"m333&S!Z mHMWMd Q iimww m iuimra 41 THE .is wtiin.in of fashion . Corset winch is all that its asqueraaei ' 11 ,! By KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON, Author of The Circle," Etc. " Copyright, 1005. 1004, by Harper fy Ilrothers ? t mmmmsmmmm msm m -1 ym: i kk. ... v v mi i . A I I O , s 1 1 K s 1 1 1 1 1 1 i f M Si v A o mmma Tlu message wns Interesting na well ns Imperative, iinil lie made mi Instant response. The thought of Lakeley's keen eyes and shrewd enthusiasms al ways possessed strong attraetlons for his own slower temperament, but even had this impetus been larking, the knowledge that at the St. (ioorge's of fices, If anywhere, the true feelings of tlie party were invariably voiced would have drawn lilin without hesitation. It was scarcely 1'J o'clock when he turned the corner of the tall building, but already the keen spirit that l.akeley everywhere diffused was making Itself felt. Loder smiled to himself as his eyes fell on the day's placards with their uncompromising headings and passed onward from the string of gny- ly painted carts drawn up to receive their first consignment of the paper to the troop of eager newsboys passing In and out of the big swing doors with their piled up bundles of the early edi tion, and with a renewed thrill of anticipation and energy he passed through the doorway and ran upstairs. Passing unchallenged through the long oorridor that led to Lakeley's ofllco, ho caught a fresh Impression of action and vitality from the click of the tape machines in the subeditor's olhce, and a glimpse through the open door of the subeditors themselves, eacii occupied with his particular task; then without time for further observation lie found himself at Lakeley's door. Without waiting to knock, as ho had felt com pelled to do on the one or two previous occasions tlint business had brought him there, ho immediately turned the handle and entered the room. Editors' olllcers differ but little In general effect. Lakeley's surroundings were rather more elaborate than Is usual, ns became the dignity of the oldest Tory evening paper, but the at mosphere was unmistakable. As Loder entered he glanced up from the desk at which he was sitting, but Instantly returned to his task of looking through and making a pile of early evening edi tions Unit were spread around him. Ills coat was off and hung on the chair behind him. and he pulled vigorously on a long cigar. "Ilollo! That's right," he said lacon ically. "Make yourself comfortable half a second, while 1 skim the St. Stephen's." Ills salutation pleased Loder. With a nod of acquiescence he crossed the ofilce to the brisk fire tlint burned In the grate. For a minute or two Lakeley worked steadlly.oceasionally breaking the quiet by an unintelligible remark or a vigor ous stroke of his pencil. At last ho dropped the paper with a gesture of satisfaction and leaned back In his chair. "Well." ho said, "what d'you think of this? How's this for a complica tion?" Loder turned round. "I think," he said quietly, "that wo can't overesti mate It." Lakeley laughed and took a long pull jit his cigar. "And we mustn't be afraid to lot the Sefborough crow1 know It, eh?" He waved his hand to the poster of the first edition that hung lioforo his desk. Loder. following his glance, smiled. i'Aseloy laughed ngnln. "They might have known It all along If they'd cared to deduce," he said. "Did they really believe that Russia was going to alt calmly looking across the Ilorl-Rud while the shah playc'd at mobilizing? Hut what became of you last night? We had a regular prophesying of the -whole business at Hranifell's; the great Fraide looked hi for live minutes). I went on with him to the club after ward and was there when the news came in. 