The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-01-12
A BARRIER
TO HAPPINESS
By LUCHE. BARKER

always seen together. The father was
little over forty. the son about TWEEN
ty-one. The two always dressed alike.
talked alike, acted alike and had the
same opinions on subjects. Those who
knew them intimately spoke of them
as Dombey C Son. though their name
was Hardwick.
All went well between the two till
the question OF the sons marriage
came up. Jimmie IIardwick fell in
love with a girl who had no means
whatever aud if he married her had
not sufficient fortune to keep up his
position in the ultra fashionable gold
en- circle to which he possessed birth
right. In vain his father held up to
him the fact that II he made the in
tended match tho relations that had
existed between them must cease, the
older man continuing in the same So
cial scale, the son dropping out.
Emily Sherbourno was a very scnsi-
BILE. practical young woman. She had
no ambition 70 hobnob with multimil-
lionaires, but she loved Jimmie and
was loath to give him up. Indeed, she
did not propose to give him up.
The case dragged. poor Jimmie loath
to give up the position In which he had
been born. especially since It would
put wedge between him and his IA
ther. But one day jim saw signs that
his father was himself contemplating
matrimony. None OF tho widows or
young spinsters of society seemed to
have attracted Mr.. Hardwick's atten-
tion. for Jim kept watch Of him when
ever they were ''out," and the older
mans attentions seemed to be general
Confident that his father would not
think OF marrying out OF his set, Jim
made up his mind that he had been
mistaken and there was nothing in it.
Then he concluded to make one more
attempt to win his father to his own
intended marriage. He begged Mr.
Hardwick 60 call on his betrothed,
hopeful that a view of her would so
attract him that he would fall in with
the scheme. But the father said that
he had never made visits other than
within his own circle of acquaintances
and declined to make an exception in
this case.
In an interview with Miss Sher-
bourne Jim told her OF his effort and
Of the suspicion he had had Of his IA
thers attraction for some woman. En-
ily asked her lover If he had entirely
given up this suspicion, and when he
said that he was still uncertain about
the matter she advised Jimmie to
watch. Jim admitted that his father.
who was too aristocratic to use street
cars. now and again telephoned to a
stable where he got his livery, order a
carriage and drive away. whittier the
son did not know.
"why don't you 60. too?" asked EN-
fly.
How can I 90 thst7"
~ viii give you q plan. The next
time your father orders 4 carriage so
30 the stable and brfbe the eoaehman
to let you take his place"
RBut father would recognise me-"
docs he always have tAs same
eoachmanTs
no"
EVERY wen, II you wear q coach
mans livery and make up for colored
man your father ufll newer dream that
you are his SON"
II have q mind to try f.
"Do 80. 1t may b that your father
- eourt1ng some one not Of his set.
II he Is and you discover the fact he
will no longer oppose your doing the
same thing"
Jim made an his preparations, and
when he next heard his father order
q carriage he slipped out through a
back door and went to the stable.
where a burnt cork transformed him
into an ebony instead OF q white man.
Then donning a livery he mounted the
box OF coach and drove to his home.
His father came out. opened the door
gave the address and got in.
When Jimmie heard that address the
expression on his face was not only
one Of wonder. but Of astonishment
His father had ordered him to drive
to the house where dweit Miss Emily
Sherbourne His first impulse was to
get down from the box and ask his
parent what the dickens he meant; his
second was to drive on and see the
matter to the end. He followed the
latter. On reaching his destination Mr..
Hardwick got out and, ordering the
coachey to wait, rang the bell and went
into the house.
Here was pretty pass-the son sit
ting on the box while his father vas
inside courting the girl he would not
consent TO his offspring marrying. 1t
seemed to Jim that the call was inter
minable. What could be going on?
He worked himself into a fury, then
got down from the box. stalked up the
steps and rang the bell.
| Mr.. Hardwick was sitting on the
came sofa with Emily Shefbourne
when the tete-a-tete was interrupted
by q negro coachman with whip in
his hand standing in the doorway.
] what does this mean. popr cried