The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-08-21

pected OF q statesman who has only the
emoluments Of his place to depend upon?
He must degenerate sooner or
later become q place-seeker, when office
was matter of life and death to those
he loved best in the world No; If he
gave up he was by his own code OF
honor bound to give up-Mrs. Blatch-
ford's wealth, farewell to public Life.
All that would be over.
And with these thoughts always with
him, dreading that each post would
bring him news of the missing people,
despite himself, the mans manner
changed. He grew moody, pre-occupled,
and silent; even the smile with which
he greeted his wife and children was
different SO different, that for the first
time since she had been married, Marion
Wrey felt unhappy and full OF strange
fears
1t was about month after her hus-
bands last interview with the conf
dental agent that Marion sat alone.
Cuthbert had gone to the north of
England to speak at all important
meeting, held that night in u large town,
one of the strongholds of his antagonists.
Although-the Wreys being now people
of some note Marion had half-a-dozen
invitations for this particular evening,
she preferred spending it at home and
alone. She sat thinking of many things,
past and present, but most of all of
Cuthberts changed manner of late. 1t
had for some time been q source OF great
uneasiness to her. He did not complain
or show any sign of illness; he was
sanguine as to the outcome of public
affairs his ambition was not SO high as
to insure disappointment. What then,
had changed him changed his way. of
speaking, changed his smile? Could it
be, she thought, with the quick sus-
picion of q loving woman, that his
affection for her was waning? Did he at
last begin to think that, in marring one
so lowly as herself, he had thrown
chance away? But such thoughts We're
but passing ones. He had given her
too many proofs of the endurance OF his
love to permit her to harbor such
unworthy doubts Yet she sighed, and
prayed that whatever weighed upon her
husbands mind might be removed, or
that he would let her share the burden.
After while she rose and rang the
bell.
Bring me to-nights letters" she
said.
Cuthbert kept no secretary. He was
an energetic man equal to any amount
of work but while the House was
sitting, his correspondence was so
voluminous that, recently, his wife
opened many of his letters and sorted
them according to the importance they
bore In this way she saved him much
time.
There was goodly pile tonight. She
opened and examined each letter in
tllrn-all save one or two which she
laid aside untouched, knowing, from
the initials on the envelopes, that they
contained political matter SO weighty,
that she must not be the first to read it.
Presently she came upon a thick packet,
sealed and registered. It bore the
Liverpool post-mark, and was marked
" Private but SO was every second
envelope. Without hesitation she
broke the cover and drew the letter
out, leaving the other papers which
accompanied it behind.
"A begging petition with testi-
monials," she said as she opened tho
letter, preparing to take a hasty glance
ct its contents As she unfolded the
paper, q small bright object dropped
from it on to her lap. It was gold
cross, cns arm of which was broken off.
She took it in her hand, looked at it for
moment, and then started as if q snake
had bitten her With the trinket still
in her hand, she turned to the letter,
and her face grew paler with every line
she read.
The missive was short; it's meaning
must have been plain, as Marion had
no need to re-peruse it. AS she read the
last word, she let both letter and trinket
fall, then, uttering q low cry of pain,
placed her hands upon her eyes.
80 my darling" she moaned, "andis
this the reason this is why You have
changed so, lately MY love, may
have deserved it, but not like this!'
So she sorrowed for time; then her
mood changed. She rose, and dashing
her tears away, paced the room like
queen.
eff an angel had told me this, would
have laughed him to scorn After so
many years so many happy years
Cuthbert, Cuthbert! why did you do it
How could you do it? 1t was your
right to know. Had you wished it, 1
would have told you-told you freely,
in spite of your promise. But oh! to
learn it like this, through hired spy!"
Then her proud bearing forsook her,
and the hot tears sprang forth again.
But at last she grew composed but
there was world of sweet regret i'll the
words she addressed to her absent hus-
band:
Eyes. you will still love me, and I
shall forgive even this. But never,
never again shall we be the same to each
other-never quite the same, Cuthbert!'
She looked at the contents of the