Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-30
49, THE
Nla|squera,d(er
BY KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author oil THE Circle" Etc.
copyrisht. 1909.
BY KATHERINE CECIL
Author of 1.-THE Circle" Etc

man" she exclaimed, and without
generalization her eyes and Loder's
| met.
In this manner came the news from
Persia and with 1t Loder's definite
call. In the momentary stress Of ac-
ton 1t was impossible that any thought
Of Chilcote could obtrlde itself Events
had followed each other too rapidly,
decisive action had been too much
thrust upon him. to allow of hesita-
tioA, and II was In this spirit, under
this vigorous pressure. that be made
his attack upon the government on the
day that followed Fraides luncheon
party.
That indefinable attentiveness. that
alert sensation of impending storm,
that Is so strong an index of the par-'
'iamentary atmosphere was very keen
on that memorable 1st Of April. 1t
was obvious in the crowded benches
on both sides of the house, In the one
ness Of purpose that insensibly made
itself felt through the ranks Of the OPP
position and found definite 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 it 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 a stir of interest,
that Loder slowly rose.
Many curious incidents have marked
the speechmaking annals Of the house
of commons. but 1t is doubtful whether
1t has ever been the lot Of a 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
a couple Of seconds, his body braced,
his fingers touching the sheaf Of notes
that lay in front OF him. To the wait
Ing house the silence was effective. 1t
might mean oyerassurance or 1t might
mean failure Of nerve Mt critical
moment Either possibility had stinge
OF piquancy. Moved by the sane In
pulse, fifty pairs Of eyes turned upon
him with new interest, but up In the
ladies' gallery Eve clasped her hands
in sudden apprehension. and Fraide,
sitting stiffly in his seat, turned and
shot one swift glance at the man on
whom, against prudence and precedent,
he had pinned his faith. The glance
was swift. but very searching, and with
q characteristic movement Of his wiry
shoulders he resumed his position and
his usual grave, attentive attitude. At
the same moment Loder lifted his head
and began to speak.
Here at the outset his inexperience
met him. His voice, pitched too low,
only reached those directly near him.
1: was a moment Of great strain. Eve,
listening intently, drew long breath
Of suspense and let her fingers drop
apart. The skeptical, watchful eyes
that faced him, line upon line, seemed
to flash and brighten with critical in
terest. Only Fraide made no change Of
expression. He sat placid, serious, at
tentive, with the shadow of smile be-
hind his eyes.
Again Loder paused, but this time the
pause was shorter. The ordeal he had
dreaded and waited for was passed,
and he saw his way clearly. With the
old movement of the shoulders he
Strengthened himself and once more be-
gan to speak. This time his voice rang
quietly true and commanding across
the floor of the house.
No first step can be really great. 1t
must of necessity possess more of
prophecy than Of achievement. Never
theless it is by the first step that man
marks the value not only of his cause,
but Of himself. Following broadly on
the lines that tradition has laid down
for the Conservative orator, Loder dis
guised rather than displayed the vein
Of strong, persuasive eloquence that
was his natural gift. The occasion that
might possibly justify such display
of individuality might lie with the fu-
ture, but it had no application to the
present. For the moment his duty
was to voice his party sentiments with
as much lucidity, as much logic and as
much calm conviction as lay within
his capacity.
Standing quietly in Chilcote's place,
he was conscious with deep sense of
gravity Of the popularity of his posi-
ton. and perhaps it was this uncon-
scious and unstudied seriousness that
lent him the tone of weight and judg-
ment so essential to the cause he had
In hand. 1t has always been difficult
to arouse the interest Of the house on
matters Of British policy In Persia.
Once aroused it may. it is true, reach
fever heat with remarkable rapidity,
but the Introductory stages offer that
worst danger to the earnest speaker
the dread of an apathetic audience.
But from this consideration Loder. by
his sharp consciousness of personal
difficulties, was given immunity.
k:s l,,