The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-03-28

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on Its recipient The thought that hia
speech might not only express opinions
already tacitly held, but voice q situa-.
ton Of intense and national impor-
lance, struck him with full force. For
many minutes after he had grasped
the meaning Of Fraide's message he
sat neglectful Of his notes, his elbows
resting on the desk, his face between
his hands, stirred by the suggestion
that here might lie greater opportu-
nifty than any he had anticipated.
Still moved by this new suggestion.
he attended the party conclave that
Fraide had convened and afterward
lunched with and accompanied his
leader to the house. They spoke very
little as they drove to Westminster.
for each was engrossed by his own
thoughts. Only once did Fraide allude
to the incident that was paramount in.
both their minds. Then, turning to
Loder with smile of encouragement
he laid his fingers for an instant on
his arm.
"Chilcote," he had said, "when the
time comes, remember you have all
my confidence"
Looking back upon that day, Loder
often wondered at the calmness with
which he bore the uncertainty. To sit
apparently unmoved and wait without
emotion for news that might change
the whole tenor Of ones action would
have tried the stoicism Of the most
experienced; to the novice it was we'll
nigh uncomfortable. And it was under
these conditions and fighting against
these odds that he sat through the long
afternoon in Chilcote's place, obeying
the dictates Of his chief. But if the
day was fraught with difficulties for
him it was fraught with dullness and
disappointment for others, for the un-
dercurrent Of interest that had stirred
at the Easter adjournment and risen
with added force on this first day of
the new session was gradually but
surely threatened with extinction as
hour after hour passed bringing no
suggestion Of the battle that had on
every side been tacitly expected.
Slowly and Enthusiastically speculation
and dissatisfaction crept into the at
mosphere Of the house as moment sue,
ceeded moment and the opposition
made no sign. Was Fraide Sinking
the attack or was he playing waiting
game? Again and again the question
arose, filling the air with a passing
flicker of interest, but each time it
sprang up only to die down again as
the ordinary business Of the day drag
ged itself out. -
Gradually, as the afternoon wore on,
daylight began to fade. Loder, sitting
rigidly in Chilcote's place, watched
with suppressed inquiry the faces Of
the men who entered through the con-
stantly, swinging doors, but not one
face, so eagerly scanned, carried the
message for which he waited. Monot-
onously and mechanically the time
passed. The government, adopting a
neutral attitude, carefully skirted all
dangerous subjects, while the opposi-
ton, acting under Fraide's suggestion,
assisted rather than hindered the pro-
gramme Of postponement. For the mo-
ment the eagerly anticipated reassem-
bling threatened dismal failure. and it
was with universal movement of
WEAKNESS and relief that at last the
house rose to dine .-
But there are no possibilities so elias
tic as those of politics. At half past Z
the house rose in spirit of boredom
and disappointment, and at 8 o'clock
the lobbies, the dining room, the entire
space of the vast building, was stirred
into activity by the arrival of single
telegraphic message.
The new development for which
Fraide had waited came indeed, but it
came with force he had little antici-
pated. With thrill of awe and con-
sternation men heard and repeated the
astounding news that, while personal
~ exercising his authority on behalf of
British traders, Sir William Brice-
Field, consul general at Meshed, had
been fired at by Russian officer and
instantly killed. .r
The interval Immediately following
the receipt of this news was too con-
fused for detailed remembrance. Two
ideas made themselves slowly felt-a
deep horror that such an event could
obtrude itself upon our high civilian
ton and a strong personal dismay that
so honored, distinguished and esteem
ed a representative as Sir William
Brice-Field could have been allowed to
meet death in so terrible manner
It was in the consciousness of this
feeling, the consciousness that in his
own person he might voice not only
the feelings Of his party, but those of
the whole country, that Loder rose an
hour later to make his long delayed
attack. x
He stood silent for moment, as he
had done on an earlier occasion, but
this time his motive was different.
Reused beyond any feeling Of self con-
SciOusneSs he waited as nv right for