I
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HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY \
Bought with the income
of a fund established
in memory of
FLORENCE KELLEY
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OUT OF THE DARKNESS
W. Grant
Published on demand by
UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS
University Microfilms Limited, High Wycomb, England
yi Xerox Company, Ann Arbor,Michigan, US.A.

















his is an authorized facsimile of the original book, and
as produced in 1972 by microfilm-xerography by University
icrofilms, A Xerox Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.





Out Of The Darkness
OR
DIABOLISM AND DESTINY.
J; Wi'GRANT. A. M., LL. B.
1
NASHVILLE, TENN.:
Natiokal Baptist Publibuimo Board.
1909.


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DEDICATION.
To my father, who gave his life for the cause
of freedom of mind and body; to my mother,
who watched, encouraged and prayed
through the long and dreary night of
bondage for the dawning of the
joyous days of liberty;
And to my darling little ones, the last one of
which was at my knee when I began
these lines, looking to his future
destiny in the world.
But alas! ho took his anuel (Unlit.
While we watched in the dim, dim light;
My mind was heavy, and my heart (trow faint,
So I panned iv while in my mini's complaint!
(5)





PREFACE.
The little rivulet springing out of the mountain-
side goes leaping, laughing among the hills, fed
by the living springs, till it reaches the valley and
the plain, a rushing, roaring river, and empties
its life-giving streams into the great ocean, com-
mingling its waters with that mighty highway of
commerce and enlightenment. So ideas set in mo-
tion by an impulse spring forth from the fountain
of thought, gathering power as they move, flow
on to mingle their waves of truth with the vast
volume of the accumulated knowledge of the ages. Rocks and ruins may whip its flow into a mael-
strom or the deep inlets of approbation may turn
its genial current into quiet eddies, but it must
flow, whether its waters bear the messages from
fields Elysian or a doom to the regions of woe! How small, how small is the amount of good one
soul can accomplish, even when all his energies are
bent in the direction of adding something to the
sum total of human help and happiness! Then
how necessary is it that each should thrust his
sickle into the harvest or field where his labors
seem called! Although his work may make others
glad, sad or mad, he must nevertheless labor on (7)


8 PREFACE.
for the good he intends to do. He cannot stop to
consider who will praise or who despise, since the
end of his labor is hid beyond the skies.
Such is the spirit in which I set my naked feet
in this thorny path, believing that I have a duty
to perform for my people and humanity. The
truth untold is like a treasure of hiddeu gold. I
have not come to win applause, but to strike one
blow in justice's cause.
For many years I have been urged by friends
and constrained by my own feelings to say some-
thing in exculpation and commendation of my peo-
ple. It may appear temeritous in me to approach
a field where so many have fallen. But the story
of our thralldom has weighed a burden upon my
heart for so many years that I am forced to lift my
feeble voice in admonition and defense.
While confined to my room and suffering from
a severe illness, it was upon my mind stronger
than ever, so that as soon as I became convales-
cent, with fear and trembling I launched my frail
little barque upon the treacherous sea of public
opinion. Nothing but the wails of a long-suffer-
ing people could have lured me from the quiet
moorings of desuetude.
Ix>ng on my heart this burden lay,
And now I hope to find the way.
If I may cause one heart to beat more sympa-
thetically for a weak, struggling and courageous
though often erring people, I shall feel that I have
not toiled in vain. If I shall be able to inspire


PREFACE. 9
one despairing soul with faith in the future of the
race I shall feel that my labor is not without re-
ward. It seems that we have been abused, accused
and misused so long and so much that we are in-
clined to accept much of what our traducers say of
us as true, and to hang our heads in shame. We
do not wish to be regarded as a race of saints or as
a race of demons! Our only desire is that with
what mete others are measured, under like con-
ditions we shall be estimated. We wish credit for
what in others is meritorious and condemnation
for what is unworthy. I have not attempted to give the reader a mere
romance, but a fiction based on historical facts,
written and unwritten. We hope there is enough
of the romantic to flavor it to the appetite of the
reader. There are persons living who, if called
to do so, could bear testimony to the truthfulness
of many statements herein.
Author.





CONTENTS.
DEDICATION fAOB.
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.
MEETING AND THE MINISTER
CHAPTER II.
SERMON AND SEQUEL
CHAPTER III.
SCHOOL AT BON AQUA-LIVINGSTONE UNIVERSITY.
CHAPTER IV.
POLITICS AND PERSECUTION..
CHAPTER V.
COMMENCEMENT AND CIRCUMSTANCES
CHAPTER VI.
PROGRESS AT BROWNSVILLE AND CROTON.
CHAPTER VII.
MUSKEGON AND HARVARD
CHAPTER VIH.
JULIAN AND HAROLD
CHAPTER IX.
PHYSICIAN AND PRACTICE
CHAPTER X.
THE SCHOOL AND THE LESSON.
CHAPTER XI.
BROWNSVILLE AND CROTON..
(»)
5
7
13
21
38
54
67
SI
102
117
127
137
145
1S7


12 CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER XII.
THE TRIAL AND THE PENALTY 166
CHAPTER XIII.
CLOSE OP SCHOOL AND WEDDING 177
CHAPTER XIV.
PRISONER AND PROMISES 184
CHAPTER XV.
PHYSICIAN AND PEOPLE 192
CHAPTER XVI.
PAKDUB, MARIE AND BROWNSVILLE 203
CHAPTER XVII.
STORMS AND 8TORMS 213
CHAPTER XVIII.
CONGRESSMAN AND CONSTITUENTS 223
CHAPTER XIX.
BEACa HAVEN AND NEW ORLEANS 232
CHAPTER XX.
PHYSICIAN AND PATIENT 243
CHAPTER XXI.
SUNSHINE AND SHADOW 254
CHAPTER XXII.
BARTER OF BIRTHRIGHT 263
CHAPTER XXIII,
LOVING AND LYNCHING 276
CHAPTER XXIV.
WHAT OF THE NIGHT AND THE FLIGHT?.' 288
CHAPTER XXV.
MEMORIAL AND MARRIAGE 304


INTRODUCTION.
Injustice swift, erect and unconflned,
Sweeps the wide earth, and tramples o'er mankind. —Homer. The prevailing sentiments in this country, and
especially in the South, are intensified in a large measure by much that is sent out from the public
press of the land on the race question. Although much has been said on the platform
and in public print about the Negro, very little has
been spoken or written in his favor. Few have
been the words uttered in commendation of his
achievements, save by the Negro himself. Even
historians, when they have mentioned the Negro
at all, have done so usually in terms of deroga-
tion; a spirit of malevolence breathes through
nearly all they say concerning him. The historical and literary libels, the minstrel
shows, the "rag time" music and advertising de-
signs have all, at all times, held the Negro up to
contemptuous gaze, and pictured him as a fawning
fool! It is, indeed, puzzling to understand why
our national and world historians have so studi-
ously and flagrantly failed and refused to accord (13)


14 INTRODUCTION.
the Negroes their merited place in the annals of
the nation and the world. Why have they per-
sisted in dealing with the Negro as an execrable
outcast? At the same time as came the Pilgrim Fathers
came also the Negro; the former to freedom, honor
and glory, and the latter to slavery, degradation,
persecution, ignorance and vice! But side by side
with the free white American, the enslaved black
American has labored, fought, bled and died for
the glories of American institutions, and yet little
notice, small praise, and no honor have been given
him for what he has done! Massachusetts alone, of the members of the
Union, has paid some tribute of respect to the
memory of her black heroes. To the Negro, she
stands out like a bright star in the black night
of the oblivion which envelops his path of glory.
This mother of freemen has not wholly neglected
her dark defenders! She at least is not one of the
cabal whose purpose seems to be to keep the Negro
down. Three hundred years of neglect is, we think,
quite enough to convince the Negro that his story,
if told at all, must be related by himself. Of
course, being shut up in the dark prison-house of
bondage for two hundred and fifty years, the ar-
ray of facts he has been able to' gather is meagre
indeed. Still he is in possession of many points
concerning his life, both as a slave and freeman,
which form a part of the unwritten history of the 


16 INTRODUCTION.
business of the courts to supply peons for fields
and mines. Down the path of the centuries have come
stories of the character and achievements
of the Negro, but so distorted and black-
ened by prejudice and hate that the authors
themselves cannot credit their garbled fabri-
cations!Southern writers, especially, have laid on their
deadliest strokes in painting the Negro a beast.
While they have done all in their power for three
hundred years to crush out of him all the manly
instincts, the Negro is still a human and loves hu-
manity and humane treatment. These defamers
have so seared their consciences that they have
ceased to regard truth or honor when speaking
of the Negro. The press load their columns from
day to day with police news and the crimes of the
Negro; they herald with heat and haste any re-
port of an outrage by him, and seem to take a sort
of fiendish delight in promulgating any of his
wrongful acts, but they rarely, if ever, utter a
word in holding up to the world the millions of
honest, God-fearing, industrious, frugal, respect-
able and self-respecting Negroes, who are toiling
on for the salvation of their race! Why do they
not sometimes rest their consciences by telling of
the thousands and thousands of Negroes who,
through oppression, long-suffering and repression,
are struggling on up to a higher and more exalted
plane of living? 


18 INTRODUCTION. .
am aware that the apologist and the time-servers
condemn such a course and condone these wrongs.
The man with an ax to grind at the enemy's place,
says, "Sh! sh!" Their song is: "Laugh and the world laughs with you;
Weep and you weep alone." But a race or nation is never helped by the apolo-
gist. Christ was no apologist. Patrick Henry,
Samuel Adams and Toussaint L'Ouverture were
not time-servers—neither were Phillips, Garrison,
Sumner, John Brown, Lovejoy, Stowe and Fred-
erick Douglass. Such spirits are the bulwark of
liberty and the savers of the nation. The enemy and the calumniator do not allow one
opportunity of vilification or misrepresentation of
the Negro to pass. Still, "Truth is immutable and
imperishable." The true apostle of truth says,
"When I keep silent it is fire in my bones." Woe
is me if I lift not up my voice and warn both my
people and the enemy of what the signs of the
times portend! They thrust her from her watch-
tower, but her voice will still be heard in that
land! Like proud Rome, this nation built upon corrup-
tion and misrule shall yet lie dethroned amid the
ashes of her desolation! The battle of right against might is on, but the
weapon is the pen, which is mightier than the
sword! Of course the Negro is a pigmy against
giants, but he must deal his sledge-hammer blows, 


INTRODUCTION. 19
striking for his altars and his fires, for the bloody
graves of his sires! It is commonly reported that most of the pub-
lishers are quite anxious to help the defamers of
the Negro, so much so that they grasp greedily and
publish any diatribe or fabrication that traduces
him; but anything which seeks to give the Negro's
side of the case is refused by them flatly. They
will sometimes publish something which purports
to give the Negro side, providing it is of a toady-
ing nature. If the Negro would have the world to know his
dreams, hopes, and the story of his thralldom, he
himself must tell it, whether it be the burden of
a sigh, or the thrilling, rallying war-cry. The
time must come when he shall be willing to die
otherwise than by the hand of the lyncher. Will he learn to do and die— To place his draggled name on high? Most of the writers and public speakers of the
day talk of the destiny of the Negro as though
the getting of money, a smattering of education,
and houses and lands were the principal thing in
his national or racial development. These are, all
of them, necessary and important, but what are
they worth to a race that accepts a state of servil-
ity as its fixed destiny? Patrick Henry uttered
the slogan of aspiring manhood. What are houses,
land and money to men who are women? Author.





OUT OF THE DARKNESS.-
OR
DIABOLISM AND DESTINY.
CHAPTER I.
Meeting and the Minister.
A voice of greeting from the wind was sent;
The mists enfolded me with soft white arms;
The birds did sing to lap me in content,
The rivers wove their charms.
And every little daisy in the grass
Did look up in my face and smile to see me pass!
—Stoddard.
HE ruler of the day shedding his feeble
rays upon a glimmering landscape,
bathed his weary body in the placid wa-
ters of the Western sea, and having
opened the portal of the night, sank to rest upon a
bed of clouds trimmed with gold. The little stars,
just peeping out from the windows of the heavens,
heard the last sigh of the dying day. Hesperia
hung out her lamp, which threw a ruddy glow

(21)


22 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
upon the kingly couch. Lady Moon just peeping
over the Eastern hills, gilding their tops in silvery
sheen, was smiling her lovelic-t adieus to her re-
tiring lord. The nightingale, calling far and wide
through the forest glades, was seeking her belated
love among the little shadows which were chasing
each other in a game of hide and seek among the
giant trees. The evening zephyrs, as they fanned
the flushed cheeks of the wild roses, filled the air
with their sweet fragrance. The little cricket
had crawled from beneath the stone wall, and was
sitting by the wayside, chirping his plaintive
story of days long gone by!Upon this twilight scene appeared a woman and
a little boy. They came from a little cottage near
by. She looked much like an Indian woman, and
the boy was her image. They took the path lead-
ing through the forest. As they walked slowly
on, the boy said to his mother: "Mamma, is not this a lovely evening? The
woods seem so full of life, love and song! How
lovely, how lovely is nature!"
, "Yes," said the mother, "it is no wonder that
man's home was first in the deep forest, where he
could see and learn of all the beauties and mys-
teries of nature, and commune with nature's God!
Man first learned to bow the knee in worship in
the beautiful groves!" The widow Scott and her little son Harold lived
in the suburbs of the village of Croton. The town
was a place of considerable commercial impor-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 23
tance. Being the center of a large cotton grow-
ing district, it was the buying and shipping point
for much of that staple. The face of the boy
lighted up with joy as he looked upon the en-
trancing scene about him. "Why should man not delight more in creation,
than in cruelty?" said the boy as he looked into
his mother's face, who was talking to him of the
stormy days ten years before when the soldiers
came. She told him of the time when the villages
and forests were full of the armed hosts; when
the village and the country were laid waste by
contending foes. Said the boy: "Mother, my teacher says the world is a battle-
field and a graveyard!" Harold was born just three months before
James Scott, his father, enlisted as a soldier in
the Fourteenth Regiment U. S. V. I. Sergeant
Scott was wounded at Port Hudson, and thereby
rendered useless for further service. After he
had recovered sufficiently he was discharged;
and after his wife interceded for him with the
whites he was allowed to return to his home, to
die with his family. Although Mr. Scott never
recovered, he lived to be pensioned for his wounds,
and with that money managed to purchase the
ground and build the neat little cottage, from
which the widow and son came out. One year after
his death the widow and son were pensioned, and
with the sixteen dollars per month thus arising and
what they could earn, they were able to live bet-


24 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
ter than most of the freedmen about them; and
Harold was enabled to attend the village school
during the entire session. That was unusual for
colored children in and around Croton, for they
had to nurse the baby, while the mother and older
children worked in families or the fields. Professor Norris, the teacher, often found his
school reduced from one hundred to ten pupils in
a single day. Especially was this true in the
picking time. The school term was usually five
months, but school was often suspended till the
children got time to attend. And that was usual-
ly in dead of Winter, when roads were muddy,
often impassable, and the children poorly clad. Lucius Storms was another boy five years older
than Harold Scott, who, like Harold, was able to
attend school during the entire session. The fa-
ther of Lucius was a rich planter and banker by
the name of Leonidas L. Storms. Leonora Storms,
the mother of Lucius, had been purchased by Mr.
Storms at a slave sale in New Orleans, while he
was on a business trip to the city. Mr. Storms
was looking around the city, when he happened to
come to the slave market. He saw a likely girl
sitting on a box crying. When he came near her
she looked up into his face, and, as he drew near-
er, she said:"Please, master, buy me! You look like a kind-
hearted man. Please, master, for pity'u sake,
buy me! God pity me if that big rough looking
man over there buys me! They say that his name 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 25
is Legree, and that his place on the Red River is
a hell on earth!"
Mr. Storms knew that if she was put upon the
block, a girl of her comely face and figure would
bring a fabulous price. He asked the girl if her
owner was around. She pointed him out—a Jew,
who had taken the girl as a pound of flesh, for a
loan made to a fast son of a sugar-grower.
Mr. Storms approached the Jew, and began a
dicker for the girl, and at last convinced the Jew
that if he put the girl up, he might not get the
price he (Storms) offered for her. So that at
last his cupidity induced him to accept the prico
offered, and to sign the bill of sale. Leonora's
face lighted up with joy when Mr. Storms and the
Jew approached. The Jew came and told Leonora
that Mr. Storms was her new master. Mr. Storms
bade the girl follow him, and he brought her home,
and his wife made her the house-girl.
Harry, the coachman, was like Leonora, of
mixed blood, and they became attached to each
other. They finally decided to become man and
wife, after slave custom. So, one night Harry
went to his master's study, and knocked timidly.
The master called out,
"Who's there?"
"Harry, mastah," answered he.
"Well, open the door," said the master.
Harry opened the door and stood with hat in
hand.
"Well, boy, what is it?"


26 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
"Mastah, I wants to ax you a serious question."
"Well, what is it?" "I wants Nora for my wife. I loves her and she
loves me, and we wants to live togeder as man
and wife." "Now, look here, my 'nigger,' don't you ever
mention that girl to me again! Nora is the house-
girl, and what sort of a house-girl will she soon
be if she takes you for a husband. Why should
you, 'nigger,' wish to have a wife and form family
ties any way? You are here this year and who
knows where you will be next? You are num-
bered with our cattle and mules; then why not
live as the beasts of the field?" Poor Harry soon found himself in the slave
traders' gang, on his way to the southward, and
was never heard of again. Leonora grieved much for her lost Farry. She
would go out at night under the moonlit heavens
and try to look the way she thought Harry might
be, and falling on her knees, under the shadows
of the trees, she would exclaim:
"My poor lost Harry! My love! The cruel hand
of the slave driver has taken you away, and I
shall never see my darling any more! 0 God!
would that I had gone with Legree to the earth-
ly hell! I would have been dead long ere this,
and nil my trials and sufferings would be over!"
She grew more despondent as the days rolled
slowly by. One evening she was out, thus be-
moaning her fate and Harry's, when her master


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 27
came upon her. He did not abuse and find fault
with her, but spoke kindly to her. As time rolled
on her grief grew less poignant, as sorrows
usually do. On one occasion he asked if she
would continue thus if Harry were dead. He
talked to her as though she were his child instead
of his slave. He continued to speak kindly to Leo-
nora, and to praise her work. He often spoke
to her of her good looks and said she was far
too likely a girl to have a Negro man. On sev-
eral occasions he brought her nice little presents,
and gave them to her secretly. Once while the
mistress was away, he came into the pantry and
put his hand on her shoulder, and as she turned
to see who it was, he grabbed her and kissed her. Persuasion and force were plied upon her con
stantly, and having grown indifferent to her fate she at last yielded to her master's embraces. That
was then and is now the fate of many Negro
house-girls in the South. They were considered
the legitimate prey of either the fathers or sons
in the families where they served. Lucius was the offspring of the relation be-
tween master and slave. But strange to say,
a Southern white man who cohabitated with a
Negro woman lost no caste in the best society. Although a passionate man, unlike most white
fathers of Negro children, Mr. Storms cared for
his offspring and its mother. He was not only
educating the boy, but after they were free, he
gave Leonora and the child a home in Croton.
t


28 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
But Leanora's old grief for Harry returned
when she was alone and she soon dropped and
died. Then Mr. Storms took Lucius to his own
home, sent him to school, and gave him light work
to do when he was not in school. He treated
him as well or better than a natural child is
usually treated by the putative father. As they walked leisurely along the moonlit
forest path, enjoying the beauties and fragrance
of the dreamy night, Harold and his mother were
conversing about his father's service in the cause
of freedom and his untimely death. Mrs. Scott
was explaining the difference between the life of
the slave and the freedman. Harry said: "Mother, you have told me that my father
was a soldier, and that he was induced to enlist in
the cause of freedom and salvation of the Union
because he was promised by the government all
the rights of a freeman and an American citi-
zen. He fought, bled and died in defence of this
nation. Yet he was not treated as well as those
I see around here, who fought to destroy this
government, and who even now have no love for
it, and would be only too glad to see it over-
thrown. "I was reading only to-day in my history
of those patriots who rushed from their fields
and shops to Lexington and Bunker Hill to de-
fend this country from a foreign foe, and how
their names are honored in song and story, and
how monuments were erected to commemorate 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 29
their heroic deeds. My father fell at Port Hud-
son, defending this country from the internal foe,
yet I see nothing in my history of his heroic
deeds, or of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts and
the daring deeds of Sergeant Carney and others.
I see nothing in the history of Attucks, Salem,
and the host of black heroes who fought for this
country, from the Revolution on down to the War
of the Rebellion, in which my father received his
death wound and sacrificed his life. I saw in
one of my books where it said that all nations
delight to do honor to those brave men who volun-
teer to lay down their lives for their country.
Still, I see old soldiers about here kicked and
cuffed around just as the other Negroes are. "Is it true that through these two centuries
the Negro has fought for a liberty which he him-
self has never known, that to-day he is a poli-
tical outcast and a nondescript in the body
politic? "Why, I was over at Mr. Brown's house the
other night, and he told his wife to hurry and
give him his supper; that he had to lie out that
night as he had heard that the Kuklux were to
ride, and that they seemed to have a spite against
the colored men who had been in the army, al-
though he had done no man an injury. "Why was Uncle Ben Jones whipped so badly
by those men who ride at night, with the long
faces on, and who look so scary? Why, he was laid
up in bed for over a month and nearly died from 


