The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-03-19
CHAPTER |.
A SLEEPING Nation.

W1e6lS OF many ClOSiHS idCloii0o
had droned a final protest, idleness
was spreading, and throughout the
land the subject of the impending con-
flict was gravely discussed. Distin.
guished orators in great cities pre-
dicted dire losses in prestige and
honor, and every hamlet had its
prophet of woe. The nations position
as a first-class power, even its very In
tegrity seemed at stake.
And in all this ominous unrest, this
clamor for action, the administration
at Washington sat unmoved, smiling
what seemed to the country and the
world at large fatuOus smile OF COM
placency. 1t was then endeaVorlng,
as in previous crises, through the use
of high-sounding words, to avert an
actual clash at arms.
For some years there had been
mooted questions between Japan and
the great American republic, due in
the first instance to troubles of pure.
w racial character. The Pacific coast,
which for many decades had been COM
PEELED by its geographical situation
to face an economic invasion from the
orient, wanted none of the small men
from across the water
Other complications followed. ia
pan by example and precept rejuy-
enated the sleeping giant which spoke
her sister tongue and had with her
an offensive and defensive alliance
that could be invoked in time of need,
and by further adroit policy main,
tanned similar compact with Great
Britain. She waxed prosperous, de-
handing trade concessions where
once she had begged them. Nor had
she neglected the perfecting OF her
navy, which from the time of her war
with Russia had been one of the most
capable. Now it equaled in size and
probably excelled in fighting efficiency
that of the United States.
In the Philippines the racial wal
came to such an acute stage that ia
pan demanded immediate adjustment
although following the same diplo
matte methods which characterized
her career as an advanced nation
pitifully pleading to the world at large
that she was small power who's
only wish was for peace; invoklR'
sympathy on the one hand and pre-
pairing to strike before hostilities wer
, anticipated on the other.
And in the midst of all this turmoil
of mind and passiveness OF accom-
plishment, Guy Hitler secretary G
the British embassy in Washington
found other and more personal ammo!
{ ances. The particular vexation was
woman's perversity.
He brooded over his love affai
:, more than the welfare Of nations, a
= he stood in the great railway static
u of the capital on this night, watchin
for the arrival of the Florida speci'
J. which was to bring to him Norm
e Roberts, after an absence of nearly
II month.
o With some bitterness he recalle
IS that 1t was not the first time with
:" six months that he had loitered
n this station. To him it seemed TIL
N since he first had known the girl he {
ways had been waiting and longin
She had held him in thrall since Il
~ night he met her more than a We
-. before, when half reluctantly he h;
=. accepted an invitation to a receipt,
given to her father; and yet in i;
" that aftertime he had been in pc
c" petual suspense. The reception h
as been much like other receptions, al
e. was given in honor of another inve
Mt ton by "Old Bill Roberts, as he styl
er himself and was known to his in
rk mates.
IS. Guy had gone through mere Gu
osity, wishing to see at short range
man who only few years before h
sr- been dubbed 'harebrained cranl
tie but whose work had proved him 9th
"a, wise. He remembered the lights
ty the drawing room, the throng
guests, and that Roberts had forg
ia ten the event and kept some of
most distinguished men of the nati
including every member of the ca
W. net waiting till he could be bragg
re- from his laboratory at the end of I
ne garden.
IFS Everyone had taken the remissn'
We with American good humor, laugh
and chatted till search could
made, and then given way to the
Of ventor's entrance. which was not
IN. umphal. 1t was effected with someth
his approaching a lack of proprietI
toll There had been the sound of hi
leo strung, snarling voice in protest fl
y. the lower end of the drawing rot
:. which was luxuriously furnished q
;. presided over by Norma. There
~ been moments silence, then an
ey. clamation loud enough to be heard
those who were curiously expects