Evening star., 1918-02-24

"a HE Rt. Hon. James Brandal
opened his Times with eager
fingers. glanced down the front
q page and flung the paper so
violently on the hearth rug that 1t
frightened the big. fluffy white Persian
cat into Mysteries.
AGAIN" was all Mr.. Brandal said.
but his wife. who sat alone with him
at the comfortably appointed break
fast table. seemed to understand She
came round to where he sat With
one hand laid gently on his shoulder
and the other playing with his crisp
curls now hecked with gray. she looked
down upon him with loving sympathy
shining in her soft. dark eyes.
well, Fanny. I'll try to take it quiet
W.. he said in answer to her silent,
tender pleading for patience. But the
cloud was still heavy on his strong.
clever face. for worries Will worry III
spite of mans will.
He could not sit still for the life OF
hin, leaving his breakfast untasted'
he began pacing the room restlessiy.
ave have had some rough times to-
cether, Fan" he broke out again,
Won trusted yourself to the briefess
barrister who is now home secretary
Of England. but / don't think you ever
saw me SO upset before. Just listen
to this. -
He picked up the paper s'ioo''eo -
out and read:
1--WE are able to state on apsoiu'eIs
unirnpeacha BILE authority that at the
cabinet meeting yesterday II was
solved TO take the whole time of the
house from next Monday. There Were
only two dissentients TO this strong
measure. of whom one was Lord "ei
don. secretary of foreign analrs-
rs it truec"
absolutely true, darling-that's the
devil of it
"But. JIM" touching the paper. does
it really matter so very mnch! ,+
matter very niuch-it hardly matters
al all. But it is the fifth time wlthin
the last month that cabinet secrets
have been betrayed to the Times quite
plainly by a member OF the eaoiHs., me-,
The last was a mater OF vital iiii
portance.
: ITS very horrible, of course, dear
est, but you can't help il: and don't
see why you should worry about II
1t does not affect you
But it does affect me. Fanny. most
vitally. 1t affects my position. my
hopes. my honor l hardly know now
to tell you, darling, but | feel there
is growing suspicion among my
colleagues in the cabinet that I am
the traitor
.'You, Jim, you,' There were tears
in the dark eyes. but the light OF her
anger flashed through them. Who
dareS to suspect your
."The prime minister himself, great
ly fear Lord Weldon, I'm almost Ger
TAIN
II don't believe it; l cannot believe
it. You are too sensitive. l met LORD
Weldon the night before last at ball
at the Duchess of Southern's. He was
most courteous, sat out with me for
more than an hour, and spoke ever so
kindly of you"
Lord Weldon is always civil to
beautiful woman. You needn't blush,
Fan; you must know you were the best
looking woman in the room, not eX-
cepting the lively little duchess her
self. His lordship is too straight-Iu
do him that justice-to let the wife
see he distrusted the husband. You re-
member, Fan, / was very rough on
him in the house when 1 was gradual
ing below the gangway: too rough, I
think now, though l meant it at the
time. He has behaved very well to me.
] knew he was in favor of my inclusion
in the cabinet. and he has been most
civil since we were colleagues. But
these things leave their sting, in spite
of a man. He wouldn't be human If
he hadn't a lurking prejudice against
me, however hard he may strive to
stife it. I'm the youngest, the newest
and the poorest member of the cabinet.
The others are tested veterans whose
character and position set them above
suspicion. The disclosures began the
week after I joined 1 declare, Fanny,
I'm half inclined to suspect myself
on the evidence"
He dropped into chair with a short
laugh that had no r1irth in it
She read in his face anxiety-almost
deepening into shame: and the shadow
in his eyes was reflected in her own;
but she was still true to the woman's
role of comforter.
Courage. Jim, she whispered soft
ly. "the truth must prevail. You have
never yet failed to face trouble or dan
ger bravely-don't fail now. for my
sake"
The Right Honorable James Brandal
was not the only one sorely troubled
by this treason in the cabinet. The
prime minister was broken-hearted
about it Six weeks of the harassing