30 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
it. They say it was because he refused to
work for old Jim Barnes for forty cents a day
and feed himself. The men look so frightful
with those long gowns and faces on that I don't
wonder that the poor colored people are afraid of
them. They nearly scared me to death that night
they came to our house hunting Will Scott. The
people say that they called for water at Uncle
Tom Jones's, and just poured it down by the
bucket full at a time. Has the United States
Government no power to protect its citizens from
such cruel treatment?" "My child," said the mother, "you are thinking
and talking about things beyond your years. You
will learn, my son, when you have lived as long
as I have, that the white man is great in promises
and inducements. He will promise you the world,
and actually give it to you in order to get to beat
you out of it when opportunity offers. How like
a god in wisdom, but how like a demon in exe-
cution! He has robbed my forefathers, on one
side, out of this country, and compelled my fathers
and mothers, on the other side, to till it for two
centuries, and both have made it fertile with
their blood and tears. My child, the story of the
American Indian's fate and the Negro's unre-
quited toil, is the tale of the white man's treach-
ery and tyranny. "You will learn much from books and experi-
ence as you grow older, and will see the clutches
of the white man tighten more and more around 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 81
the black man's throat, as fate moves them nearer
to the crisis. I weep bitter tears, my darling,
when I think of what your father endured, what
I have passed through and what must be experi-
enced by you in the years to come. My race is
nearly run; yours has just begun. You think we
are living in troublous times; but the black stormy
night of our desolation has not set in about us
yet.
"Yes, it is said that they were after Will Scott,
because he was talking to the Negroes, and tell-
ing them that they ought to organize and demand
better wages; that they can't live honestly on
the pay they get for their labor; that before the
war, if a man hired an able bodied slave, he had
to pay the master one hundred and fifty dollars
per year—a little over twelve dollars per month,
—furnish his clothes, a physician and medicine
when he was sick, and lose all bad and sick days;
but now they will not pay an able-bodied man
more than eight or ten dollars per month, and
he must lose all bad and sick days, pay for his medicine and physician, if he has any, and feed
his family and himself out of that; that a man
who attempts such a thing, must of necessity beg
or steal! He said that the state authorities were
in league with the landlords, that they, by means
of these starvation wages, were filling the jails
and penitentiaries so that the farmers can come
and lease the convicts from the state, and thus
get cheap labor. Yes, that is the offense for which 


32 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
they were hunting your cousin Will with blood-
hounds to whip him to death. They said, 'He is
the kind of 'nigger' that we have got to get rid
of. He will ruin the other 'niggers' and soon
have them believing that they are folks.' I thank
God that they have not found him! I hope he
will escape to the North, where he can breathe
free air, and not be afraid of the pestilence that
wasteth at noonday. If they should catch him,
his young and manly body will furnish food
for the worms! "Yes, the Kuklux are sworn to keep the 'nig-
ger' in his place, which means, poor, ignorant
and degraded, and on a level with the brutes.
And do you know that many of these people who
do these fiendish things to the Negroes belongto the church, pretend to worship God and feign
a sort of Christianity? Yes, they pretend to
follow Him who was ever the friend of the low-
ly despised! Why, the Southern whites say
they are doing wonders toward the educa-
tion of the Negro children. But in the country
districts the schooling of Negro children is
little better than no schooling .at all. The class
of teachers they give them and the two or three
months term make it a waste of time and money.
And, again, they say they tax themselves so
much to educate the Negro children, when, in
fact, every dollar paid out for the Negro schools
is blood money, collected off the Negroes by im-
posts, starvation wages, high rents and over-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 83
charges for inferior goods. While it comes in-
directly, and through the hands of the whites,
it nevertheless comes from the Negro's unpaid
labor. At first they would not allow the
colored people to have schools. They broke up
the schools, drove the teachers away or killed
them, and burned the schoolhouses. I hap-
pened to be at Bon Aqua when they broke up
the school there; it was a dastardly, fiendish
deed. Yea, you will learn more about that
cowardly act hereafter. You say you have read
Uncle Tom's Cabin. Well, the pictures therein are
not overdrawn, as some would have you believe. I
know there are those who are now ashamed of its
bloody record, and who try to show that it is not a
picture of slavery, and that no such character as
Legree ever existed; but I have seen their acts of
cruelty, and know men who were even worse
than Legree is painted. No, they may deny its
truth, and rule it out of libraries at the North,
but its truth is written in characters of blood,
in cotton fields, rice swamps and cane-brakes all
over this Southland! There are too many scarred
bodies of living slaves to bear testimony to its
truthfulness. I pray God that you, my son, may
never see what I have seen or feel what I have
felt. "You ask why the raiders whipped poor Uncle
Ben so—those Kuklux? Why, he had been work-
ing for Tom Tucker for fifty cents a day and
Mr. Storms offered him better pay; so he quit 3


34 CUT OF THE DARKNESS,
Tucker and went to work for Mr. Storms. That
same week the "Klan" came after him and pre-
tended that he had stolen Jones's plow, but with-
out a trial or even putting him in prison they
whipped him nearly to death. You could not
make any one in this community, white or black,
believe that Uncle Ben ever stole anything. But
there he lies, the victim of the white man's greed
and hate." "Mr. Storms has his faults, but he and some
others around here don't hate the Negro simply
because be is a Negro. They would like to see
him have a man's chance. "Well, here we are, nearly to the church. Now
I wish you to stay awake, like a little man, and
listen to what is said by the preacher." Although one of the "Befo de wah preachers,"
and uneducated, Elder Brutus E. Buchanan was
intelligent, well posted, and had good old common-
sense about many things. Above all, he loved his
race and wished to help them. Ebenezer Baptist Church, near Croton, was
known far and wide, and people'came for miles
around to hear Mr. Buchanan preach. They
came to the big basket meetings especially, in
great crowds. At these times there was much
soul-stirring preaching, shouting, and more good
things when the baskets were brought out and the
cloths spread beneath the shady trees. The white
people often came to see the black folks shout 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 35
and enjoy themselves. For the white man likes
to see the Negro religious, as he thinks the more
religion the Negro has, the easier he can be con-
trolled. Many were the young and old, who
could say that they had been turned from the
broad road of destruction to the narrow path of
life by this "Elijah." The log church had a puncheon floor and slab
seats without backs, with pegs driven for legs.
At one end of the building was the door and at
the other the pulpit. There were two windows
in each side, with board shutters. The cracks
were open now, but in winter they daubed these
with mud, to make the house more comfortable.
There was a stick and mud chimney, with a great
fireplace large enough to hold a wagon load of
wood. When Mrs. Scott and son arrived at the church
the four or five dim oil lamps were casting their
flaring, flickering gleams over a dark and dingy
scene. You could scarcely see the persons in the
room. Many people had already arrived and
were sitting around in groups talking in low, sub-
dued tones. The young girls were talking in
more lively voices, or sitting and gazing about the
room to see or to be seen. The boys were casting
love glances from their side of the house over to
where the girls were doing all they could to at-
tract attention. Contrary to custom for boys,
Harold sat beside his mother, for they were in-


36 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
separable companions. To occupy the time while
the .congregation was gathering, some of the
"amen" brethren were leading a few songs and
prayers for strength and guidance through dan-
gers, seen and unseen! The hour had reached about nine o'clock, when
the minister came into the pulpit. He took the
book and gave out the hymn: "Dark was the
night." At the close of the singing Deacon Blair
was called upon, and offered a fervent prayer for
help in time of trouble, and deliverance from the
enemy. Several of the late comers whispered to those
near them that they had noticed an unusual num-
ber of white men among the trees near the church
and that it boded evil. This uneasiness spread
through the congregation and caused even the
sleepy heads to keep wide awake. So the pas-
tor had their eyes, while the men in the bushes
had their ears. Especially was this true as the
sermon grew warmer and louder. But there was less shouting than was custom-
ary at the night meetings. Two things made
this so. The wrought up state of mind of the
people on account of the night riders, and the
kind of sermon delivered, which was more in the
nature of a lecture. Many would have called it
a dry sermon, and gone to sleep on it, had it not
been for the excitement aroused by the daring
utterances of the preacher, and the whispered in-
formation that there was trouble, and lots of it, 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY.
37
on the outside. Some of the old mothers in the
church declared: "De debble is suah let loose fer
a season, and he is about to take the elect." But
like true Christians, they prayed the more ear-
nestly. 


CHAPTER II. Sermon and Sequel. He strove among God's suffering poor One gleam of brotherhood to send;
The dungeon op'ed its hungry door
To give the world one martyr more,
Then shut—and there behold the end!
—Lowell.
|LDER BUCHANAN appeared to be be-
tween fifty-five and sixty years of
age. He was tall, well built and
of commanding presence. Although
very dark he had good features and a
pleasing countenance. As the minister rose in
the pulpit all noise in the church ceased and the
cricket singing on the hearth could be heard all
over the house. From the drawn mouth, com-
pressed lips, and sober look on his face, all seemed
to realize that the pastor had an important mes-
sage to deliver. He gave out the hymn: "Am I a soldier of the
cross," etc., and it was sung by the congregation
with great feeling. Brother Rickman offered a
soul-stirring prayer for light in the hour of dark-
ness and desolation, saying:

(38)


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 39
"Laud, ef we is soldiers, we mus' fight; but ef
we is sheep fer de slaughteh, make us 'umble, an'
as inercent as lambs."
There were numerous "Amens," and cries of
"Laud, hep! Laud hep!" After singing, "Alas! and did my Savior bleed,"
the pastor rose and began his sermon by saying:"My sistahs and bruthren, my tex, will be foun,
in Numbers, 12th chaptah 1:10 vuses, 2 Chroni-
cles, 6th chaptah 1st vus, an' 2 Kings, 5th chap-
tah an 1st vus. "De fus part uv my tex' speaks uv de great sin
cermitted by Aaron an' Miriam, by speaking agin
Mosus fer marryin' a black 'omen. Dat wuz race
ur culor prejisty. De anger uv de Laud wus so
kindled agin dem dat He smoted Miriam wid de
lepusy. Dat wus a type uv sin whut can't be
furgivin. "De secon' part 'fers ter de great man Naaman,
who wus a lepeh becase uv his mean prejisty. "De third part tells how de Laud dwells in
clouds an' thick dahkness, an' in anothyer scrip-
tur' He said: 'My pawillion roun an' about me,
shall be clouds an' thick dahkness. "So you see, my friens, we cannot see ur know
de plans uv de Laud who duz all things fer de bes'.
Ouah fathers an' mothers wah back yonder in
Afica, in dahr wile, happy freedom, but dese
lepurs led on by dahr greed, stole um an' brung
um ter dis country, an' huh we is, bein' driv frum
day ter day, through dis dahk wildiniss uv sin an'
Saten.


40 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
"Some Bay dat we is betteh off huh whah we is;
God pity us when de wuss cums! Do you call
hit betteh ter be compelled ter wuk frum mont'
ter mont' fer little ur no pay, Kukluxed by night
an' mobbed an' lynched by day? Dah we wus
in ouah own Ian' uv sunshine an' flowers, free as
de birds an' wile anumals. Any way, we did not
cum huh seekin' dese good things yuthers can
see an' feel but we can't. Well, Gaud knows
bes', fer He wuks in clouds an' thick dahkness!
He wuks in de dahk, an' so do de Kuklux. In
de dahkness uv dis wery night I feels dat dey
is layin' a demon plan ter punish sum poah black
man fer nothin' but ter satisfy dahr thust fer
nigga blood. An' why all dis? Hit is becase dey
is so full uv de lepusy uv sin, an' Saten. Hit is
dat lepusy dat driv Miriam out frum 'er people,
an' kep' Naaman frum goin' ter one uv de des-
pised ter be heald uv his filthy disease." "Amen, amen! Laud hep us," was heard among
the congregation. "Chrise de Son uv de livin' -Gaud, de white
man's Gaud, have said dat He is no respectah
uv pusons, fer he have made uv one blud all na-
tions uv men ter dwell on all de face uv de yurth.
Why, how is hit dat dis mighty white man is so
superiur ter de yuther branches uv de human
famly, when dey is all uv one blud? Why duz
dey hate us so much more now dan dey did in de
days uv slavery? As I looks over dis 'semly I
sees many faces dat bear testimony uv de embra-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 41
ces an' carresess uv black wimmen by white men.
'Deed dey is about all de faces I can see, as de
lites is so dim. Dahr is over two million uv sich
witnesses all over dis Ian.' Nigga 'oman mighty
sweet ter de white man after dark. De wile
beastis uv de fores' love dahr young uns, an' will
fight fer dem. Is de white man lowah an' wuser
dan de yuther wile beastis?"
"Yes, yes," came from many voices.
"Why, my Gaud, looki dah at ole man Shikes-
taker; he raised a famly uv five gals, by Mahtha,
his slave 'oman, an' when de gals growd up he
had chillun by all uv um except Lotta, de youngis
one; an' he beat, dogged an' bused her so much,
ter make 'er submit to his lust, dat at las', she
jumped outen de windah up stahs, wha he had
'er locked in, an' kilt 'erself! The old repehbate
actually sold his own chilun an' his gran' chillun
by his daghters ter de slave traders. An dahr
is thousands uv 'Shikestakers' all over dis coun-
try, roun' about. "Why, dey say we is immohal. Yes, an' I wun-
ders dat we has any mohals at all, fer de black
cuss uv slavery tried ter make a beast uv evehy
black man an' oman. An' ouah treatment now is
little bettah, an' in many ways hit is wuser dan
hit wus in 'Paul's time.' Yes, dah wus ole Le-
gree, who not only driv, beat an' shot his slaves
ter death unhindered, but he made de drivers cuh-
lect de wimmen an' men toguther on Sundays
an' put dem inter a huge log pen (naked), fer 


42 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
breeding puposes, like so many beastis, an' ef any
'fused ter do hia biddin', dey wus whupped neahly
ter death."
"0 Laud, my Gaud, hep us Laud," was the cry,
which came from the "amen corners," with many
groans from those who had seen and felt those
things. "Yes, my sistahs an' bruthren, dey has done
all in dahr power ter make us brutes, an' now
dey 'buse us an' call us low an' immohal when
we has not only been brutalized by dem fer cen-
turies, but we has been teached by dem all kinds
uv immohality an' wrong doin's. Dah is some
good upright white people aroun' here, but dey
is too few. Dey wants ter see us prospur an' git
propity, becume 'telligent an' upright Christians,
but dey is in de minohity. Dey wants us let alone,
but is ferd ter say ur do any thing ter hep us." "Laud, hep us," was the response. "De jails an' penitrntiaries is full, an' hit are
ter dahr intrus' ter keep 'em so, fer dey gins you
only barely unuf ter keep body an' soul toguthr
'twell dey gits you in prison; den'de gates uv
hell opens, an' de doah uv mucy closes! Each
prison doah oughtah haf wrote ovah hit: 'Ht who
entehs heah leaves hope behime.' Bruthren an'
sistahs, you knows dat de term uv de nigga pris-
oner usually ends in death; dat dey is stahved,
beat an' shot ter death; dat de lenuous hate uv
de Southern white man condemns a nigga befo'
he is heahd; dat whensomever a nigga is 


OR DIABOLISM AMD DESTINY. 43
brought befo' de coat he are zumed ter be gilty,
an' dat he can only scape by proof uv his Iner-
cence beyond any doubt. De Laud have said he
would hide his zines in de blackness uv dahkness
an' dey is shoah hid frum us. But he have sed
dat dey dat trus' in Him he will deliveh." Cries of "0 Laud, deliveh us," were heard all
over the church. "So, my friens, we mus' trus' on an' lif up our
voices an' cry out in de night uv ouah troubles." Just then a voice was heard from the outside,
saying:"Yes, some 'niggers' will lift up their
voices very loud to-night." The old people groaned and the younger ones
looked frightened and wild-eyed. But the
preacher did not hear the voice of warning, and
so continued. "I tell you, my friens, we is shoah in de black-
ness uv de dahkness uv our night wid no rif in de
clouds. An' dah is rivers uv trubles befo' us.
But dey dat trus' in de Laud shall showly be de-
livehed." "Amen" and "Thank Gaud" came up from the
audience. "When Isrul was turned loose dey borid gold,
silver an' all things whut dey needed frum dahr
mastahs; but we wus turned out, widout shelter
ur a moufful uv food, an' among dose who hate
us, becase we has been dahr slaves. Dey hates
us becase dey wus forced ter turn us loose. Not 


44 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
becase we is black, fer dah is foah black ur dahk
people in de wold ter one white puson. An' in
dis state, an' in all dis country roun' about dah
is three ur foah niggas ter one white puson. Still,
dey proud Naaman-like, duz not want us ter have
any say so 'bout our own affahs, ter say whut we
oughtah do, an' whut not. 0 how dey does git
up on de Foath uv July, an' talk 'bout libity, jes-
tice, ar.' equality, but dey say, dey means dah-
selves, an' not us niggas. Dey say dah is no
jestice nur libity fer us. All we is ter git is de
judgment, an' we has shoah had dat hot an' heavy. "Agin, my friens, we wus turned outen de
slave pen, widout food, clothes, ur anything, an'
bein' anxious to earn a livin' fer ouah famlies,
we went ter work fer whut we could git. But
de rail pens an' holes we haf tah live in tell de
story uv how we has been paid an' 'prived uv de
fruits uv our labor. Befo' de wah we made our
mastahs rich by our toil, but now we can't feed
ouhselves an' families on whut we earn. Bruther
Brown, can you feed yoah famly uv ten offen
fifty cents ah day fer your wuk, specially, when
one-third uv de days is bad days? No, hit is
starve an' steal, an' go ter de chain-gang an' ter
death. "We wus told by de good friens whut cum
down frum de Norf ter hep us, incoiihage an' in-
struct us in propah ways uv livin' an' actin', dat
we wus freed by Mr. Lincum's proclumation, an'
dat de Congress uv dese United States made us


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 45
citerzena, an' clothed us wid manhood rites, an'
dnt we oughtah try ter dischahge dese high prlv-
eleges in a propah manneh. But no sooneh dan
we goes out ter listen ter de speakin' ur ter tend
de 'lection, an' try ter vote fer whut we thinks
is good fer us poah black folks, de Kuklux an'
night ridahs bugins ter ride, ter whup, ter kill
an' run ouah people off, so dat now we is in daily
dread fer ouah lives. You knows dat many uv you
had to move inter kind white folks' yahds ter be
pertected frum de night ridahs. An' some uv
you is wukin now fer people fer nothin' ter git
dahr pertecshun. Cries of "Yes, my Gaud!" came from the lis-
teners. "Whut wus de Kuklux Klan an' Night Ridahs
eriginated fer? It wus ter keep de Nigga ignunt,
poah an' degraded; ter crush outen dem all 'spira-
tion an' desire ter be men; ter 'spire in dem a
deadly fear uv de white man, so dat de white man
can beat, rob an' cheat, rape, kill, burn an' lynch
dem, widout fear uv 'zistance frum de niggas.
Dey wush ter so cowah us, dat we will be as de
sheeps uv de pastur. My friens, de aim uv de
Southern white man is ter keep de black man
cowed, so dat he can use him as he wants ter,
an' 'buse him as he likes." "Tell hit! tell hit!" came from many parts of
the house. "But I wants ter say here, 'specially, ter yoh
young thoughtless fellers, dat you can nevah be 


46 OUT.OF THE DARKNESS,
truly brave or manly twell you learns ter 'spect
yohselves, an' ter 'spect an' defend yoah wimmen.
Our wimmen has a hahd road ter travel, I tell
yoh. Dey is de prey uv de white man an' many
uv our own men. We do not guard an' 'spect de
virtue uv our wimmen as we should. Dese things we has got ter learn ter practice an' teach ter
ouah chillun. We is poah, an' ouah wimmen an'
gals is compelled ter wurk wha dey is constantly
beset by bad white men, who look 'pon dem as
dahr lawful prey. No race can be great ur gran',
whut does not honah its wimmen an' is not willin'
ter die fer dahr pertecshun. Why, ouah gals can't
go inter a stoah ur any place wha dey comes in
contac' wid white men but dey is insulted, mis-
treated ur is 'ticed ter sin an' degradation. "An' sum uv ouah own men: ef dey does not set
traps ter ketch ouah gals fer white men, dey do all
dey can ter lead em ustray. Anothyur thing, my
friens, twell we learns ter treat ouah good wim-
men wid dat 'spect dat is due ter 'onerable wim-
men, we can't 'spect others ter 'spect dem, ur ter
rcgahd us as a race uv true men. Why, sence
we has been compelled to ride in de cattle cahs,
I has seen nigga men come in, set down an' begin
ter smoke an ole stinkin' pipe ur a wuser segar,
right in de face uv de wimmen. Right heah in
dis church, when we has 'tainments, I sees yoh
come in, stan' roun' wid yoah hats on, an' a pen-
ny segar in yoh mouf, in de presence uv de ladies.
What a shame on yoh! My young frien's, yoh


