The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1913-07-16
SPEAKING OF CHANGES
BY cosrER sYLes.

the moth ,rs with marriageable daugn'
tiers. held up their hands in horror at
the moro mention of his name, and
the men-about-town were unanimous
In pronouncing him a thoroughbred
It was partly the fault of his educa-
ton. His father had been a most sue
cessful speculator. and had taught his
son that he must spend his money
like q gentleman or not at all.
The young fellow had imbibed aris-
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 % believe that the one great OBJ
tect 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. ST.,
was out of the game for good. The
shock killed the old gentleman. and
when the lawyers were done with the
settlements, Cuthbert found himself
penniless.
It was against his grain to go to
work, 30 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 very
few exceptions all the strictly proper
81 !, haa ri IN
hospitality of Tanhurst, Sr., turned
away their heads when they saw the
son.
At the close Of a summer day he
was walking home in a sullcn mood.
It had been a bad day, misfortune
had logged him persistently. and he
was asking himself what was the use
of continuing 1t all. He was Of no
good to himself, and there was no 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 1t was too late.
He had said to himself in the years
past that after . taste Of life there
would DO nothing like a quiet home
shared with Marie. She had never
disguised her liking for him. But
nowf He had not dared to go near
the Fairborn house for over . year:
when he had seen Marie he lodged
round corners and avoided her. Now
she was in his thoughts as q prize
that he had long ago forfeited and
must forget, with other things. His
thoughts encompassed him in such .
mist Of gloom that he hardly looked
where he was going. The lake was
before 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, Cuthberti" Marie Fairborn
stood before him. He saw look Of
wonder and pity within her eyes.
II beg your pardon" he exclaimed
confusedly, II was not thinking-I
never noticed" he moved as though
to pass on. but the girl stopped him.
"Cuthbert," she said. why won't
you speak to met 1 haven't seen you
for ever 30 long"
Marie" he returned desperately.
u nOb NJ. IL pcOPic BhOuAu boo yOu
talking to me! Really. I'd better 60"
What nonsense, Cuthbert. You're
At 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 1t 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 1t to nc
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. l might
as we'll get out of the running alto
gether. Why should I take the trouble
to work and struggle? l 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 bach
your self-respect, would you not try
them"
But there 10 no one" he responded
Perhaps, II there was-but WIN
think of itf"
But there IL some one. Cuthbert
A little hand touched his gently. ant
he turned from his moody gazing b
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