The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-03-20
SPEAKING OF CHANGES
BY cOSTER 8YLEs.

ters held up their hands in horror at
the mere mention of his name, and
the men-about-town were unanimous
In pronouncing him a thoroughbred.
1t was partly the fault of his educa-
ton. His father had been most sue
cessful specUlator, and had taught his
son that he must spend his money
like a gentleman or not at all.
The young fellow had imbibed arts
tocratic desires from his earliest days.
he had learned never to stint himself,
never to do anything himself that
others could be hired to do for him,
and to believe that the one great OBJ
ject of living was to extract from
each day as much pleasure as the
hours would hold.
Then his father dropped suddenly
from the position of millionaire to
that of pauper, a not unusual change
on the stage of speculation. A grand
coup went wrong. and Tanhurst, Sr..
was out of the game for good. The
shock killed the old gentleman, and
when the lawyers were done with the
settlements, Cuthbeyt found himself
penniless.
1t was against his grain to go to
work. so he became an habitue of the
poker rooms at fashionable clubs, and
a prominent figure at the race
courses. 1t was at this time that his
name became as a red rag to the
good people Of the town. With a very
few exceptions all the strictly proper
folks who had been glad to accept the
hospitality of Tanhurst. Sr., turned
away their heads when they saw the
son. At first Cuthbert had good luck
with his gambling, but presently for
tune frowned on him, and everything
he touched turned to ashes. He be-
gan to look haggard about the eyes
and mouth. his former easy indiffer-
ence turned to cynicism and he began
to despise himself. He grew moody
and more reckless than ever, he
sought to drown care in all manner
Of ways, and they were not always
proper ways All the bitterness of
adversely was in his mouth, that its
uses could ever be sweet he never
dreamt Of
At the close of a summer day he
was walking home in a sullen mood.
1t had been a bad day, misfortune
had logged him persistently, and he
was asking himself what was the use
of continuing it all He was of no
good to himself, and there was 10 one
else in the world who cared for him
or of whom he dared think as caring
for him. In the old days of luxury he
had always hoped to call Marie Fair
born his own, but now it was too late.
He had said to himself in The years
past that after a taste o. life there
would be nothing like q quiet home
shared with Marie She had never
disguised her liking for him. But
now He had E0u dared to go near
the F-i-bJIu house for over a year;
w'neo he had seen Marie he lodged
round corners and avoided her. Now
she vas in his thoughts as a prize
that ne had long ago forfeited and
mus. forget. with other things His
thou gifts encompassed him in such a
mis- of gloom that he hardly looked
where he was going. The lake was
be ore him and he was walking toward
it. He never noticed the figures that
were approaching him. A sweet voice,
like the memory of an old perfume,
aroused him.
Why Cuthbert!" Marie Fairborn
stood before him. He saw look of
wonder and pity within her eyes.
81 beg your pardon" he exclaimed
confusedly. 4 was not p thinking
to pass on, but the girl stopped him.
"Cuthbert.' she said, why won't
you speak to me? haven't seen you
for ever so long"
Marie" he returned desperately.
I'm not fit If people should see you
talking to me. Really, Ia better go"
What nonsense, Cuthbert You're
fit enough for me. Come, you shall
walk with me and tell me every
thing"
With much incoherency Cuthbert
told the story of his downfall, or as
much of it as he could relate without
breaking Somehow the soft eyes of
the girl by his side led him to tell the
story as he would have told it to no
other human being. He spoke of his
sins, his sorrows, his hopes, and of
his present despair
SO you see, Marie" he said at the
finish. I'm of no use at all. ! might
as we'll get out of the running alto
gether Why should | take the trouble
to work and struggle? | do not care
enough for myself, now, to do that"
But if there was some one else
that you cared for, some one who
would try to teach you to win back
your Aelf-respect, would you not try
them"
He was looking across the lake with
a great sadness in his eyes. The
hopelessness of it all was SO awful.
But there is no one." he responded
Perhaps, if there was-but why
think of it,
But there is some one, Cuthbert."
A little hand touched his gently, and
he turned from his moody gazing to
look down at the girl.
Marie" he exclaimed, almost fierce
ly, don't play with me. Are you in
earnest? You don't really mean that
you will be that some one, do you?
You can't-you can't-what-?" He
stopped and kissed the gloved hand
fervently.
Now don't be an absurd boy" said
Marie. But for the rest of the walk
Cuthbert behaved himself like a boy
just out of school.
I About a year later a number of men