The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-08-21
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Sefl r3iaess RI gov ar s.
B!atchford Request,
~ jos BY
HUGH CONWAY,
AUTHOR OF SCALED BAcx.S "nARE
DAYS" ETC,
HUGH CONWAY,
CONTINUED }


England But lost all l made as soon
as / got it, for years and years. It was
only last year had streak of luck, and
TO lowed 1t up. haven't been in Eng
land two months. Besides, +" he added,
rather detiantly Ralph Blatchford
was no particular friend of mind; 1
couldn't go hunting about England for
woman and a boy. I did see an ad-
vertisement once in Sydney paper
about him."
"Why not have answered it?"
II was up in the Bush but made
shift to write letter; / sent it by
mate to the nearest post town. He was
never heard of again. Got killed, or
lost in the Bush, suppose"
"Then you know nothing about his
wife and child?"
Nothing whatever, sir, I'd almost
forgotten about the whole affair. Only,
when I heard that talk about Mrs.
Blatchfords money her sons last words
came back to me- and l felt conscience
struck like, and made up my mind to
come and repeat them to you. That's
all I've got to say, sir"
Cuthbert unused for while. How
came it that the widow had never ap
piled to the old lady for assistance
Why had she taken no notice of the adj
vertisements addressed to her late
husband? Either she was dead or was
in ignorance of her husbands tune
name and station in life most likely
the latter.
"What name did he pass under, when
you saw him last?" lie asked.
His visitor scratched his head.
:" All, there you have me, sir; I've
been trying to remember it all the way
down. know did hear it at the time,
Wilson, or johnson, or some common.
ssh name l;ks that but for the lie Of
me- don't know much"
Chow can I find out?
"Only way I can think Of is to get
some one in Frisco to go to 'Daley's
Bar its still running, know-and
ask if any one remembers man who
was shot there September 18th, four
teen years ago, To be sure, there must
have been good many shot. about that
time. but some one may be able to spot
the right one.
''Thank yoa. I will do so-Your
name is?
Orchard Dunn's my name. Quay,
Bristol, will find me. I'm trying to do
something as stevedore. I've bit of
money, and ant to stay in England,
if cam"
Cuthbert rang the bell, and told the
servant to minister to Mr.. Dunn's wants;
then bidding him good-morning, left
the house by side entrance and,
unseen by wife or children, departed on
a solitary walk through the neighbor-
ing lanes, in order to think the matter
over without interruption.
1t was the worst intelligence he could
have received even worse he thought
than that of the existence of Ralph
Blatchford Despite the lapse of years,
the restrictions were to him binding as
before. Yet to be called upon to sur
render all to woman and child who
might be living in the lowest rank of
life, PERHAPS in crime, seemed perpOs-
ferrous. Besides, now he would have to
surrender more than wealth he must
give up ambition, realized ambition,
with it. Would he have the strength
to conquer this time? He feared not.
But that question must be postponed
for the present However he acted
eventually, whether true to his own idea
of truth, whether he could bring himself
one thing was clear-Ralph Blatchford's
widow and child must be found.
Another day should not pass without
steps being taken to insure this. When
found, and the necessity of action stared
him in the face, he would decide what
to do. Having resolved this, he
returned to the house.
Although he was now old enough to
have learned the way to control emo
ton, Mrs. Wrey saw that something was
amiss with him. When dinner was
over and the day had closed, she sat
beside him and looked into his face
anxiously
+" Cuthbert dear. something is worry
ing you. Is it public or a private
affair? can at least share the last"
He drew her close to him. Why
should she be made anxious by think
ing of calamity which might never
arrive? She knew something of the
mo al obligation which overrode his
legel title to his inheritance-that should
Ralph Blatchford appear, great sacr
flee must be made; but all danger of
that seemed dispelled years and years
ago.
antly. eff so, am ashamed of myself,
as it is only question of money. 1 may
lose some soon.
His manner treasured her.
els that all ?" she said. ''I feared
it was something worse than that"
He kissed her upturned face, and
could not refrain from saying
eff / lost every thing in the world,
you would be the same to me, Marion ?"
His wife took both his hands and
gazed earnestly into his eyes.
$50 back ten years. and answer that