The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-12-14
Only a Negro.


the station. an old. White hsif~1 NJ
sro hurried across the platform and
swung himself on the rear car. lie
was very black and very dusty and
the Individual occupants % seats
looked a little apprrhsnsiss as he
shunled difrdsntly through the car.
hut he did not efr~r 20 sit down.
Wren he reached the opposite end
OF the coach he took hold Of seat 70
steady himself ana EaE@i around
euriousiy. hts big. wondering eyes
moving frorn face 10 face with the
.axerness OF a chiif Evidently he
was tired. very tired. Tor his shout
fers began 10 slope and every few
minutes hs shifted hts feet az though
they hurt him
At last a young man lowered his
Newspaper.
Here's a seat. uncle" he called
You look tired g
The negro shuffied forward eager
~.
Yes. sab; tank 20. sahi" he said.
gratefully. as he sank down. sfse
plumb beat. Done walked nous rouh
long way dis yer mornin 70 see.
as the young man folded his paper
and slipped u into bis pocket.
"Marse Hsnsry an me Iib obsF b.
Prince George county. and lars,
week Mars~ Henry he NJ an die.
Dat lsr me ~ myssf"
Il see. And you are Eoins South
10 look for work.
No. sab Going bark hom~-ro.
tn back ter ole Georxy.~ Into his
eye. came q look OF eager ezpscta-
ton. ana he rtroked the hack ~ his
seat softly. az though 10 vas his old
home In far-sway Georgia
n ain, been far in moe thutty
year" he went on. slowly. mot sanss
de tyinkum men TUX we ais niggsrs
Oar war = whole rassie oh EN-. but
dsy all done bruk away, Den 30
sheriff sol de plantation. an dar
want nutisn lef we all but De norf'
We bisexei ter hab money TO III"
And you struck to Marss Henry -
The old negro looked at him in sur
prise
"ob eose." 10 answered. simply
Tee de body s~rhant. and Aarns
Hensry eouldn'i git long 'thout me.
Hes a gentleman. an pended on be-
In TUX car OBJ. But fss bicsgsd ter
be way in ds daytime. case Use 4
carpenter an stonsmasnn. an al
Ter. hAb plenty oh wurk."
what did Marss Hsnery dor''
"Mar,a Hensryr Indignantly.
why. he's a gentleman. I tells 20
lie ain, do nutteni lie sln't nsbber
learn do things like common 'wte
folks. lie had niEgers for dat"
You don't mean 90 say that you
have supported him ever since the
war;
The old negro drew himself up with
unconscious dignity.
"Yo' goin' talk like dat I ain't nut.
ten mo 10 say"
n beg your pardon said the
young man. hastily. Please 20 on -
The black face RELAXED
"Yo' ain'i know Marse Heuery."
tinRiy. so yo' don un'-
stan. oh cn'ae wuk fur him.
Amt he car for me befor' De war7
what niggsrs good for but wuk. I
ike to know
A hoy came through the car with
a basket Of Sandwiches. The young
man bought two and handed them "a
his companion. The old negro's eyes
alistened.
Tank 20. massa' tank 20. sahi'
he said. gratefully. Il dIdn't hab no
breakfas. an money too skaae ter
buy ting on de road. war iowin'
to MI up after Ia reach Ocorgy,"
A few minutes later there was q
slight ripple through the car. The
conductor had entered and was call
ing for tickets
The young man produced his and
| held II in readiness. The negro
fumbled anxlously through several
pockets ana finally remembered that
he had pinned hia TO his hat lining
Done TUX ebcry cent I could
scrape up ter buy dat" he said, tri.
umphantly. as he produced II. But
OATS all right kin wuk, an fo'r
don need money wen dey's home
Moneys for trabblln'."
In the seat behind them was a
shabbily dressed woman, whose face
had an anxious. frightened expires.
sion. Crowded on the seat beside
her were several bundles. and In hei
arms was a white-faced. biR-eysd
baby. When the conductor touched
her shoulder. she started uneasily
Ticket. please"
a red flush ~ shame spread ove'
her face; then II disappeared, leav-
Ing her white and dogBed. II have
Mt any"
The conductor grew stern "Vefy
well. IL you get off at the next sta