48 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
made for the door, windows, and the chimney.
In the scramble the lamps were thrown down
and went out; but not before the preacher and
Deacon Brown had been seized by the pale faces.
The victims uttered not a word of protest, as they
were pushed through and over the crowd, which
was kept back somewhat by clubs wielded freely
by the raiders stationed at the doors and win-
dows. Mrs. Scott and Harold waited in a corner till
the crowd was out, then came quietly out and
followed the raiders at a distance. They stopped
in the bushes near where the mob had carried the
pastor. The Scotts and Lucius Storms, alone of all that
congregation, stayed to learn the fate of the
preacher and Deacon Brown. One part of the
pale faces took Deacon Brown in charge and
carried him down the hill into a flat. Soon his
piteous cries and groans were heard coming up
from the depths of the forest in the valley of
humiliation. Another crowd took Elder Buchanan in charge
and went a little way aside from the path that led
through the forest. It was not long before loud
talking was heard, which seemed to be a dispute. The majority of the crowd was in favor of hang-
ing the old preacher. Some of them contended
that he was a dangerous "nigger"; that he would
ruin the other "niggers" in the community, and
that he had got them Yankee notions in his "nig-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 49
ger' head." The others were for giving him a
sound thrashing and running him out of the coun-
try; but the majority would have its way. So
they came forward and put a rope around the
preacher's neck. Then the mob asked him if he
wanted to pray. He said, "Yes, sah." "Well, pray then, and be quick about it; for
we have fooled away too much time with a worth-
less old 'nigger' like you. Come! hurry up and
make it d—d short!" The old man fell on his knees and said:
"0 Laud, yoh has always heahd me, heah me
now, my Fathah. O Laud, yoh has promised to
deliveh yoah people. Laud, I is yoah chile; deliveh
me frum dese vile men dese chillun uv de debble.
O Laud, yoh knows dey is full uv de lepusy uv
sin, an' is on de road to hell. 0 Laud, dey is
bline, an' know not whut dey is doin'. 0—"
Just then two or three of the most
brutal of the crowd, grabbed the rope
which was already over a limb of a tree,
jerked the victim to his feet, and began
to hoist him. As the rope tightened the old
preacher cried out, with a gurgle in his throat: "0 Laud, my Gaud, is dar no help fer de widcr's
son?"
Immediately a man sprang from the out-
skirts of the crowd, with a large knife in his
hand, and running up to the hanging man, cut the
rope and the old prisoner fell to the ground un4


50 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
conscious and half dead. With the same knife
he waved the crowd back from the prostrate
form. He wore no mask and was easily recog-
nized as Mr. Storms. At this two or three came
up and said with a growl:
"By G—d, that d—n nigger shall die."
Mr. Storms then spoke up and said:
"Why, gentlemen, what has he done to merit
death? I heard all that he said; if he uttered
any thing that is not true, prove it to me and I
will join you in saying that he ought to be dis-
posed of. Gentlemen, you all know me, and know
that I will do what I say. Now, the first one of
you that attempts to hang this man shall die.
If you hang this old 'nigger' who has done
nothing worse than speak the truth a little too
plainly, you will do so after my dead body lies
there where he now lies. But on the other hand,
if you will turn him over to me, I promise you to
rid this community of his presence for good."
The leaders withdrew, held a whispered consul-
tation, then returned to Mr. Storms and said:
"See here, Mr. Storms, we all respect you and
look up to you as one of the most substantial men
in our community, and on that account we have
decided to turn the old 'nigger' over to you to
dispose of; but if he is ever seen in these parts
again, we will see the job finished next time be-
fore we leave." "I will answer for it that he does not trouble
you again." said the rescuer. 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 51
Mr. Storms took the preacher to his home,
called his coachman, had him hitch up a carriage
and took the preacher to the railroad station,
ten miles away. After promising to see that his
family should get to him, Mr. Storms then put the
preacher on the three o'clock train, gave him twen-
ty-five dollars and bade him farewell, saying: "This is the length of my 'cable tow.'"Deacon Brown finally got over his lashing.
But he was so disabled, by reason of his wounds
and crippled condition that he was unable to earn
a support. He was finally pensioned by the
United States Government. Lucius was near his father when he rescued
the old preacher, and the iron entered his soul.
He remained with his father, though, till the
preacher was bidden farewell on board the train
which was to carry him to life and liberty. Then
said Lucius to his father: "Sir, you are a noble man, not alone
because you have done a heroic deed in
saving the old preacher, but because you
saved the old Negro from a gang of cowardly
ruffians. They always take to their heels as soon
as a truly brave man appears, and says 'Halt!'
It was in putting down your own race feeling
and siding with that poor old Negro, one of the
trampled-down and despised, that showed your
greatness. Yes, your act places you among the
true chivalry of earth. You not only discharged
a solemn obligation, a thing which so many dis-


52 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
regard, but you did the act of a true Christian.
I shall treasure in my heart the memory of this
act of yours among life's grandest achievements." Mrs. Scott and Harold, concealed near by,
where the sacrifice to Southern chivalry and valor
was about to be offered up, observed all that was
said and done. The widow was on her knees
praying for the deliverance of her old pastor. Be-
ing a devout Christian, she had great faith in
prayer and the power of the Lord. Harold was
close beside her with his hand in hers, weeping
sympathetic tears. After the terrible ordeal was over they went
quietly and solemnly home, and when in they
closed the door. The mother and son kneeled in
prayer. She thanked the Lord because he had
seemingly saved the pastor, and also that her own
dear husband was not there in those times of per-
secution- and slaughter. When she was through
with the prayer, Harold said:"Mother, is it not well that father is
not living in these times? He would be
right in the midst of this turmoil and trouble.
There are no means of defense now like there
were at the time he came from the war. He
brought his gun home with him. Colored men
are not allowed to have guns now. At that time
the Federal soldiers were a sort-of protection.
After the soldiers had been withdrawn the mili-
tia was organized for the enforcement of the law
and our protection, but to see colored men with 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 53
guns and uniforms on so fired the Southern heart
and brain, that they rose up in mass, dispersed
them and took their guns for themselves. Since
then the colored people have been as sheep for
the slaughter; as lambs among wolves." 


CHAPTER III. School at Bon Aqua—Livingstone University. Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent;
This life thy glory, Tltanl is to be
Good, great and Joyous, beautiful and free:
This is alone Life, Joy, Empire and Victory. —Shelley.
LD army wagons standing here and
there on open lots, old worn-out army
mules grazing on the commons, the
presence of a small body of Federal
soldiers at the old fort on the hill, ex-rebel sol-
diers, with their old time worn and dirty uniforms
on, and the dilapidated appearance of the town
and its inhabitants, all gave evidence of the recent
struggle between the North and South, and the
more recent peace. This little town, in spite of the scourge of war,
still gave evidence of its ante bellum beauty. Its
wide streets shaded with sugar maples, broad
lawns surrounding what were once lovely man-
sions and palatial homes, and the pure, gushing,
limpid springs, still called the .mind back to the
days before the dogs of war were turned loose
upon the monster slavery. On a hill overlooking a beautiful vale, 
(54)


DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 65
through which ran a rippling, singing little
stream, the outlet of a great boiling, bubbling
spring which gushed from the foot of the hill,
was born a boy ten years before the tide of battle
swept over the land deluging it with the blood of
sacrifice for the sin of oppressive servitude. Julian Jarnigan was the sixth one of nine chil-
dren, seven girls and two boys. His father, Nor-
val Jarnigan, was the great grandson of an Afri-
can king. His mother was the daughter of a
Frenchman, DeGrands, and.one of his most come-
ly, black damsels. When seven years of age, Ju-
lian sat with his father on the front porch of the
mansion house, and saw him count out to his mas-
ter, five hundred dollars in gold, the balance of
the purchase price of his freedom. The father of Julian, being a carpenter, had
earned this money by hiring his time and doing
extra work nights. Norval was also a Methodist
minister and spent much of his time in going to
and fro, preaching and doing religious work
among the people on Sundays and nights. He
was such an earnest, Christian worker that he
built a little church by working on it nights. But
alas! when it was finished, some bad white men
with black souls burned it, and that, too, on the
Sunday night after the dedication service was held. Mr. Jarnigan, the master of Norval, was a
village merchant, and though a kind-hearted man,
was close-fisted. But his wife was a godly worn-


56 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
an and a philanthropist. Through her influence
several of their slaves were set free during her
lifetime. She saw to it that all her grown slaves
attended church on Sundays, and that the younger
ones were sent to the Sunday-school carried on
by a free man by the name of Abbott. The Sun-
day-school was conducted much as our country
schools are to-day. There were two sessions each
Sunday, one in the forenoon, and another in the
afternoon. The blue-back speller, reader and
Bible, along with the catechisms, were used. It was in this school that Julian caught his first
inspiration to an aspiration for the higher things
of life. Mr. Abbott was a bright example of the
free Negroes' devotion to the cause of uplifting
their brethren in bonds. The persecution of the free Negroes in the
South became so bitter that the Rev. Jarnigan,
to escape these persecutions, resolved to go to his
fatherland, Africa, to seek true freedom and to
do missionary work. It was his purpose to found
a home and return in two years for his family,
but within eighteen months he succumbed to the
African fever, while holding protracted meetings
among the natives. In a few years freedom came to the widow and
her children and found them without any means
of support, except a large supply of fortitude and
determination. The widow, being strong in
courage and full of faith, began the struggle for
subsistence. 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 57
Leaning on the promises of Him who heareth
the young ravens when they cry, trusting in
the promises of Him who heareth the widow's
sigh, she remained at the old home on the hill.
The widow and the children worked and saved,
looking forward to the purchase of a home, some-
thing the widow had dreamed and hoped for
through the long weary years of slavery. Yes,
she had pictured in her imagination a nice cosy
little home in which she could gather her children,
who were somewhat scattered. After several
years of struggle, privation and suffering, they
realized their fond hopes in a beautiful two-story,
eight-room residence. As the children gathered
into that home from their quest of the fruits of
industry the fond mother's heart filled to over-
flowing with joy. The soldiers were still at the fort when the
Rev. H. W. Delaney came to Bon Aqua from
the North, having been sent by General 0. 0.
Howard to teach and preach for the freedmen at
that place. Mr. Delaney went around for a few
days and saw a great many of the heads of fami-
lies, and everywhere he found parents and chil-
dren most anxious for the opportunity to learn and to hear the word of God explained. On the following Sabbath, Mr. Delaney met the
freedmen in an old, dilapidated, deserted church,
which had in it neither door nor windows—only
the openings where these had been. When the
hour arrived for the services to begin the old 


58 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
house was packed with people. First he sang
several songs, then he read the Scriptures and
prayed, after which he spoke to them on the re-
sponsibilities of life and the hope of future re-
ward. That through, he called on several of the
heads of families to say a word as to the needs
of the people. At the close of the service Mr.
Delaney announced that he would open school in
that house next morning at eight o'clock, under
the auspices of the Freedman's Bureau, and that
all who wished were welcome to come. All went
away with joy in their hearts, for they felt that
light had come to illuminate their dark pathway;
that the cloud which had enveloped them for over
two hundred years was about to lift. Many of
them went home, got on their knees, and thanked
God for the "Light that lighteth every man that
cometh into the world." On Monday morning by seven o'clock they be-
gan to assemble, children and gray-haired moth-
ers, the halt and lame—they all came. The old
mothers said: "Thank Gaud, we has found a way
to learn to read de word uv de Laud!" They
were there seeking the light, and anxious for the
way that is right. Julian Jarnigan was there,
and in the class he often found himself between
two gray-haired mothers. Four days of this great school passed off smoothly, but on the fifth, suddenly and without
warning, a great noise and commotion was heard
in the street in front of the school. Soon a crowd 


OB DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 59
of the most ruffianly and drunken white men in
the town rushed into the old building and with
loud voices declared, with oaths and curses, that
the "nigger" school must stop. They declared
that "niggers" had no business with schools and
books and that any white man who would try
to teach "niggers" to read was only fit for tar and
feathers or to weight the loose end of a rope. The soldiers at the fort were sent for, but before
they reached the school it had been dispersed.
That was the end of that school. The Rev. De-
laney left, saying: "Why do the heathen rage
and evil people imagine a vain thing?" The
school was closed, but in the four days it existed
Julian caught the inspiration which caused him
to aspire to the ideals set up in his mind by the
good man, Rev. Delaney. So he studied hard;
when at work in the fields he carried his books
with him. At noon, while the other hands slept,
he was studying; and at night he studied by the
light of a pine knot till a late hour. About a year after the breaking up of Mr. De-
laney's school the Freedman's Bureau sent an-
other teacher, who began in a log cabin at the
east end of the town, and Julian was in attend-
ance. He was now able to enter the fourth
grade class, while in the first school he had been in the first grade. He continued in this school, working at night and going to school in the day, and working in the day and going to school at night till it rose to be the Easton Academy, am


60 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
he had reached the grade of primary teacher.
He taught and went to school till he was far
enough advanced and able financially to enter
Livingstone University. Julian soon became acquainted with the mem-
bers of his class and formed a close attachment
for a young man from Georgia by the name of
Harold Scott. There was another young man in
the class from the same state, Lucius Storms by
name. Julian and Harold did not like Lucius
very well, because of his haughty disposition,
his continual boast of his white blood and his
father's wealth. Among the young ladies of the University was
one of unusual aptness and amiability, Ernestine
DeShon, from New Orleans. With her large black
eyes and long raven hair, she might have easily
been mistaken for a Spanish senorita. She,
too, was the daughter of a rich sugar planter.
Mr. DeShon had loved his gold and the black
Venus who made his bed and brought his slippers
and chocolate. He never married, but lived
among his slaves. He cared for Portia, the
mother of Ernestine, as a wife till her death, and
treated and regarded Ernestine in all respects
as his daughter and heiress. Ernestine with her
dark, dreamy eyes, wavy hair, sylph-like form
and queenly air, was the pet of her class and the
idol of the boys. Though many of them sought
her favor, she seemed to have no preference, and
treated all as brothers. 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 61
Julian and Harold strolling down a cool, shady
avenue of the college grounds one afternoon
were talking of the match football game to be
played on Thanksgiving Day between their team
and the Centenary College team. "What would I not give to be the winner of the
prize offered by our senior normal class to the
winning team. It would give me more joy to
know that her hand had touched it than to wear
the crown of victory," said Julian. Harold's dark, curly locks hung over his Indian
colored face and Julian could not see the troubled
look that clouded his brow. Both knew whose
hand would place the laurel wreath upon the
brow of the victor. Julian was the captain of the Livingstone
eleven. This fact and the peculiar feeling in
his heart whenever he came near Ernestine,
caused him to exclaim: "I will win; I must win
that game or perish!" Harold was right guard, Lucius left tackle,
and Julian quarter back. Thanksgiving Day
dawned clear, cool and beautiful; it was an ideal
day for sport. The team and students of Living-
stone were full of excitement, exultation, exu-
berance and student frolic. From two o'clock in the afternoon till the game
was called, gay equipages came pouring into the
field, decked with streamers of mingled scarlet
and black, or orange and green, which were the
respective colors worn by the gay occupants of 


62 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
the vehicles. Flags and streamers made the field
a flutter of gay colors and gay young people. The
yells of the different colleges made the crisp air
ring with their merriment. The game had progressed to the second half,
when after a scrimmage, there was a cry, "A man
has been killed." Several physicians who were on
the grounds rushed to the gridiron and after an
examination had the man carried to a near-by
building and telephoned for an ambulance. The
injured man was found to be Captain Julian
Jarnigan, and he was taken to the hospital. He
was not dead, but badly injured. The game was
stopped, as it was asserted that Julian's injury
resulted from a bad case of slugging. Harold called often at the hospital to see Julian,
but Lucius never called or made inquiry as to
his condition. On the second day after the acci-
dent, Ernestine, in company with one of the
teachers, called to see Julian, who had been un-
conscious since he was hurt. As she sat by his
cot, the tears streaming from her beautiful eyes,
she took hold of Julian's hand, which was lying
from under the coverlet. As she held it the pa-
tient heaved a deep sigh, as if relieved of some
great burden or strain, his lips moved and he
soon began to utter low whispered words
which gradually grew more distinct. The first
words uttered were: "Yes, I must win this game. I must
wear the laurel, because her hand will place 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 63
it on the victor's brow. 0 to have her hands
touch my brow, to have those angel eyes look
into mine is life; to fail in all this is death, death!0 what if she knew that it is all because of her!" He again lapsed into silence. Ernestine,
the teacher and the nurses heard these
words and noted with joy the signs of re-
turning consciousness and life; yet none but
Ernestine knew the meaning of the words he had
uttered. She sat there motionless, with tears in
her eyes and a prayer on her lips. After a few moments Julian exclaimed: "I
must win, I will win," and opening his eyes, he
looked around and said, "Where am I? What has
happened? where are the boys? where is the ball? 1 must go or I shall not win!" The nurses rushed to the bed, but he did not
move, for when he essayed to do so he uttered a
groan, and said: "What is the matter with me?"
He looked up then and knew who it was who sat
holding his hand. He looked up again, and said:
"Thank God, I win. It is she and I shall wear the
crown. I win the prize." When Lucius learned that she had been to the
hospital he was very angry, and at the evening social, although Ernestine avoided him as much
as she could, he at last got an opportunity to
speak to her, and attempted to take her to task
for the visit to the hospital. "Yes, I was only trying to build up
where you had torn down; to mend where you 


64 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
have broken. Do you know that it is asserted
by many that you know more about Julian's acci-
dent than you care to tell?" remarked Ernestine.
"I- care not for what is asserted, and
will say to you now, that I hope he
will die, and by the Eternal, if he at-
tempts to come between me and my one desire,
he shall die," said Lucius, with fire in his eyes. "Since your one desire does not concern me, I
care not for it, but advise you to dismiss all such
vengeful notions. They are the heat and passion
of a school boy," said Ernestine. "But it does concern you very much, Ernestine,
and for what I care for you I would do any thing.
You are my life's ambition and ideal. Without
you I am nothing. Nothing shall put us asun-
der, neither life nor death," said Lucius. Ernestine said: "I beg of you to feel not
so and talk not of such whims and emula-
tions. Life is everything, and death is noth-
ingness. Ambition is a dangerous thing if
not directed by high and holy thoughts, and leads
on to destruction. I perceive that your control-
ling thought is to be a great man, to shine out in
the world, and make a great name. You desire
a companion or wife who will, as you think, grace
the position which you expect .to hold in society
and the world; but, remember, that neither your
mind nor your plans are mature. We are only
boys and girls in school, and it does not appear
what we shall be. Your ambition is to be great, 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 65
while mine is to do all the good I can for the poor
and downtrodden. When a little girl at my
mother's knee I made the resolve to do all I could
for my darling mother's people; to do whatever
I could to correct that public opinion which doomed
me and my poor mother to obscurity and dis-
grace. But for that public opinion my father
would have lifted the cloud from over us, and
left us in the clear, beautiful sunlight of respect-
ability by giving us the legal right to bear his
name. We must not be selfish, for that is the
curse of the country to-day. Each man thinks
himself better than his fellow. The Scrip-
tures tell us to esteem others better than our-
selves. Shakespeare tells us to 'Fling away
ambition, for by that sin fell the angels, and
love ourselves last.'
"0 Lucius, your mother's people need your abil-
ities so much more than any others. Think of
them, not of yourself. Our Master, of whom it
is said: "Never man spake like this man," thought
not of himself, but rather of the lost sheep. And
he devoted his life and labor to helping the poor
and outcast, and at last gave himself up to death,
because of the ignorance and sin of the world.
"And you, Lucius, who are so intelligent, am-
bitious and proud, may be called upon to give
your life for the sake of your people, or rather
your mother's. Not your people perhaps by
choice, but, nevertheless, by your blood, and before a distorted public opinion, a pride like yours
5


66 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
consigns you to the degradation of your mother's
people. Hatred for your mother's people says
that you shall be a Negro, whether you will or
not." "I can never stoop to the level of the herd 1
have seen about my father's plantations," said
Lucius. "I may labor among them,but, likea white
man who does the same, I shall not be of them.
I only feel for them as the white man does who
sympathizes with them and tries to help them.
I feel a good deal as my father does towards them,
only a little closer. I am sure that if you scorn
my suit I shall never again seek alliance with one
who belongs to my mother's race. I have seen
and felt enough of what it is to be of that race,
and as I am not compelled to, I shall be among
them, as a missionary, but not of them. Why
should I consign myself to ostracism, degradation
and misery when I can walk away from it all.
Why should I, as white as any man in this coun-
try, far above the average in education and
wealth, and with just a taint of Negro blood in
my blue veins, be classed as a Negro? To be so
classed, and to accept the classification, is to ac-
cept oblivion and damnation. For the sake of my
foreparents on my mother's side I will work for
and do all I can to lift up the despised Negro, but
because I have my father's feelings and ambitions
I shall aspire to be like him, of a different race." 


