The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-07-27
PORTIA, JUNIOR.
by JOHN KENDRiCK BANGS.


smother handsome and of equabie tenn
permanent, but not uuduly knowledg-
ablc-which may account for the fact
that Portia herself, while of the intel
icctually beautiful type, was not
supercilously lovely, as is so often
Che case with women similarly gifted.
She could talk with man. without
compelling him to feel his own
ignorance, and. of course, this
made her excessively popular
with the male portion of the
community In which she lived; but,
rarcr still, Por,ia endeared herself so
20 women that plain girls, despite her
beauty, loved to be with her. She
had way of making them feel that
her beauty detracted from rather than
cnhanced their plainness, us though
she shed the glamour of her person.
ality on all those about her, just as tho
SUI sometimes seeks ont the dark cor
uers of the earth, and makes gloom
itself seem the source of light. With
al Portia was not conscious of her
prepossessing qualities, and went her
way through life as simply, as quietly,
and as scnsibly as she could.
That she should have princes dane
ing attendance upon her by the score
was not surprising; that she should
dave her preferences for certain
princes was equally to be expected;
chat she should have at least two par
ticular princes who wished her to be
theirs was not startling aud yet, sem
siblc as Portia was, when these gallant
gentlemen made known their ma.ri-
monial hopes TO her, she was startled.
That, | think, was the only COM
mouplacc thing about Portia. To be
startled by so Insignificant an episode
as two proposals on the same evening
is quito IN tho line of woman's way.
But Portia had an excuse for her
embarrassment, which most women
have not, and that excuse was that il
was not until Prince Henry proposed
marriage TO her that she realized how
much she cared for Prince John, nor
did she awaken to the fact that she
had very warm place in hcr heart
for Prince Horny until Prince John
asked her the same question that had
been put by his rival just two hours
previously. To neither could she say
nc; to neither could she say yes
surely here was dilemma! 1t is my
own opinion that most women would
have solved tho problem by quarrel
Ting with both princes, and marrying
a third; and man similarly placed
would have settled it by the toss of a
coin. Not 50 with Portia. Neither
disscmbancc nor penny -tossing was
ono of her accomplishments. Frank
ness was, and she told tho two gentle
men as plainly as she could just how
matters stood.
'I-I think love you both," she
said. "And so, of course. l cannot
marry either of you at present. Time
alone can tell which of tho two love
the better"
Most girls would have said "which
of the two i love tho best" 1t was
TN matters of this sort that Portia
showed her crudition.
''Comc back in five years." she
added, "and / will decide between
you. Meanwhile you should both be-
stir yourselves, for by that which you
achieve are my feelings likely to be
influenced. Ordinarily question of
this kind Is settled on the basis of
love and affection. Here the love aud
affection being in both cases equal, it
becomes question of those qualities
plus the unknown quantity that must
decide"
sit depends. them" said Prince
John. "upon that unknown auau-
&ity?"
'tYes," replied Portla.
tsBut supposing this unknown quan-
dty turns out to be third prince9"
suggested Prince Henry.
"The advantage is with you." re-
turned Portia: "You have the start
on him. II he overtakes and passes
you, am not to blame"
Aud the two princes went out into
llie world and strove.
Prince John devoted himself assidu-
eusly to many things, and succeeded
In all. uc became . lawyer Of re-