Hurrying past the kitchen and by the cabins, Hertha's mind began to work
quickly. At first she had been too full of the remembrance of the
previous night to recognize fully what had befallen her; but now, with a
sharp delight that carried pain with it, she saw herself in the white
world. She was so accustomed to the circumscription of the world of
black people that only when freedom was granted did she fully realize
her slavery. As the slave was bound to its master so she was bound to
the Negroes, unable, except through deceit or sin, to leave their world.
And suddenly the bond was gone and she was free. With her little fortune
she could go out into a marvelous new life without a thought of race. A
white-skinned girl among black people, she had often winced at the
coarse jokes or pitying remarks that had been made upon her appearance.
White men had leered at her, and she had never known when she would be
free from insult. But after to-day she would take the place that
belonged to her. She would no longer be a "white-faced nigger," but
Hertha Ogilvie--Miss Ogilvie, as Miss Witherspoon had said--the
granddaughter of a distinguished southern judge.
As the Williams cottage came into sight, Hertha's thoughts suddenly
changed and the white world slipped from her as she saw her black mother
standing in the doorway. Running forward, she threw her arms about the
old woman's neck and broke into passionate sobs, half of excitement,
half of dread, but that to her mother meant only sorrow.
"Honey, baby, why you cryin'? Who hurt my baby? You ain't rightly been
you'self, not since Tom lef'. Tell you' mammy, dear."
Her mother led her into her room, and there, as they sat together on the
bed, Hertha tried to tell her story. She made one or two excited
attempts, and then, pressing her hands together, said simply: "I'm
white!"
"Oh, my Gawd!" her mother cried.
The two women stood up, the black one looking into the beautiful white
face with its clear, dark eyes, its sweet mouth, its little trembling
chin. As Hertha thought of it afterwards it seemed to her that her
mother said good-by to her at that moment. Then the big, heavy mouth
broke and it was the mother who was sobbing in her child's arms.
Hertha was a long time telling her story. When she described the little
that she knew of her birth the colored woman cried angrily: "De dirty
hogs! Dat's de way dey treats de black chillen--I allays knows
dat--t'row 'em out fer us ter care fo'; neber a helpin' hand fer de
chile o' der sin. But ter treat der own like it was an outcast, oh,
Lawd." At the story of the will she grew much excited. "You's got some
money, honey, I's glad o' dat. Seems like I can see you gwine away ef
you's somet'ing dat's you' own." The suggestion, timidly given, that
some of it belonged to her was received with regal anger. "You want ter
pay me?" she asked. And Hertha's swift, tearful denial ended with a kiss
and the agreement between them that that subject be forever closed. Her
pleasure in the thought of the name Hertha was to bear was real indeed.
"An' dere ain't no borrowed finery 'bout it," she declared in triumph.
It was a hard day. Hertha did not return to Miss Patty, and by the time
afternoon arrived the news had spread, and neighbor after neighbor came
to learn more of the amazing story. How the girl wished them away! She
wanted to be by herself, to think what it all meant. Above all she
wanted to talk to Ellen, to Ellen who had not yet come in and who might
learn the story from some child. As soon as she could find a chance to
get away, she ran from the cabins on through the pines to the school.
Her heart beat violently and then stopped for a moment as she saw Lee
Merryvale coming toward her. Turning, she hurried back to her home,
entered her bedroom and shut the door. He would not dare to obtrude
there.
"Hertha, Hertha darling!" It was Ellen who was knocking and in a moment
she had her sister in her arms.
"I'm so glad for you, dear," Ellen said.
She had been told the story and was sitting very soberly by the window.
"This colored world is too hard and ugly for you. I don't mind much
because I'm so busy, but if I stopped to think about it I'd go half mad.
I have felt that way for you at times. I want you to have everything
that's fine and beautiful and you'll have a chance to now."
"I suppose white people have ugly lives," Hertha put in.
"Yes, but they have a chance for something else, while when you're
colored you might have the genius of a Shakespeare but it wouldn't give
you the opportunity to be a playwright. Or if you wrote a play, they
wouldn't let you into the theater to see it. And it's just the same with
everything else. You were shut out because you were black. But you won't
be shut out any longer now; you're free and I'm so glad."