CHAPTER IV. Politics and Persecution. On the summit see The seal of office glitter in his eyes;
He climbs, he pants, he grasps tbem;
At hit heel,
Close at his heels, a demagogue ascends,
And with a dextrous Jerk soon twists him down
And wins them, but to lose them in his turn.
—Cowper.
ELATIONS between the white man and
colored people, never as cordial as they
might have been, were now strained
and distant. The midnight council
of the pale faces had become the midday assembly,
where the overthrow of the republican, otherwise
designated carpetbag and negro rule, was dis-
cussed and plans laid. Before the withdrawal of the Federal troops
from that section, the whites had held their meet-
ings secretly and at night, but now they were held
openly and publicly. At these meetings names
were brought in and discussed, and proscribed
lists made out of those Negroes who were con-
es?;


68 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
sidered too obstreperous or self-assertive; at the
close of the meetings these lists were turned over
to the raiders, and the condemned were dealt with
according to the order of the Klan. The usual
penalties were whipping, lynching or being run
out of the country. Many disappeared, no one but
the raiders knew where. Now that there was no
power to check their fiendish course, they took off
the mask and did openly that which they had done
before covertly. The state and county election was
near at hand, and they were holding meetings and
speakings weekly. At those meetings the demo-
cratic candidates and other leaders made fiery
speeches. The Hon. Gooch Tarlton, who was the candidate
from Coweater County for the legislature, in ad-
dressing these meetings said: "Fellow citizens, the day of our triumph is at
hand. No more shall these black heathen and
carpetbaggers rule over us, or even have a voice
in this government. It never was intended that
'niggers' should be anything but slaves and scul-
lions. For two hundred and fifty years they were
our beasts of burden, and we reckoned them
among our herds and flocks. They would be there
to-day had it not been for these Yankees who have
come down into this country andtaught them that
they are folks, that they are men, and ought
to send their children to school, and wear clean
clothes and try to live like white folks. And these
same Yankees who came to prey upon us, with 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 69
those who remained here after we gave up,
bought our lands for nothing and are growing
rich off our property and the offices, have made
these 'niggers' believe that they can be citizens
and vote and hold office like white men. No, this
is a white man's country. Our fathers wrested
it from the Indians, and they will rule it and allow
no black participation in it. God almighty made
this country especially for the white man. What
if the 'niggers' are five to one of us? They were
made to work for and serve the white man while
he sits in the shade and makes laws to keep them
at work, either as free laborers or as convicts in
our prisons. Yes, we, like Attila, 'The scourge of
God,' are to drive and keep this black race in
the place God intended for them—at the bottom. "These carpetbaggers have opened schools, and
have got the 'nigger' believing that he can get an
education. But, after this election we will start
them another school: the hard school of experi-
ence wherein they will learn that submission is
the best valor for a black man. "They can't learn anything from books, and if
they did, what could they do with it in the place
we have fixed for them? Now, we are going
to carry this election. It may be necessary to
use force and even violence to win—but we will
win. When we win this battle, we have won for
good. For after this election we will fix the laws
so that 'niggers' can't vote and we white men
will decide who of us shall hold the offices. 


70 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
"By the shades of Jefferson Davis and Robert
E. Lee, we will put the 'niggers' under our feet
or wipe them from the face of the earth and run
the carpetbaggers from the land. Although we
were overpowered by the Yankees and our slaves
taken from us, they cannot set 'niggers' over us,
or make them our equals. We will rule peaceably
if they will let us, but forcibly if we must. They
failed to awe us with the Federal bayonets, and at
last gave up, leaving the 'nigger' to his fate, and
his doom is sealed. He shall be tenfold more our
slave than before his liberation. Already our
jails, penitentiaries, and chain-gangs are full and
we can get convicts by the scores to work our
farms. What was the 'nigger' made for but
to be our beast of burden, like the mule? We will
subsidize crime among the 'niggers,' and thus reap
a rich harvest thereby. Fellow-citizens, this bat-
tle must be won before the election day. Are
you going to allow five 'nigger' votes to one white
vote to go into the ballot-box?" Cries of "No! No! No!" were heard from all
over the court-house. "Then in the night and daylight do your work,
do your duty. We must have the offices, for
we need them in our business, and we must make
and administer the laws. This is not a party
fight; it is a race fight, with the fighting all on
our side. We do not stop to ask whether our
cause is just, but whether it is expedient. Did 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 71
our fathers stop to ask whether it was just to take
this country from the Indians?" Cries of "No! No!" sounded from all quarters. "Then be up and doing. Think not of justice,
but of the power of the white race—how it has
subdued the whole earth and put the dark races
under its feet." "Yes! yes! we will do it," was heard on all sides. "My fellow-citizens, we have made some mis-
takes in dealing with the'niggers,' and one of them
was in selling them land. We ought never to have
allowed them to own land. But when we are in
control we can pass tax laws by which we shall
soon have all their lands again. Some of them have
been in 'cahoot' with these carpetbaggers in steal-
ing, and have got hold of our money and bought
land, built houses, and are taking on high airs. "This 'nigger' Norris, who has been trying to
represent this county in the legislature, is one
of them. He has the audacity to be trying to run
now, but we will fix all that. If he don't get out
of the race, we will run him out, and maybe out
of this county and state. We will not have 'nig-
gers' holding office." "Right, you are!" and great applause greeted
the speaker as he closed. Arthur Grimpky, a nephew of Mr. Storms, and
a rising young lawyer at Croton, was the next
speaker. Mr. Grimpky, after graduating with
high honors at the State University, had taken his
law course at Harvard. Attending such a school 


72 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
and living in such an atmosphere had raised his
ideals and conduct. He came back to his native
state and his old home with purposes inspired by
contact and association with people who lived on
a higher plane than he had known before. Not
that he loved his rugged fields and tangled wild-
woods less, but because he loved right more, was
he for justice for all men, especially the weak.
Indeed, if it were possible, he loved the South
more than ever, because of her degradation, back-
wardness and wickedness, and because she had
gotten into control of ignorant, bad men without
foresight, men who regarded not the future. He
loved her as the philanthropist loves justice. Mr. Grimpky rose not so much to answer Hon.
Tarlton as to say some things which he deemed it
necessary to be said at that time and place. "My countrymen, "said he, "that people or na-
tion which disregards the rights and interest of
its toilers is sowing thistles upon its own grave!
Proud Rome undertook to trample her plebeians
and freedmen under foot, and thereby pulled down
the monument of her grandeur about her own
head. A wise man or nation husbands the forces
which tend to greatness, and these are justice
and righteousness. No truly brave man or nation
will bully the weak and helpless or oppress the
poor and ignorant. "These unfortunate black people of whom you
have heard so much in these turbulent days are 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 73
not amongst us by their own choice; our fathers
brought them here. They were freed not by an
uprise and revolution of their own, but freedom
was brought to them by white men, while they
were toiling for us and while we were fighting
to perpetuate their degradation and chains. "While I am a Southerner to the core and a
democrat by reason of conditions, I look into the
future and see the changed condition of things
that must come to our Southland in the coming
years. Old conditions must pass. If we would
have it indeed the land of sunshine and song, we
must husband the forces which tend to peace and
prosperity, and they are justice and sobriety.
While the Negroes are ignorant and perhaps venal
to-day, will they always be so? "Why, I have heard many of you remark that
the Negro Norris, who represented this county
for two years, made a good member of the legisla-
ture and that he is honest and upright. He is also
a taxpayer. Do not think that these people will
continue as they are to-day. If they continue to
have schools, we shall have many worthy, intelli-
gent Negroes who will become producers, tax-
payers, and real forces in building up our state
and Southland, for education must elevate any
people. Education has brought the world up to
its present state of civilization, and it will elevate
the Negro and make him a better laborer, member
of society or citizen, if you please. "I said these people are going to remain here; 


74 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
yes, they are going to stay and you can't kill them
out or keep them servile and poor. Every other
race of savages has perished under the giant tread
of the white man's march of progress, except the
Negro. From a few thousands they have grown to
many millions, and their increase is phenomenal.
In Africa where the white man has planted civili-
zation the natives, instead of decreasing or dying
out, have increased more rapidly than in their
savage state. For they are protected from the
slave-catcher and predatory warfare among them-
selves. "They are our laborers. What would our be-
loved South be without our laborers? Do you not
know that if you continue to mistreat these people,
to deprive them of the few privileges they claim
as citizens, after a while they will become
restless, dissatisfied and begin to emigrate to other
places where they think they can get better treat-
ment? As humble as a dog is, if you continue to
cuff and kick him around he will leave home and
take up with some one who offers him kind treat-
ment. We can treat the Negro as a human being
without taking him into social contact. Society
is a thing no law or force can fix. I don't believe
that the Negroes wish to commingle with us any
more than we with them. You can treat your
horse kindly without taking him into your parlor. "Who will till our fertile fields if you drive five
million laborers from our country? You say
Chinamen or some other foreigners. Yes, when 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 75
you fill this country with seven or eight million
Chinamen or any other class of foreigners you
have assumed a problem tenfold more difficult to
solve than what to do with the Negro or how to
treat him. "Rome filled her borders with aliens and there-
by sowed the seed of death within her body. For
the alien element brought her to destruction. From
mistress of the world she came to sit in the ashes
of her destroyed greatness and to lament her folly. "Has not the Negro tilled your lands, nursed
you in your infancy, and guarded your homes and
families while you were away fighting to more
securely weld his chains of slavery about him?
Not that I love the Negro, but because I love you
and my darling Southland would I have you medi-
tate before you take any rash step. The Negro
is your friend; why not treat him as such? Know
you that an injustice is a two-edged sword and
cuts both ways; that there is only one way to set-
tle any question or case, and that is in the right
way. 'Truth crushed to earth will rise again,'
while false ideas must perish with those who
teach them. "In my four years at the North I have learned
many things, and much of the sentiment of the
people there. They class us all alike—as oppress-
ors of the Negro, because of the rash acts and
utterances of some intemperates. "There are many of the men who owned slaves
and who know the worth of the Negro, who feel 


76 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
as I do. But they are too few and have not the
courage to stand up for right against might. "My eloquent friend, Tarlton, has told you only
of what you in your might can do, because of
your superior intelligence and experience in gov-
ernment; but I tell you of what you should do.
Yes, because of your untramelled freedom through
the centuries, as you say, ten of us are equal to a
hundred ignorant ex-slaves who have been cowered
by centuries of servitude and submission. The
wily, timid Jew was once a brave warklike race,
but persecution has made them deceitful and cow-
ardly. But might does not make right.
"A grout statesman has said, 'I would rather
be right than president of the United States.'
Why cannot we be actuated by the same ennobling
sentiment? My countrymen, I would not have
you stain your hands with blood, or soil your
names with force and fraud; if you do, your chil-
dren will reap the bitter fruits of retribution. I
would not have my beloved Southland, like the
red rose, brazen with blood of the slain upon her
cheeks, but like the lily, pure'and white, in the
virtue of her innocency." When Mr. Grimpky closed there was dead si-
lence and no applause, but there began to arise a
murmur of grumbling. Some said out, loud
enough to be heard over the room: "Yes, that is some of his d—n Yankee notions.
He got that up thar whar he went to skule at,
an frum his uncle, who is a d—n 'nigger' lover. 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 77
Well, ef he stays in these diggins we will cure him
of all such d—n Yankee notions. Talk about 'nig-
gers' as if they wus folks. "Why, I would not think any more of killing
a d—n 'nigger' than I would of killin a sheep-
killin dog. I just hate a 'nigger', because he is
a 'nigger', an' is black, an' they is in the way of
us poor white men, too. "Look at that d—n 'nigger', Norris. He has
the impudence to have him a horse and buggy, and
ride around over the county with store clothes
on, and us white men a walking in the mud and
dust, an his wife an chillun a-setting aroun' with
clean clothes on, an' my wife at home with her
homespun on. 0 it makes me want to go out now
and hunt 'em down, an' kill all of 'm. No, he
need not talk that way; we is goin to put the
'niggers' down for good." The next week was all astir with excitement
and confusion. The colored people were excited
and somewhat timid, for the red shirt riders had
just paraded through the streets of the town, fir-
ing their pistols and cannon, which they carried
with them on their raids, otherwise called parades.
They had taken special pains to ride through the
Negro settlements and terrorize them as much as
possible. As they made their way through the
country, when they came to a cotton field where
there were a great many men, women and chil-
dren at work, they would shoot at them, and fire
the cannon, often wounding two or three. 


78 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
There were in the county five colored people
to one white, and in the whole state there were
three colored to one white person. This was only
a few days before the election, and these red shirt
parades were being made to terrorize the Negroes
so that they would not attempt to vote. Prof. Norris had purchased a nice little farm
near Croton, and had become a prosperous farmer.
He had served his county well as a member of the
legislature for two terms, and both the white and
colored citizens had praised him for his excellent
work in that body. He had secured the passage
of several very beneficial measures for the county.
Although there were five times as many Negro
voters in the county as whites, Mr. Norris could
not have been elected save for the presence of
Federal soldiers. The presence of this arm of
the Federal Government was the only means by
which they could ever hold an honest election in
that state or in the South, for the midnight raid-
ers who had now become the midday red shirt
riders, had long ago decided that this is a white
man's country and "niggers" should have no part
or voice in it; that if there were only ten white
men in a county where there were thousands of
blacks, those ten white men should rule. The red
shirt banners had written on them, "Down with
Negro rule! White men will rule peaceably if
they can, but forcibly if they must." They had forced Mr. Norris to withdraw from
the race for the legislature. A white republican, 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 79
Mr. Lippincott, was now sheriff, and he was a can-
didate for re-election, but they forced him to re-
sign and withdraw from the race. In fact, all
the republican candidates had been made to with-
draw and some had to flee for their lives. The
raiders had broken up all gathering of republi-
- cans.
At Cottonwood they came to break up a repub-
lican speaking one Saturday. They were expected,
and the republicans showed fight. Several per-
sons were killed and some of the "red shirters"
among them. The "red shirters" were whipped
and driven off, but they telegraphed to surround-
ing towns for reinforcements. Reinforcements
came in blood-thirsty hordes, and although the
next day was the Lord's day, they made it a hell.
They scoured the country for miles and miles,
killing colored women, children and old men. They
went to cabins and shot people in their beds, who
had worked in the cotton fields all day Saturday,
and had not even known that there was a repub-
lican gathering at Cottonwood on that day. On the night before the election, one hundred
armed men rode into Croton from an adjoining
state. No sooner had their horses been put up,
and they filled with food and liquor, than they
started out to terrorize the colored people. Some
of them set an old stable on fire, and started the
rumor that the Negroes were trying to burn the
town. The mob, taking this as a pretext, went to
the houses of all the leading Negroes and shot 


80 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
to death all they found. The rioters then went
to the home of the wealthiest Negro in the place,
who was a merchant and also a candidate for
state senator, and as he had fled they beat his wife
and daughters. They even ravished the daughters,
without protest from Southern chivalry, and the
outraged women were just able to drag them-
selves from their burning home which the das-
tards had set on fire. Being one of the finest
residences in the city, it was the envy any way,
of many of the whites. The rioters went from
there to the parsonage of the First Colored Baptist
Church. The pastor had also fled, so they seized
the deacons whom they found at the church, they
having come to warn and help to get their pastor
out of the way of the mob. They took the dea-
cons out into an open space, and told them to run
for their lives, and as they ran the mob shot them
down like so many rabbits.' On the next day which was election day, the
Negro settlements looked like a desert waste. No
Negroes came to vote, for they were either dead
or hid in the swamps. Harold and Lucius were
at home from school at the time. Harold was
considerably excited and wrought up over the out-
rages upon the colored people, and thanked God
that his father was not living to see the outrages
committed upon the people. Lucius was not much
concerned about what had occurred, as he did not
consider that he belonged to the persecuted class. 


CHAPTER V. Commencement and Circumstances. Our dearest hopes in pangs are born,
The klngllest are crown'd with thorn.
—Master.
IVINGSTONE University was all astir
with the excitement and bustle inci-
dent to Commencement. After confine-
ment for two months in the hospital
with two broken ribs, a wrenched back and other
internal injuries, Julian returned to the Univer-
sity to resume class work, and other duties.
While he was still weak in body his mind seemed
as acute as ever. Being anxious to finish with
his class, the senior college, he had kept up his
studies while at the hospital as best he could. On
his return he was able to resume his place in
the class, number two. Lucius, being number
one, became valedictorian; Julian, salutatorian,
and Harold, class orator. A prize was of-
fered to the one composing and delivering
the best oration. Julian, being convalescent,
was given special privileges in and about
the University, so that he saw Ernestine often in 
6 (81)


82 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
the ladies' parlor. This fact incensed Lucius very
much. He had only been allowed to see her at
the weekly socials. And at those times when he
could get to speak to her at all he urged his claim
upon her regard with great vehemence. He dis-
cussed with her his hopes, plans and ambitions for
the future. That he would be a physician and
surgeon and would take his course at Harvard
was a settled plan; his father wished it so and
would pay his bills. He felt elated along that
line, but was very much depressed by the cold
comfort he got from Ernestine. As to his future
field of operations he was undecided but it would
be somewhere in the South. The prejudice, dis-
crimination, persecution and oppression made
work for him there very undesirable, but like the
rest of his race, he must do the undesirable things.
His feelings too were such that work among the
Negroes was not to his taste any way. He thought
sometimes of locating somewhere in the North-
west, where the small strain of Negro blood in
his veins would not consign him to degradation.
And, too, said he, "Why should I choose to take the place assigned
me by white prejudice? Why should I be a Ne-
gro when I am seven-eighths white and only one-
eighth Negro? The lowly life of these people is
distasteful to me, and by casting my lot with
them I choose to undergo all the suffering, degra-
dation and persecution that are consequent upon
Negro life in the South. Why should I choose to 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 88
become a brute rather than a man? Why should
I choose death rather than life? In fact, if I cut
loose entirely from this accursed people, a life of
the highest social, intellectual and financial stand-
ing opens up to me. But if I choose to be a Negro,
all is the blackness of desolation with no friendly
voice calling to me out of that darkness the words
of hope and cheer so much needed by a young
man entering life's conflict. We know not what
it portends, but the clouds of oppression grow
blacker and more threatening as the years roll
by." Ernestine heard his words with seeming indif-
ference, but she thought on many of his utter-
ances, and exclaimed once or twice under her
breath. "Unworthy, unworthy coward, coward."
Said she: "Well, Mr. Storms, I see by your ideas and lan-
guage that our paths will lie far apart; that your
feelings are such that you could never wed one
who, like yourself, is accursed with Negro
blood. You will, of course, mingle yours with that
of the race which lives on this high plane you de-
scribe. You will enter upon the higher life. For
my part, I shall work and suffer with my mother's
people! While I love and honor. my father for
all that he has done for my mother and me, I
cannot if I would, and I would not if I could, dis-
card my own dear mother's race for that of my
father. Why, it was the accursed prejudice of
his race that consigned my mother and me to 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 86
"0 no; you will not be the first to do that
.
Thousands have done so all over this Southland.
My mother told me that many free Negroes even
owned slaves before the war. "Why, did not Ben Tillman, in opposing the
clause in the new Constitution of his State, say:
'If you forbid intermarriage between whites and
Negroes to the fourth generation, you will touch
some of the best families in this state?' Many
thousand Negroes with one-eighth, and more with
one-sixteenth of Negro blood, have intermarried
with whites all over this land. You can't walk
along the streets without meeting persons who
have a strain of Negro blood. They don't know
it, or if they do they hold it as a deadly secret.
But all this is doing the Negro no good. What
the race needs and wants is, to be a Negro race.
Well, we can't be white folks and Negroes at the
same time. And if we all become white then
there will be no Negro race. What we need and
desire is, not to change the Negro to a white man,
but to so change public sentiment that intelli-
gence, honesty and virtue, and not the color of
his skin, will be the measure of a man. When
God's kingdom is fully established in the heart of
this nation, all men will hail each other as broth-
ers, and God as their common father!" "Then," said Lucius, "Must I regard this as my
dismissal?" "My friend, adieu; we must part; but let us
hope that it shall not be forever," replied Ernes-
tine.