'Twas a great night!" Loder's face lighted up. "I can Imag ine it," he said, with an unusual touch of warmth. Lakeley watched him Intently for u moment. Then with a quick action ho leaned forward ami rested his el bows on the desk. , "It's going to be something more than Imagination for you, Chllcote," he said impressively. "It's going to be solid earnest!" He spoke rapidly and with rather more than his usual shrewd decisiveness; then he paused to hoe the effect of ills announcement. Loder was still studying the flaring poster. At the other's words he turn ed sharply. Something in Lukeley's voice, something hi his manner, arrest ed him. A tinge of color crossed his face. "Reality?" ho said. "What do you mean?" For n further space his companion watched him, .then with n rapid move ment he tilted back his, chair. "Yes," life said. , "Yes; old Fralde's Instincts nro nover far out. He's quite rifiht. You'ro the maul" Still quietly, Inil Willi a strange tin dergiow of excitement, Loder left the lire and, coming forward, took a chair at Lakeley's desk. , "Ho you mind telling me what you're driving at?" he asked in his old, la conic voice. Lakeley still scrutinized him with an air of brisk satisfaction; then with a gesture of linallty lie tossed his cigar away. "My dear chap," lie said, "there's go ing to be a breach somewhere- and Fraide says you're the man to step In and 1111 it! You see, live years ago, when things looked lively on the gulf and the IJundar Abims business came to light, you did some promising work, and a reputation like that sthks to a man even when he turns slacker! I won't deny that you've slacked abomi nably," lie added as Loder made an un easy movement, "but slacking lias dif ferent effects. Some men run to seed, others mature. 1 had almost put you down on the black list, but I've altered my mind in the last two mouths." Again Loder stirred in his seat. A host of emotions were stirring in ills j mind. Every word wrung from Lakeley was another stimulus to pride, another subtle tribute to the curious force of personality. "Well?" he said. "Well?" Lakeley smiled. "We all know thut Sel'borough's ministry Is well, top heavy," he said. "Sefborough is build ing his card house Just a story too high. It's a toss up what'U upset the balance. It might be the army, of course, or It might be education, but It might quite ns well be a matter of foreign policy!" They looked at each other In compre hensive silence. "You know as well as I that It's not the question of whether Russia conies into Persia, but the question of wheth er Russia goes out of Persia when these Haznras are subdued! I'll lay you what you like, Chilcote, that within one week we hear that the risings are suppress ed, but that Russia, Instead of retiring, has advanced those tempting twenty miles and comfortably ensconced her self at Meshed as she ensconced her self on the Island of Ashurada." Luke ley's nervous, energetic llgure was brac ed, his light blue eyes brightened by the intensity of his interest. "If this news comes before the Eas ter recess," he went on, "the first nail can be hammered In on the motion for adjournment. And if the right man does It in the right way I'll lay my life 'twill be a nail in Sefborough's cotlin." Loder sat very still. Overwhelming possibilities had suddenly opened be fore him. In a moment thu unreality of the past mouths had become real; n tangible Justification or himself and his Imposture was suddenly made pos sible. In the stress of understanding lie, too, leaned forward, and. resting his elbows on the desk, tool; Ills face between his bauds. For a space Lakeley made no remark. To him man and man's moods came second in Interest to his paper and his party politics. That Chllcote should be conscious of the glories lie had opened up seemed only natural; that ho should show that consciousness lu a becoming gravity seemed only right. For some seconds he made no attempt to disturb him, but at last his own Irrepressible activity made silence unendurable. lie caught up his pencil and tapped Im patiently on the desk. "Chllcote," lie said quickly and with a gleam of sudden anxiety, "you're not by any chance doubtful of yourself?" At sound of his voice Loder lifted his face. It was quite pale again, but the energy and resolution that had come into It when Lakeley first spoke were still to bo seen. "No, Lakeley," ho said very slowly, "It's not the sort of moment In which a man doubts himself." CHAPTER XIX. when Lakeley had expounded tho politi cal programme in the ollices of tho St. Ooorgtt's Gazette, to the afternoon of April 1 lie found himself a central fig ure in Hits whirlpool of activity that formed itself in Conservative circles. With the acumen for which he was noted, Lakeley laid touched the keystone of the situation on that morning, and rucccedlng events, each fraught with on that memorable 1st of April. I was obvious In the crowded benches on both sides of the house, lu the one ness of purpose that insensibly made Itself felt through tho ranks of the op position and found definite expression in Fralde's stiff figure and tightly' shut lips, In the unmistakable uneasiness that lay upon tho ministerial benches. rTjN'D so it came to pass that Loder I A I wns frppl from ono rcsI,0llsl I r blllty to undertake another. ' I From tho morning of March 117, 1 flU HMWMMiMMMMMHBWHMMMMMMMMMIl Underwear Hosiery Three mouths yet Mint you will need II uvy Underwent and Heavy Hosiery. With every fcl.OO purchase of Winter Underwear we will give you one pair 'Jot; Hose or two pair of liio Iloso. Ladies' Mhttii: Vests or Pants, each .... 