Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
AN OLD MANS FOLLY.
Scapegoat Of the Family Went
West and Made a Big
Fortune
nx a. M EoRERr.


father OF two sons 50 different as
James and Ernest" Farleigh would
say dolefully 70 his acquaintances. 1T
almost seems as though nature had
mixed all the good qualities into
James and left my younger son with
out any"
but Egnest 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 cant stick at
anything"
Most OF the Farleighs' friends
agreed with this diagnosis But Nina
Gray dissented secretly Minna was
the only child of an old friend and
former business partner of Farleigh;
be paid q half share of the profits TO
her trustees: and Minna liked Ernest
Farleigh
You see. It's this way, Minna.'' Ern-
est confided. when he was about
twenty-five. THE old man thinks I'm
good for nothing because | haven't
made shining mark at literature-at
my age. Why. It takes years and
years TO win q reputation. to say
nothing OF money. Then. when | saw
he wouldn't give me time. volun-
teered to go into the business under
James. although loathed It, And
after a couple OF months found what
had always suspected-that ! had
no head at all for figures. So ! told
father so--and now he says ! have
no tenacity of purpose And he's of
Tered me thousand dollars TO go
West and make my fortune"
But | believe In you Ernest said
Minna proudly She would have added
dear" II 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 a
deep hole in the ground Then, over
come by inconsistencies and a longing
to see Minna again, he returned
J He had only meant 1t to be a flying
visit and he had money enough to
support himself while he was in the
East--nearly 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 a
! minute late at the office or left a
. minute early and was now booked to
succeed his father Sd that Ernest
was received with distinct .coidness
, and ostracised by his fathers friends.
|, After three days he could endure this
treatment no longer 7a,
! "Minna; he said. Il guess the peo-
, pie were right when they said was
failure -
J, o.. no. you aren't" she answered
, confidently Il know that you will
, succeed"
I'm not coming back until ! do. .
l. said Ernest Farleigh "Minna. II ever
do. viii you"
! Minna came 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 its slow develop
ment L,lis
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 miner
, camp cook, a real estate agent. a
stage-coach driver: somehow he never
seemed to make money Then Mrs
Farleigh was taken IN with 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 too late,
!, His father aid 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
= Itempt On the next afternoon Henri,
Farleigh suddenly stamped into the
room where his younger son sal
: brooding over his loss.
II don't want you in. my house" he
shouted beside himself with grie
!. and passion. Il have wasted hundreds
on you; you have proved yourself
: worthless. When you can come bacl
: with five thousand dollars you ma,
/, resume your filial relationship to me
Till then never let me see your fac,
again"
; The old merchant was not who'll,
I, heartless. but he had idolized hi
I younger son In youth. and when Ern
!. est had disappointed the hopes tina
J, he had entertained of him his Low,
changed to bitterness and hatred
= Ernest went out of the room quietly.
II shall wait for you always" whis
pered Minna as she. alone OF ali
: stood with him upon the station plat
form. But the tone of hope was gon.
and there was the sound OF despai
In the words Ernest was now neari,
six and twenty; Minna was yea
"A younger II was four years since sh
had begun TO dream OF their home to
gether Yet she respected his desir
!, to make something OF name or for
Z tune before meeting marriage He
I money was milestone round her 10,
!. ing heart.
! Then the years rolled by and Err
!. est's letters became fewer and fewer
!. In each Minna seemed TO see. the Sc,
. erfhg OF another bond between them
= Ernest was now working on a. news