Winner Stories

Next Winner (6) | Previous Winner (4)

was hourly growing more and more momentous, and which for the time
had divided England into two bitterly opposed factions.
These years which Erica had passed so quietly had been eventful
years for the country, years of strife and bloodshed, years of
reckless expenditure, years which deluded some and enraged others,
provoking most bitter animosity between the opposing parties. The
question was not a class question, and a certain number of the
working classes and a large number of the London roughs warmly
espoused the cause of that party which appealed to their love of
power and to a selfish patriotism. The Hyde Park meeting would
inevitably be a turbulent one. Those who wished to run no risk
remained at home; Rotten Row was deserted; the carriage road almost
empty; while from the gateways there poured in a never ending
stream of people some seriouslooking, some eager and excited,
some with a dangerously vindictive look, some merely curious.
Every now and then the more motley and disorderly crowd was
reinforced by a club with its brass band and banners, and gradually
the mass of human beings grew from hundreds to a thousand, from one
thousand to many thousands, until, indeed, it became almost
impossible to form any idea of the actual numbers, so enormous was
the gathering.
We shall have a bad time of it today, remarked Raeburn to Brian,
as they forced their way on. If I'm not very much mistaken, too,
we are vastly outnumbered.
He looked round the huge assembly from his vantage ground of six
foot four, his cool intrepidity not one whit shaken by the
knowledge that, by what he was about to say, he should draw down on
his own head all the wrath of the roughest portion of the crowd.
'Twill be against fearful odds! said Tom, elbowing vigorously to
keep up with his companion.
We fear nae foe! said Raeburn, quoting his favorite motto. And,
after all, it were no bad end to die protesting against wicked
rapacity, needless bloodshed.
His eye kindled as he thought of the protest he hoped to make; his
heart beat high as he looked round upon the throng so largely
composed of those hostile to himself. Was there not a demand for
his superabundant energy? A demand for the tremendous powers of
endurance, of influence, of devotion which were stored up within
him? As an athlete joys in trying a difficult feat, as an artist
joys in attempting a lofty subject, so Raeburn in his consciousness
of power, in his absolute conviction of truth, joyed in the
prospect of a most dangerous conflict.
Brian, watching him presently from a little distance, could not
wonder at the immense influence he had gained in the country. The
mere physique of the man was wonderfully impressive the strong,

Next Winner (6) | Previous Winner (4)

Winner Index