8 .Ml Ladies' Hoisting Vest, or Pants, ouch 5(1 Ladies' lino ribbed Vest or Pants, euoh 'Jo Liulb's' St rittfortl Union Suits, each 50 Ladies' Common Sense Uttioii Suits, each . . . 1.00 Ladies' Setsnug Union Suits, each 1.00 Ladies' Ribbed Wool Vest or Punts, each ... 1.--V Ladies' Fit.well Wool Vest or Pants, tvtoh. . . . l.'ifi Ciitldien'H Floecedown Vest or Punts 18 (Rising'. io per size) Child's heavy ribbed Vector Punts l'l (Rising i!J6 per size) MiseH' full-ribbed Union Suits Me, .'Wo, ! Children's Klondike Union Suits ft'l Misses' Modest io Union Suits fit) Children's Silvoi Wool Vests r.Oe, lino Children's Sleeping CiarmentH. 2."m, .'10c. I. NEWHOUSE, 1 Rut notwithstanding these Indica tions of battle the early portion of the proceedings was unmarked by excite cnent, being tinged with the purposeless lack of vitality that had of late marked ill affairs of the Sefborough ministry, ind It was not until the adjournment )f tho house for the Master recess had it last been moved that the spirit of activity hovering in the air descended uid galvanized the assembly Into life. It was then, amid a stir of Interest, Hint Loder slowly rose. Many curious Incidents have marked the speechniaklng annals of the house nf commons, but It Is doubtful whether It has ever been the lot of a member to hear his own voice raised for the first time on a subject of-Mtal interest to ids .party, having been denied all Initial "assistance of minor questions osked or unimportant amendments made. Of all those gathered together; In the great building tin that day, only sue man appreciated the dlllleulty 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 lingers touching the sheaf of notes that lay In front of him. To tho wait ing house tiie silence was effective. It might mean overassurance or It might mean a failure of nerve at 11 critical moment. Either possibility had 11 tinge of phpuincy. Moved by tho same Im pulse, fifty pairs of eyes turned upon him with new Interest, but up In the ladies' gallery live clasped her hands In sudden apprehension, and Fraide, sitting stiilly in his seat, turned and bhot one swift glance- at the man on whom, against prudence and precedent, lie laid pinned ills faith. Tho glance was swift, but very searching, and with a characteristic movement of ids wiry shoulders he resumed his position and his usual grave, attentive attitude. At the same moment Loder lifted Ills bend nnd began to speak. Hero at the outset his Inexperience met him. His voice, pitched too low, only reached thoso directly near him. It was a moment of great strain. Eve, listening Intently, drew a long breath of suspense and lot her fingers drop apart. The skeptical, wutchful eyes that faced him, Hue upon line, seemed to (lash and brighten with critical in terest. Only Fraide mado 110 change of expression, no sat placid, serious, at tentive, with tho shudow of a suulo be .-. I CAN HKUJ1Y CORSKT," Kalamazoo Corset ..i in- in appe tls to the wont. in of taste because of pr ! nne.eil Individuality, Stle, Fashionable Out- ii s, Dnr.ib. lily and kxcellenee of Workmanship. It is - iih t.ciilideiu thai we commend it to our patrons and ii all oihcis Th s orset can be had in every style of Mi in 1 mil tin 4iohi4 maiden to the stalely matron an ih' it quit i nn Ms of e.n U are provided for. Prices: i BatM Girdle, ..I 25c Tape Giidlr, w ith hose supporters, at 50c Tape Corset, at 50c Summer Netting, with hose supporters, at 50c Hai isle straight from orset, at .' 50c Batiste shott front Corset, at 50c Nursing Coiset, at 50c Batiste Corset, exiei ded hip, double hose supports. .$1.00 Batiste Corset, tap rm waist, double host: supports. 