The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-01-11

ne mad avoided the climax. but mo
evasion can be eternal, and this he
realized rs he sat In his place on the
opposlt1on benches during the half
nour OF wintry twilight that precedes
.ne turning on Of the lights. He real.
lzed lt In that half hour, but the applI.
cation OF the knowledge followed later.
when the time came for him to uues.
tion the government on some point re-
lating to the proposed additional drv
COCK at Talkley. the naval base. Then
Tor the first time he knew that the suf
rerlngs OF the past months could have
visible as we'll as a hidden side-could
disorganize his daily routine as thev
had already demoralized his will and
character.
Ihe thing came upon him w'.h ex-
traordinary lack Of preparation. He sat
through the twilight with tolerable
calm, his nervousness showing only In
the occasional lifting Of his hand to
his collar and the frequent changing
OF his position, but when the lights
We're turned on and he leaned back In
his seat with closed eyes he became
conscious Of a curious impression-a
disturbing Idea that through his closed
Ids he could see the faces on the op-
posite side Of the house, see the rows
OF eyes, sleepy. interested or vigilant
Never before had the sensation pre-
sented itself, but once set up It ran
through all his susceptlbilities. By an
absurd freak Of fancy those varying
eyes seemed to pierce through his lids
almost through his eyeballs. The cold
perspiration that was his daily horror
broke out on his forehead, and at the
same moment Fraide, his leader, turn
co. leaned over the back Of his seat
and touched his knee
Chilcote started and opened his ewes.
II believe I was dozing," he said
confusedly.
Fraide smiled his dry, kindly smile.
"A fatal admission for a member of
the opposition" he said. "But I was
looking for you earlier In the day.
Chilcote. There Is something behind
this Persian affoiI. I boa,~,o 49,
mere nrst move on Russia's part.
You big trading people will find it
worth watching"
Chilcote shrugged his shoulders "Oh,
don't know" he said. II scarcely
believe in it. Lakely put n match to
the powder in the St Georges. but
twill only be noise and u pun Of
smoke"
But Fraide did not smile. what is
the feeling down ut Warkr he asked.
HAS 1t awakened any interest2"
"At Wark? Oh, II don't quite
know. I have been little out Of
touch with Wark In the last few
weeks. A man has so many private
affairs to look to- He was uneasy
under his chiefs scrutiny.
Fraide's lips parted rs If to make re-
ply, but with a certain dignif1ed reti-
cence he closed them again and turned
away.
Chilcote leaned back In his place and
furtively passed his hand over his fore
head. His mind was possessed by one
consideration - the consideration of
himself. He glanced down the crowd
ed, lighted house to the big glass
doors; he glanced about him at his col
leagues, Indifferent or interested; then
surreptitiously his fingers strayed to
his waistcoat pocket.
loids with him. but today by q lapse
Of memory he had left them at home.
He knew this, nevertheless he contin-
ued to search, while the need Of the
drug rushed through him with a sense
Of physical sickness. He lost hold on
the business Of the house; unconscious
ly he half rose from his seat.
The man next him looked up. Hold
your ground, Chilcote," he said. "Ray-
forth is drying up"
With wave Of relief Chilcote drop
ped back into his place. Whatever the
confusion in his mind 1t was evident.
ly not obvious In his face.
Rayfortb resumed his seat, there was
the usual slight stir and pause; then
Salett, the member for Salchester, rose
With Salett's first words Chilcote's
hand again sought his pocket, and
again his eyes strayed toward the
doors, but Fraide's erect head and stiff
back just In front Of him held him
quiet. With an effort he pulled out
his notes and smoothed them nervous
ly; but, though his gaze was fixed on
the pages, not line Of Blessington's
clear writing reached his mind. He
glanced ut the face of the speaker,
then at the faces on the treasury
bench, then once more he leaned back
In his seat.
The man beside him saw the move
ment. "Funking the dry dockr' he
whispered jestingly.
"No"-Chilcote turned to him sud-
denly-"but I feel beastly-have felt
beastly for weeks"
The other looked at him more close
". Anything wrong?" he asked. II
was novel experience to be confided