Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-28

@ From the morning Of March p.
when Lakeley had expounded the politi-
cal programme in the offices Of the ST.
Georges Gazette. to the afternoon Of
April he found himself a central fig
IRE 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
Its own Importance, had established the
precision of his forecast
infinitely watchful of Russia's atti-
tude, Fraide quietly organized his
forces and strengthened his position
with q statesmaulike grasp of opportu-
| nifty, and to LoGer 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 no had given unreservcdly
all that he possessed Of activity, capaC-
ity and determination 10 the cause that
had claimed him.
! Slngularly privileged in 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
Il country thousands OF miles away.
| For should Russia suhlue the insur
| gent Hazaras and, laden with the hon
ors of the peaccmaker, retire across
| the frontier, then the political arena
would remain uuListurbed, 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 30 that Loder, in response to i
long standing invitation, lunched quiet
! ly with the Fraidcs. Being delayed by
some communication from Wark, he
wss few minutes late in keeping his
appointment, and on being shown into
the drawing room found the little group
of three that was 10 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 vague
impression of responding suitably to
Lady Sarah's cordial greeting, but he
knew that Immediately and uncon-
sciously his eyes turned to Eve, while
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 woman of the
world.
He took Fradc'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 ut hlm
ii smile that was far more reasSuring
than any words, a smile that in Il
single second conveyed forgiveness,
appreciation and 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 wonder
aud an enigma TO him. but on tins day
he seemed TO grasp It's meaning ~ a
new light rs he watched I've oltel