Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-07-19
Brilliant Negro Fiction Writer

"Well, why shouldn't n" she chal-
lenged. Haven't I as much right as
a man to make my own way?"
whats the use of bothering to
make your own way when I can give
you my name and protection and
everything you want2" he asked.
placing one hand gently on hers.
would you want to be dependent
on someone else?" she inquired earn
estly.
"Of course not. I'm capable Of
making my living" he said proudly.
"Well, I feel the same way. When
I've done the things set out to do,
it'll be time enough for me to bs
thinking about matrimony."
"You evidently believe in woman,s
rights" he sneered.
That's correct. believe a wom-
an can accomplish as much as q
man, given the training and oppor-
Sunity. What's more, I think it Is
her duty to do so; to make name
for herself, before she goes getting
tied up in marriage. I want to be
something In my own right"
The dentist did not reply, but
sighed heavily and started the car.
AS they drove along he studied
Verna's profile out of the corner of
his eye. He thought her the most
beautiful and charming creature he
had ever seen, but he wondered
what had put such foolish" notions
into her head. Careers, he felt, were
all right for ugly women, but not for
goddesses.
DR.. Meyers availed himself of every
opportunity to be in Verna's COM
pany, and as often as they were
alone together, he proposed. She grew
weary Of telling him that she did
not want to marry, and began to
w.:h there was some way she could
escape his Fostering. He was very
thoughtful and considerable, but he
was also too much addicted to pet
ting, and Verna emphatically did not
like the hauling type of man.
Hence, with considerable relief, she
learned one day that the superin-
tendent Of large coal operation in
a nearby valley was looking for
combination cook and housemaid.
She took the bus up there immedi-
ately and was soon telling Mrs.
Yancey, the superintendent wife.
how much she knew about the sort
of work they wanted done.
verna Meets Margot Yancey
"But you're so young, child" object
ed the kindly old lady. I'm wonder
ing whether you will do. We pay
very well \ = the work b txacting
and ="
Suppose I try it until the end of
the week." Verna interrupted, land
then If don't make good, I'll not
want any pay"
Mrs. Yancey was impressed. Evil
IDENTIFY, she thought to herself, this
girl is anxious to get ahead, and since
she is so confident, she is probably
competent. So Verna got the job and
babe WEIGH goodbye. And she made
good from the start.
1t was something of a relief to get
away from the town, the crowds of
admirers that flocked to the restau-
rant, and particularly the attentions
Of DR.. Meyers. He tried to persuade
her not to go but she wouldn't lis
ten to him; not even when he Of
fered her a job in his Office as at
tendant. She realized what that
might lead to.
When Verna had been with the
Yanceys about six months, their
daughter, Margot Yancey, who was
an artist in New York City, came to
visit her parents. She was q tall,
stately blonde of great beauty, who
kept her hair bobbed very closely,
wore clinging gowns that accentuated
her statuesque form, affected an Eng
lish draw1 and smoked long Russian
cigarettes which she held noncha-
lantly between perfectly manicured
fingers.
my world" she exclaimed, when
she first saw verna. where did you