RIGHT-AGAINST MIGHT

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 2 April 1913, Page 10

RIGHT-AGAINST MIGHT

lEE DBA3£ATIC. -LOVE STOKY OF " ;"r. ; . 'By., k&TXL^TREmc, AvtT '-?r^?f:~€l l^v Homp Secretary,"* f{& Wife ly Purchase,". . eta,;Wc. Soon afterwards John went to ,JiU own chambers, and ho was jlejJressed by ■what he had heard., but his "affection lor Colxien was increased by the-knowledge of the tragedy which-bad overwhelmed lis life. It seemed ,-incredible.:':'fhat South wold could have. be;en'."guilty. b£ so dastardly and callous - _a'crime;',aiid yet" there could be no~ doubting, the' trutlr.He worked for a time;and-rose 'at an early hour in the morning, for-he had many engagements during-the .day.' "But 1 before he left his <jiambers ~Gb6den ap-' ■peared with Joyce, and' tKey_ were-.ljotn' dressed for walking.'' .".'".."."'. :Z..J;'.'.y''.'■>'". "•Joyqe is coming ."to .canvass; foil,you/ ancLl-am; , going to help," s anriounced Cobden. They motored to Mid-Ham, and John addressed several meetings; at one of Jwhieh. Joyce was present, and he noticed' how keenly she seemed to be interested in what he said. Her eyes jwere; scarcely removed from his face, and le found ■himself looking over in iher direction, and once he gave her a smile; ;which she flashed back at him. Tii'ey ate an early lrnich. together, for 'there was to be a bigger meeting outside, the gates of the great engineering rworjis. "How do you like the work?" John asked of Joyce. "She has got -on well," answered Cobden; "she talked to the iwiv«s like an old politician." "that -wa3 after I leard John speak. I only repeated, lus arguments," pro•iested Joyce. VOien the meal tvas OTer they started off for the -works. Cotrien had insisted • on. John sitting beside Joyce, so that ■Jw wold be better seen, and the insistent cheering "which greeted- him spoke eloquently of his poptdartty. They were ' a few ' minutes late, for crowds of ■working men "were coming from, the great iron gates. They pulled up near a wagon from which John was <to speak—and '.'jhis faeoi became very iwhite, for another car 'had arrived before -.thenij and in it was Lady' Cora. Sne had not seen! ihim, for she -was talking -with. animaiifHi to the Honourable/Robert Sylvester, but suddenly she looked round and their eyes met. She looked radiantly beautiful. A flush.was on her face -when she saw Strand, and there was; a gleam in her eye which meant mischief. ■ Sylvester had just placed one of hisfeet on the wagon arid was aiboiiii to get on it, when he recognised ' Strand. But after a momentary hesitation he turned and approached John. The crowd was becoming dense, and cheers were raised for both candidates. "I am afraid there has been a misunderstanding. I did not expect you here ffibia '.morning," ; ".Sylvester remarked, politely. 