The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-29
THE
MaSquerader
BY KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author OF The Circle" Etc
eopyrIsAt Ises. Isss. ~ H.rp.r 4 sr..A.r.
'CcOntinusd.J

more than understand There was a
r thrill in her warm. cordial voice. and
D her eyes also turned toward her hus-
band
! or the whole party Fraide alone was
perfectly calm. He sat very stin, his
small, thin figure erect and dignified.
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 it must be TO be q
manr' 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-
tion 1t was impossible mat any thought
of ChIlcote could obtrude itself. Events
had followed each other too rapidly.
decisive action had been toe much
thrust upon him, to allow OF hesita-i
ton, and II was in this spirit. under
this vigorous pressure, that he made
hIE attack upon the government on the
day that followed Fraide's luncheon
party
That indefinable attentiveness. that;
alert sensation Of impending Storm
that is so strong an index Of the par
| Elementary atmosphere was very keen
on that memorable list Of April 10
was obvious in the crowded beaches
| on Doth sides of the house, in the one
ness Of purpose that insensiBly made
itself felt through the ranks Of the OPP
position and found deiinite expression
In Fraide's stiff figure and tightly shut
lips, in the unmistakable uneasiness
that lay upon the ministerial benches.
But Notwithstanding these indica-
tons of battle the early portion of the
proceedings was unmarked by excite
ment, being tinged with the purposeless
lack of vitality that had of late marked
all affairs of the Scarborough ministry,
and 1t was not until the adjournment
of the house for the Easter recess had
at last been moved that the spirit Of
activity lowering in the air descended
and galvanized the assembly into life.
1t was then, amid stir of interest,
that Loder slowly rose.
Many curious incidents have marked
the speechmaking annals Of the house
OF commons, but it is doubtful whether
1t has ever been the lot of member
to hear his own voice raised for the
first time on a subject OF vital interest
to his party, having been denied all
initial assistance of minor questions
asked or unimportant amendments
made. OF all those gathered together
in the great building on that day, only
one man appreciated the difficulty of
Loder's position, and that man was
Loder himself.
He rose slowly and stood silent for
4 couple of seconds his body braccd,
his fingers touching the sheaf of notes
that lay in front of him. To the wait
ng house the silence was effective. 1t
might mean overassurance or 1t might
mean failure of nerve ut critical
moment. Either possibility had tinge
If piquancy. Moved by the same Inn
)use, fifty pairs IF eyes turned upon
him with new interest, but up in the
aides gallery Eve clasped her hands
n sudden apprehension, and Fraide,
lifting stifiiy in his seat, turned and
hot one swift glance at the man on
whom, against prudence and precedent.
lie had pinned his faith The glance
vas swift, but very searching, and with
characteristic movement of his wlry
houlders he resumed his position and
is usual grave. attentive attitude. At
he same moment Loder lifted his head
nd began to speak.
Here at the outset his inexperience
let him. His voice, pitched too low,
My reached those directly near him.
was a moment of great strain. Eve,
stening lntently, drew a long breath
{ suspense and let her fingers drop
part. The skepticai watefful eyes
lat faced him, line upon line, seemed
, flash and brighten with critical In
,rest. Only Fraide made no change Of
xpresslon. He sat placid. serious, at
,ntlve, with the shadow Of smile be-
ind his eyes.
Again Loder paused, but this time the
ause was shorter. The ordeal he had
readed and waited for was passed,
nd he saw his way clearly. With the
d movement of the shoulders. he
himself and once more be-
IN to speak. This time his voice rang
aietiy true and commanding across
e floor OF the house. a n
No FIRST step can be really great. IL
ust Of necessity possess more OF
'ophecy than OF achievement. Never
eless 1t Is by the irst step that man
arks the value not only Of his cause.
It OF himself Following broadly on
. lines that tradition has laid down
r the Conservative orator. Loder dis
lised rather than displayed the vein
strong, persuasive eloquence that
as his natural gift The occasion that
Ight possibly Justify such a display
individuality might lie with the fu-
re- but II had no application to the