Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-28

under its influence ana felt himself
drawn imperceptibly from the positio|
OF speculative outsider to that of al
intimate. 1t was fresh side to TIL
complex, fascinating life of whicI
Fralde was the master spirit.
These reflections had grown agred|
ably familiar TO his mind. The tall
momentarlly diverted into social cha !
nels, was quietly drifting back to Il !
inevitable question Of the "stuation
that In private moments was never fl
from their lips. when the event tbs
was to mark and separate that da
from those that had preceded 1t W;
unccremoniously thrust upon them
Without announcement or apolog
the door was suddenly flung open an
Lakeley entered the room.
His face was trimming with excit
ment. aud his eyes flashed. In III
first haste Of the entry he failed to 50
that there were ladies in the room an
crossing instantly to FTaide laid a
open telegram before him. This
official sir" he said. Then at last
glanced round the table.
Lady Sarah" he exclaimed. "Ca
you forgive me- But Id have give
hundred pounds to be the first wi
this" lie glanced back at Fraide.
( Lady Sarah rose and stretched OF
her hand. "Mr. Lakeley," she said,
more than understand" There was
thrill in her warm cordial voice. ar
NOV Nil - ri I'M l,,,O
band.
/ OF the whole party Fraide alone w
pCrfcctly calm. lie sat very STILL b
small thin figure erect and dignifie
as his eyes scanned the message tn I
meant so much.
Eve, who had sprung from her Sc
and passed round the table at sound
Lakelcy's news. was leaning over /
shoulder reading the telegram wi
him. At the last word she lifted h
head, her face flushed with excitelnel
How splendid It must be to be
man. she exclaimed, and witho|
generalization her eyes and Lode
met.
In this manner came the news frd
Persia and with it Loder's defin
call. In the momentary stress of
ton it was impossible that any thong
of Chilcote could obtrude itself. Ever
had followed each other too rapid
decisive action had been too mu
thrust upon him, to allow Of hest
ton, and it was In this spirit. und
this vigorous pressure. that he ma
his attack upon the government on d
day that followed Fraide's lunche
party.
That indefnable effectiveness. I'll
alert sensation Of impending sto1
that is so strong an index of the p
liamentary atmosphere was very KID
on that memorable LIST OF April.
was obvious in the crowded bencl
on both sides of the house, in the o
ness of purpose that insensibly ma
itself felt through the ranks Of the
position and found definite express
in Fraide's stiff figure and tightly s
lips, in the unmistakable uneasin
that lay upon the ministerial benche
But notwithstanding these ind
tons of battle the early portion Of
proceedings was unmarked by exc
ment, being tinged with the purpose
lack of vitality that had OF late mari
all affairs of the Scarborough minis
and 1t was not until the adjournm
Of the house for the Easter recess
at last been moved that the spirit
activity lowering in the air descent
and galvanized the assembly into
1t was then. amid Il stir Of inter-
that Loder slowly rose.
Many curious incidents have mar
the speeChmaking annals of the no
Of commons, but it is doubtful whet
it has ever been the lot Of a mem
to hear his own voice raised for
first time on a subject of vital inter
to his party, having been denied
Initial assistance Of minor Quest
asked or unimportant amendme
made. OF all those gathered toget
in the great building on that day,
one man appreciated the difficulty
Loder's position, and that man
Loder himself.
He rose slowly and stood silent
n couple of seconds, his body bra(
his fingers touching the sheaf of nd
that lay In front of him. To the w
ing house the silence was effective
might mean overassurarce or II mi
mean a failure of nerve at crit
moment, Either possibility had a ii
OF piQuancy. Moved by the same
pulse, fifty pairs Of eyes turned u
him with new interest, but up in