Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-07

ing TOR ner 10 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, smile that In
single second conveyed forgiveness.
appreciation and warm, almost ten
der sense of sympathy and conlprehenr
sion. The remembrance of that smile
stayed with him long after they We're
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 a wonder
and an enigma to him, but on this day
he seemed to grasp it's meaning by
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 1t 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
inevitable question of the situation"
that in private moments was never FAR
from their lips, when the event that
was to mark and separate that day
from those that had preceded it was
unceremoniously thrust upon them.
Without announcement or apology,
the door was suddenly flung open and
Lakeley entered the room.
His face was trimming with excite
ment. and his eyes flashed. In the
first haste of the entry he failed to see
that there were ladies in the room and,
crossing instantly to Fraide, laid an
open telegram before him. This is
official, SIR he said Then at last he
glanced round the table.
Lady Sarahr he exclaimed. Can
you forgive me? But I'd have given
hundred pounds to be the first with
this!' He glanced back at Fraide.
Lady Sarah rose and stretched out
her hand Mr.. Lakeley,' she said. \
more than understand There was
thrill in her warm, cordial voice. and
her eyes also turned toward her hus
band.
OF the whole party Fsaide alone was
perfectly calm. He sat very still, 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 a
man! she exclaimed. and without
generalization her eyes and Loder's
met.
In this manner came the news from
Persia and with it Loders definite
call. In the momentary stress of ac-
ton Il was impossible that any thought
of Chilcote could obtrude itself. Events
had followed each other too rapidly,
decisive action had been too much
thrust upon him, to allcw of hesita-
ton, and it was in this spirit under
this vigorous pressure that he made
his attack upon the government on the
day that followed Fraide's luncheon
party.
That indefnable attentiyeness. that
alert sensation of impending storm.
that is so strong an index of the par
liamentary atmosphere was very keen
on that memorable list 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 op-
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-
lions 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 it is doubtful whether
it has ever been the lot of member
to hear his own voice raised for the
first time on 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
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