The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-08-14

home-lov;ng man. He Is still young !;
has plenty of confidence in himself, and
is content to wait his time trusting
that when his chance does come, he may
know how to use it Yes. Cuthbert
Wrey, the member for Blacktown; is
not only an ambitious man, but, so far
~ ne has gone, successful one.
He has been in Parliament about
seven years. He could scarcely believe
the truth. when he found his first
attempt successful. No one knows ex-
Sctly how candidates are brought for
ward and matters managed; but if a
man chooses to drop hint to the
proper people that he is willing ut his
own charge, to lead forlorn hope, it is
not so very long before he is allowed to
do so.
Upon leaving the Church and taking
possession of Mrs. Blatchfords wealth,
Cuthbert's one aim had been the Senate.
He devoted to this the three years
income which had accumulated while
he considered the Inheritance in abey-
ance. Of course he had to wait his
chance, and that chance when offered to
him, seemed SO slight that he looked
upon fighting the borough of Blacktown
as advantageous only because it gave
him certain claim on his party for the
future. 1t was by-election, and, hope
less as it seemed, was to be contested on
principle. He went down to try his
best. Several chances favored him.
The principal man in the place, his OPP
over some trihing social piece of legisla-
ton. not only kept Achilles like to his
tent, but gave his dependents free license
to vote as they chose. The Government
again, had selected as candidate a man
who was SO clever that they wanted his
assistance, but who had, nevertheless.
made himself 80 unpopular that he had
been already rejected by two constituent
cies. They thought that Breakdown was
safe seat, so sent him down there.
Perhaps the free and independent cleo
tors resented this, perhaps the man with
great local influence did more than
abstain from voting way, Cuth-
bert was returned by decent majority,
and walked up to the table of the House
amid frantic Opposition cheers, as the
harbinger of the return ng food of
power. At the general election. which
followed in about two years, he was
returned by an overwhelming majority.
He had made himself known and popu-
lar, and more than that, the sulky man
had now thrown his .otin with Cuthbert
party, and, like all renegades, was
bitter foe to his former faith.
We need not follow his Parliamentary
career. OF course he was still in the
second rank; but his name began to be
heard in the mouths of men. II. had
kept himself before the public His
speeches were listened to, and what is
more. reported Mt length. He had made
ono o. two hits, and people knew that
when his party were in power he would
fill one of the lesser Offices More than
this he had no right to expect-a.
present.
Cuthbert has changed somewhat since
we first saw him. Although i'll many
ways the past years have improved him,
he shows traces of hard work. His
hair Is sprlnkled with gray, and there
are lines of thought on his broad fore
head; but he looks stalwart and strong
enough to face any amount of toll and
fatigue, whether bodily or mental, An
erect, strongly built man, with q power
full but pleasing face, and possessing
the knack OF winning, not only the
confidence and trust of one or two per-
sons, but that of large audiences.
Indeed he is looked upon as one of the
safest and best men OF his party to
address large gathering Of people He
speaks well and easil y his logic is SIM
pie and goes straight to the point; he
possesses commanding presence, and
moreover, argues as from honest convic-
in political point of view and if
Cuthbert Wrey, while smoking his
morning cigar under the shade of his
favorlte tree, sees in the immediate
future very pleasant probabilities, who
can wonder?
In spite of Mrs. Blatchfords wealth,
she had possessed no residence save
Barnes Folly. Cuthbert had not made
behis home ; although TO this day it
renamed his property, and unproductive
rs ever. He had purchased small
estate in the west of England and that
except when Parliament was sitting,
was his home. 1t was little more than a
comfortable country house with we'll
kept gardens and small park. He had
no wish to SIT up as u county magnate.
His honors were to be won amid the
busting strife of cities; but he loved
his home and those who filled it.
He sat lazily skimming yesterdays
paper. Being some distance from a
post-town, letters only reached him once
day. AS the newspaper gave no
account OF debates, his interest IN it was
but lauguid The weather was SO fine
that he felt little inclination for work,
although he knew that pile of letters
awaited him indoors. He looked the
picture of placid content as he sat in
the shade OF the large sycamore tree.
Few would have imagined that idle
gentleman in soft SLOUGH hat and old
shooting-coat, whose thoughts seemed
lnn l..