The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
ROOST'S ROMANCE TN COURT.
BARNEY DOWLING's LOVE FOR
3 THE PRINCESS.
she q Moved over From the Gap and
Perhaps wasn't His Social Equal. nut
lie Intended TO Elope with Her His
sister Peached and Par ents Did the Rest


Over in the Roost, near Hell's Kitchen,
the kids call little Lulie Geissler the Prin-
cess. Why, neither Lulie nor any OF the
Riddles in the Roost knew, but anyhow
from the first day she made an appearance
in Public School 30. in W est Twenty eighth
street, she was always referred to in this
way.
There were few lads in the Roost gang
who wouldn't admit that thew were all
broken up on the Princess at one time or
another, but in hi end all had to confess
that Barney bowling was -the candy kid.
Barney was the only one who ever stood
any show with the Princess, inc as he could
fight some he didn't fear to let il he known
that any lad who tried to steal his COILS
affections would have to go 1t to a finish.
Barney fights at 90 pounds and enjoys
the reputation of having been able to get
away in all his battles unscathed and n
victor. So it was little wonder that he
had plain sailing when he fell in love with
the Princess.
The very moment that Barney laid eyes
on the Princess when she tripped into No.
80 School, he knew he had met his fate.
There were no formalities OF introduction.
Barney, the leader of the Roost gang,
walked right up to the Princess after school
and offered to carry her books for her. The
Princess blushed and felt like telling Barney
that he was too fresh, but something in the
lads manner impelled her to accept his
offer. That was the beginning Of the Roost
romance.
Not a few lads over on the West Side
region that embraces Hell's Kitchen made
eyes at the Princess, and had a longing deep
down in their hearts to walk home from
school with her. But they knew that
Barney was on the Job. and that it would
be useless for them to attempt to usurp
his place. Several OF the more daring
youngsters made strenuous efforts 10 win
the favor of the Princess, but every one she
smiled on had something to think about for
many days afterward.
There isn't the slightest doubt that all
would have gone well with Barney and the
Princess if they hadn't planned to fly to-
gether and get married. Barney, although
only IS years old. felt that he was capable
of going forth into the world and making
a home for himself and the Princess. For
several weeks they plotted and planned
how and where they would go. But Barney
made a mistake. There were lots of things
he wanted to know about travelling, and
he unfortunately confided in his sister, Nora.
e~xacting a promise that she would not di-
vul0e his plans 10 the old folks.
While Nora il ~Boney" O'Connor's goil
and has been keeping steady company
for the last seven months she hadn't reached
the stage where she could approve Of an
elopement. She took everything i'm that
Barney told her and straightway unfolded
the plans TO Mrs. Bowling. The proposed
honeymoon was interrupted.
Mrs. Bowling asked Barney about the
Princess, and while he admitted that he
was gone on her he would not confess that
he was planning to elope. Mrs. Bowling
told the Roost leader that he would have to
defer the elopement for several years and
she emphasized her ultimatum with the end
Of a broom handle.
That night Barney told the Princess
hat his sister Nora had frustrated their
plans. The Princess was detected and
wept. saying that his people were opposed
10 her because she had moved over from
the Gap and wasn't the social equal ~
the residents of the Roost.
Barney dried her tears with his cOatsleevs
and promised faithfully that ha would
never part from the Princess, ever though
his proud people thought that the Gappers
were beneath the BOOSTERS. When the
curfew rang in the Roost and the Princess
had run nome for the tenement AZ 300 Tenth
avenue she knew that nothing could come
between her and Barney.
There was no sleep for the Princess that
night. She thought Of all the fellers she
had thrown over for Barney. nicer looking
bows than he ever dared TO be. and she
tried TO make herself believe that she hated
him. Barney was always in her mind.
and although hehad red hair and big frpckles
and a pug nose she loved him lust the
same, she told herself.
Before she said her prayers that night
she wrote a letter to Barney. II said:
MY DEAR BARNEY: it is hard to think of ~
but when YOU read these crool lines vii be
hoting in the river a ded corps. yor peepul vii
be sorry for they are the ones what are ? blame.
on mi way home horroed > cents from Sadie
Reilly. / had 3 miself. and made up mi mind to
buy 5 cents worth Of poison but when thoght
wud never see YOU sgin sed to miself no /
won't xii miself now will wait 10 I see mi
Barney sgin. but ! think i will anyhow for
if Won loved ms what you always sed YOU did
YOU wuld run away with me forever. mi
heart is broke tonite as I rite this Letter hut J
will say good by forever, YOU vii find mi
poor corps in the river near the IS street peer.
Your loving Lulie.
The next day Mrs. bowling received the
letter, and a. Barney very seldom got any
mail the mother opened the missive and
read il. She consulted with Mrs. Geissler
that evening. and il was decided unani-
mously TO part the lovers. Barney got his
and the Princess got hers. Both were
cautioned to keep away from each other,
and while they knew what the consequences
would De il they we're caught together they
went right or keeping company.
Barney and the Princess were compelled
10 seek out Of the way places for their spoon-
ing, and while they strolled far from the
Roost there were lots of busybodies only
too ready to tell. Several times the sweet
hearts were spied on by residents Of tho
Roost. who told their parents, and there
was more punishment for the Princess and
Barney.
Then a family Feud sprang up bet ween
the Dowlings and the Geisslers. Barney's
people accused the Princess OF keeping
the lad up after 10 o'clock. and vice versa.
Yesterday Mrs. bowling had Barney ar
rested and arTaigned in the Children
Court on a charge of being a way ward child.
The letters the Princess had written threat
ening to end her life were produced and
read in court. The Princess was sum-
moned and testified that she had threatened
to destroy herself, but she was only fooling