'j. jjp "'I am.;just as surprised to- ccc you. Anyhow, you* arrived first,; and I "will wait- patiently niy turn," John answered, irlth a smile, and went back to the car, taking a. seat 'by Joyce. Lady Cora had been Watching the scene with cold interest., and she beckoned to Sylvester. ■ : Do your best in the presence of the enemy," she said, lightly. Sylvester.nodded, and then, mounted t bet* wa^rbii ; liiit "as" soon "as he tried to speak the crowd gave tongue—"Strand! \Y*e want Strand!" and the noise became incessant. Agnin and again he tried to make himself heard, but in vain. Joyce's face was wreathed in smiles, and- she spoke impulsively to Cobden:— 'ilsn't- it splendid?" But Cobden shook his heaa '.and placed his; liand on hers. ";ily dear, take a lceson from Lady Cora. You shouldn't show your delight so-openly. It's quite natural you should feet pleased, but" "don't show it," he. said, quJSt-ly. — -.r ZZ ~~- -Z. Joyce saw "that lie TJpoke ;;seriouslyj anS she flushed-a little, but Ghe" understood hii? meaning and ljer face became grave. In the meantime Sylvester was making a strenuous effort to be heard, but his voice did not carry half-a-dozen yards, for the din had hecome incessant. John's face was expressionless, but suddenly he stood up in the car and held ÜB'ihis hand. All eyes were turned in •his* direction, and gradually the noise ■bejjan to lessen, until there was absolute silence. "£My friends," lie.. ; begaHj in, a clear, ringing voice, "I believe in fair play .-.and you are not giving my opponent a chance. As a favour to myself, I ask you to give him a heating. X must conie=S that I am very.. anxious to. hear wliSft he has to say—to hear what excuse lie "has to give for his presence as a- candidate for Hid-Haro. When my curiosity has" been satisfied I shall have an oppoflunity of commenting upon that Teasou; whatever it may.be.. My friends, play the game, and/listen to Mr Sylves-ter-while he explains." - , These words had tEe desired effe;t, and Svlyester smiled an acknowledgment to Jofen. ''It was kind.of my opponent to intervene :on my behalf, and I thank him. You are "well acquainted with him, but I anumora _ar,Jess a stranger, -" .. \ . have * you' come? - We ■ didn't want ye!" came a hoarse yell, and the noTse arose again, and was not quelled until John rose to his feet. "I am here to give you the reason of my presence. Nominally Mr Strand 'belongs to the same party as myself, and if he had acted in accordance with the pledsea he gave* prior to his election —if he iTad acted with decent loyalty to his party—mo one would have hoped for his success at the coming election-more than mv'self. I have no personal animus against your late' member, but I owe a duty to my principles. It is owing to .his; base betrayal of. the Government that this election has been made necessary. Owing to hb betrayal you, the working men of this constituency, have been deprived of a measure that would undoubtedly have been extremely beneficial to you as a. body." This statement .had met with violent interruptions, 'but Sylvester was allowed to continue in the same strain. His, speech was a short one. and when he ceased the crowd-began to yell Strand's name. . • •• , Sylvester jumped down from the ■wagon' and sat beside Lady Cora, who spoke to him, and it was evident that they meant to stay and listen to Jolm'e spiJecli. The latter did not go to the ivagon. but spoke from bis car, and from 1 the. outset he gripped his audience. '•■You have heard' my opponent's reason forjiis presence. He "accuses mc of having betrayed my party. It was your interests I was sent to Parliament to defend and further, and so long as I am your representative that shall . always he -my aim. Mr Sylvester stated that I va-- nominally a member ot the same "i** «-. :i--'-;:;■..--■