86 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
Lucius went out crestfallen and morose, say-
ing that he had unwittingly played into the hands
of his rival, and compromised himself in the esti-
mation of Ernestine. While at heart he did not
really love Ernestine, he had an ambition at first
to make her his wife, because she was brilliant
and would shine in the palatial home which he
had pictured in his contemplation. And, too, he wished to prevent Julian, whom he hated with a
perfect hatred, from securing the coveted prize,
now that he had failed in his diabolic act. He
feared that Julian might be the elected one.
Lucius would have preferred to murder Ernes-
tine rather than see her the wife of Julian. Not
that Julian had ever harmed or attempted to in-
jure him in any way, but because he was of darker
hue than himself. He had talked often with
Harold and given him to understand his feelings
as to Julian and Ernestine. Harold, who had
long since buried his budding hopes with regard
to Ernestine, kept Julian posted as to the state of
war, for he was a fast friend and ally of Julian. The class orators had been so busy with their
theses and examinations in the' last days of the
term that they had not seen much of each other
or the queen of hearts. But Commencement week
was upon them almost before they realized it.
Harold's mother came to witness his graduation
and stopped at the University. Ernestine's fa-
ther was at a hotel in the city. Mr. Storms,
Lucius' father, came to the city and being de-


OE DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 87
talned for a few days on business would be pres-
ent at the Commencement. Commencement day dawned clear and bright,
beautiful and balmy. Songs of birds and breath
of flowers attuned the whole atmosphere to a
unison with the flutter of bright ribbons, white
dresses, blithesome laughter and joyous greet-
ings. Streams of people had been pouring into
the auditorium since nine-thirty. And as the
deep-toned bell sounded the hour of nine-forty,
the girls and boys came in troops to the assembly.
The vibrations of the bell had barely ceased when
a march was struck up on the piano, and the
classes came pouring in, with beaming faces and
sparkling eyes. Representatives only of the col-
lege classes were to appear as speakers. There
were many whites in the audience, and among
them Mr. Storms and Mr. DeShon. To-day Ernestine was to receive, not only her
diploma, but a valuable prize for having attained
the highest mark of scholarship in her class. Just prior to going into the exercises, Lucius
tendered a reception to his class in one of the low-
er rooms. Only soft drinks and light refresh-
ments were served. After this reception all
marched in feeling jubilant and happy. Lucius
had a sinister smile upon his lips, but there was a
scowl upon his brow! The devotions over, the salutatorian took his
place, and, after the usual greetings to the Uni-
versity and audience, began his oration. His sub-


88 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
ject was, "The Majesty of the Law." He said,
among other things:"In its highest sense law is the edict of Heaven,
which law controls the actions of bodies, worlds
and the creatures therein. In its legal sense it is
a custom or command enforcible by the state or
nation. The making and enforcing of laws is
the highest element in our civilization. It is the
handmaid of progress, the which secures the king
upon his throne." "The measure of the progress of a nation or a
people is shown by the character of its laws, and
the manner of their enforcement." "Law is a cherishing mother whose care is felt
by the least, and the greatest are not exempt from
her power!" "A great jurist has said that the law is the
mode of regulating the social life of the people.
Another says that justice and its administration
are among the prime needs of society." "Whenever liberty or the rights of the people
were imperiled, or justice and righteousness in
need of vindication, there has been the arm of the
law, more powerful than glittering bayonet or
belching cannon. She stays the hand of the trai-
tor, despoiler, and turns back the hosts of the
invader of honor, home, church or state." "Her disciple it was who, 'with Numa, wooed
Egeria in her cavern and brought down justice
from heaven to dwell with men.'""Law is the strong subduer and civilizer of na-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 89
tions. She sends forth armies to battle for her
dicta and crowns the victor with the laurels of
place and power." "When the Colonists declared that under the
law all men are free and equal and endowed with
inalienable rights, the army of Washington
marched forth to enforce that declaration." "A great churchman has said: 'There can be
no less acknowledgment than that the seat of
law is the bosom of God, and her voice is the har-
mony of the world. All things in heaven and
earth do her homage: the very least, as feeling her
care; and the greatest, as not exempt from her
power.'""It is well for a young man who looks forward
to a career highly honorable in the world, an op-
portunity for intellectual distinction and political
fame, a worthy place in society, where all his
gifts, social, mental and histronic will have full
play, to become a priest in the temple of justice." "But the young Negro who hangs his shield in
this temple that he may watch through the dark
and doubtful hours of our night, hard by the shrine
of trust and truth, needs a double portion of forti-
tude. For in the administration of the laws in
this land of the free and home of the oppressed,
it appears that many laws are made to hinder, not
to help the Negro." "In our part of the country, legislative bodies
occupy much more time in making laws to hinder
and humiliate the Negro than in trying to elevate 


90 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
and help him on up to higher ideals and better
things. The nation that would endure must rule
in righteousness, for such is destiny. 'When the
wicked rule, the people mourn.'""For two hundred and fifty years, the people
have groaned under the galling yoke of the op-
pressor. Being enured to hardship, they will en-
dure for two hundred and fifty years longer! Are
not these persecutions and oppressions the burden
of our songs and sighs?" "Our laws are the evidences of our state of
civilization. A state or nation that enacts iniqui-
tous and bad laws, or that fails to so enforce
them that the weakest and most helpless can enjoy
its full protection, is in a low state of civilization.
In a perfect state of government both the noble
and the ignoble enjoy alike its beneficences and are
visited alike with its penalties. If law and order
do not grow in the body politic, then progress will
cease, and the achievements of the people will be
unworthy of the genius of our institutions, and
liberty and equality will perish." "Is not the South kept out of the line of prog-
ress by reason of bad laws and partial administra-
tion? Still out of the blackness of our night
comes ever and anon a voice for justice to the
Negro." "Our night is not without a star. Now and
then a voice is raised in defense of the weak and
oppressed. We want light, air, water and—"The speaker was seen to throw his hand to his 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 91
forehead; he began to stagger and would have fal-
len had not the president and professors caught
him. Julian was carried down to the room
where the refreshments had been served, and at-
tended by two physicians from the audience, who
said it was only a case of dizziness, and that he
would be all right in a little while. Julian was
taken to his room and antidotes administered.
Here he was walked up and down to prevent his
falling into the sleep consequent upon being
doped. The class cast knowing looks at each
other and side glances at Lucius, but he mani-
fested no concern and looked as stolid and sedate
as a judge. Harold, as class orator, was the next speaker.
His subject was "Industrialism." He said in
part: "The world has ever been more active than
thoughtful. It has usually done the thing and
thought about it afterwards. The watchword is,
'Do something, make something, and then con-
template your achievements.' When you have
made something, you have created a demand and
supply, and at the same time started the wheels
of commerce in motion, which are the wheels of
fortune. Still, only action based on thought can
produce enduring accomplishments which are to
lift men up and move the world on to the best. "Galileo saw the vibrating chandelier, and he
thought and thought. Then he created something
which put the world on time. The thousands of 


92 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
new inventions are the great engines that carry
us up to higher planes of civilization. Each new
invention creates new plans and styles of living,
new demands and new means of supplying them. "This idustrialism is a great promoter of our
upward course, if not carried to the extreme. If
a thing is to be done, the first query is, Will it
pay? Will it yield good returns by way of divi-
dends? "It is asserted that we Americans try to do
something of every thing, and do most things in-
differently. If this be not true, why is it that
nearly every manufactured article that is con-
sidered most excellent and valuable comes from
afar? When an article is very fine and costly, the
cry is, '0 it is imported, you know!' "Industrialism controls our ideas of education;
and we ask, 'Will it pay? Time was when learn-
ing was sought for its power and worth. Now it
is so commercialized that it is measured by its
dollar-earning power. Must all we do and think
yield money? Must man live by bread alone? The
Wise Teacher said that knowledge is more valua-
ble than rubies, and that wisdom is more to be de-
sired than much fine gold! Industrialism, or the
question of labor, has, like the race problem,
caused much friction. It was the prime cause of
the late war of the rebellion. The question of
slave against free labor was the instigator of that
war. Free labor rose up and demanded the abo-
lition of slave labor, and behold our whole indus-


94 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
have field hands conducting our schools and col-
leges. 'By their works ye shall know them!'"
Lucius, valedictorian, whose subject was: "The
Social Fabric," uttered these among other senti-
ments,— "Man is a social being and it is as natural for
him to seek the association of his fellows as for
the different species of animals to flock together.
'It is not good for man to be alone!' 'No man
liveth unto himself.' "Just as food, air and water are necessary for
the physical man, so social contact is requisite for
the spiritual being. No individual or class of in-
dividuals can reach their highest destiny if re-
strained in the privilege of social contact. As
steel sharpeneth steel, so man by coming into con-
tact with his fellow has his intellect sharpened
and brightened. Since God made of one blood all
races of men, that dwell on all the face of the
earth, whence came the right of any man to say,
'Sit thou down there while I sit up here;' or 'Thus
far shalt thou come?' If it is true now he is
foolish who decides that it will always be so. "Proud Athens and powerful Greece, where are
thy art, learning and laws! Great Rome, who sat
upon thy seven hills and ruled the world, that
spoke from thy mighty forum and all the earth
trembled, where, 0 where are. thy armies, thy
senators and statesmen! Alas, they are even as
the dust beneath our feet. So has it ever been,
so shall it be on to the end of the universe!


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 95
"When men or a nation think they are some-
thing, let them take heed lest they fall! Only that
nation is blessed whose God is the Lord! Only
that people is truly happy who eschew evil and
do righteousness! "Social caste is the child of ignorance and the
Devil! The greatest man who ever lived upon
the earth had no prejudice or pride of race. He
saw divinity in all men. He said: 'I, if I be lifted
up, will draw all men unto me.' The Great Teach-
er is the social pattern for good people, in all na-
tions, and for all times. "Since all men are weak, blind and erring, who
among them is able to fix the correct standard of
living? No one. God alone is competent to set
the bounds to expanding, aspiring souls! What
manner of man is he who arrogates to himself the
right to set barriers in the way of my highest
development, spiritually, intellectually, politically
and socially. Is a man so foolish as to assume
that by binding or setting bounds for my body he
can fetter my soul? Did they check or turn aside
the living stream of salvation which flowed from
the soul of John Bunyan, by casting him into
prison? Did Daniel reproach wickedness and cor-
ruption in rulers less because he was cast as food
to the wild beasts? Not so. "They who wrong their fellowmen are only
beating their brains out against the ramparts
which they build around themselves to keep them-
selves to themselves. God pity us who suffer and 


96 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
more those who cause us thus to suffer I They
only set the measure of their own condemnation. "Look at me and see that there was a time when
some people were not so squeamish about contact
with the despised Negro. Even now this min-
gling of white and black blood is going on, but not
so openly, as in the days of slavery. "There are those who agree that all the Negro
wants is civil and political equality. While I ad-
mit that a majority of the race are not capable
of properly exercising political equality still I
contend, as our enemies do, that with the full en-
joyment of civil and political rights must come
the enjoyment of social equality. There can be
no such thing as political equality, without social
equality. That is, the full enjoyment of the
former two leads inevitably to the latter. Full freedom to vote, hold office and be a full man and
citizen, means the right to choose your associates
and companions, and to allow them to choose you
without let or hinderance. Not the privilege to
thrust one's self socially upon some one, but the
natural right to associate with those who may de-
sire your association, without your being subject
. to abuse or maybe lynching, and the other party
to ostracism. "The Southern white man knows this, and knows
also that there can be no equality, without the
full right to choose your laws, officers and asso-
ciates without other lets or hinderances than
those imposed by just and equitable laws.


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 97
"A great philosopher says it is an incontroverti-
ble fact that men, particularly little, narrow-
minded men, are unduly prone to associate opin-
ions with character and, as a result, they think
meanly of the character of those whose opinions
are not in accord with theirs, and this is especially
true of society. The proud and arrogant white
man has not always lorded it over the earth and
the inhabitants thereof. For while the white man
was living in caves and hollow trees, and subsist-
ing upon roots, bark and herbs, dressing in leaves
and skins, the black or dark races were living in
houses, building cities, cooking their food, writing
books, and teaching the world letters, science, art
and philosophy. All their boasted learning is
the gift of the dark or black race to them and the
world. "The Negro doesn't seek social intercourse with
any one. All he asks is to be let alone; to be per-
mitted to enjoy the society of those who may
choose his companionship. He does not desire in-
termarriage, for that means the obliteration of
the Negro race. Intermarriage is what the white
man desires most to prevent. That feeling is at
the bottom of his legislation against the Negro.
It is claimed that a union between white and
black is so abhorrent to the white man that he re-
coils from it as from a deadly cobra! But, at the
same time, he finds it necessary to make the most
stringent laws in a large number of our states to
keep whites and blacks from intermarrying. If 7


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 99
scholarship in her class and there was great ap-
plause. After the presentation of diplomas to
the college class, the president, said in very
solemn words: "Had not the misfortune befallen one of the
speakers, perhaps results might be different. The
judges decide that Mr. Harold Scott, of Georgia,
is entitled to the prize." Julian looked as though he would faint again.
Ernestine started from her seat, but caught her-
self, and sat with her handkerchief to her face.
Harold's countenance lightened up with pleasure,
and his mother looked as though she wished to
take him in her arms. Lucius had a smile of triumph upon his face.
He said to himself: "I have lost; so has he. I am happy since he
is sad. He may win her; but he goes from the
University with a little less wind in his sails. I
might have killed him, but my time has not fully
come. Wait till he is nearer the game, and when
he reaches forth to grasp the beautiful fawn I
shall be near. When he stretches out his hand to
pluck the blushing rose which now droops with
sorrow and anguish for his defeat I may snuff out
his light; then the light of love that now shines
from her beautiful eyes will vanish and all will be
the darkness of desolation for her!" Mr. Storms saw Lucius on the outside and con-
gratulated him on his oratory, and gave him a
check. He remarked to Lucius that he did not 


100 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
approve of the sentiments expressed in his speech.
He warned him that he had better abandon such
ideas if he expected to make his home in the
South. "You know my regard for you, and my kindly
feelings towards your race. But I cannot en-
dorse such views as you expressed in your ad-
dress. They will lead you and your people on to
certain destruction." Lucius not wishing to appear disrespectful to
his father suppressed the bitter words welling up
in his heart. He thanked his father for his kind-
ness and bade him farewell! Lucius left that
evening for the North, where he was to find em-
ployment during the summer, and to enter Har-
vard Medical School in the fall. Harold accompanied his mother home, where he
was to spend his vacation. In the fall he was to
enter the theological school at Altamaha. Ernestine and Julian spent most of the after-
noon together talking over his narrow escapes and
their plans for the future. Ernestine was going
home with her father. She was to take up teach-
ing in the Normal School at Muskegon in the fall.
Julian was to leave on the morning train for
Chicago, Illinois, where he would work during the
summer. In the fall he was to enter the law de-
partment of the University of Michigan. That evening at seven-thirty o'clock Mr. DeShon
and Ernestine entered the train to begin their
journey homeward. When the conductor came 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 101
round to collect the fares, he came to Ernestine
and she directed him to her father, who was in
the seat behind her. The conductor said to Mr.
DeShon,— "Is this your nurse?" Mr. DeShon informed him that the young lady
was a member of his family, who had just grad-
uated from school and was on her way home with
him. "Well, sir, she will have to go into the 'nigger'
car," said the conductor. "No, she won't; she will ride where I do," said
Mr. DeShon. "Well, she will have to get out of here," said the
conductor. "Well, wait a minute," said Mr. DeShon.
lie went back towards the rear of the train, and
soon returned and took Ernestine and went to the
Pullman coach, and thus they journeyed to their
destination. Mr. DeShon told his daughter that
he had always favored the separate car system be-
fore that humiliating episode; that the iniquity of
it all had been brought home to his own heart
now, and he had felt the iron, prejudice, enter his
own soul. He believed that he felt something of
what every educated and refined Negro must feel
when forced with his wife and daughter to ride
in a car, little better than those provided for cat-
tle, with dirty laborers, convicts, and drunken,
ruffianly white men, who are often more indecent
and obscene than the convicts. 


CHAPTER VI.

Progress at Brownsville and Croton. Till o'er the wreck, emerging from the storm,
Immortal Nature lifts her changeful form;
Mounts from her funeral pyre on wings of flame,
And soars and shines another and the same.
—Darwin.
FTER his rescue from the lynchers at
Croton by Mr. Storms, the Rev. Brutus
E. Buchanan made his way to Chicago,
Illinois. Through the instrumentality
of brother Masons, Odd Fellows, Baptists and
other good people, he was so well cared for that
he almost regretted something had not oc-
curred sooner to start him out from the bondage
and darkness of the Egypt he had just escaped to
the land of liberty and light. He was sought after
to make talks at public meetings on the condition
of his people in the South. As he narrated the
tribulations and sufferings of the oppressed Ne-
gro, the audiences, composed of both white and
colored people, were moved to tears. His story
of woe was told plainly and without embellish-
ment.
(IOJ)


DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 103
He spoke of his own marvellous escape, only
when called upon to do so, for he regarded it as
a sacred event. He thought that it must have
been the Lord who directed the good man who de-
livered him and spoke of it with trembling voice
as in the very presence of the Lord. He said
that the Lord had saved his unprofitable life, and
for what?—that he might devote it to trying to
help his poor, ignorant and oppressed people out
of their night of desolation. He was often in
consultation with Judge Tourgee and other hu-
manitarians discussing plans for the betterment
of the condition of his race in the South. He
made trips to Boston, New York, Philadelphia
and Washington and spoke to the people in all
these cities. He addressed a large concourse of
people in Faneuil Hall. Such great men as Hoar,
Boutwell, Butler and Lowell, and Mrs. Howe and
Mrs. Stowe were glad to do him honor. While
not an educated man in books he was educated in
the great book of nature and experience and con-
vinced all who came in contact with him that first
of all he was sincere and unassuming. He talked
to the people both colored and white in many
cities. While in Washington he was honored by
an interview with President Hayes and discussed
with him the question of the withdrawal of the
Federal troops and the abandonment of the Ne-
gro in the South to his enemies. The President thought that if the Southern
people were left unmolested in the control of af-


104 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
fairs of their section the time would soon come
when the Negro would be guaranteed all his citi-
zen rights. Senator Wade Hampton had prom-
ised this for the South. But the Elder did not take to that view. He
said that his sixty years' experience with the
Southern whites had taught him that, as a
whole, they will never of themselves concede any
but the most servile place to the Negro; that he
had learned one thing, and that was, that no
strong race of itself ever grants equal rights to a
weaker, subject race; that if they do it, they are
driven to it by outside influences or force; that
no man ever surrendered a right to another man
and had him return it of his own free will; that
he will only yield it when compelled to do so,
either by the man himself or others; that the
South, being poor, ignorant and far behind in the
march of progress and civilization, is like all ig-
norant people, jealous and brutal, and will do all
in its power to reduce the Negro to a lower state
than when a slave. "But," said the President, "The South is edu-
cating your people and paying out thousands an-
nually for their elevation. "Well," said Rev. Buchanan, "that is true;
they are learning that it is cheaper to maintain
schools than prisons and the thousands they are
spending for schools is largely money wrung from
the Negroes by high rents, low wages, fines and
penalties imposed and over-charges for inferior 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 106
goods. Just now many of my people are desirous
of leaving the South for the West, where they are
better protected, and can be men. Land there is
cheap and fertile. I wish to ask the government
to help us, either by giving transportation or sup-
plies for a short time. The people would prefer
any aid to come as a loan to be paid back by them
in two or three years. Sir, you will bestow a
great blessing upon a poor, but deserving people,
if you will present this matter to Congress and
secure its enactment." "Well, Rev. Buchanan, I am glad to have seen
and conversed with you, and I shall look into these
matters and anything I can do for your people
I shall be glad to do. Good-bye," said the presi-
dent, "and may success attend you." When Elder Buchanan returned to Chicago a
reception was tendered him at the Zion Baptist
Church. Most of the race leaders were present,
and as the sumptuous repast was being partaken
of, toasts were given on all the questions affect-
ing the welfare of the race. The majority were of
the opinion that it would be better for the Negro
to scatter out from the black districts or con-
gested settlements where the pressure was strong-
est, and go to the new land of the West; for the
march of empire is westward. Let them go while
land is cheap, and rise with the country. The state of Kansas, where the immortal John
Brown planted the tree of liberty and watered it with the blood of slave-hunters, was considered 


