The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-01-09
A SOUTHERN MANS SACRIFICE
or; The Fate of a Mulatto Girl.


Pardon me! If you care to tall
about the races-all right; but any
other subject is entirely offensive t.
me-"
The speaker, a tall, beautiful girl
with flashing eyes and burning cheeks,
looked her tormentor squarely in the
face.
He returned the look without q
blush. "Well, I truly have made a
mistake. I thought it would be all
right to chat with a pretty girl like
you-with emphasis on the "you"-but
I suppose wonders will never cease"
1t was a perfect day, the last race
was finished amid the usual excite
ment; the last jockey had stepped off
the scales, and the band was playing
Home Sweet Home" Some men
were scrambling to cash in their win.
nings, while others made rush for
the motors or street cars. ,-n
It was the winding up Of the races,
and still some seemed loath to leave
the old scenes. Harry Leigh was a
winner and as he sat in the box, and
beckoned to the colored waiter to
bring him a mint julep-he had al
ready partaken Of them so frequently,
that the walters all knew what he de-
sired by signal-he carefully rolled
his cigarette, and sat in deep study.
To think she would presume to put
on airs with me-he, gentleman OF
means and family, who had never
known what it was to have a wish
unfulfilled, when the very servants
trembled at his voice. Yes, he was
the spoiled son of wealthy family
who were fortunate in growing tobac-
co. .-
His mother, proud southern beauty,
spent her days in idleness. To be
sure, she was always ready to secure
the best tutors and instructors at the
highest salaries, but as far as bother
ing her brains about the child's ad
vancement, was another subject.
The father, a shrewd Yankee, had
lived only to make the fartune that
was to return to the lowly and de-
spised race, who had worked for
wages that would make just person
blush with shame; but Mr.. Leigh
reasoned and stilled his conscience
thus: "They have cabin, plenty of
bacon and corn meal, two weeks to
celebrate for Christmas until after the
New Year, and as long as no northern
Negro puts any nonsense into their
heads, they are happy and contented."
He had lived long enough to make
the fortune he had planned and now
would build a mansion that would be
the envy of the natives, and spend the
rest Of life in ease and luxury. The
old proverb, "Thou fool, this night
thy soul shall be required Of thee"
proved only too true, and returning
home one bleak afternoon with a chill,
he was stricken with pneumonia,
which proved fatal. Now only the
widow and son we're left, with the
great fortune to squander between
them.
Harry slipped his mint julep and
silently watched the grand stand
empty of the crowd that had only a
short while before been all noise and
excitement. He was awakened from
his reverie by the swish Of skirts that
passed his box; as he turned his head,
he was aware Of the presence Of the
beautiful girl he had so recently Of
Tended.
If she saw him, she never by look
nor action made it known. Harry
smiled to himself and made a vow he
would not be outdone in his attempt to
win her friendship; so when the
waiter advanced with his check, he
gave him a generous tip, and as he
was turning away, called him-"Say,
George, who is the pretty girl that
stood near the ladies' waiting ROOM
"That, Sab, is Miss Marie Clark,
Sab"
Foxy George, still lingering the gen
erous tip and silently wondering II
there was more to follow, hesitated be-
fore giving any further information.
eyes sab" (seeing no tip in sight
"she is what we 'cullud' folks call a
high stopper, good blood, only un'
fortunate in being classed with our
race; but, Sah," he added as a part
ing shot, a finer, purer woman never
stepped in shoe leather. II you only
knew the insults and temptations she
has to withstand-no offense to you,
Mr. Leigh-from white brutes, It would
make your blood boil. And why? She
is a colored girl and strives to earn
an honest living"
VERY we'll, George, you may 60 n