The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-04-18
AN OLD MANS FOLLY
Scapegoat of the Family went
West and. Made a Big
Fortune
Rv n. M. EGBERT.


,o.hor of two sons so different as
James and Ernest" Farleigh woulu
saw dolefully to his acqualntances.
almost seems as though nature had
mixed all the good qualities INTO
lanes and left my younger son WIN
out any"
"But Ernest means WE'LL" Mrs. Far
leigh would sigh.
HE may mean WE'LL answered the
merchant testify. THE trouble is he
has no character; he can't stick at
anything"
Most of the Farleighs' friends
agreed with this diagnosis. But Mlnna
GRAY dissented secretly. Minna was
the only child of an old friend ana
former business partner of Farleigh;
he paid a half share of the profits TO
her trustees: and Minna liked Ernest
Farleigh.
"You see, it's this way, Minna,' Err
est confided, when he was about
twenty-five THE old man thinks I'm
good for nothing because | haven't
made a shining mark at literature-at
my age. Why, it takes years ana
years to win reputation, to say
nothing of money. Then, when l saw
he wouldn't give me time, L volun-
teered to go into the business under
James, although l loathed it. And
after a couple of months / found what
I had always suspected-that l had
no head at all for figures. So l told
father so-and now he says l have
no tenacity of purpose. And he's Of
fered me a thousand dollars to go
West and make my fortune"
But believe in you, Ernest" said
Minna proudly. She would have added
dear" if he had given her the least
encouragement But Ernest would
not WOO the heiress until he was
financially-if not her equal, at least
able to support her.
So Ernest went West, and in three
months his money had gone into
deep hole in the ground. Then, over
come by inconsistencies and a longing
to see Minna again, he returned.
He had only meant it to be flying
visit, and he had money enough to
support himself while he was in the
East-hearly a hundred dollars, in
fact. But James had taken advan-
tage of his brothers absence to preju-
dice his father against him-James,
the model son, who never appeared
minute late at the Office or left a
minute early and was now booked to
succeed his father. So that Ernest
was received with distinct GOODNESS
and ostracised by his fathers friends.
treatment no longer
"Minna," he said, Il guess the peo-
pie were right when they said l was
a failure"
20, no, you aren't" she answered
confidently. Il know that you will
succeed"
I'm not coming back until l do"
said Ernest Farleigh. "Minna, if ever
l do, will -
Minna t,-le up close to him and
lifted her face so spontaneously that
there was no need to say anything
more. In fact, both had always known
that this must be the end of their
long friendship; their love was the
stronger because of it's slow develop
ment.
Il shall always wait, dearest" she
whispered as Ernest set out for the
West again.
Two years passed; Ernest's letters
came regularly. He had been a miner,
camp cook, real estate agent, a
stage-coach driver; somehow he never
seemed to make money. Then Mrs
Farleigh was taken i'll with a linger-
ing sickness. Ernest scraped togeth-
er all the money he could collect and
hurried home. He appeared, poorly
dressed, tremulous with eagerness to
see his mother again. He was one
hour 100 late
His father did not speak to him
that day. He was broken down by
the shock and planned to turn the
business over to James. James treat
ed his brother with derisive con-
tempt. On the next afternoon Henry
Farleigh suddenly stamped into the
room where his younger son sat
brooding over his loss
Il don't want you in my house" he
shouted, beside himself with grief
and passion. Il have wasted hundreds
on you; you have proved yourself
worthless. When you can come back
with five thousand dollars you NAV
resume your filial relationship to me.
Till then never let me see your face
again"
The old merchant was not wholly
heartless, but he had idolized his
younger son in youth, and when Ern-
est had disappointed the hopes that
he had entertained of him his love
changed to bitterness and hatred.
Ernest went out of the room quietly.
i shall wait for you always" whis-
pered Minna as she, alone of all
stood with him upon the station plat.
form. But the tone of hope was gone
and there was the sound of despair
IN the words. Ernest was now nearly
SIX and twenty; Minna was a year
younger. 1t was four years since she
had begun to dream of their home to-
gether. Yet she respected his desire
to make something of a name or for
fYYya h~&~