party as himself. To a degree that j statement was true, but it will be true j no longer. You know mc in Mid-Ham.' I believe I have your confidence, and j you will never believe that I act from I selfish motives. I intend to ask you, ■ •with all deliberation, to send mc to Parliament ae'your representative, untrammelled iby any ties of party." John paused, and for a moment there was breathless silence. But with the j skill of the born orator their minds were , hie. He had impressed upon them '. the magnetism of his personality, and tliere came forth a yell of wild " entl«»iasm. Strand glanced down at-the other car, and noticed that lady. Cora's face was no longer pale, and her cabnness had vanished. She spoke hurriedly to Sylvester, who gave an order to the chauffeur, and their car swung.,round, passing within a few feet of John. .Sylvester nodded, in the,. friendliest ■way,. but his companion stared■•'steadily ahead and seemed unconscious, of the cheers.of derision that followed them.. ■_ ' Strand refused to allow himself to think of-the. behaviour of the ■woman he lov-ed,"' but 'confined all hie attention to .his. .speech' ,«tnd eloquently explained bis ideas arid: plans.'. He" ■defended his actions'convincingly, and had no, difficulty in carrying his audience -with him. When he had finished a. white-haired foreman climbed on the wagon and proposed a vote, of confidence, which was carried to the' accompaniment of frenzied cheering.' And 60 John Strand hoisted the flag of independence—a step which might have the gravest consequences to his future. But he had never felt such great confidence, in himself, and he had no fear so long as he. possessed the courage to act as his-conscience directed. He sank back to his seat, and the car started; but men thronged round him for a grip of hie hand, and it was some time before they continued on their way. And w-hen they hod left the crowd he looked at Joyce. She was gazing at him with dumb admiration—and were those tears that were showing , on her black lashes? "Now I understand," ehe whispered. "What do you understand?" Cabden demanded, bluntly. "Oh, many things." And John -wondered what she meant. '" CHAPTER XVIII. The newspapers Ixad commented freely on the fact that there was to be a three-cornered fight in Mid-Ham, and Strand's announcement that lie intended to be free of party ties attracted a good deal of attention. But the day after it appeared John received one or two visitors—men who had been members of the Labour Party in the last Parliament, and who had come under his influence. They thought as he did, and the results of the interviews were that they, too, announced their independence of party. John was made unfeignedly glad by this confidence in himself, and it gave him fresh courage for the fight in JlidHam, which ;was becoming increasingly bitter. The Prime Minister had expressed; his intention of. speaking in sup-port-of Mr Sylvester, and it became evident that the Government would strain every effort' to win the seat. . The evening that thie became known .John had accepted an invitation to dine with Mr Mason, and the millionaire commented upon the news. "There's no more ibifcter enemy than an old friend. Why don't you make terms with South wold? He would be only tod anxious .to meet you half way." , '4 shall never serve under Mr Southwold," John answered, coldly. '•'I met him yesterday, and he spoke very kindly of you when I mentioned the fact that you had become my partner. But, between ourselves, I'm not sure that he was too pleased to hear it." John had already started work with the millionaire, but he "was naturally unable to devote very much time to it. However, Mason seemed to be quite content, and insisted that John should immediately take financial benefit from their partnership. '•'You'll want money to win this fight. If you play your cards properly you ought to" have a small number of members of the new Parliament who will look upon you as their leader. It strikes mc forcibly that neither party will have any swinging majority, and you may be in a position of great power." "I've not yet been elected myself," John said, dryly. ■ ;"Take : care that you don't overwork yourself. You're locking very tired," Sylvia said, warniiigly. '"I'm quite strong," John answered, with a smile. "By the by, Eady Corn, called to see mc this afternoon," Sylvia continued. "Her uncle had told li?.r about the partnership with dad, and she seemed very interested." "I am honoured. But I hardly know if I am to bfi reckoned an acquaintance of her ladyship. She cut mc deliberately the other day." "Mr Strand, I'm afraid you know very littie of women,' , Sylvia said, with a smile that Jolin could not understand. "She also told mc of the beautiful niece who had come to live with Mr Cobden. I wonder you did not mention her to mc," she wound up, lightly. "I' didn't think you would be interested." "I should like to know her." "Mips Arnold has no women friends, and if you would bo so good " "I will write at once and ask her to lunch," Sylvia said, promptlyHer father hod been listening to this conversation with a puzzled look on hie face, and lie intervened, asking John to a-ccompany him to the library. "Are you going to get in for MidHam?" bo asked, bluntly. '■'It is very doubtful, but I am going to try my best," .Strand answered. "Sylvia will be heartbroken if you are beaten. I never knew her so keen on anything." "She is do,ing a great deal to help mc. My agent tells mc that she makes an excellent canvasser." Mr Mason then started to discuss the details of a financial scheme which he was about to launch, and it was after midnight before John succeeded in getting away. "You've a marvellous grip on things," Mason said, when they parted. "You've even exceeded my expectations." A mutual liking had sprung up between them, and yet there •was an underlying something in. the millionaire's manner that John could not understand. To 6c continued daily.

DRAPERY, CLOTHDfG, ETC.