The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-26

IN him that any way but one should be
taken. That was because he was of an
obstinate disposition. his enemies said.
and OF somewhat dense intellect; he could
only receive one idea at time. There
vas never any other way than the one he
had chosen.
a man Of violent temper or undisciplined
will or in any position of great RESPONSE
bilitv. this characteristic might have had
serious results. But being, as he was, a
man in an inferior position in life-merely
a navy working on a railway line-it had
not vet involved him in any unfortunate
complications.
There was something else to be said
about John Barr. With all his obtuseness,
he had a keener sense than most men in
questions of right and wrong. And when
he had once made up his mind that
course of action was the right one, not all
the persuasions or arguments of any man
on earth could move him from it one hairs
breadth But he lived among people who
were not sensitive to differences in char
acter, and he had earned the title of
"dunderhead," too often to expect any
thing like respect from his fellows. As
matter Of fact, John Barr believed all
that his mates said to him; and was firmly
convinced that he was a fool.
Everyone thought 1t an odd thing that
John Barr should be so friendly with
man ike George Westcott. or, perhaps,
IL should be put the other way about;
people were surprised that a man in West
colts position should make a friend OF
John Barr. For Westcott was sort OF
clerk Of the works; he was to some. ex-
tent in authority over the men, and he
did not do any of the rough work at all.
He had a little office, and was reported
the IL ne masters Rsno and pnq he E wore broad
and a ring or two. He was a handsome
Young fellow, fair-haired, haZel-eyed,
straight-limbed and 1.-the; the only I'M
pleasant point in his appearance was an
upright line between the brows which
seemed to betoken bad temper and a GER
tain twist of the thin lips which told of
the same tale The men had many
story Of George Westcottt hot, inconse-
quent temper, or MS mus tee, OF ms 1 ca
PRECIOUS severity when he was in power
and il was well known that the only per-
son who had any influence with him was
John Barr, although ne was merely a COM
The history of the friendship was in no
way remarkable The two men came from
the same village and had been taught
at the same village school But John
Barr had been something of Ounce,
while George Westcott was remarkably
clever. The vicar of the parish had taken
a liking to him and had sent him to
grammar school, and afterward procured
for him a good situation. George was no ge~
MUS, and nobody had had the folly of think
ing that he could be made into a gen
ton and good start in life, and would
have done better in the world had II not
been for his hot temper, which had caused
him to lose more than one good place,
and damaged his chances OF good situa-
tons in the future. But he had one good
characteristic-he was loyal TO MS trlend;
LOYAL at least, in the sense Of not re
pudiating his friendship, for 1t was pas
slve rather than active on his part. John
Barr had managed, somehow, to accom-
pany him so far WhithersoeVer ne went.
In one place after another Barr had con-
trived to get taken on, in very inferior
positions, of course, in the houses OF
business where Westcott had been en-
ployed, and it came to be an understood
thing among persons who knew the TWO
that where Westcott went John Barr went
too. So 1t came about that while west
colt was the clerk Barr worked on the
anway line. A new line was to be open
d. and great cutting had been made;
it was likely that the work would last
for months, and row OF shantles Tor
the navvies' accommodation had been
run up at one end of the village of River
ford. Westcott, of course, did not live
in one of these he had respectable lodg-
ings in the village; but John Barr did as
his fellows did, with one eXceptlon-he
never got drunk.
As it happened, the village of Rivertord
contained relations of John Bars. The
saddler Robert Horribly, at whose mouse
Westcott lodged, was his FIRST cousin, ana
was friendly, although little conde-
scending, to 'poor John" as he always
called him. He was proud, however, OF
Westcott's acquaintance, and considered
it a great point in Johns favor that
he had had the wit to MAKE Ifaioo,s su 81 ia
house-but chiefly for George Westcott-s
sake.
And Robert Horribly had daughter. 1t
was the sight of Edith Hornby's sweet,
bright face that had first induced West
colt to take lodgings at the saddler's
house. John, in his clumsy way, had tried
TO tell him that he and Edith were tacltly
promised to one another that he had
loved Edith ever since the days when he
had spent his holidays at Robert Hornby's
house; but it seemed, somehow, as though
George would not understand. He laugh
ed boisterously when John mentioned the
subject, clapped him on the shoulder, and
chaffed him about his affection for Edith,
until John, shame-faced and little hurt,
was altogether silenced. But, although
silent, he was not blind. 1t dawned on
him before very long that Westcott was
making hot love to Edith Horribly, and
mat Edith returned his love. And what
was John to do?
There was only one way-in Johns opin-
lon-out of the difficulty. He must resign
his claim to Ediths love at once and for
1alr held-for was not George his friend?
re was a good deal troubled about the
matter, but in his own words, he did not
see what else he could do.
He walked up to Hornby's house at a
time when he knew the saddler was like
~ TO be out; and he was so far lucky that
ne caught Edith alone. And to her he adj
.ressed himself in his plain, outspoken
av.
Edith" he said, there was day when
said as how you would marry me-"
Was there?' said Edith, a little CO.
.uettishly. I'm sure / don't remember"
49,, Don't your said John, patiently.
w ell | suppose it was easy forgotten
when it was only me. You've done pref
~ much as you liked with me for a good
number of years now, haven't you, Edith ?"
O., m sure l don't know" the girl replied.
She twisted the hem of her apron, and
looked up at John with a curious light in
her eyes One would have said il was the
look OF woman who loved him; but John
- onn never thought of any such thing
T3r, or course, she must prefer Westcott,
" 70 was so handsome, so clever, so supe-
Elor 10 him in every way
wen, I've been thinking" said John
S.ondly. that Il was jusf possible the
rloinlse you made might be weighing on
SiLur mind, Edith, my dear. So / stepped
long This afternoon 20 tell you that I
VIZ, y tnlnk nothing Of IT. any more than
Then why did you come TO sneak Of II
~ ~ said Edith. The light IN her ewes
a a. uied out, and her face began 70 look
49,. Wen, ] don't know" said John. suls-
metay, 1T just came to my mind Hkr
ana / wondered %