1.00 Sateen Corset, exieinh-d hip and front, double hose supports 1.00 Batiste Corset, bit nch shape 1.00 Sterling t orsei, tai rinu waist, hih bust, double hosesuppotts 1.00 Batiste Corset, rnflle top. tapering waist 1.35 Fnglish Sateen Corset, medium waist 1 00 awd! 'J.?.,' M A.UUU. Tmmm hind his eyes. Again Loder paused, but this time the pause was shorter. The ordeal lie had dreaded and waited for was passed, and he saw his way clearly. With tho old movement of the shoulders he straightened himself and once more be gan to speak. This time bis voice rang tpiletly true and commanding across the lloor of the house. Xo lirst step can be really great. It must tif necessity possess more of prophecy than of achievement. Xever theless It Is by the first step that a man marks the value not only of his cause, but of himself. Following broadly on the Hues that tradition lias laid down for the Conservative orator, Loder dis guised rather than displayed the vein of strong, persuasive eloquence that was his natural gift. The occasion that might possibly Justify such a display or Individuality might He with the fu ture, but it had no application to the present. For this moment his duty was to voice his party sentiments with as 'much lucidity, as much logic and as much calm conviction as lay within his capacity. Standing quietly In Chllcote's place, ho was conscious with a deep sense of i I I wskjsa. find Lsicos 2.300 yards Valenciennes Inser tion and lodging to matt h, at 2c for A inch wide and all prices up to 35c yard. Embroideries In Swiss or Cambric I inch wide, at ','u and up 1! inches wiao, at Go and up II inches with1, at Voiindiip (I inches wide, at 10,' and up 1) inches wide, at ltioniidup In-criioii in the work, inches wide. 'J'c unci up Corset Cover F.nib'y, at. .!i!o, -10c, Cfio Linen Laces Vi inch wide, at -In 11 tid up 1 inch wide, with insertion to match, at 7c and up Vx inch insertion at 8c, wit h .'! inch lace at. . . I'J'c and up & inch iiiHfitiou at To," with ' inch biro tit.. Do and up Pi low Case Luce, I! in., lit fie; !l in. at. ... Ground up P.lnnri Mr UJLUUU) llUWlt 1 J gravity of the peculiarity of his posl ' tiou, anil perhaps it was this uncon scious ami unstudied seriousness that lent hlin the tone of weight and Judg ment so essential to the cause he had lu hand. It has always been dllllcult to arouse the Interest of the house on matters of lliitlsh policy lu Persia. Once aroused It may, It Is true, reach fever heat with remarkable rapidity, 1 but the Introductory stages offer that ' worst danger to the earnest speaker ,11)0 dread of an apathetic audience. 1 Rut from this consideration Loder, by his sharp consciousness of personal difficulties, was given Immunity. j Pitching his voice In that quietly masterful tone that beyond all others compels attention, he took up his sub ject and dealt with It with dlspasslon nle force. With great skill lit) tnuei! I its own iniportanco hid established tho precision of his forecast. Minutely watchful of Russia's atti tude, Fraide quietly organized his forces and strengthened his position with a statesmanlike grasp of opportu nity, and to Loder the attributes dis played by his leader during those try ing days formed tin endless and ab sorbing study. Setting tho thought of Chllcote aside, Ignoring his own posi tion ami the risks he daily ran, he had I fully yielded to the glamour of the mo ment and in the lirst freedom of a j loose rein he had given unreservedly ' all that he possessed of activity, capac ' Ity and determination to the cause thot had claimed him. Singularly privileged In a constant ! personal contact with Fraide, he learn ed many valuable lessons of tact and organization In thoso flvo vital days during which tho tactics of a whole party hung upon 0110 Item of nows from a country thousands of miles away. For should Russia subdue the hisur ' gent Hazaras and, laden with tho hon I ors of the peacemaker, rotlro across I the frontier, then the political arena would remain undisturbed; but shouldr tho all Important movement predicted by Lakeley become nn accept etl fact be fore parliament rose for tho Easter ro cess, then the first blow In the fight thi't would rago during tho succeeding session must Inevitably bo struck. In the meantime it was Fralde's dllllcult (Continued on Pa Six.) ' ' Get one of those clocks wo are giv ing away. r 'i M n 1 i k $ '1 A 4 1 n iil ,i H i M