The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-04

when Lakeley mad expounded the politi-
cal programme IN the Offices of the st.
Georges Gazette, to the afternoon Of
April 1 he found himself a central ng-
ure in the whirlpool of activity that
formed itself in Conservative circles.
With the acumen for which he was
noted, Lakeley had touched the keystone
of the situation on that morning, and
succeeding events each fraught with
It's own Importance, had established the
precision of his forecast
Minutely watchful of Russia's atti-
tude, Fraide quietly organized his
forces and strengthened his position
with a statesmanlike grasp Of opportu-
nifty, and to Loder the attributes dis
played by his leader during those try
ing days formed an endless and alb
sorbing study. Setting the thought Of
Chilcote aside, ignoring his own posi-
ton and the risks he daily ran, he had
fully yielded to the glamour of the mo-
ment and In the first freedom Of
loose rein he had given unreservedly
all that he possessed Of activity, capac-
ity and determination to the cause that
had claimed him.
Singularly privileged in a constant
personal contact with Fraide, he learn
ed many valuable lessons of tact and
organization in those five vital days
during which the tactics of a whole
party hung upon one item of news from
a country thousands of miles away.
For should Russia Subdue the insur-
gent Hazaras and, laden with the hon
ors of the peacemaker, retire across
the frontier, then the political arena
would remain undisturbed; but should
the all important movement predicted
| by Lakeley become an accepted fact be-
fore parliament rose for the Easter re-
cess, then the first blow in the fight
that would rage during the succeeding
! session must inevitably be struck. In
! the meantime it was Fraide's difficult
position to wait and watch and yet pre-
serve his dignity
! 1t was early in the afternoon of
March % that Loder, in response to
! long standing invitation, lunched quiet
! 1y with the Fraides. Being delayed by
some communications from Wark, he
was a few minutes late in 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 assem- bled-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 to
Lady Sarahs cordial greeting, but he
| knew that Immediately and uncon-
sciously his eyes turned to Eve, While
a quick sense of surprise and satisfac-
ton 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 a 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 q
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
deAghtful 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 a
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. It 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
tncNlldO1S QQCSAtOi1 Vi Tie StludllOA
that in private moments was never fal
from their lips, when the event thai
was to mark and separate that day
from those that had preceded it wa:
unceremoniously thrust upon them.
Without announcement or apology
the door was suddenly flung open ant
Lakeley entered the room.
His face was trimming with excite
ment. and his eyes flashed. In thu
first haste OF the entry he failed to SCI
that there were ladies in the room and
crossing instantly to Fralde, laid ~
open telegram before him. This l.
official. sir he said. Then at last b,
glanced round the table
Lady SARAH he exclaimed. Car
you forgive me? But I'd have givel
q hundred pounds to be the first witt
this" He glanced back at Fraide.