The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-04-03


may have been that she had grown
tired of giving admiration, love,
everything, and receiving in return
| indifferent attention. When woman
| begins to draw comparisons between
her sweetheart and other men things
are not as they should be, for love
knows no comparisons. She did think,
and often, OF the way Ernest had
spoken to her, and of the manner in
which Will talked, as IL she we're the
| one favored in their love affairs.
And yet. to her, Ernest was nothing
in the world but Wills brother. When
Ernest thought of il seriously, he had
never been anything to any one, but
Wills brother. He had been so un-
assuming, had cared so little for APP
pearances, and Will had cared SO
much. Ernest was an excellent busi-
ness man; he did the thinking, Will
did the talking; Will used all of his
ideas as if they we're his own, and
transacted business for his father in an
easy, of-hnnd way, forgetting to men
tion that Ernest had spent hours Of
careful thought and study before the
line of action had been decided upon.
II had been the same when they were
children. Ernest read n book care
fully; Will read criticism upon it,
combined it with Ernest's opinion.
and carried on brilliant conversations
upon it with older people, inipressing
all with his remarkable mind, while
Ernest sat by and said nothing.
Ernest had realized this for long
time, but there had never been any
reason to care before; he did care
now.
lam not gool enough for Ruth" he
said to himself. 81 do not know any
| one who is; and / would not for the
world make her think less of Will if
thought he loved her or would make
her happy; but he would not so I in
tend to let her see how superficial is
his knowledge, and what shallow
man he is.
When Ernest Wilson made reso.
luton it was as good as accomplished,
but this was the most difficult under
taking of his life; for he intended not
only to prove to Ruth that she was
wasting her affections on a man who
cared nothing for her, but to teach
his little world to speak of him as
Ernest Wilson, not as any mans
brother.
Ho was so accustomed to sit by ST.
lently when questions were discussed,
knowing all the time that he had more
knowledge of the subject than those
who were talking, that it produced
| surprise that amounted almost to
sensation when he first began to ex-
press his opinion in modest way.
1t was very hard for him, as he was
not only q modest man, but n tmid
one as we'll, ard had been long in the
background; he succeeded we'll with
the men, however, and with dogged
determination to carry his resolution
through, he was not willing to stop
until he convinced all his friends that
he had mind and opinions of his
own.
They were not so long in finding it
out as he had been, fortunately, and
soon he began to be spoken of as
Ernest instead Of "Will's brother"
or "Mr. Wilson's other son." Much
of the attention he had formerly given
to business he turned upon himself, to
the delight of his mother, who under
stood him better than any one else in
the world, as is the way with mothers,
always, or nearly always. She en-.
couraged him, then she went further
she dropped q word here and there Of
what Ernest thought; how much they
relied upon his judgment, and the
like; and all this time Will fingered,
wondering why Ernest and his father
did not help him pecuniarily, SO that
he could return to the city.
The climax was reached when some
body gave a ball. Ernest went to the
city, returning in garments of the Ia
test cut, and appearing as much at ease
as Will had ever done.
Ruth was looking very downcast at
this party, and apparently did not
notice Ernest's altered appearance,
much to his disappointment He went
to her after while.
"You are not enjoying yourself,
Ruth" he said. "Do you want to 60
homer"