Middletown transcript., 1910-01-22
Y. OLD BARCLAY .6
LI W. R ROSE
". R. ROSE

buOS6 awful CIUIA0S u0 AOOnOu %
big as a man-mountain.
The stranger suddenly laughed
I'm afraid he didn't really care
how he looked.
Oh, yes he did, cried the girl,
because when Robert tried to
drag him over to meet US he
wouldn't come. Robert said he
was shy. That was too funny.
And she laughed merrily.
It does seem funny, said the
man.
He wouldn't even look around
at US.
How very shy, murmured the
young man. And you are glad
he isn't here?
I'm glad on the runabout's &C.
count. He must be dreadfully
trying to the springs.
The idea seemed to strike the
young man as highly amusing.
I saw that game, he said.
Oh, did you'll That's funny. |
had just made up my mind that
you wouldn't care at all for foot
ball.
I like it.
Then you saw Mr.. Barclay9
Yes. And you have painted
him a bit too black.
The girl laughed. Not black
just smudged.
And they both laughed together
Poor Barclay, sighed the young
man.
The girls expression changed.
I'm ashamed, she cried. It
isn't a bit nice for me to sit here
and say such unkind things. And
you encouraged me.
But you haven't said anything
that was intended to hurt. I'm
sure of that, said the young man.
I'm pretty sure, too, that Dick
Barclay looked quite as bad as
you have described him. To my
mind he appeared like a rufian.
A red spot suddenly burned in
each of the girls round cheeks.
She touched the black horse with
the whip.
That won't do, Mr.. HerrIck,
she said. I don't like it. Mr..
Barclay may be uncouth, but I
am sure he isn't a rufian. He
has quite a fine business in New
York, he's an architect and has
done some notable things-and
he has been so kind toeRobert.
It was Robert's dearest wish,
you know, to play on the varsity
eleven. And for a time it looked
as if he might-and then he fell
down in his play, and the whole
team slitHimPPeaa siHim ped, aaEd aaHEdd It It licked as if
Robert would surely be left out.
And then they got scared and
begged Mr.. Barclay to come up
and help them, and he gave up
his business and came and helped
get the team in shape-he was
the greatest of fullbacks for two
years, / suppose you know. And
he took special fancy to Robert
and coached him privately and
taught him many things. And
you know the result Robert
made the touchdown that won
the game, and he says it was old
Barclays work.
Old BarclayP
1t seems that's what they call |
him at the varsity. OF course
he isn't so very old-not more
than twenty-eight, I fancy-but
dreadfully large for his age. Oh,
dear, there I go again.
The young man laughed.
I'm afraid, he said, that this
man Barclays generous proper
tions may overshadow the full
enjoyment Of the Thanksgiving
feast. And that seems a pity.
The girl gave him a quick
glance.
Why, Mr.. Herrick, she said.
You are not jealous, are you?
He laughed again. He seemed
nuchnicer as his shyness wore off
Not exactly, he said. But really
now, can't we talk about some
thing else?
The road wound down into the
valley. The girl drove with
hand She was a hand
some girl, straight and trim. The
young man stole an admiring
look at her. Would you mind ex-
planning your presence at the
station? he presently asked. It
seems quite miraculous.
1t is easily explained, she said.
Go on, please.
I told you | was intimate with
The Norton household. | knew
that Robert had invited two