The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-07-18

This is the story
OF . misunderstanding.
The very first time he saw her he
said to himself: snow, there's the girl
should like to marry.
She was just his sort, but it was the
old story of the attraction of oppo-
sites, q story as old as the hills. He
was big, she was small; he was dark,
she was fair; he was quiet, she was
lively; and so on, al infinitum. She
certainly was a very taking little girl,
and she had pensive way of contem-
plating one with her great blue eyes
that was altogether fascinating. Bob
Helmsleigh went down before that
look like leaf before the wind.
Bob was not particularly clever or
amusing, or, indeed, particularly any
thing but honest. Honest he was,
from the crown of his close-cropped
head to to the soles of his military
boots, and as simple minded as a
child. Hitherto he had never been in
earnest about woman, but he was in
earnest now, and it was sober, sol
smn, downright earnest. Henceforth
shere would be but one woman in the
world for him.
!, He would have liked to take her in
those great strong arms of his and tell
her so, but such course of action
was out of the question, for she was
engaged to his old chum, Phil Mars
den.
Now, Phil Marsden was the sort of
man that lady novelists describe as
'"one of Fortunes favorites." In
plain English, he was good-looking,
well of, thorough sportsman, good
hand at all games, and popular with
men and women alike. A lucky NOR
cal all round, but it never occurred to
Bob to envy his friend until he saw
Gwen Warrington. Then new,
strange feeling stirred in Bob's honest
heart. 1t was not exactly jealousy,
but rather a wistful, patient wonder
why one fellow should have all the luck
and everything else, while the other
fellows were left out in the cold.
Well, one summer the officers of
Bobs regiment took it into their
heads to give ball. 1t was final
.aare up before the -th moved into
fresh quarters, and they spared neither
trouble nor expense to make it q sue
cess. At this ball Bob was introduced
to the future Mrs. Phil Marsden, and
they danced good deal together. Bob
had splendid swing, and Gwen was
the lightest waltzer in the room, so
they went like clockwork.
Gwen gave Bob more waltzes than
she gave Phil, but the latter did not
seem to mind, and that, of course,
was rather queer state of things.
Bob noticed it, which was remarkable,
for in an ordinary way his perceptions
were inst as blunt as are most mems.
'I say, Miss Warrington" he OBJ
served, tentatively, as he and Gwen
went out together yet once again, "it's
awfully good of old Phil to let you
give me so many dances. Shows he
isn't selfish, any way, doesn't it?"
Gwen shrugged her shoulders, and
n change came over her expressive
face; change that Bob did not quite
like to see.
''Sel6sh |" she echoed. "Oh! Phi
is never selfish where ! am concerned
/ can assure you, Mr.. Helmsleigh.
He has no desire to keep me oil II
himself"
There was no obvious answer tt
this speech, and SO Bob said nothing
AS a matter OF fact, the situation wa
Just little beyond him.
He thought OF Ovens words after
ward, though, and of the family bit
ter tone in which they were uttered
but he did not venture to brosch tn
subject again. 1t was ticklish ground
He saw nothing more of either Phi
or Gwen until the autumn, and thel
he ran into them at the house Of
mutual friend, where he had gone 70
a weeks shooting. This time the ide
that all was not right between tn
lovers struck him more forcibly tina
before. They were apparently O.
good terms with one another, and the
never Disagreed, but Phil had lost hi
old genial spirits and become mood.
and disseminated. He was Away
either in the clouds, or swearing a
his luck. Gwen had changed, toe
Her manner had grown tired an
listless. aud there was Q wistful, VOL