The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-04


small, thin figure erect and dignifed. |
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 |
Iakelev'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 1t 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 1t Loder's definite
call. In the momentary stress of ac-
ton it 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 allew of hesita-
ton, and it was in this spirit, under
this vigorous pressure. that be made
his attack upon the government on the
day that followed Fraide's luncheon
party.
That indefnable effectiveness, that
alert sensation of impending storm,
that IS so strong an index Of the par
liamentary 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 unmstakable 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 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 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
1 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 It
might mean overassurance or it might
mean a failure of nerve at critical
moment Either possibility had tinge
OF piquancy Moved by the same I'M
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 stiffiy 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
a 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.
1t was a moment of great strain Eve,
listening intently, drew a long breath
of suspense and let her fingers drop
apart The skeptical, watchful eyes
that faced him, line upon line, seemed
to fash 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 be
Strengthened himself and once more be-
quietly true and commanding across
the floor of the house
No first step can be really great. II
must Of necessity possess more OF
prophecy than Of achievement. Never
theless it is by the first step that mar
marks the value not only of his cause
but of himself. Following broadly or
the lines that tradition has laid dowr
for the Conservative orator, Loder dis
guised ratAer than displayed the weir
of strong, persuasive eloquence tha'
was his natural gift. The occasion tina
might possibly Justify such a 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 witt