She showed her gladness by breaking down. Hertha had not seen her cry
since she was a child. Even at her father's death she had kept dry-eyed
while she comforted the others; but now she sobbed pitifully. "I'm
glad," she reiterated through her tears. "I'd give my life for you, and
I reckon that's what it'll be. It won't seem like living when you've
said good-by."
"It's going to be awful," Hertha said choking over the words: "you've
always advised and encouraged me, Sister. I wouldn't have kept on in
school but for you; and now I'll have to go ahead alone. I feel lost."
Ellen, much ashamed of her emotion, dried her eyes. "I've done all I
can, Hertha," she said solemnly, "after this you'll have to go alone."
A step was heard on the porch and a voice asked: "Is Miss Hertha there?"
"Yes, Mr. Lee," Mammy's voice answered; "Miss Hertha, she's right hyar.
Was you wantin' ter speak wid her?"
"Tell her I came to fetch her up to the house. My aunt is expecting
her."
"I won't go," Hertha whispered. "Tell him I won't go."
Ellen rose and left the room. Hertha heard her explain to the young man
that the white girl could not go away yet. "She is very tired, Mr. Lee,"
she declared, "and wants to remain here at present."
Lee seemed to demur but after a few minutes he left the house.
When he had gone Hertha walked into the living-room. There was the
familiar table, the straight-backed chairs, and the comfortable rocker;
there was the reading-lamp with its green shade and the china with the
pink flowers set upon the sideboard; there were the books upon the
shelf; and yet everything seemed strange. Did her own thoughts give it
unreality, her thoughts that roamed continually through the white world
that she was soon to enter, or was it the two people whom she so loved
who were already oddly constrained? "Miss Hertha," she had heard her
black mother say--the mother who had cared for her, had fed and clothed
her, had watched by her bedside in her illnesses. "Miss Hertha"! Was her
home to slip from her like this?
"Ellen," she cried, "I shall have to go away before long, I know that,
but don't push me out upon the Merryvales because I don't want to go."
"I'll do what I can," Ellen answered.
"Honey," her mammy exclaimed, "it don't seem like we could eber let you
leab us. Dis home been you's mo'n our own. But you is white, now, baby,
an' you can't be wid colored folks no mo'."
"Why can't I if I choose to?" Hertha asked, her mouth quivering. "I want
to stay here until I leave. I have to visit that lawyer soon and get my
money, and then, I suppose, I'll go somewhere up North. But while I'm in
Merryvale I want to be with you."
"Baby, I's feared it ain't de right way."
"Have you had anything to eat, Sister?" Ellen inquired. "This must have
been a terribly exciting day for you. I'll hurry and get supper."
Hertha rose to help but her black mother pushed her back into her chair.
"You jes' stay hyar while Ellen an' me gits de t'ings."
"But I want to work," the white girl insisted. "I don't want you two to
do everything."
"It ain't much we kin do," the old woman went on as though apologizing
for the house, "not much fer an Ogilvie. Miss Hertha Ogilvie, dat's what
dey'll call yer. Miss Hertha Ogilvie! Oh, my Lawd!"
Hertha rose from the seat into which she had been pushed and began to
set the table. But while handling the knives and forks and smoothing the
tablecloth into place, she found herself repeating, "Miss Hertha
Ogilvie, _Miss_ Hertha Ogilvie, _Miss_"!
How the white people had steadily refused to give her that title! No
matter how refined she was, how well educated, since she had colored
blood she must always hear her first name. But Lee Merryvale had said,
"Miss Hertha," and Miss Witherspoon had said, "Miss Ogilvie."
"Sister," she said, turning to Ellen with attempted gaiety, "can't we
have sugared sweet potatoes to-night to celebrate? You cook them so
well. Just think, I'm going to have two thousand dollars. Isn't that
rich?"
"It depends on how you use it," replied the always practical Ellen. "If
you want you can get rid of it quickly enough; but I do hope, Hertha,
you'll use some of it for your education."
"What do you want me to study?"
"You know what I told you the other day, but now you'll have a better
chance of success."
"You mean dressmaking. I think myself I'll try stenography."
It was a wild statement, an exciting jump into an unknown business
world.
