Chapter I: Front Matter

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"

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.

STOCK, a labor agitator.

THE BARRIER