CHAPTER X
"_Gentlemen, let not prejudice prepossess you._"
Izaak Walton
Car No. 14, Fifth Street line, Philadelphia, was crowded. Travellingbags, shawls, and dusters marked that people were making for the 11 A.M.New York train, Kensington depot. One pleasant-looking old gentlemanwhose face shone under a broad brim, and whose cleanly drabs werebrought into distasteful proximity with the garments of a drunkencoal-heaver, after a vain effort to edge away, relieved his mind byturning to his neighbor with the statement, "Consistency is a jewel."
"Undoubtedly true, Mr. Greenleaf," answered the neighbor, "but whatcaused the remark?"
"That,"--looking with mild disgust at the dirty and ragged leg sittingby his own. "Here's this filthy fellow, a nuisance to everybody nearhim, can ride in these cars, and a nice, respectable colored personcan't. So I couldn't help thinking, and saying, that consistency is ajewel."
"Well, it's a shame,--that's a fact; but of course nobody can interfereif the companies don't choose to let them ride; it's their concern, notours."
"There's a fine specimen now, out there on the sidewalk." The finespecimen was a large, powerfully made man, black as ebony, dressed inarmy blouse and trousers, one leg gone,--evidently very tired, for heleaned heavily on his crutches. The conductor, a kindly-faced youngfellow, pulled the strap, and helped him on to the platform with aperemptory "Move up front, there!" to the people standing inside.
"Why!" exclaimed the old Friend,--"do my eyes deceive me?" Then gettingup, and taking the man by the arm, he seated him in his own place: "Thouart less able to stand than I."
Tears rushed to his eyes as he said, "Thank you, sir! you are too kind."Evidently he was weak, and as evidently unaccustomed to find any one"too kind."
"Thee has on the army blue; has thee been fighting any?"
"Yes, sir!" he answered, promptly.
"I didn't know black men were in the army; yet thee has lost a leg.Where did that go?"
"At Newbern, sir."
"At Newbern,--ah! long ago? and how did it happen?"
"Fourteenth of March, sir. There was a land fight, and the gunboatscame up to the rescue. Some of us black men were upon board a littleschooner that carried one gun. 'Twasn't a great deal we could do withthat, but we did the best we could; and got well peppered in return.This is what it did for me,"--looking down at the stump.
"I guess thee is sorry now that thee didn't keep out of it, isn't thee?"
"No, sir; no indeed, sir. If I had five hundred legs and fifty lives,I'd be glad to give them all in such a war as this."
Here somebody got out; the old Friend sat down; and the coal-heaver,roused by the stir, lifted himself from his drunken sleep, and, lookinground, saw who was beside him.
A vile oath, an angry stare from his bloodshot eyes.
"Ye ----, what are ye doin' here? out wid ye, quick!"
"What's the matter?" queried the conductor, who was collectingsomebody's fare.
"The matther, is it? matther enough! what's this nasty nagur doin' here?Put him out, can't ye?"
The conductor took no notice.
"Conductor!" spoke up a well-dressed man, with the air and manner of agentleman, "what does that card say?"
The conductor looked at the card indicated, upon which was printed"Colored people not allowed in this car," legible enough to require lessstudy than he saw fit to give it. "Well!" he said.
"Well," was the answer,--"your duty is plain. Put that fellow out."
The conductor hesitated,--looked round the car. Nobody spoke.
"I'm sorry, my man! I hoped there would be no objection when I let youin; but our orders are strict, and, as the passengers ain't willing,you'll have to get off,"--jerking angrily at the bell.
As the car slackened speed, a young officer, whom nobody noticed, goton.
There was a moment's pause as the black man gathered up his crutches,and raised himself painfully. "Stop!" cried a thrilling and passionatevoice,--"stand still! Of what stuff are you made to sit here and see aman, mangled and maimed in _your_ cause and for _your_ defence, insultedand outraged at the bidding of a drunken boor and a cowardly traitor?"The voice, the beautiful face, the intensity burning through both,electrified every soul to which she appealed. Hands were stretched outto draw back the crippled soldier; eyes that a moment before were turnedaway looked kindly at him; a Babel of voices broke out, "No, no," "lethim stay," "it's a shame," "let him alone, conductor," "we ain't so badas that," with more of the same kind; those who chose not to join in thechorus discreetly held their peace, and made no attempt to sing out oftime and tune.
The car started again. The _gentleman_, furious at the turn of the tide,cried out, "Ho, ho! here's a pretty preacher of the gospel of equality!why, ladies and gentlemen, this high-flyer, who presumes to lecture us,is nothing but a"--
The sentence was cut short in mid-career, the insolent sneer dashed outof his face,--face and form prone on the floor of the car,--while overhim bent and blazed the young officer, whose entrance, a little whilebefore, nobody had heeded.
Spurning the prostrate body at his feet, he turned to Francesca, for itwas she, and stretched out his hand,--his left hand,--his only one. Itwas time; all the heat, and passion, and color, had died out, and shestood there shivering, a look of suffering in her face.
"Miss Ercildoune! you are ill,--you need the air,--allow me!" drawingher hand through his arm, and taking her out with infinite deference andcare.
"Thank you! a moment's faintness,--it is over now," as they reached thesidewalk.
"No, no, you are too ill to walk,--let me get you a carriage."
Hailing one that was passing by, he put her in, his hand lingering onhers, lingering on the folds of her dress as he bent to arrange it; hiseyes clinging to her face with a passionate, woeful tenderness. "It istwo years since I saw you, since I have heard from you," he said, hisvoice hoarse with the effort to speak quietly.
"Yes," she answered, "it is two years." Stooping her head to write upona card, her lips moved as if they said something,--something thatseemed like "I must! only once!" but of course that could not be. "It ismy address," she then said, putting the card in his hand. "I shall behappy to see you in my own home."
"This afternoon?" eagerly.
She hesitated. "Whenever you may call. I thank you again,--and goodmorning."
Meanwhile the car had moved on its course: outwardly, peaceful enough;inwardly, full of commotion. The conservative gentleman, gatheringhimself up from his prone estate, white with passion and chagrin, sawabout him everywhere looks of scorn, and smiles of derision andcontempt, and fled incontinently from the sight.
His coal-heaving _confrere_, left to do battle alone, came to the chargevaliant and unterrified. Another outbreak of blasphemy and obscenitywere the weapons of assault; the ladies looked shocked, the gentlemenindignant and disgusted.
"Friend," called the non-resistant broad-brim, beckoning peremptorily tothe conductor,--"friend, come here."
The conductor came.
"If colored persons are not permitted to ride, I suppose it is equallyagainst the rules of the company to allow nuisances in their cars. Isn'tit?"
"You are right, sir," assented the conductor, upon whose face a smile ofcomprehension began to beam.
"Well, I don't know what thee thinks, or what these other people think,but I know of no worse nuisance than a filthy, blasphemous drunkard.There he sits,--remove him."
There was a perfect shout of laughter and delight; and before the irate"citizen" comprehended what was intended, or could throw himself into apugilistic attitude, he was seized, _sans_ ceremony, and ignominiouslypushed and hustled from the car; the people therein, black soldier andall, drawing a long breath of relief, and going on their way rejoicing.Everybody's eyes were brighter; hearts beat faster, blood moved morequickly; everybody felt a sense of elation, and a kindness towards theirneighbor and all the world. A cruel and senseless prejudice had beenlost in an impulse, generous and just
; and for a moment the sentimentwhich exalted their humanity, vivified and gladdened their souls.