106 OUT OP THE DARKNESS,
a desirable field. And Kansas was inviting them
to find refuge within her bosom from the Kuklux
and mob. The next morning Elder Buchanan boarded the
train for Kansas and the West. He was to meet
Messrs. Rickman, Brown and some other former
members of his church at St. Louis. They had
been sent as a Lookout Committee to see if the
conditions in the West were favorable to the re-
moving of the Ebenezer Church members there.
The committee was to join their refugee pastor
and fix matters so that if the pastor could not go
to his church they might come to him. They met
in St. Louis and after happy greetings talked of
how Brother Buchanan and Brother Brown last
parted, expecting to meet next in the New Jerusa-
lem. The company was happy because they did
not go just then, as the work given them to do
had not been finished. At Wyandotte and Topeka
they were met by committees of the citizens,
both white and colored, and welcomed to the land
of freedom. The visitors were assured that their
people would be welcome and gladly received.
The railroad companies carried them free of
charge to and fro through the state, show-
ing them the desirable sites for settlements. The
committee finally selected a site for the settle-
ment on the Santa Fe railroad and named it
Brownsville in honor of the sainted John Brown
and Deacon Brown. The elder and deacons re-
mained to make preparations for the coming of 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 107
the emigrants, as they did not care, by returning
South, to run the risk of getting to heaven by the
short line. The other members of the committee
returned to report and to work up the persons to
come to Brownsville. After a month the first three carloads were on
board the train for the new home. There were
many tears and much shouting and rejoicing at
the parting—weeping by those left behind and re-
joicing by those on board the cars leaving the land
of Egypt. The whites stood around the station and
looked on saying very little as they had reaped a
rich harvest in buying for one-fourth of their
value the mules, cows, pigs, chickens and what-
ever. the Negroes had to sell. Some had nice little
homes which they had managed through long
years of toil and great economy to purchase and
build. But they sold all to the whites and the few
colored people who expected to remain there for
what they could get. They were glad to make the
sacrifice for life and liberty. Of course when the
first company got out to the new country they
sent word back of the new conditions. Others be-
gan to get ready to go, and so the movement de-
veloped into the great exodus which became gene-
ral all over the South. The colored people left the South by thousands
and the movement became so great that the very
men who had been kukluxing, killing and lynch-
ing the Negroes organized a movement to stop
them from leaving. The whites published all 


108 OUT OP THE DARKNESS,
kinds of tales about the suffering of the emi-
grants. But as the Negroes continued to go they
took more drastic methods to prevent them. They
passed ordinances against the agents and persons
who induced the people to leave. The officers
put several in jail, the whites lynched several and
forbade the railroad agents to sell tickets to Ne-
groes desiring to go West. They said, "Our farms
will grow into a wilderness." The settlement at Brownsville had in the mean-
time grown from a camp into a village. The
first tent set up was Ebenezer Baptist Church
with Elder Brutus Buchanan as pastor. Many
emigrants slept in this Ebenezer till they could
make a dugout or get a tent. Before many
months the tent or tabernacle gave way to a nice
frame church built by funds sent from all over
the country. Mr. Storms contributed the first
twenty-five dollars as a "shibboleth." The town was laid out in nice wide streets.
Soon little plank houses of two and three rooms
began to spring up. Next, stores, carpenter
shops, blacksmith shops and other business places
were opened up. In a short time Brownsville
was a thriving municipality. Some of those who
could barely earn a support in Dixie soon grew
quite prosperous. After the church was fully established, and it
was seen that since there were no cotton patches
for the children, they must be engaged and not
grow up in idleness and ignorance, a school was 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 109
opened with a graduate from Livingstone Univer-
sity as principal teacher. When he came and
learned that most of the people were from Croton,
Ga., he said he almost knew them, because of
having been a classmate of Lucius Storms and
Harold Scott, and having !^ard them talk so often
of Croton and its people. The school grew in
numbers and influence till it required ten teachers
to instruct its pupils. Masonic and Odd Fellow
lodges were established as were also many other
benevolent organizations of a mutual nature. Coal
was discovered within a few miles of the town,
and a company organized to operate the mines.
The company was soon doing a very profitable
business. As they were not excluded, whites began to
buy and settle, and set up business places in the
town. The white man knows there is always
profit in setting up a trading business where
there are Negroes. Some even came from the
South, but they either left or pretended to leave
all their prejudices behind. They were more
friendly and obliging than many of the foreigners.
Here they mingled with the Negroes and treated
them with as much consideration as they did the
other whites. They did so much to ingratiate
themselves into favor with the Negroes that El-
der Buchanan said, in speaking to a club of busi-
ness men one evening: "He will kill Negroes and maltreat them, and
at the same time cohabit with Negro women.


110 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
He will rant and rage about the purity of the
Anglo-Saxon blood, and at the same time mingle
it with any other race that will allow it. He will
pass Jim-Crow laws of separation and foam at
the mouth while talking about social equality,
and when he gets North or to the Old World he
takes to conditions like a duck to the pond. There
is never a kick unless it be by some greenhorn
from the backwoods who has never been from
home before." Mrs. Scott remained at Croton because her
husband's ashes lay there, and as she did not wish
to sacrifice the little home that represented the
life blood of him whose memory was so dear to
her. She continued her quiet life unmolested by
anyone. All respected Mother Scott's sterling
character, for she was an example for all who
chose to tread the path of honesty and virtue. Prof. Norris, having been forced out of poli-
tics, devoted himself solely to farming and busi-
ness. He prospered in spite of the many disad-
vantages which Negroes had to labor under. He
was the owner of three very fertile farms, be-
sides several houses and lots in Croton. Mr. Nor-
ris was a leader of his people in everything that
went to better their condition. He had married
the daughter of Mr. Forrester, who was another
of the prosperous Negroes of Coweater County. Lucile attended the school at Croton while Prof.
Norris was the teacher, and through his influence
her father sent her to Altamaha University, in 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. Ill
which school she spent four years. She and the
professor became engaged while she was at school
and were married at the close of the exercises on
the evening of her graduation. They returned
to the family residence, where they were given a
grand reception and had all the neighbors in, and
among them several of the white farmers who
were friends to Mr. Forrester. After two days
spent under the paternal roof they came to Cro-
ton and took up their residence in the beautiful
home prepared by the groom. Their home life
was very happy. They were blessed with two
beautiful children, a boy and girl, Theodore and
Marie, who were the delight of their lives. All
their hopes and aims centered in these children.
The children were attending the school once
taught by their father, which was now in better
condition than in those days. There were not so
many pupils, but they were more intelligent, and
the terms were longer. The school was taught by
Miss M. E. DeHart, a graduate from the school
that Mrs. Norris had attended. She was a most
excellent teacher and a great worker among the
people. She taught in the Sunday-school, helped
with the music at the church services, and col-
lected the girls on Saturdays in a sewing school,
and thus taught them to be useful, as well as
ornamental in the home. Once a week she had
the mothers meet, and talked to them about the
home and the rearing of children. By her labor
she raised the whole of Croton and the country 


112 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
around it to a higher tone of living. There
were no more Kuklux raids. The colored people
had been excluded from politics and hence were
not in daily dread, and could work to better pur-
pose. Since so many had gone to the West, those
who remained seemed to be in better condition,
financially if not politically. Mr. Norris, as he was now known, like the most
ignorant and poorest Negroes, was a political out-
cast. He and ten other colored men, who were
not allowed to vote, paid more taxes to run the
state and county governments than a hundred
white men who were allowed to vote and even
hold office. The tax collector of the county owned
not a foot of land, yet he was collecting from
those who did, and much of it from citizens who
were not allowed to participate in the government.
Mr. Norris and those other substantial colored
men might have sold out their possessions, and
realized several thousand dollars in cash, and have
gone North where they could vote and be free;
they might have gone West, where they would
have been more prosperous, but they said:"The great bulk of the Negro race in this coun-
try is in the South, and here it is going to remain
till the problem is worked out either in his being
treated as a man and brother or wiped from the
face of the earth. He didn't come here, and he
is not going away! If every Negro, as soon as
he gets an education and some money, jumps up
and seeks an easier place, what is to become of our 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 113
poor, ignorant and weak brothers and sisters?
Like Moses, we choose to suffer with our people,
till like him we must flee for our lives. Of course,
we don't blame those who are forced to flee, like
Elder Buchanan, Will Scott and many others—
they did right to go, because to stay would be
suicide. We, who can get along with the white
people, are going to stay and endure hardness for
our race's sake. Still others may have to flee
for their lives, as we know not what a day may
bring forth." "When my children are educated," said Mr. Nor-
ris, "I nm going to send them North to see and
learn conditions there; then if they choose to live
North, I shall say, 'Amen,' and do what I can to
help them get started in the world; but if they
choose to suffer with me and their mother, who
have to endure all kinds of insults and brutalities,
why, I shall rejoice and be happy. "Of course, while wages are better than they
were some years ago, they are not so good as they
might be, and many of our people leave to find
better pay for their labor. I do not blame them.
Why, just the other day Mrs. Bloomfield said to
me:"'Norris, why is it I can't get a servant to
stay with me? I am not a hard mistress, and
they used to stay; but now I can only get very
indifferent servants, and they don't stay. Why is
that?' "Why, I will tell you, Mrs. Bloomfield: it is be8


114 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
cause you do not pay enough to induce servants
to stay with you. You white people here in the
South seem not to be able to realize that the cost
of living has gone up—house rent, clothes, food
and everything; but you expect to get servants
for the same wages you did under Cleveland's
administration, when the whole country was on
a tramp and the people were glad to work for
bread. That has all changed. Everything has
advanced but the Negro's interest.'"'I have to pay my laborers more than the
farmers about me. I can't got good hands unless
I do. Colored people do not like to work for their
own people anyway. If I were to treat my hands
as Mr. Bloomstine'does his, they would not stay
with me a day. Why, my hands would not eat
in my kitchen. I have to have a dining-room
for them, and they must have rooms and good
beds. While Mr. Bloomstine's men eat at the
kitchen window and sleep in the barn. My hired
girl must be allowed to receive her company, at
least, in my back parlor, while yours are glad to
be allowed to receive in the kitchen. But all these
things come from ignorance and envy or jealousy,
because we were servants of you white people so
long. The ignorant are prone to look up to the
white man as a superior, and he is superior in
education, achievement and wealth. He has not
always been superior though, as he claims, for he
once wore the slave's collar. Neither is he lord of
the universe, as he assumes to be. Nor is the 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 115
earth his, and the fullness thereof, as he assumes.
The Negro trusts in God, the white man's God,
who has said: 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay.'"'A nation or government is not stable which
welcomes every kind of people who come within its
borders and treats them better than it does a class
of its people who have labored and fought for
the upholding of the government for centuries.
In so doing she is sowing to the wind; by and
by she will reap the whirlwind. By that sin fell
great Rome; then how can this nation escape?'" Mrs. Bloomfield said perhaps he was right; that
she did not know much about history and govern-
ment. Mrs. Scott, now known as Mother Scott, Mrs.
Norris and Miss Dellart, the teacher, had joined
hands with several young ladies, daughters
of the prosperous Negroes in and around Croton
in eleemosynary work among their people. They
enlarged the work of the sewing circle, and had
mother's meetings weekly, in which all the house-
wives for miles around were gathered. There
they were taught the best methods of housekeep-
ing, how to properly rear children, and many other
useful things for the uplift of the home-life of the
colored people. These women also held meetings
once a month at the Methodist church. There were
now two churches; a new Baptist church and a
Methodist church. These churches were strong
sources of help to the community. At these meet-
ings of the people the ladies lectured on many 


116 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
things for the advancement of the race. Especially
were the men admonished to try to conduct their
affairs so that the wives and mothers might stay at
home to care for and rear the children, because
a wife and mother is worth more at home than in
the field or washtub, and if they must wash for
others, let them take it home and do it there,
where they can look after their children, teach
them to work and instruct them in neatness and
proper manners. They often visited the homes even
of the lowliest to see how they were living and to
encourage them to put forth efforts toward better
things. The circle would have little dinners and
social gatherings, which tended to elevate the so-
cial life. At these entertainments you never saw a
young man in the presence of ladies with his hat
on, or a cigar or cigarette in his mouth. The
young ladies were taught how to dress with sim-
plicity and taste, so that now they did not
come out with a lot of cheap jewelry or gewgaws
on and dressed in the colors of the rainbow. Indeed there was such a change wrought in
ten years, that when Harold and Lucius returned
they could hardly realize that it was the same
Croton. As for the people, they were perfect
strangers to the two young men and an entirely
different class of people from those they had
known in the days of the KukluK. They 'said,
"Truly this is coming out of the darkness."


CHAPTER VII.

Muskegon and Harvard.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;
But do not dull thy palm with entertainment
Of each new hatched unfledg'd comrade. —Shakespeare. HE Muskegon Normal School at Mus-
kegon, Alabama, was established for
the education of the colored youth, in
18—. It was supported by a North-
ern missionary association. While engaged
in giving primary, intermediate and academic
training to the colored youth, its main object was
to educate teachers. It aimed to give its students
the very best instruction that could be given un-
der the conditions such a school had to labor, in
order that they might go out well equipped to in-
struct others. For that reason they sought the
very best instructors. While they were not
dogmatic on industrial education, they had in the
last few years added some industrial features,
such as would enable their graduates to give in(117)


118 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
struction in the most necessary knowledge of do-
mestic science. For a people who are debarred
from all the shops of industry, except in the most
menial places, it is necessary for schools to teach
many things which the whites learn in the shops
and avenues of trade and business. They recognized the fact that the Negro, by
means of the education and training of these
schools, is entering and is going to enter more
largely the trade, business and mechanical world;
that if he doesn't find a shop open to him he is go-
ing to make one; that if he doesn't find a bank open
to him he will organize and operate one of his own;
that if the mercantile houses will not admit him as
a clerk or bookkeeper, he will establish and con-
duct his own mercantile establishments. In or-
der to prepare a people who for centuries have
been at the very bottom of industrial life, this
school took high ground. It put forth strenuous
efforts to do the very best for its students, that
they might go out and do that which was best for
a needy people. At the opening of the fall term
in the year 18—, there was more than the usual
animation of anticipation, for it was known that
there were to be several new teachers in the facul-
ty, and that among them was a graduate from
Livingstone University. At the opening exercises the new teachers were
introduced to the students and friends. When the
teacher from New Orleans, Miss Ernestine De-
Shon was introduced there were such whispered 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 119
exclamations as, "How beautiful!" "What lovely
eyes!" "Hasn't she nice hair?" "She looks like
a Spaniard."
The record Ernestine had made at Livingstone
for high scholarship and deportment placed her
in the very front rank of the teaching force, and
she became a model for all the girls. They noted
closely her every word, movement and manner,
that they might copy them. Every girl and boy
in school was in love with Miss DeShon. The
girls, because they found in her that which re-
sponds to what is highest and most angelic
in the human heart; and the boys, because she
became their ideal of what the highest grade of
woman is or ought to be. The young men dreamed
of the time when the home they intended to make
would have as its presiding goddess, if not Miss
DeShon, with name changed, at least some one
as near like her as it is possible for one person
to be like another.
Ernestine's keen perception soon showed her
the state of feeling of the students as to herself,
and like a wise, good woman, she felt only more
humble. She was grateful to Him who shapes
our destiny for this power over those young peo-
ple. She often knelt and thanked God that he had
given her this power over the hearts and minds
of her sisters and brothers, and she resolved to
use it to the glory of God and the good of her peo-
ple. "For" said she, "these people, have been
downtrodden and abused so long, that they need


120 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
some loving heart and gentle hand to guide and
help them." She knew, as every one does, that
the Negro is of a loving, trustful nature; that he
is slow to hate or to strike back; and that this
amiable nature can be used to great advantage by
those who would lead him for his good as well
as for their glory; that he always looks for that
which is best in his friends. She resolved to use
her power over the students to lead them on up
as near to their ideal as it is possible to reach. She
not only used this power in the classroom, in so-
cial gatherings, where teachers and students met
on a social plane, and in her walks and talks with
the students, but she often had at her room the
dull students, who had troubles and embarrass-
ments with their studies, to give them help, en-
couragement and advice. She was ever a source
of solace in sorrow; of courage in times of
doubt and fear; and strength in weakness.
The very mention of the name, Miss De-
Shon, caused the face of the student or
person who heard it to light up with joy-
ous anticipation of something pleasant. She was
not offish, as some of the other teachers were, but
mingled freely with the students. Although she
often put herself on a social level with them,
none ever thought of undue familiarity, or of un-
becoming conduct toward her as ateacher. While
some of those who preserved their dignity by
holding themselves aloof from the students, were
continually having trouble with them, Miss De-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 121
Shon had none, because she ruled with the scepter
love. Her influence was felt not only in the school,
but it went out into the city and the country
around about. It was like the sweet incense
wafted by gentle breezes from the valley of Cash-
mere. A good deed, how like the precious oint-
ment poured on Jesus' head, whose sweet odor
spread till it filled all the world and rose to heaven.
Ernestine visited the churches and Sunday-
schools as often as she could and talked to the
children and people of the higher and better
things of life. She went into the homes of the
people that she might learn something of their
hopes, aspirations and plans. Although Ernes-
tine was an heiress, and had been reared in the
lap of luxury, she not only went into the homes
of the well-to-do, for there were many in the com-
munity, but into the homes of the lowly poor and
spoke words of cheer to the young, aged, sick and
cheerless. Many were the souls who could say
that her gentle voice came to them as a whisper
out of their night and caused them to look up and
see the light. It was impossible that a young, beautiful and
talented lady like Miss DeShon should not be the
object of many loves. But she was so quiet and
reserved that when it came to the question of ten-
der emotions, many who had heartburnings feared
to make a declaration. But there are always
those who feel that "Faint heart never won fair
lady." So Mr. Norman S. Wilford, a rising 


122 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
young merchant and business man of Muske-
gon, made it a point to be present at all
social functions at the school. He was often
there on business, as he furnished a large
part of the school supplies, and had a good
opportunity to see and hear much of Miss DeShon.
Young Wilford became a very devout worshipper
at the shrine of Venus. Of course she was anx-
ious to avoid the impression that Mr. Wilford was
paying court to her, hence whenever she possibly
could, without prudishness, she avoided personal
converse with him. She would not encourage any-
one to form an attachment that could never ac-
complish its purpose. But Mr. Wilford stuck to
his text, never heeding the signal for retreat and
rushed on to the destruction of his own hopes.
So assiduous was he that it was remarked that
something more than the physical needs of the
teachers and students carried him so often to the
buildings. He had, too, within the school a good
coadjutor in the person of a sister who was a
student, and was as close as a student could be
to Miss DeShon. She often spoke of her brother's
noble qualities and success in business in the pres-
ence of her teacher. But Miss DeShon was so
undemonstrative and reticent in regard to these
tender relations that neither the sister nor the
brother could find out on what footing he stood.
No one knew whether Miss DeShon held any one
in that tender relation. She received letters, it
was true, but they were few for one so popular 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 128
as she. It could not be learned from what source
the letters came, whether there was a lover on
the sea, or in some distant land. Of course she received a letter once a week
from New Orleans with the DeShon return card
on it. She got a few others from different parts
of the country that might have been from fellow
students. Once a month a letter came written
in a bold, manly hand, postmarked "Ann Arbor,
Mich." That was the most suspicious one of the
lot, but no one could find out if that one was from
any friend closer than a brother. Occasionally
she received a letter, postmarked "Cambridge,
Mass.," but her plans and intentions were past
finding out. A student with the temperament and tastes of
Lucius could hardly live in the atmosphere of
Boston and Cambridge, without imbibing some-
thing of the spirit of liberty and independence
which impregnate the air and all the people enjoy.
In that cradle of liberty, the home of heroes and
statesmen, he felt that freedom was not a mis-
nomer. Although it was known that he was
classed as a Negro down South, he did not think
of the fact till some question came up touching
the race issue. He never took part in discussions
of the race problem, as he was there for another
purpose. He devoted his time and attention to
his professional studies and was among the fore-
most students in his class. Mr. Storms took
several valuable prizes for excellency in his 


124 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
studies and work. His practical, obstetrical
work was among white families in Cambridge
and Boston. They did not know he was colored,
and he did not take time to tell them. If they
had known it at the time, it would have made
no difference with them, as he was most efficient,
polite and obliging, and efficiency was what they
cared for and not his race. Although there were four other colored stu-
dents in his class, Lucius did not give them any
special attention, or chum with them, because of
that fact. He treated them as he did the other
members of his class. Lucius did have two or
three chums, but they were all white. One of
these was a Southerner, S. P. Tilton, by name,
from South Carolina. Although born, reared
and educated in the South, young Tilton treated
Lucius as well or better than his other class-
mates did. He played games, ate and slept with
him. On all occasions and everywhere he treated
Lucius as a friend and equal. When some one
asked him how he, a Southerner, could treat a
Negro as a social equal, he remarked that he was
just like many other Southerners, who, if in an
atmosphere where it was not unpopular, would
treat some of the colored people as social equals;
that they ostracise all Negroes because of caste
prejudice, which will stigmatize any white person
who treats a Negro as a social equal. Lucius
grew more and more dissatisfied with the place
assigned him in Southern society by prejudice, 


126 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
the hell-born prejudice which consigned her to
shame, oblivion and an untimely grave, and
blighted her young love and faith in goodness,
and the other to make myself the equal of any
man above the ground. My life must atone for
what she suffered from the curse causeless which
made her an outcast and me a nameless waif.
The pleasures and joys which real men know are
not for me or my race. The Negro of the South
knows nothing of real freedom or the swellings
of the heart which well up in the breast of the
free-born white American when he beholds the
stars and stripes adorned by the bird of liber-
ty. Does the Negro feel that the Fourth of
July is the day of salvation for him?" With these feelings in his heart and those
words on his lips he arrived at Croton in the
cattle car that Negroes were forced to ride in,
and was met by a carriage sent by Mr. Storms. A
few of the old friends of his boyhood were at the
station, but they looked and felt shy of the fine
young man, so he bowed to them and passed
into the carriage. He did not go to his old home,
but to rooms prepared for him at the residence
of his old teacher, Mr. Norris. 


