Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-09-21
OVERCOMING A
BARRIER
By MARY JOSEPHINE MAYER


y his pocket, read it through slow
", threw himself back in his leather
armchair, pulled hard at his pipe,
gazed at the ceiling through the
smoke, and then reperused the letter.
The note ran thus:
Beacon Street, Boston-Dear John:
Mother and l are going to New York
Wednesday for a few days shopping.
We shall put up at the Holland house.
Please come Wednesday evening and
take me somewhere-hotel reception
rooms are such impossible places to
receive ones friends in. Until Wednes-
day then, Eunice Garner"
This was Tuesday evening. Brock
ton drew out his poc.,etlo ok and told
over it's contents mechanically as if
he knew the sum we'll enough. There
was a two-dollar bill and three ones.
He plunged into his trousers pocket
and drew out rs cents in small change
Then he rummaged in his bureau
drawer and found a little heap Of
pawn tickets and his dress-shirt
studs. Five dollars and seventy five
cents - he should have to manage
breakfast, lunch and dinner on the
rs 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 decently
could, and after sending up his card
waited in tense expectancy He won
dered If 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
depression-standing there in the
doorway until she could see him, she
looked so distinctly the woman Of the
world Perhaps his own poverty made
him exaggerate 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 distin0-
ton. Then she caught sight Of him,
her eyes lighted as she came forward
impulsively with both hands out
stretched; there was something child
like 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 l love you, l
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 drawing-room manner: lawfully
good Of you to let me know you were
in town."
whats the matter?" she asked, re-
covering herself. "Your jaw is set as
if you wanted to fight some one"
"Oh, was only thinking Of how
glad l am to have you back"
She laughed. eff that look means
pleasure, let's be miserable. Come,
cheer up, and tell me where you are
going to take me tonight"
81 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-
night"
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 we're a motley
crowd of men gathered on the strip of
asphalt to the north of the Worth
monument triangle. They were sing
ing hymn.
What is it?" asked Eunice. II want
to see them"
ooh, no, you don't" said he. cts
only the bummers waiting for nights
lodging" He had his reasons for not
wishing to stop there with Eunice.
but l do, she insisted. These are
Just the sights of big city that inter-
est me-"
Brockton reluctantly made a place
for her among the group of spectators.
Before them the outcasts-for the most
part old or middle-aged men-huddled
together In solid square, while a
thick-set man with his dark head barred
to the wind harangued the lookers-on
from soap box.
1t was not a new sight TO Brockton.
"Oh, let's get out of this, he said.
She threw him look of reproAch