PAVING THE WAY.
Because Erma Wysong had found favor in the eyes of the rich white people
of Richmond, the colored girls were now ready to receive her back with
open arms, though in their hearts opposed to her. True, they grumbled
about white folks honoring a servant girl and felt that they, the
"anti-workers," the brain force, should have been recognized as
representatives of the highest type of Negro womanhood. But grumble as
much as they might, they bowed to the decree of the whites exalting
Erma. So, when Erma came to them with Mrs. Turner's proposal concerning
social fetes with the legislators, they received her kindly. The
clandestine meeting with the legislators, though for a most worthy
cause, looked decidedly shady to these girls, but when they remembered
that the widow of the Ex-Mayor suggested it and would be in it
throughout, they threw qualms of conscience to the winds and decided to
embark upon the enterprise.
The affair was not at all to Erma's liking, but four things influenced
her. First, she had the most implicit confidence in Mrs. Turner, and
from experience had learned that her motives were always pure and
exalted and her judgment usually sound. Second, she was profoundly
concerned about the education of the Negro children and felt that that
was a matter that had the right to command any sacrifice not involving
the loss of character. Third, she was anxious for the moulders of public
sentiment to meet, if not but for the once, the purity and intelligence
of the race, the character of a people being so largely judged by their
women. Fourth, the overshadowing thought that swept away the last
vestige of resistance was Erma's hope that she could use these fetes as
a place where she could extend her influence over men of high standing
and great influence who could be of service to her and to John when he
was to walk at her bidding within the shadow of the gallows. So the
affair was launched upon a grand scale, though conducted with the
greatest secrecy. The young legislators responded with alacrity to each
of the numerous calls that Mrs. Turner made. The girls would attend the
Legislature each day, listen to the various speeches, and at the fetes
discuss them intelligently with the young men.
Mrs. Turner was delighted with her scheme, and noticed how respectful,
deferential and truly gallant were the young men. No personal appeals
were made to any of them to change their votes, but these fetes afforded
the Negro girls the opportunity of putting the questions from the view
point of their race. This could not be done on the floor of the
Legislature as the Negroes had no representation there. Erma with her
quiet, sweet, genial, charming face moved about among them winning the
deepest regard of all. Margaret Marston, a girl whom you have met before
in our story, was one of the twenty, and distinguished herself by her
costly attire. Her costumes were incomparably finer than those worn by
any of the other girls.
At length the day for voting on the two measures came. All Richmond and
the State at large were aroused over the question of dividing the school
fund and the providing of separate coaches for colored people. The
debate waxed warm and furious. Excitement ran high as man after man
arose and spoke in ringing tones in denunciation of the measures. When
the measures in their turn were submitted to a vote they were defeated
by safe majorities. Loud and long was the applause, (especially so in
one corner of the ladies' gallery) when the result of the vote was
announced. It was conceded by all that the speech of the day was
delivered by the Hon. Horace Christian. He spoke with so much eloquence
and power and so far excelled his every previous effort, that friend and
foe united in giving him unstinted praise. Mrs. Turner gave a fete of
extraordinary brilliancy in commemoration of the fact that her end had
been achieved, for she was indeed happy. That was a happy occasion that
night. The very atmosphere seemed charged with joy.
There are spots on the sun.
In one corner of the room on a divan sat Margaret Marston and Horace
Christian. Margaret's womanly form was wearing its most lovely drapery
on this occasion. Her rounded forehead and black curly hair were
befitting capstones of this splendid specimen of physical beauty.
Margaret's large, lustrous, eyes are now cast down upon her fan, with
which she is toying nervously. She is speaking in a somewhat low tone to
Mr. Christian. She half murmurs, "Yes, Mr. Christian I have been trying
ever so hard to get near you all the evening. I must, Oh I must
congratulate you on that speech. It was most masterly." Her manner and
her tones, not her words, awakened sinister thoughts in Mr. Christian.
He looked down at Margaret, intently, searchingly. Her eyes would not
meet his. She continued, "Oh, it was just grand! I could have-could
have-just-just kissed you. There, now, it is out." So saying she arose
and casting a timid look in his direction went to another part of the
room and avoided his gaze the rest of the evening. The party broke up
joyously, and happy people went home to peaceful slumbers. But the
serpent had crept into the Garden of Eden. These fetes went on during
the entire session, Mrs. Turner fearing that an attempt might be made to
resurrect the bills and pass them. It was afterwards remembered that on
two or three occasions all of the young women were present but Margaret
and that on these same occasions Horace Christian was likewise away.