The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-04-30
HOW BARRY WON HER.

"A Barry Munson and Tom Finch
were fast friends. Social difference did
not trouble them. Their interestin base
ball was equally intense, and their an
tipathy for algebra was equally deep
rooted Tom worked out Barry's mathe-
matical problems, and Barry wrote
Toms compositions, and either would
have made any reasonable sacrifice to Sc
cure for the other admission to circus.
When Barry Munson's sister Louise
said that Tom Finch was not Z" a proper
associate" her brother defended his
friend stoutly.
f" guess he knows more'n you do, or
that goggle-eyed Maynard, either"
This was doubly cruel thurst. Miss
Louise Munson had finished her educa-
tion-had any one doubted it, she might
have produced her diploma from the
Raritan Seminary-and, moreover, Miss
Louise Munson was an ardent admirer
of Mr.. Frederick Maynard.
AS boys, then, Tom and Barry were
the best friends. They had but one quar-
rel, that is, of a serious nature, and that
was caused indirectly by Bessie Char
lock. On his thirteenth birthday Barry
gave a party, to which, in spite of many
protestations from Miss Louise, Tom
Finch was invited.
When it came supper-time, Barry of
fered to escort Bessie Charlock to the
;,,t, 10
chad company" Barry was at first as
tonished and afterward indignant. Not,
however, at Bessie. 1t was perfectly
right that she should keep her word and
go with somebody else, as she had prom
ised. Barry's indignation turned upon
that somebody else, who proved to be
Tom Finch.
81 wanted to take Bessie Charlock to
supper" said he, later in the evening.
"Why didn't you ask her, then ?" re-
joined Tom.
"Cause you got ahead of me ~
''Well, if she would rather go with
me, s'pose its all right, isn't it,
This was more than Barry could
stand.
"She wouldn't rather go with you,''
he said, feeling the blood mount to his
face. "She went because she knew no.
body else would go with you.'
ooh, wouldn't they, now? ?' demand
ed Tom, Indignantly, "I guess my girl
would have gone if 1 had asked her, and
if she hadn't, wouldn't It go blubbering
round to the fellow who got the best of
me-"
"You just wait till tomorrow !" said
Barry, as he moved away from the cor
ner where this unpleasant dialogue had
been held.
whats the use of getting mad about
a girl - said he. And this conciliatory
overture effected a perfect reunion
Tom and Barry became closer friends
than ever.
All this, remember, at the unripe age
of thirteen.
At seventeen Barry went to college,
and Tom went to work. Then it was
that they began mutually to appreciate
the dissimilarity of their lots in life.
When Barry came home at the end of
his freshman year he treated Tom kind
ly, but with certain patronizing air,
which was more offensive to the young
mechanic than insult direct. The lusty
friendship of their boyhood was at an
end.
At the end of another year Barry S
college training began to make itself
conspicously manifest. His sister Louise,
now Mrs. Frederick Maynard, had no
need to caution him against the impro-
priety of associating with Tom Finch.
Along with his eschylus and calculus
he had learned some other things not
laid down in college curriculum.
"Tom Finch is a good fellow, but
fresh-eXceedingly fresh"
1t was apparent that time had effected
striking metamorphosis in him. This
same magician, with a gentle touch, had
wrought also a change in Bessie Char
lock. He had moulded her girlish figure
into outlines of symmetrical beauty,
crowned her with wealth of luXuriant
hair, deepened the rich color of cheek
and lip, and freshened her with vigor
of perfect health. She was amazingly
pretty. Barry said, Deucedly charm
ing" He met her not many days after
his return to Marlborough, at a croquet
party. They were antagonists in the
game, but the best of friends between
shots.