CHAPTER XXIIL—(CONTINUED.)

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1577, 12 August 1882, Page 5

CHAPTER XXIIL— (CONTINUED.)

But Hector did not lose hi* presence of mind for any length of time. With an offoit he turned his ho id fiom -lack, and to gam time while rccoveiing himself, he glanced over his memo. Thou, neiving himself to liis ta^k, he fixed his ''yes on M'Calvi'i, and fook up the sentenco whcie ho left oft. Nay, this incident appealed to hare infused fresh life into him , for he did not s.i l isfy himself with firii-hiiiLf up hi-, speech with some cutting remark 1 -, but brought up ficsh .subject 1 -, and attacked tho honoiable gentlemen opposite w ithout nicicy. Kvcn .l.iolc could not but ailimio his tienehant argument, withering sarcasm*, and finished pciiod-. Whui iic closed hih -pcccli theic was any amount of " hc.ir hoars, ' and fcveral of thcincmbcis gatheicd around him, anxious to congratulate him on his deliverance. Old now arose. Ife was a stout Scotch gentlemen, rather prominent in the abdominal legions. His face, liowcve), was a peiftet study. Stienglh was written upon uveiy massive feature, and his countenance was fin rowed with tho lines of thought and tare. Jlis was a splendid head. There w a", indeed, power cxiiressed in his faco and head that ■» as suilicient to awe any ordinary moital. lie know perfectly well that his opponent had struck the first blow of a great victory, but ho was not the man to give up without n struggle. Standing out of the crowd of insignificant men, the country had elected as senatois, he looked as if he deserved and would possess powei. lie had held the icins for year-, and felt now tint they were slipping from his grasp not because ho was less liberal less thoughtful than of yoie, but through the impatience of a numbor of ineinbeiB who thought tljey ought to tnsto some of the sweets of oflicc. Ho knew, therefore, pretty well that the beadsman was behind him, but he was resolved that ho would not stnko bis colors eie ho had deliveied a speech that ' would bo lemembcred. And ho did. Although his opponents had counted heads and knew success was certain, they writhed under his scathing denunciations. And the old man sat down, conscious that he had vindicated himself, and thrown upon the enemy tho onus of whatever injury would result. Jack had boon fo engrossed with the burning passages delivered by M'dilvin at the close of his speech, that he had forgot to look at Hector. When he did fie, however, after M' Calvin, had taken his seat, ho saw that Hector was gone. Jack set this down as another black mark j against the man, another link in tho damning chain. The bell now rang, and the gentlemen began to drop in from tho " refreshment" rooms, where they had been engaged in intrigue, billiards, or liquoring. Some blundered, and wont on the wrong side, so that calls of " Conic here, "Jones ;" " Smith, whore are yon 1 going ?" rather disturbed. Jack's idep of tho dignity of a House of Parliament. It was tedious, too, to wait for the result while tho tollere wont round, when really there was no doubt as to the issue. Hector was one of the last to come, and he took his seat and crushed his hat over his eyes, staring steadfastly at tho carpet. When- the decision was announced— in favor . of- the' deposition— there wna"o" great dual of cheering,, and- the House broke up. A* ' Jack passed the stream, £o cottldt'h"ear,;oh7< every aucb reV finarko as,/,' HebtoriMaoumigu%ili be* one.

power aud fame, when bo was firmly convinced he deserved not a seat in the Cabinet Council, but in the dock. Ho hud pa&scd out of the House, and was moving through tho reserve with his companions, when a woman knocked against him. Jack turned round and saw a miserable sight. An obese and ugly woman, attired in r.ige, with a bloated inhuman face. She staggered about, and at last clutched hold of one of the gate pillars. Jack looked straight into her face, which was now revealed by the gas. There was something in it that he thought he recognised. He passed his hand over his forehead iv a troubled sort of way, as people do when they are perplexed. Tho woman, too, scemod to recognise him. " Hush !" she hiccuped ; " don't toll him lam here, or ho'll murder mo. But I'll brin«r him down, T will. He calls me a low drunkaid ; I'll show him he's wsrse. Young man, I can tell you (something you want to know — " Here she looked up towards tho Parliament buildings. lutoxicated as bho was, she|appeared to detoct some person of whom she' was afraid, for she immediately let go the pillar and staggoied away into the darkness.