The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-07-28
OVERCOMING A
BARRIER
BY MARY JOSEPHINE MAYER

~ tuitW Himself DdCk IN MS Iedthe
armchair, pulled hard at his pipe
gazed at the ceiling through this
smoke, and then reperused the letter
The note ran thus:
Beacon Street, Boston-Dear John.
Mother and | are going to New Yorl
wednesday for a few days shopping
We shall put up at the Holland house
Please come Wednesday evening and
take me CONFERENCE.-The reception.
rooms are such impossible places to
receive ones friends in. Until Wednes,
day then, Euuice Garner. -"
This was Tuesday evening. Brock.
ton drew out his poe ct ook and told
over Its contents mechanically as If
he knew the sun we'll enough. There
was a two-dollar bill and three ones.
He plunged into his trousers pocket
and drew out IS cents in small change.
lhen he rnmmaged in his bureau
drawer and found a little heap of
pawn tickets and his dress shirt
studs. Five dollars and seventy-fye
cents he should have to manage
breakfast, lunch and dinner on the
70 cents, That would leave four dol
lars for their theater tickets and one
dollar for possible extras. Having set
tied these practical details. he gave
himself up to tobacco smoke and mus.
Ing.
He went to the Holland house the
next evening as early as he decentIv
could and after sending up his card
waited in tense expectancy. He won.
dered II Eunice had changed in the
eight months since she had waved him
a good-by from the deck of the Kaiser
Wilhelm.
When at last she came the sight of
her sunk him into a moment of dull
Notwithstanding there in the
doorway until she could see him, she
looked so distinctly the woman of the
world. Perhaps his own poverty made
him eSaggerate the richness of her
furs and velvet gown and plumed hat
he did not stop to consider that the
same clothes on another woman would
fail to produce that effect of distinc-
ton. Then she caught sight of him
her eyes lighted as she came forward
impulsively with both hands our.
stretched; there was something child.
Ike IN her self-forgetfulness. "Well
Johnnie?' she said. well, Eunice?"
he replied, and they stood with clasped
hands. He couldn't speak. The long.
ing to take her in his arms. to make
her his by force, for the instant over
powered him.
YOU are the most beautiful creature
on Gods earth, and | love Won T
love you" were the words that rushed
to his lips, But he pulled himself
together, withdrew his hands from the
clasp OF hers, and said in his very
best drawingrOom manner: "Awfully
good OF you to let me know you were
in town"
What's the matter?" she asked. re-
covering herself, Your jaw is set as
II you wanted to fight some one"
80
"0h, | was only thinking of how
glad | am to have you back
She laughed. IF that look means
pleasure, let's be miserable. Come.
cheer up, and tell me where you are
going to take me t~o-night?"
II thought I'd let you choose" he
said.
Then suppose we walk down town.
and see what turns up. feel what
mother would call Irresponsible to.
AS they came out into the clear Jan.
uary night the cold wind smote them
in the face and forced them to take a
brisk pace. In forlorn contrast to
the general gayety were a motley
crowd of men gathered on the strip of
asphalt to the north of the Worth
monument triangle. They were sing
ing a hymn.
What is ito" asked Eunice. 81 want
10 see them
on, no, you don't" said he. ITS
only the bummers waiting for a nights
lodging He had his reasons for not
wishing to stop there with Eunlce.
But | do" she insisted. These are
just the sights of a big city that inter
est me-"
Brockton reluctantly made a place
for her among the group of spectators.
Before them the outeasts--for the most
part old or m~iddle-aged men-huddled
together in a solid square, while a
Lhick-set man with his dark head barred
to the wind h~arangued the lookers-on
from a soap box.
1t was no a new sight TO Brocktou.
"oh, let's get out of this, he said.
She threw him a look Of repro .,ch
answer, adding: Unfortunately /
my ~pocketbook at home lie
that she was silently condemn
Ing him for not giving. ,
Eunice turned to Brockton. Please
END me SEP she said, authorltatiyeiy.
Doggedly be drew out the two-aNIiar
bill and the three ones and held them
her There were just two
left In his pocket.
f-An /