Interest increased in the South Fox by-election
as its first touchstone, and gathered almost romantically
about Lorne Murchison as its spirited advocate. It was
commonly said that whether he was returned or not on this
occasion, his political future was assured; and his name
was carried up and down the Dominion with every new wind
of imperial doctrine that blew across the Atlantic. He
himself felt splendidly that he rode upon the crest of
a wave of history. However the event appeared which was
hidden beyond the horizon, the great luck of that buoyant
emotion, of that thrilling suspense, would be his in a
very special way. He was exhilarated by the sense of
crisis, and among all the conferences and calculations
that armed him for his personal struggle, he would now
and then breathe in his private soul, "Choose quickly,
England," like a prayer.
Elgin rose to its liking for the fellow, and even his
political enemies felt a half-humorous pride that the
town had produced a candidate whose natural parts were
held to eclipse the age and experience of party hacks.
Plenty of them were found to declare that Lorne Murchison
would poll more votes for the Grits than any other man
they could lay their hands on, with the saving clause
that neither he nor any other man could poll quite enough
this time.
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