"Why, Hertha," Ellen said in surprise, "I didn't know you had any bent
that way."
"I haven't, but I believe I should like it. Stenographers work in
offices, and have short hours and good wages."
"Not colored ones. Oh, I forgot." Ellen lost her composure, and to cover
her slip went into the kitchen.
There was a knock and Mammy went outside to admit Mr. John Merryvale. He
at once entered the room and seeing Hertha walked up to her and took her
hand. "My dear," he said, "we have done you a great injustice."
"Yes?" Hertha said, questioning.
She was angry at his coming, but his kindly manner made it difficult for
her to maintain her anger. He crossed over to where her mammy stood,
saying gravely: "Aunt Maggie, it seems like you were the only one who
did the right thing in all this tangle. You and your husband opened your
hearts and brought up this forsaken child. You surely deserve your
reward."
"I don' want no reward," the colored woman replied. "I had my reward
ebery day dis chile lib. Wat you t'ink a lil' bread an' a shelterin'
roof mean to yer when yer hab a lily like dis by you' side? An' oh, how
is I eber ter git on wid her away?"
"I haven't gone yet, Mammy," Hertha said with an attempt at a laugh.
"I'm right here."
"No, but I can't keep you no longer; you's crossed de line when you is
Miss Hertha Ogilvie. You's gone across."
"Well, I'm Hertha Williams just at present, and I'm going to see how
Ellen's sweet potatoes are getting on," and she left the room.
When she returned a few minutes later she found Mr. Merryvale seated in
the rocker while Aunt Maggie stood by the table. He rose as she entered,
a tribute he had never paid her before. The girl felt it acutely as the
old woman had remained standing while the man sat. "White, white,
white," she said to herself. "That's the way the people treat you when
you're white. I'm white now, and they'll rise when I enter the room, and
they'll serve me instead of my serving them."
"Supper is most ready, Mammy," she called out. "Ellen will bring in the
potatoes as soon as you tell her to."
She tried to ignore their visitor, but he was oblivious of her attempt.
"Your mammy and I have been talking things over," he said, "and we
think, Hertha, that it would be well for you to go home with me. I came
to reiterate Miss Patty's invitation. Come and visit with us until you
decide what you will do and whether you desire to go away to complete
your education."
"This is my home." The girl's voice trembled despite her efforts to
control it. "Mammy has told me she won't turn me out."
"Turn you out, my baby!"
"Yes, I'm the baby you took in, Mammy, and I want to stay on here now
with you. Don't send me away! Ellen," she called into the kitchen, "come
in, won't you?"
Ellen appeared at the doorway and all three turned to her expectantly:
Mr. Merryvale, tall, quiet; Mammy, tearful, bewildered; and Hertha with
the new excited look upon her face. "Ellen," she cried again, "don't let
them take me from my only home!"
The colored girl put down the dish that she was carrying and said to the
gentleman who stood looking at her so pleasantly and yet with such a
gently persistent manner: "Hertha is very tired, Mr. Merryvale, I think
she had better eat a little supper and then go right to bed. She looks
like she hadn't slept a wink last night, and to-day's news is enough to
get any one crazy! You'll excuse her, I know, if she doesn't go back
with you."
"You're a right good woman, Ellen," Mr. Merryvale replied, "and likely
you'll understand. We want Hertha to be with us very much."
The white girl moved to where Ellen stood and, clasping her erstwhile
sister by the arm, pressed close to the strong figure as though nothing
should draw her away.
"Hertha is over twenty-one," Ellen remarked, "I suppose that gives her
the right to do as she likes."
Mr. Merryvale looked at the two young women and then addressed himself
directly to Hertha. He seemed very impressive as he stood before her
clad in his long coat. His voice was more serious than usual, and he
spoke gently, with deliberation.
"Everybody in Merryvale has heard of your good fortune, Hertha," he
said, "and I reckon the earth won't be a day older before everybody
knows it up and down the river. It's a wonderful story and if you lived
in the city the newspaper men would be rushing in and taking your
picture, and they only know what foolishness they might say. For a
little time you'll be a person of prominence. Now, I understand there
isn't anything your mammy wouldn't do for you, but right now she can't
help you, you need the protection of my home. Everybody's wondering if
it's true, and asking themselves and others all sorts of questions. If
you come with me the questions will stop, and you will be Hertha Ogilvie
to all the world. Miss Patty would have come herself," he added, "but
she didn't feel rightly that she could walk so far."
