Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-06-09

RI street, and he paused, hoping
\ - she would care to stop and
speak to him. She always bowed and
smiled, or said word or two, and he
lived on the memory of it until he met
her again. That, usually, soon happen
ed, for in little town of 500 inhabl.
tants the said inhabitants are liable to
meet often.
She was a sweet girl, a pretty girl
every one thought, but these mild
terms did not half express Ernest VIII
sons opinion of Ruth Adams. She was
perfect woman in the highest and
purest sense of the word, and to a man
who looked upon all women as being
far superior to men, this meant 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 VIII. She had
been for two years. He had been by
far the handsomest 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 1t 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 VIII had not.
So, in the soft light of an afternoon
sun, Ernest Wilson stood and waited
for Ruth to pass, and, watching he1
as she approached him, thought will
little WEAKNESS of the injustice OF
fate. Not that he imagined for a mo
ment that he deserved such woman
as did his handsome brother, who was
a gentleman" only he would have
loved Ruth tenderly, been very
thoughtful Of her, very kind to her, II
she could have cared for him-and VIII
was so careless.
Ruth did not pass this time; she Daus
ed and looked up into his good, honest
face, and then said, little timidly:
ernest, have you heard from viii
lately?"
NO." he said, kindly. There was O
letter In his pocket from VIII, received
a few moments before, speaking OF
hard times and asking for the loan OF
a few dollars. mo, not lately; he is
busy, you know, Ruth; you must moi
think anything of not hearing from him
he does not like to write.
"Are you going homer" he asked
81 will walk with you, Ruth. Are you
worrying about 1t? If you are, then
don't"
II will tell you honestly that | am
You are one OF the people, Ernest, thsi
no one would ever think Of decelving
! am unhappy and am annoyed. 1t Is
not pleasant for girl of spirit to hear
the things people are beginning to say
At the same time, know 1t is only
carelessness on Wills part. He has
given me his word. There is 30 one
who could say otherwise than that VIII
Is gentleman, and gentleman keeps
his word"
"If he does not" he said, and in his
voice there was that she had never
heard before, "in case like this
would scorn him, If he were thou
sand times my brother!'
81 would not have him keep his prom
ise to me against his WILL" she said
proudly. "Neyer that. If he has
changed toward me, then he owes 1t Il
himself and me to"
'"ro be a man-not a gentleman" hi
said, sayagely.
"To be both," she said. But her lii
quivered. They were at the gate by
this time, and he opened 1t and wait
cd for her to pass. Instead, she stood
and looked at him.
Ernest" she said, "tell me just wha
you think"
"What l think is this-that no man
and | make no exceptions whatever
would possibly throw away the chance
of winning you II he were In his right
senses. If man is not In his right
senses he Is deserving Of our pity, no
our blame. wish you good evening.
And he left her looking after him like
one bewildered.
1t may have been letter she wrote tC
Will that night, or 1t may have beer
one that Ernest wrote, refusing th'
loan but for some reason Will cam'