The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-08-17
HIS MAIDEN SPEECH.


ius, nobody knew that better than he.
but he was good-nntured fellow for
whom al men had kind word: hence
their sympathy. This was the position
OF affairs, and state il In the bland
simplicity with which Cheeseman de-
scribed his troubles TO all his friends,
for he was man much given To conf
dences. He was engaged to Lady
Helen Oldacres; was, indeed her slave,
and she gave him ample opportunity
OF appreciating the fact The engage
ment was one of those which society,
in general, applauds, and the British
matron, in particular. regards with a
respectful admiration. In other words,
Lady Helen brought TO the bargain an
ancient name, and the reputation
which surrounds the belle Of two sea-
sons, while Cheeseman contributed
thirty thousand pounds year, scraped
together by his father, successful
money-lcnuer. who had recently gone
70 his reward. and pedigree which
wise people did not inquire into.
Lady Helen, there is no denying II,
was very beautiful. III she had not heav-
en- in hcr eye, she at any rate had grace
ia her steps and dignity of the most
dncal description in every gesture. 1t
was these qualities which had subdued
Cheeseman. who himself did not pos
svss them in any profusion. She had
been going TO marry marquis, at the
very least, in her first season, there
MT. very awlxwardly, being at the
time single duke wanting a wife.
Bat the marquises were shy. and the
rest Of the peerage-matrimoni I'M
clined-was unanimous in neglccting
Lady Helen 1t was the same the next
season, positively not u single member
Of the house of lords--except one old
guntleman of seventy, who lived on a
pension and who was generally ac-
counted mad-made an offer, and the
deAvagers heard, not without a certain
malicious delight, that she had conde-
sosndcd to accept Chceseman after a
blief courtship at country house in
tie autumn. Perhaps the old earl of
Towness could have given a very good
reason for this projected union, pcnuri-
ons peers and rich plebeian sons-in-law
being occasionally met with outside
tho realms OF fiction.
But this, Of course. was not the
reason why men said it was hard on
Cheeseman. Most declared, when
they heard of the engagement, that he
was "doosid lucky fellow"--in
which sentiment Cheeseman cordially
concurred, and the rest, who had their
own opinions as to the advantages of
being Lady Helen's husband, con-
graduated him in that kind of way
which makes congratulation trifle
more calling than curse. 1t was
only when the conditions OF the
marriage leaked out that commioera-
ton become common. Lady Helen had
told him, and he made no secret OF the
fact that she could never wed an un-
distinguished man, and that before he
led her TO the altar he must do some
thing. One would have imagined that
thirty thousand pounds sterling year
was distinction enough for anybody,
but then Lady Helen was peculiar. As
ne Was not member or the upper
house. though she was determined he
should be some day, he must enter the
lower rs n step towards 1t. She would
marry him the day after he made his
mark in the house of commons.
To n man who had never made a
speech in his life, and knew rather less
about politics than lady c@nvasser.
the task OF getting himself returned TO
the legislature of this great country
by the people, to say nothing of max
ing figure when he got there, might
we'll appear hopeless. A philosopher
I,n4
are few things money will not buy. A
seat in parliament. even in these
democratic days, in not one OF them,
and Chcescman was shrewd enough to
perceive that money must be his open
sesame 10 Westminster.
BY one OF those happy chances with
which fortune favors the brave, there
was at that time certain member of
parliament Of the particular party TO
which Lady Helen and Lady Helcn's
ancestors belonged, who wished Co re-
tire from the political game. lie would
have retired before, as he was particu-
larly anxious 10 take holiday in
some part OF the world where the
climate does not agree with gentle
mans creditors. IL he had but |
possessed the means OF getting there. |
A friend who was aware of Chcepc-
mans ambition and the honorable |
gentleman's difficulties made the two |
acquainted. IL Is unnecessary for the |
purpose OF this story TO tell what |
passed between them; suffice IL to say
that one morning IL was announced /
that Mr.. u. the member for the !
(1avcriv division Of Wvshirc. had ac- |
cepted the Office Of the stewardship OF |
the Chiltern Hundreds; and II anyone
had had the curiosity TO examine the !
passenger list Of the Il. NJ. 5. Botanic.
which sailed from Queenstown that
very day, he would have found that
Mr.. -. with an utter disregard for |
tho duties Of his important Office, had
booked passage by her.
The scat was particularly safe one,
but IL cannot be said that the fort