CHAPTER VIII. Julian and Harold. Even children followed with endearing wile
And plucked his gown, to share the good man's smile. —Goldsmith. ULIAN having no one to assist him
while pursuing his professional stud-
ies, made a part of his expenses by
working in the University, and the
balance was made by working at summer re-
sorts during vacation. He got much valuable
experience in his struggle to make his way in
school, which prepared him, in a measure, to face
and fight the battles of life. He felt that for
any young man intending to enter the profession
of law, strong combative qualities were necessary,
and that this is more especially true of the young
Negro. Having been reared in the South, he was
ever mindful of the conditions under which he
must labor. He was determined to give his life
to the causes of justice and equity for his people.
He saw and felt the great necessity for devoted,
well-equipped, conscientious young colored men
to plead and fight the legal battles of the Negro, 
(127)


128 OUT OP THE DARKNESS,
a people, who in the South seem to be made for
the law, rather than the law for them. He had
many tempting offers, to do other kinds of work.
He was advised to go West where conditions were
more favorable for making money, and to enjoy
a greater degree of freedom. Some said: "To the West, young man, to the West! where
the future holds out all that is best for the young
man desiring to rise in the world. Go to a young
and growing country where land is cheap and men
are dear. Dixie is old, moss-grown and anti-
quated in ideas and practices. She is so blinded
by prejudice and caste that she can see only one
way. She continually looks back to ante-bellum
times and says that the former days were better
than these, and boasts of her departed glory.
The South lives in the past; the West in the
present and future. You can be a man there. The
curse of slavery is the pall of the South. Go
West!" But Julian steadfastly kept his face toward
the place where his fathers died, and were still
dying, but not always by natural means. He
looked to the land along whose hillsides bleach
the bones of his fathers and brothers, and
through whose valleys flow the rivers of the tears
of his mothers and sisters who weep for the slain
of their people. Although he knew that he was
engaged in the most difficult profession of any
for a Negro in the South, he faltered not. He
knew that he would not only have to fight the 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 129
legal battles of his clients, but the ostracism of
the bar and the prejudice of the court; and also
the incredulity and lack of confidence of his own
people in his ability to fight their legal battles or
contend for their rights under the law. In these
times of mental conflict he was greatly strength-
ened by letters which he received from Harold,
who had attended a theological school in the
South, and was constantly in touch with his peo-
ple. Harold admonished Julian to hasten his
coming, and told him that his presence and labor
among his people were much needed. He was
constantly under the advice of his saintly mother,
who in her letters encouraged him in his hopes
and plans. His teachers had often tried to in-
duce him to enter the ministry. One philan-
thropist offered to pay his expenses if he would
take the theological course. His mother, being
a most devout Christian, and cherishing the
memory of his father who gave his life for the
cause of Christ and his people, thought his son
ought to follow in his footsteps and become a
minister of the Gospel. But since Julian was
fixed in his purpose, she gave him a mother's en-
couragement and advice. She looked forward to
his home-coming with all a mother's joy and
pride. Often in his day visions and night dreams
Julian saw a face and form standing amid blush-
ing roses beckoning him to the land of sunshine
and flowers. It was the memory of those happy 9


130 OUT OP THE DARKNESS,
days spent at the University and the sad, sweet
time when a patient at the hospital he had been
recalled to life and consciousness by the touch of
a hand gently clasping his, that called him on.
That vision which first met his awakening gaze
was beckoning and calling him back to Dixie, to
the land where the mocking bird sings his lullaby
under the moonlit skies, while lovers stroll amid
the wild flowers whispering words of eternal de-
votion. Having completed his course with honor and
received his diploma. Julian bade his classmates
and friends adieu, and started for his Southern
home. His first unpleasant experience on en-
tering the borders of Dixie was the change in
treatment. A man before, he now became a Jim-
Crow—Jim-Crow cars, Jim-Crow stations, and
Jim-Crow street cars. Having been treated as
a man for three years, it came hard for him to
submit to these Jim-Crow rules and the brutal
manner in which he was forced to submit to them.
The men in charge of the cars, and especially the
street cars, seemed to take a fiendish sort of
pleasure in mistreating the Negroes, especially
the women. He was thrust into cars that were
really not fit to ride in. They forced him to ride
with railroad hands who were dirty, uncouth,
often drunk and very rough. Julian found him-
self in a car with convicts who were being carried
to prison. Through many dangers, embarrass-
ments and noisome things, he reached home and 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 131
was greeted by his mother, sisters, brother and
many friends at the station. Three of the sis-
ters and the brother had just come in from their
country schools; the others were heads of fami-
lies. They, with others, made his home-coming
quite a fete—receptions, parties, teas and din-
ings followed each other in rapid, though joyous,
succession. Many of the damsels took more than
a sisterly interest in the young lawyer, with a
view to becoming his legal partner. After spend-
ing several weeks with the family and friends at
home, Julian departed for a state further
South, with a view, among other things, of lo-
cating, and, too, his friend Harold was down
there. Harold had finished his course in theology a
month before, and had been located as a pastor
at Oakland, Ala. This was a new manufacturing
town and its growth was quite rapid and the
colored population was quite large. There were
six churches: two Methodist, two Baptist, a Con-
gregational and a Christian church. All during
his course Harold had done pastoral work in
Methodist churches and attended several confer-
ences, so that at his graduation he was assigned
to Oakland. Although he had been educated in
a Congregational school, and once thought of
entering work in that Church, at the last he con-
cluded that it was his duty to work where the
demand was great and the field of opportunity
large. He believed that in the African Methodist 


132 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
Episcopal Church he could do the most good.
Said he, in discussing it with Julian, who was a
Congregationalist:"While I know the Congregational, Presby-
terian and Episcopal Churches appeal to the intel-
ligence and higher ideals of the educated Negro, I
believe that the great religious development of this
race is to be wrought out through the Methodist
and Baptist churches. The Congregational, Pres-
byterian and Episcopal Churches reach a class, the
intelligent, but these others reach the classes and
the masses. I went into the Methodist Church be-
cause the field is wider and so much can be done to
elevate our people. In it there is room for expan-
sion and elevation—that is, a worthy man may
rise in his church. While a man may reach emi-
nence in these other churches, there are few
places of honorable distinction. There is no
room for what we call a laudable ambition. In
the Methodist and Baptist churches the Negro
learns how to govern and manage large, educa-
tional, religious and financial interests. I hope to
do good and to rise in my church." Julian's visit to Harold like all pleasant things
came to an end. He pushed on to Beech Haven
to begin his legal work. He found a large popu-
lation of colored people, and among them were
several quite well-to-do. He encountered some
difficulty in getting admitted to the bar, as there
was opposition to a thoroughly equipped Negro
lawyer entering the courts. There were four 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 133
or Ave pettifoggers and curbstone lawyers in that
city, and they were as ignorant and dirty as those
they attempted to assist. There was no opposi-
tion to that class of lawyers, for they were not in
the way of the white attorneys. When Julian was at last admitted to the bar,
he encountered more boorishness and rough treat-
ment from the officers of the court than from the
court and bar. As a general rule the court and
bar treated him as a lawyer, but the other fel-
lows treated him as a "nigger" all the time. They
tried to prevent him from hanging his coat and
hat on the lawyer's rack; from drinking at the
cooler and ordered him to drink where the pris-
oners drank. He was shocked to see how colored
people were treated. They were driven about the
court-house and yelled at like so many cattle.
When any white culprit was being tried, the
officers would not allow Negroes in the court-
room. Julian noted the treatment of Negro of-
fenders and that they were nearly always con-
victed. A Negro stole a dollar, was tried in ten
minutes, and sent up for two years. Right after
him a white man was on trial for ten days, for
stealing a thousand dollars, and he was acquitted. It was a rule of the court for the officers
to see that the lawyers had seats; but they
would not prepare seats for the colored lawyers.
Julian went out to the state prison to see one of
the convicts with regard to his case. When he
approached an officer and asked him if he could 


134 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
\ see the prisoner, the officer said in a very rough
1 manner, "No". The lawyer started away, when
I the boorish fellow said, "See here, when you come \ here and wish to see any one, take off your hat
Hike the other 'niggers' do, and you can see them."
\The lawyer's mission there was to try to arrange
w get the prisoner, Charles Long, pardoned.
His crime was that of knocking a man in the Head with a stone after the white man had shot
-fit him six times, wounding him in the leg and arm. Harold was succeeding nicely with his work at
Oakland, and was held in high esteem by his
bishop, presiding elder and the church. His fame
as a pastor was spread abroad by the press and
people. But his success and fame did not satisfy
a void in his heart. He had seen an object in
his own native town, that he desired to possess,
above all else earthly. He had been struck
by the work and disinterested life of Miss Martiel
DeHart. She and his mother were co-workers
together in all things for the uplift of the peo-
ple at Croton. He had often discussed their
work with her and their ideas seemed to run along
the same channel. He made frequent visits to
Croton now, ostensibly to see his mother, but, of
course, he always saw some one else who, it
seemed to him, had become a very necessary fac-
tor in his life. One Friday afternoon he visited Miss DeHart's
school and talked to the children and parents 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 135
present of the beauties and utilities of education.
When the school was closed, of course he must,
as a matter of gallantry, go home with the teacher,
especially since she was going his way. They
talked on school, education and church work for
some time as they walked very leisurely on. Fi-
nally Harold said: "Yes, I shall wish for my wife a woman who
is devoted to the cause of humanity and of Christ:
not a frivolous, shallow-brained woman who
cares more for dress and society than for home
and homely things. No minister can succeed
with such a wife as a millstone about his neck.
I have seen many worthy women, but in all my
travels I have met no one who comes up to my
ideal but you, Miss DeHart. You are my ideal,
the one woman necessary to fill the vacuum of
my life, the void in my heart. Will you come and
share with me the cross and crown of labor?
Through you I can do all things; without you I
can do nothing." They had reached her home, and she invited
him into the parlor. He needed no second invi-
tation. After seating him she excused herself,
retired to her room to divest herself of her hat,
and to brush her hair a little and bathe her burn-
ing face. Her hands trembled so that she could
hardly perform those light tasks; her heart was
in a flutter; she could hardly realize that life was
just the same as it was an hour ago. She had
been offered the heart and hand of a noble, godly 


136 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
man; a man that she now knew she loved. She
fell on her knees by her bed and thanked God
that he had brought to her the desire of her heart,
and asked him to direct her in answering him. When Miss DeHart returned to the parlor there
was a faint smile upon her lips, and her eyes told
Harold that his pleading had not been in vain.
When she came in, he said:"Well, Martiel, oh—well, may I call you that?
Say that I may, and forever, my love, my all, and
all." As he uttered these words, he arose and
walked to where Martiel stood with downcast
eyes, and clasped her in his arms, saying: "Light
of my morning, I will seal your answer with
this," as he kissed her lips and weeping eyes.
When Harold reached home he took his mother
in his arms and, after kissing her, told her of
his heaven-sent blessing. The next day her
future mother went over to thank Martiel and
plan with her for the future. The wedding was
arranged to take place when Martiel's school was
closed. Harold was very desirous to have his
classmates, Julian and Lucius, at his marriage. 


CHAPTER IX. Physician and Practice. Who o'er the herd would wish to reign,
Frantic, fickle, fierce and vain?
Vain 03 the leaf upon the stream,
And fickle as a changeful dream;
Fantastic as a woman's mood,
And fierce as Frenzy's fevered blood—
Thou many-headed monster thing,
O, who would wish to be thy king?
—Seott
HILE resting and recuperating at his
native town, Lucius was corresponding

, with various persons as to a suitable
...M< place of location for work in his pro-
fession. He made a trip to Muskegon, visited
Miss DeShon and sought her advice. He also
met Norman Wilford, another rival for the hand
of Miss DeShon, and he seemed to take to him
from the first. Wilford gave him some valuable
information about the coming towns and cities
of the South where he could build up a good prac-
tice and do well in his profession. U37)


138 OUT OP THE DARKNESS,
Mr. Wilford tendered Dr. Storms the use of his
office as a place to rest and attend to his corre-
spondence. He also gave him the use of one of
his rubber tired buggies to ride over the city and
about the country. On the Friday evening after
the arrival of Lucius, Mr. Wilford tendered a re-
ception in honor of the presence of Dr. L. Storms
in the city. The city physicians, some of the
leading citizens and some of the teachers from
the Muskegon Normal were present. Miss De-
Shon came in the company of Dr. Storms. Nor-
man had yielded this coveted pleasure to the
guest of honor. The elite of colored society in
Muskegon was there. Lucius had an opportunity, as he never had be-
fore in the South, to see what education and
wealth were doing for the Negro race. He met
there quite as much grace, refinement and taste in dress, as he had ever seen among the most
swell colored society in the North. The physi-
cians came in fine rubber tired stanhopes and vic-
torias—nearly all the guests came in carriages or
surreys and some in automobiles. When Lucius
saw all this display of wealth and property, he
exclaimed, "How can a people, hounded and oppressed as
the Negroes are in this country, show such signs
of well doing?" "The more the nations oppressed and abused
the Jew the wealthier he got," said Wilford, "and 


140 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
cause his cowardly conduct toward Julian in
school had burned itself into her heart . She said
under her breath, "Thou whited sepulcher." Lucius did not see Ernestine again before his de-
parture on the Tuesday following. He was accom-
panied to the station by Mr. Wilford and Drs.
Long and Shorter in an automobile. While bidding
Dr. Storms farewell they requested him to return
there and take up the practice. On his return to
his native town Lucius was tendered a reception
in the country at the home of Mr. Forrester, fath-
er of Mrs. Norris, where many of the best class of
young country people greeted him. He saw a
vast contrast in the class of people whom he met
now and those he had known fifteen years before.
Most of the young men and young women had
been away to school. All of them had some school-
ing, and quite a number had a fair education.
But the greatest contrast was in their dress. In-
stead of being decked out in many colors and
loaded with cheap jewelry, they were dressed
neatly and with taste. There was very little of
the attempt to overdo. And the old folks seemed
very proud of their smart children and the im-
pression they were making on the rich young doc-
tor who had been so long and far up North. Lu-
cius, instead of being bored, as he supposed he
would be when he received the invitation, was on
the contrary very highly entertained. He found
himself enjoying conversation with the farmers 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 141
about their crops, stock and other agricultural
matters. There were, of course several town
people present also. He drove out with the Nor-
ris family in their carriage, and enjoyed his ride
by the side of Miss Marie, who was buddng into
fair young womanhood. Miss DeHart, the teacher, was present, but she
did not indulge in the light fantastic. She gave
her time and talents to sweet converse with the
mothers, fathers, and such young people as could
refrain from dancing long enough for conversa-
tion. She spent some time with Dr. Storms,
making inquiries as to conditions North, his pros-
pects in his profession, education, and many other
matters pertaining to the welfare of the race.
She impressed the doctor very favorably. Miss
DeHart asked why he was going to discard his
home town and take his store of knowledge and
abilities elsewhere? Dr. Storms quoted the pro-
verb, " 'A prophet is not without honor, save in his
own country.' There are many reasons why I
can't remain here, but the chiefest is, the sadness
I feel when near the grave of my darling mother,
who was so wronged, and whose life was blasted
and cut off by the cruelties of those who despise
us; and, too, my brother and sister are here.
They hate me with a perfect hatred, because I, a
Negro, as they say, am their relation by blood.
Why, I believe Gatewood would murder me if he
could do it on the sly, or help to do so in a mob. 


142 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
Alma has a kind heart, but is weak and easily in-
fluenced by others. She would do me a kindness
if she thought that no white person would know
it. She has her father's heart ready to do a great
deal of good and some evil." After spending a delightful evening at the
farm, Dr. Storms and the Norrises bade adieu to
the company and started for the city. The moon
had risen and her silvery rays threw a glint upon
the landscape that made the fields and forest a
fairyland. The level sandy road seemed strewn with
diamonds and sapphires. The drive and the scene
threw Lucius into deep fancy and poetic vision. "This lovely scene, the lovely moonbeams awa-
kening a thousand elves from cavern and glen, all
fill my soul with a rapture that words can but
feebly express," said Lucius to Marie. "I feel
that I should like to dwell amid such enchanting
scenes forever; to linger evermore amid these
Elysian beauties. If I could always be as happy
as I feel this moment, I should then know that
life is indeed worth living. What is it that
causes these feelings to come over me; can it be
any influence in this beautiful dream? this—,
round and about me, even in this carriage, is it
the magnetism of a presence or presentment!" "I am sure I don't know," said Marie. "It may
be that the moonbeams have affected your brain,
or that you tarried too long at the wine. They
say people sometimes get moonstruck." 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 143
"Yes, but it does not affect the heart, does It?"
said he.
"I never had the misfortune to be so struck, and
hence cannot enlighten your mind along that
line," said Marie. "My felicitious mood," said Lucius, "may cause
you to regard my expressions as due to a supera-
bundance of the delectable supplies of the table.
I may seem a little too exuberant for your sober
thoughts, but I do really wish you could give me
some information on the subject of the most ten-
der emotion of the human heart. I really need
the information to prevent my falling into errors
which have embarrassed me here and heretofore.
I think I am not presuming too much on our short
acquaintance and your youthful experience to
ask your assistance* in these mystic meshes.
While it is true that the entertainment and the
evidences of the transition from the old to the
new life among these people have somewhat daz-
zled me, I think I have my bearings and am not
vaporing, although in my waking dreams I may
have wandered among the flowers and fragrance
of a forbidden paradise. "How could mind of mortal man resist the in-
toxicating influences of the social gathering, the
glories of the night and the sweetness of such
companionship? While there may be no re-
sponse in your soul to the loveliness without and
the ecstacy within, let us hope that the sleeping 


144 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
goddess will awake to the peans of her devotees.
The mystical maze thrown over me by the mad-
ding moon may have caused strange ideas to creep
upon my brain, but I am sure that a feeling sweet
and entrancing, was springing up within my
soul. "Why do we grow nervous when in or near a
graveyard in the night time? May not our sen-
suous nature also be cheered and elated by en-
livening scenes and congenial associations." "Yes, I hope that as I grow older I may attain
to a knowledge which will enable me to give in-
formation on the subject you mention," said Ma-
rie. They were now at home. Two days later Lu-
cius left for Eastberg, where he contemplated
taking up his practice. 


