The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-04-03
The Brother of a Gentleman.

terms did not half express Ernest
Wilson's opinion of Ruth Adams. She
was perfect woman, in the highest
and purest sense of the word, and to
n man who looked upon all women rs
being far superior to men, this meant
n great deal. That was what he
thought of her; she did not think of
him at all, except when she happened
to see him, and then he reminded her
of his brother Will.
Ruth was engaged to Will; she had
been for too years; he had been by
far the hnndsomest man in town, and
she was the prettiest girl, and he had
been proud of her. That was before
he went to the city. Now he thought
there were girls galore better looking
than Ruth; but he said nothing of the
kind to her, for it was pleasant to
have some one to make love to when
he was obliged to go to the country
sometimes, for Papa Wilson had full
pocketbook, and Will had not.
SO, in the soft light of an afternoon
sun, Ernest Wilson stood and waited
for Ruth to pass, and watching her as
she approached him, thought with q
little wenriness of the injustice of fate.
| Not that he imagined for moment
that he deserved such n woman as did
his handsome brother, who was n
gentleman" only he would have
loved Ruth tenderly, been very
thoughtful of her, very kind to her,
If she could have cared for him-and
Will was so careless.
Ruth did not pass this time; she
| paused and looked up into his good,
honest face, and then said, little
timidly:
ERNEST, have you heard from Will
lately?"
NO." he said, kindly. There was
letter in his pocket from Will, re-
ceived few moments before, speaking
of hard times and asking for the loan
of a few dollars. "No, not lately he
is busy, you know, Ruth; you must
not think anything of not hearing
from him-he does not like to write. 4"
| ERNEST, when he first went away
he wrote to me every day."
| He looked down at her flushed face
with world of love and pity in his
eyes; but she did not see that she
was thinking of Will.
'Are you going homer" he asked.
81 will walk with you, Ruth. Are
You worrying about it9 If you are,
then-don't."
II will tell you honestly that I am.
You are one of the people, Ernest,
that no one would ever think of de-
ceiving. I am unhappy and I am an
noyed; it is not pleasant for girl of
spirit to hear the things people are be.
ginning to say. At the same time I
know it is only carelessness on Wills
part; he has given me his word there
is no one who could say otherwise than
that Will is gentleman, and gentle
man keeps his word. ! would not
have him keep his promise against
his will" she said proudly. "Never
that. II he has changed toward me,
then he owes it to himself and me
To-"
"To be q man-not gentleman" "
he said sayagely.
"To be both," she said. But her
lip quivered.
They were at her gate by this time,
and he opened it and waited for her to
pass. Instead, she stood and looked
at him.
Ernest" she said, "tell me Just
what you think"
"What think, is this: That NO
man, and / make no exception what
ever, would possibly throw away the
chance of winning you if he were in
his right senses. If man is not in
his right senses, he is deserving of oul
pity, not our blame. l wish you good
evening"" And he left her looking
after him like one bewildered.
Itmay havo been a letter she wrote
to Will that night, or it may have
been one that Ernest wrote refusing
the loan, but for some reason Viii
came home II few days later. He has
learned u rew wn7 to carry his cane