
moved suddenly toward the door.
II have an appointment at the
house, he said quickly. I'll look in
another day when-when I'm better
company. 1 know I'm bear today.
My nerves. you know" He came back
to the couch and took her hand. Then
he touched her cheek for an instant
with his fingers.
"Goodby," he said "Take care OF
yourself-and the Kitten he added
with forced gayety, as he crossed the
room.
That afternoon Chilcote's nervous
condition reached its height All day
he had avoided the climax, but no
evasion can be eternal, and this he
realized as he sat in his place on the
opposition benches during the half
hour of wintry twilight that precedes
the turning on of the lights. He real
lied it in that half hour, but the appli-
cation of the knowledge followed later,
when the time came for him to queS-
ton the government on some point re-
lating to the proposed additional dry
dock at Talkley, the naval base. Then
for the first time he knew that the suf
ferings of the past months could have
a visible as we'll as hidden side-could
disorganiZe his daily routine as they
had already demoraliZed his will and
character.
The thing came upon him with ex-
traordinary lack of preparation. He sat
through the twilight with tolerable
calm, his nervousness showing only in
the occasional lifting of his hand to
his collar and the frequent changing
of his position, but when the lights
were turned on and he leaned back in
his seat with closed eyes he became
conscious of a curious Impressions
disturbing idea that through his closed
lids he could see the faces on the OPP
posite side of the house, see the rows
of eyes, sleepy, interested or vigilant.
Never before had the sensation pre-
sented itself. but once set up it ran
through all his susceptibilities. BY an
absurd freak of fancy those varying
eyes seemed to pierce through his lids,
almost through his eyeballs. The cold
perspiration that was his daily horror
broke out on his forehead, and at the
same moment Fraide, his leader, turn
ed leaned over the back of his seat
and touched his knee.
Chilcote started and opened his eyes.
IL believe I was DOING" he said
confusedly.
Fraide smiled his dry, kindly smile.
"a fatal admission for member of
the opposition" he said. But 1 was
looking for you earlier in the day.
Chilcote. There is something behind
this Persian affair." l believe it to be
a mere first move on Russia's part.
You big trading people will find it
worth watching"
Chilcote shrugged his shoulders. ooh,
/ don't know" he said. II scarcely
the powder in the St Georges, but
twill only be a noise and puff of
smoke
But Fraide did not smile what is
the feeling down at Wark?" he asked.
HAS it awakened any INTEREST,"
AT Wark? Oh, II don't quite
know. l have been a little ont of
touch with Wark in the last few
weeks. A man has SO many private
affairs to look to- He was uneasy
under his chiefs scrutiny.
Fraide's lips parted as il to make re-
ply, but with a certain dignifed reti-
cence he closed them again and turned
away.
Chilcote leaned back in his place and
furtively passed his hand over his fore
head. His mind was possessed by one
consideration - the consideration of
himself. He glanced down the crowd
ed, lighted house to the big glass
doors; he glanced about him at his col
leagues, Indifferent or interested; then
surreptitiously his fingers strayed to
his waistcoat pocket.
Usually he carried his morphia tab
Ioids with him, but today by a lapse
of memory he had left them at home
He knew this, nevertheless he contin-
ued to search, while the need of the
drug rushed through him with a sense
of physical sickness. He lost hold on
the business of the house; uncopscious-
ly he half rose from his seat.
The man Lext him looked up. Hold
your ground. Chilcote," he said. cray
forth is drying up
With wave of relief Chilcote drop
ped back into his place. Whatever the
confusion in his mind it was evident
ly not obvious in his face.
Rayforth resumed his seat, there was
the usual slight stir and pause; then
Sa1ett, the member for Salchester, rose.
With Salett's first words Chilcote's
hand again sought his pocket, and
again his eyes strayed toward the
doors, but Fraide's erect head and stiff
back just in front of him held him
quiet. With an effort he pulled out
his notes and smoothed them nervous
~: but, though his gaze was fixed on
the pages, not line of Blessington's |
clear writing reached bis mind. He
glanced at the face of the speaker, |
then at the faces on the treasury |
bench, then once more he leaned back |
n his seat
The man beside him saw the move |
nent. 'Funking the dry dock?' he |
whispered jestingly.
''No"-Chilcote turned to him sud t
1enly-'but 1 feel beastly-have felt /
oeastly for weeks"
The other looked at him more close