Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://archive.org/details/barriernovel00freniala THE BARRIER A Novel by ALLEN FRENCH Author of "The Colonials" [Illustration] New York Doubleday, Page & Company 1904 Copyright, 1904, by Doubleday, Page & Company Published, May, 1904 To C. E. S. AND S. P. S. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. The Statement of the Case 3 II. Which Enlarges the Stage 10 III. Sets the Ball to Rolling 21 IV. An Understanding 26 V. Various Points of View 32 VI. Introducing an Eccentric 41 VII. Chebasset 52 VIII. The Progress of Acquaintance 65 IX. New Ideas 75 X. Drawn Both Ways 83 XI. An Incident at the Mill 92 XII. Forwards Various Affairs 102 XIII. Which Is in Some Respects Unsatisfactory 114 XIV. Mr. Pease Intrudes Upon a Secret 123 XV. Which Develops the Colonel's Financial Strategy 130 XVI. Something New 145 XVII. Which Deals with Several of Our Personages 155 XVIII. Judith Buys a Typewriter 163 XIX. "Put Money in Thy Purse" 175 XX. The Power of Suggestion 182 XXI. Ellis Takes His Last Step but One 194 XXII. Haroun Al Raschid 206 XXIII. Plain Language 218 XXIV. Bringing About an Understanding 224 XXV. The Colonel Gives Up His Luxuries 235 XXVI. In which Judge Harmon Enters the Story 242 XXVII. In which Judge Harmon Leaves the Story 250 XXVIII. Judith Binds Herself 255 XXIX. Knowledge of New Things 263 XXX. Time Begins His Revenges 275 XXXI. Brings About Two New Combinations 286 XXXII. Which Is in Some Respects Satisfactory 295 XXXIII. Contains Another Proposal of Marriage, and Settles an Old Score 307 LIST OF CHARACTERS _IN THE ORDER OF THEIR MENTION_ STEPHEN F. ELLIS, promoter and political boss. GEORGE MATHER, a young business man. JUDITH BLANCHARD, of the social set. MRS. HARMON, who has risen by her marriage. JUDGE ABIEL HARMON, advanced in years. COLONEL BLANCHARD, Judith's father. BETH, his remaining daughter. MR. PRICE, the fashionable jeweller. MR. FENNO, head of one of the old families. MR. PEASE, a banker. JIM WAYNE, of the social set. MR. DAGGETT, a supporter of Ellis. MISS JENKS, Mather's stenographer.