"Of course not," Hertha assented, her affection for her mistress at once
asserting itself, "she never walks as far as this."
"Don't you think then that you had better come with me like a wise young
lady? Mammy and Ellen will know that your affection for them has not
changed, and they will be glad to have you escape any gossip or unkind
talk. It isn't like we were strangers to you. You love my sister and she
loves you and will be glad to advise you regarding the new place you
will take in the world. Maggie," he said, turning to the older woman,
"you understand, and I think Ellen is beginning to. I leave it to you
both to convince Hertha that she will do best by coming with me. Your
chickens look likely this year," he said with apparent irrelevance, "I'm
going out to see them;" and with a slow step he left the room.
Ellen was the first to speak. "Look after the supper, Mammy," she said,
"while Hertha comes with me." And she led the girl into Tom's bedroom.
"Is there a special reason why you don't want to go?" she asked; and
then, as Hertha did not answer, in a lower tone, "Has it anything to do
with Mr. Lee Merryvale?"
Still Hertha did not speak.
"Hertha!"
"Oh, you needn't worry." The girl looked up quickly. "Nothing has
happened. Only," and she spoke with bitterness, "I found out he despised
me."
"Well," Ellen observed after a pause, "you're a white girl now, you can
despise him."
"Yes," Hertha answered, but her tone did not carry conviction.
Ellen looked at the delicate face, at the slender hands, at the shy
figure, and swallowed hard. "Sister," she said authoritatively, "the
time has come for you to hold up your head. You've got to make your own
way. You'll be lonely and frightened and you'll miss home, but you've
got to do it. As for Mr. Lee, I'm pretty sure he won't bother you if you
let him see you don't like it. He'll have to take a little time to find
his bearings, now he knows you're white."
"I don't want him around."
"If he wants to be around he can see you one place as well as another.
You can't stay forever in these few rooms."
"Then you send me away?" Hertha turned to her former sister, her head
up.
"You're going to your lawyer, you're taking the name of Hertha Ogilvie,
you're coming into two thousand dollars from your grandfather's estate;
isn't that so?"
"Yes."
"Then, Hertha, haven't you gone away already? You know the South. You
can't be both white and black."
Hertha took down her hat from the shelf and put it on. It was a pretty
white straw with a blue ribbon. She had trimmed it herself but the straw
and the ribbon were a gift from Ellen.
"I suppose I may come back to pack up my things?" she asked angrily.
"Little sister, little sister!" Ellen cried.
Throwing off the hat Hertha flung her arms around her sister's neck.
"Let me stay just a little longer," she beseeched. "Tell him I will come
after supper. Tell him that I am too ill to come now but that you will
bring me later in the evening. Let me stay and have supper with you and
Mammy and then you may take me to his house. I'll go with you but not
with him."
"Oh, you darling!" Ellen said, hugging her. "You're the truest! And I'm
glad for you, I am, I am! You'll never forget, oh, I know you'll never
forget! You know that black and white mean nothing, just nothing, that
it's hearts and souls, it's whether people are mean or generous, whether
they're kind or cruel, that counts. You'll never talk about 'cute
niggers' the way the women do who come to my school. You won't think
black people can't feel shame and mortification the same as white. You
won't say the women are all immoral and the men are all----"
"Oh, Ellen," Hertha cried, "I've said good-by to Tom!" She sat down at
the window and shook as though she were ill. "I can't help loving him
most. I love him the way you love me; I took care of him when he was a
baby."
"Yes, dear!"
"Go and tell that man that I'm coming by and by with you, and let me
stay here a while alone."
It was dark among the pines, but the clouds broke and the silver
moonlight greeted them as they turned under the live-oaks to Hertha's
new home. For the first time since they had come to Merryvale and the
great house they made their way to the front door. There, on the porch,
they kissed each other good-by; and standing outside, Ellen saw Hertha
Ogilvie, the baby that she had nursed, the child for whom she had made
daily sacrifice, leave her in the darkness to enter the white man's
world.