CHAPTER X. The School and the Lesson. O friends, be men; so act that none may feel Ashamed to meet the eyes of other men.
Think each one of his children and his wife,
His home, bis parents, living yet or dead,
For them, the absent ones, I supplicate,
And bid you rally here, and scorn to fly. —Homer. R. NORRIS had prospered steadily.
He also grew in favor with his own
people and with the whites. He was
kind and considerate with his employ-
es and prompt in his payment of wages. He
said: "The poor laboring class of people need the
small wages they contract for;" and he paid his
laborers promptly. He took an interest in their
families and encouraged them in carrying out the
advice and instructions of the women's club. Mr.
Norris paid better wages and treated his tenants
better than most of the landlords about him, for
he felt that in helping these people on he was ad-
vancing his own interests and also that of the
race.
10 (MS)


146 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
While Mr. Norris was amply able to have in-
dulged his children in idleness, he taught them the
value of labor and perseverance. He not only had
them taught in the very best schools possible, but
saw to it that they followed some industrial pur-
suits. During the vacation, when they were at
home, Theodore performed certain tasks about
the home and farm, and was of considerable assist-
ance to his father. Marie engaged in household
duties with her mamma and the servants. She
put into operation in the kitchen, dining-room and
the sewingrroom many of the things which she
had learned in the industrial department of the
University. Like their parents, they were bright
students, and had high marks at school. Theo-
dore had tastes like his father for the farm and
field. He read all the agricultural journals his
father took, looked up others and induced his fa-
ther to subscribe for them. In his studies in the
industrial department of the school he had learned
much about fertilizers, farm implements and pay-
ing crops. Theodore induced his father to adopt the plan
of raising on his farm all products necessary for
home consumption and to drop the practice of
neglecting all other crops for cotton. He induced
his father to produce all the meat, garden stuff,
and the feed for his stock, and thereby saved him
thousands of dollars. He produced a less acreage
of cotton, but by better attention and fertilizing,
a better grade and greater yield to the acre. 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 147
Mr. Norrls' check was good at the bank for as
large a sum of money as any farmer in the county.
His farm, truck-fields and stock became the envy
of many of the white farmers, and more es-
pecially of those poor whites who could not own
a cabin and a truck-patch. They did not relish
the idea of a "nigger" living in such style and
comfort as Mr. Norris did. But there were lib-
eral men about him, like Mr. Storms and Mr.
Grimpky, who encouraged him in doing the very
best he could. When he drove out with his fam-
ily, in his five hundred-dollar carriage, many
were the envious eyes cast upon them and the
high steppers which were drawing them. When
Marie played on the thousand-dollar piano whites
would often stop and listen, entranced by the mu-
sic and the fine tone of the instrument, but with
envy in their hearts and anger on their brows. Prof. Z. W. LaPrade, who had succeeded Miss
DeHart in the school, was frequently present on
the evenings when the piano was mingling its
sweet tones with the melodies of the night. He
had been down to the Commencement to witness
the graduation of Miss Norris, and was from that
time a slave to her maidenly graces. The profes-
sor was a frequent visitor at the home and often
attended her in her walks. At these times he
discoursed on the beauty of the woods and flowers
and of how he would like always to live amid
these pleasant surroundings. "Well, Professor," said Miss Norris, "you have 


148 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
a pleasant school, and it is said the patrons and
children are very much attached to you: then why
do you not stay with them?" "I would be glad to remain in this city, whether
at the school or not, provided all—, everybody—,
I mean, some one I know felt as the parents and
children do." "I think you are universally liked, and if that
is true you can well afford to abide with those
who esteem you so highly," said Marie. "But how about yourself, Miss Norris; you say
the people esteem me very highly—are you not
one of the people? If you do not hold me in that
high estimation of the people, may I not hope that
at some time I shall so rise in your esteem as to be
regarded in even a nearer relation than that of
the people?" said he. "Sir, how can I judge of or know at this time
how you will be regarded by the p.eople, or myself,
ten days hence? As I know nothing to cause me
to feel otherwise, I regard you in common with
your patrons. The time I have known you is too
short for me to know your real worth as a friend,
or to what extent you are able to grasp and hold
valuable friendships. We would certainly be
proud to have such an addition as yourself to our
permanent citizenships. One who can do as much
as I think you are capable of doing for the uplift
and advancement of our people is indeed a very
desirable accession to the sum total of the happi-
ness of this community." 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 149
"Yes, that is all very well," said the professor;
"but I was trying to convey to you the idea that it
is not the esteem of the people which would in-
duce me to abide within the enchanted precincts
of these forests and groves where the one blithe-
some maiden holds my fortune within the grasp
of her shapely hand, but her smile and approba-
tion."
Tnrlton after serving two terms in the
legislature was succeeded by another. He
held the office of County Superintendent of
Schools for two years, and his record as such,
so far as the colored people were concerned, was
one of tyranny and corruption. But under
the demoralized condition of politics and the
illegal and corrupt methods by which office
was secured, it was not required that the in-
cumbent should be very circumspect in the
discharge of official duties. If he lorded it over and
abused and misused the "nigger," he was consid-
ered by his constituents to be a very good officer.
Could he while in office lead a mob in lynching a
"nigger," his re-election was assured. Sheriff
Blackburn prevented the lynching of Sam Stout
by hiding him away till the mob dispersed, and at
the next election that act was urged against his
re-election and he was overwhelmingly defeated
by a man who had been a leader of all the mobs.
Tarlton was known to be receiving pay from the
teachers for positions and indulging in other im-
moral practices, but he was continued in office. 


150 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
When Mr. Norris knew that he was disliked
by Tarlton he cultivated him so as to prevent this
enmity from breaking loose upon him. Meeting
Mr. Norris one day in the bank, Tarlton said:"Norris, I hear your gal has finished her school-
ing, and is very smart; now, if she would like to
teach, I will give her the school at Beech Grove.
The salary is twenty-five dollars per month. You
let me know about it by Saturday so that I can
arrange to examine her. The school is to take in
Monday week. She is a likely gal I hear, and
ought to get on well with them people down
there." While Mr. Norris did not like the man nor the
leer in his eye when he said: "She is a likely gal,"
still he decided that it was her duty to undergo
some risks and to make some sacrifices for the
people. So he told Marie of the school and the
offer of the superintendent. Young and guileless, Marie had no dream of
danger. She thought only for the school, her abil-
ity to teach, and the opportunity for doing good,
so she decided to accept it. When she told Pro-
fessor LaPrade of her prospective good fortune,
he suggested that it would be well for him to
come over on Saturday morning and accompany
her to the superintendent's office, which was on
the second floor of a storehouse. After kissing her mamma, papa and Theodore
good morning, Marie departed with the father's
warning to look well to the superintendent. 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 151
When they reached the office, the superintendent
looked up and scowled when he saw Professor
LaPrade. He bustled around and got some pa-
pers, told LaPrade, who was a teacher under
him, that he could not have him there during the
examination, as he might give information to the
applicant. The superintendent informed La-
Prade that he could be excused and come back, if
he desired, in two or three hours. After the professor was out, the superintend-
ent told Marie to bring her paper and come into
a back room, where she would not be disturbed.
She felt uneasy and hesitated, but when she
thought of the school and the little children who
would be under her direction, she decided to risk
it, and went in. Her fears increased when she
saw that it was a sleeping room, with a single
bed in the corner and a table in the middle of the
room. Tarlton told her to take her place at the
table and begin, as she had the list of questions.
As she proceeded he went out and in several times.
After she had been there about an hour she heard
Tarlton close and lock the door of the outer of-
fice. In a few minutes he entered the back office
where Marie was, closed the door leading into the
front one and turned the key very quietly, to keep
her from hearing it. He then came up to the ta-
ble, pretended to be examining her work and
while talking to her of the school, laid his hand
upon her shoulder. When he did that she jumped up. Tarlton asked her what was the matter, and 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 153
ever cross my path again I will shoot you down
as I would a doe," said Tarlton. "Sir; if I, a Negro, had attempted such a fiend-
ish deed as you have this morning, you, with your
black heart, would have been one of the foremost
to swing me to a limb or torture me to death with
fire. I need not have been caught in the diabol-
ical act, as you were, but if only suspected, it
would have been the same. You tell me to go,
and if I cross your path again you will shoot me.
Well, if in dying by the hands of the white rav-
isher I save the honor of this poor girl, I shall be
happy to give my life for her honor. You shall
hear from this demoniac deed." "Humph!" said Tarlton, "If any 'nigger' at-
tempts to call me in question for what I have
done, he will meet the fate of all 'niggers' who
resist a white man, or attempt to resent any in-
jury done by him." The professor did not go away from the build-
ing when he was turned out by the superin-
tendent at the beginning of the examination,
for Tarlton's conduct aroused his suspicions.
He lingered near and was fortunate in breaking
in and saving Marie. When he reached home and
told the parents and brother of Tarlton's dastardly
act, they were prostrated with grief and anger.
The father and son vowed over the fainting girl
and weeping mother that that outrage should
have a blood atonement. "I know that it is death to call a white man in 


154 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
question for any wrong or outrage upon the Ne-
gro, but I shall freely give up my life in defense
of the virtue of my wife and daughter. How can
our women ever be pure when they feel that their
men will not defend them when they are assaulted
and outraged? I weep for the future of any
people whose men are so base and cowardly that
they will not die in defense of their homes. The
white man's law says that a man's home is his
castle," said Mr. Norris. When Prof. LaPrade had gone, and Mrs. Nor-
ris and Theodore were in the room again trying
to console Marie, Mr. Norris took down his
breech-loading gun, charged it with buckshot
and went out the back way. It was just getting
dark when he came near the office of Mr. Tarlton,
and as he got within fifty yards of it Tarlton
came out in company with another man. He
drew back as he saw Mr. Norris with a gun.
With husky voice, Mr. Norris spoke and said:"Mr. Tarlton, you have attempted an outrage
upon my daughter, and according to your South-
ern code nothing but blood can atone for such an
act. I am here to kill you. I am conscious of all
that will follow your death by my hands. I know
that I shall be lynched or burned or tortured to
death for trying to protect the honor of my home.
I have lived in this community for thirty year3,
and have never had so much as a dispute with a
white man; but now that the viper has crossed
my path he must die, for his deadly fangs have 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 155
pierced my heart. I might go to the law with
you, but what redress has a Negro for a wrong
done him by a white man? Although my daughter
is as pure as an angel, your juries would laugh
at the idea that a Negro woman is virtuous.
They would infer that she was there in your office
for immoral purposes. So that I must, like you,
take the law into my hands. Defend yourself."
As he threw his gun to his shoulder the man by
Tarlton ran to one side and Tarlton turned to
run, but had not gone three steps before there
was a flash, a report, and he lay a lifeless corpse
in the street. The man ran crying: "Murder! murder! a 'nigger' has killed Mr.
Tarlton." Mr. Norris rushed home, told what he had
done, and exclaimed: "I shall die happy." The
family were in the gulf of the deepest despair. A
mob, otherwise called a posse, was soon in search
of the Negro. They scoured the country, went to
the Norris home and beat the wife and daughter.
Theodore had to flee for his life. They shot and
whipped several Negroes because they did not
know where Norris was. Prof. LaPrade was
forced to fly, as it was known that Tarlton had
a difficulty with him that day. They caught
him about ten miles out, and after shooting and
wounding him, brought him more dead than alive
and put him in jail. Theodore fled to one of the
farms, where Uncle Tom Tatum threw a box into
an old unused well, and letting him down into 


156 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
it hid him thus for several days till the excitement
subsided. They hunted for two weeks for Mr.
Norris. At the end of that time the sheriff re-
ceived by express a long box, sent from a neigh-
boring town, and on the end of the box were
written these words. "The 'nigger' wanted at Croton for killing Hon.
G. Tarlton." When they opened it there was a nude corpse
of a Negro packed in salt; but lo it was not Nor-
ris! 


CHAPTER XI. Brownsville and Croton. How calm, how beautiful comes on
The stilly hour, when storms are gone!
When warring winds have died away,
And clouds, breathe the glancing ray,
. Melt off, and leave the land and sea
Sleeping In bright tranquility! —Moore. OHN BROWN, the martyr to liberty,
never dreamed even in the highest ex-
ulation of his imagination that to
bleeding Kansas these oppressed peo-
ple for whom he gave his life as a noble sacrifice
would one day come in droves to find refuge and
asylum. The exodus grew in volume till it be-
came almost a stampede from the South. Many
of the emigrants came to the village named in
honor of the man who died for the slave, so that
it increased greatly in population. But most of
those who came were poor, and many were desti-
tute and objects of charity, but they were willing
to endure hardships and starvation that they
might learn something of freedom. 
(157)


158 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
The Governor organized relief commissions,
and the legislature voted large sums in aid of the
destitute. Friends and philanthropists at the
North sent money, food and clothing. The min-
isters and churches in St. Louis, Kansas City
and Topeka made their churches and homes
places of relief and shelter. Friends of the Negro were induced by other
friends to come and take up their abode at
Brownsville that they might be guides and helpers
of the weak and needy. Prospects of business
and gain brought many others, for the white man
will always come and set up business, especially
a grocery or store, where there are Negroes, for
he knows it will pay. The rapid increase in population and wealth
soon brought the city up to ten thousand or more
inhabitants. The people were happy and pros-
perous. There was little or no race discrimina-
tion. All children attended the same schools,
which schools had both white and colored teachers.
There were two colored churches in the city, New
Ebenezer and St. Luke, an A. M. E. church. A
great many of the colored people attended the
churches where whites and colored worshipped
together. Elder Buchanan was now too feeble for active
service, and the congregation had so grown in in-
telligence that he resigned. He owned a comforta-
ble home and had some income, but the church
pensioned him at three hundred dollars per an-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 159
num, and held him as a sort of fatherly ad-
viser. The congregation called a young min-
ister, a graduate of a line theological school,
by the name of R. H. Sangster, and was
forging its way well up to the front. Two of
Elder Buchanan's (laughters were teachers in
the public schools, one son was a clerk in the
court-house, another was a postal clerk in the rail-
way mail service and two daughters were at the
heads of happy prosperous homes. The Elder
was held in high esteem by every one. It was
expected that at his death the city would erect a
monument in his honor, as the founder of
Brownsville. Elder Buchanan had read in the papers,
with a great deal of interest and sorrow,
the killing of the Hon. G. Tarlton by the
Hon. L. C. Norris, and of the mob, the lynch-
ing, and the capture and imprisonment of the
teacher, Prof. LaPrade, who was thought to
be an accomplice of Norris, as he was with the
daughter when she left the superintendent's office.
But he had read, also, the whole story of the kill-
ing, and what caused it, written by Miss Marie
Norris, and published in most of the colored pa-
pers and many of the Northern dailies. He read
the stinging editorials in the Southern papers on
the published story of Miss Norris. Since a Negro thought to be Norris had been
lynched and Southern chivalry was satisfied, no
further effort was made to find him. No one but 


160 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
the sheriff and two or three others knew of the
miscarriage of Southern wrath, in the murder of
an innocent man. The sheriff said nothing and
cautioned the others to keep quiet on the matter,
as that was enough to re-elect him. No inquest
was held, as the lynchers had held an inquest
after the lynching was over, and had placed the
report of the jury in the coffin. It read as fol-
lows: "This 'nigger', Norris, came to his death
by the hands of parties unknown to the jury." The corpse was buried by the county under-
taker. The family even was not allowed to see it.
The wife, son and daughter mourned their dear
one as dead. The mother and daughter moved
about their darkened home as though in a trance.
They seemed to care little or nothing for any-
thing now, and sat for hours with folded arms
gazing into vacancy, with sighs on their lips and
tears in their eyes. Now and then their faces
would brighten up as they spoke of the possibil-
ity of escape of the husband and father. Their
hopes that he was not dead increased when they
were refused permission to see the body of the
dead man. It was really dangerous for Marie
to go out, as there had been talk of dealing with
her in some way, either by whipping, lynching or
running her out of the community. The Norrises tried to communicate with or
get some clothes to Prof. LaPrade, but all was
in vain. It was a source of agony to them to know
that he, as innocent of any wrong as an infant, 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 161
must lie there in prison, wounded as he was,
without any medical attention, food or clothes. It was enough to run a man of his culture and
breeding crazy, if it did not kill him. Since the
imprisonment of the teacher the colored school
had been closed and there was talk of not allowing
the Negroes to have school at Croton any more.
The whites said, "There was Norris, one teach-
er, who got so big that he tried to be a white man
by living like white folks, raising his children
like white folks and running for office," and
that LaPrade had assisted Norris in killing one
of their most prominent citizens. Mr. Tarlton
was a pillar of the church and a moulder of
Southern character. They argued that education
ruined the Negro and that he could not be kept
down if educated. The excitement had subsided,
since it had been asserted by some honest-hearted
white men like Mr. Storms, that Norris had done
no more than right; that he had only done what
the white man has always done—slain the de-
spoiler of his home and honor; that had Norris
been a white man he would have been lauded to
the sky and not slain like a beast. Theodore
went about seeing after the business of the
estate. He had quietly seen Lawyer Grimpky and
employed him to defend Prof. LaPrade, whose
trial was to come up on the tenth of the next
month. Mr. Grimpky told Theodore that he
would do what he could for the prisoner, but
showed that it was a case in which the chances 


162 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
for rendering him any aid were desperate. Senti-
ment will pass in judgment on this case, regard-
less of the law and evidence. Said he: "As a lawyer, I believe every man ought to
have a fair and impartial trial and be protected
by the officers of the court while in their custo-
dy." The Norrises decided to wind up their business
as quietly and advantageously as possible, and
leave the land of blood and lawlessness. About three months after the killing in Croton,
as Elder Buchanan was driving down to the City
Hall in Brownsville, he saw a man sitting in the
rotunda of one of the hotels. He stopped his
horse and took a closer look.
"Before the Lord! I believe that is Norris. If
it ain't him, it is his brother," said the Elder. He drove up, got out of his buggy and went into the hotel. He was cautious, and did not go right up and accost the man, as he wished to get a closer view and see if the man would recognize him. He surmised that if it were Norris, he was incognito, and would not wish to be known as Norris. The Elder saw the man looking at him in a peculiar way when the stranger thought he was not looking. At last he turned squarely around toward the newcomer and stood thus till he caught his eye. The stranger looked away quickly but in a few minutes he caught his eye again and held it somewhat longer. In this time he gave him a sign, and having approached him, whispered: "Follow me to room 23." 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 163
The Elder had special privileges at all the ho-
tels and everywhere in the city. He had not been in
the room long before the man came in, and turned
the key as he entered. Then the stranger rushed
into the arms of the venerable father and brother
in sorrow and companion in outrage. It was
fully a minute before a word was uttered. Nor-
ris was the first to speak, for it was he. Said he:"Elder, to see you and be yet alive opens all
the fountains of my soul. I saw and knew you
when you stopped your buggy in the street to
look at me, and saw that you knew me, but
dreaded to be recognized by you for I feared that
you would rush in and call my name and others
would hear it; but thank God your suffering like
mine has made you cautious. I would have come
to you when I entered the city, but fearing that
some of your family might see me before I could
post you and have you in turn post them, kept
me away. "Now Elder, remember that L. C. Norris died
by the hands of a Georgia mob for avenging an
outrage upon his daughter by a burly white man.
The man you recognize and who stands before
you is Mr. C. L. Norwood from Ohio. Only you
and my family must know the inner facts. As
soon as I can arrange it, I am to send a white
friend of mine in Ohio down there to communi-
cate with my family. He with Theodore will wind
up my affairs. This friend will take my family to
Ohio first, and after they have been there for a 


164 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
few months, will come on to me, one at a time.
We will also send parties to see what can be done
for poor LaPrade. I shall make this city of
refuge, which Father Elijah has built, my future
home, for I have learned that it is not only pro-
gressive but a place where law, order and jus-
tice prevail. Here all men are free and equal be-
fore the law. No, I can't accept your hospitality,
just now at least. A friend has arranged for my
employment with an agricultural firm. After I
have been here for a while you will get acquainted
with the newcomer and invite him to visit you.
You having posted your family and any of the
members of Ebenezer who may have known Prof.
Norris, and I shall be safe." "God bless you, my son. May the Lord ever
take care of his own, as he has done thus far,"
said Father Buchanan. Mr. R. O. Dupree went down to Croton as
agent of an agricultural house in Cleveland, Ohio.
After spending some time among the business
men of Croton, and with the farmers thereabout,
he made himself known to Theodore and Mrs.
Norris. Mr. Dupree told them of the escape of
Mr. Norris, his whereabouts and his anxiety con-
cerning them. He and Theodore went about dis-
posing of the estate in the most judicious and
advantageous manner possible. Mrs. Norris and Marie were sent to Cleveland,
Ohio, and the household effects were sold out at
private sale. The town property was disposed of 


CHAPTER XII. The Trial and the Penalty. With silence only as their benediction,
God's angels come
Where in the shadows of a great affliction.
The soul sUs dumb.
—Whlttler.
LTHOUGH wounded and half dead,
Prof. LaPrade was not allowed medical attention or to be seen by his friends.
He was not permitted to have a change of clothes, although those he had on were muddy and bloody. Lawyer Grimpky, who had taken his defense in hand, more out of sympathy than for expected fee, braved the popular current of hate and disapproval and visited the prisoner in his cell. He prepared as best he could to conduct his
defense, but he told LaPrade that he must not hope for much, as he would come before the court presumed to be guilty, because he was a Negro. "Will people who kill a man, hold an inquest over his corpse and then salt it down like a slaughtered hog, be likely to treat one supposed to be an accomplice of the dead man with impartial 
(166)


DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 167
justice? However have faith and courage," said
he. After the prisoner had lain in jail for two
months he so far recovered as to be able to hobble
around with a stick; but he was allowed the stick
only when outside of his cell. The term of the court at last opened at Croton.
After the civil docket was disposed of they took
up the criminal docket. Professor LaPrade's was
the fifth case on the call. A large crowd of whites
was present, and it was thought best to have an
extra force of deputies to protect the prisoner in
case violence was attempted. But the excite-
ment had so far subsided that there was little or
no demonstration; only a few hot heads made
show of passion. The trial began by arraignment
of the prisoner. He pleaded not guilty, and the
selection of the jury began. One hour was con-
sumed in impaneling the trial jury. The indict-
ment charged the accused with murder, as acces-
sory before and after the fact, to the killing of
Gooch Tarlton. The Commonwealth began by introducing its
testimony. No one saw the accused near the place
at the time of the killing. It was shown that
he was at Tarlton's office with the daughter of
Norris in the morning; and for some reason or
other broke into the office, and there was loud
talking up there and a scramble. The accused was
seen to leave there in company with the girl and
go towards the Norris home. 


168 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
Professor LaPrade had no witnesses; he was not
put upon the witness stand, as his lawyer feared
that it might prejudice the case if he were com-
pelled on cross examination to tell certain things
which he knew about the cause which led up to the
killing of Tarlton. The lawyer did not wish to
stir up the hotheads in and about the court to at-
tempt mob violence again. The prisoner was a
sheep before his slaughterers, and opened not his
mouth. Both he and his lawyer believed that con-
viction would be the only means of saving the
prisoner's life. They felt that if acquitted, or
if he even sought a delay of the trial the crowd
would mob the prisoner on the spot. The mob al-
ways wants from two to ten Negro lives for one
white man's life. So the judge charged the jury
for conviction. Norris was dead, and they wished
this other "nigger" convicted of the murder of
the so-called best citizen, Tarlton, to get him out
of the way. The jury retired and were out ten
minutes when they came in and announced that
they had reached a verdict of guilty of murder in
the second degree. They fixed his punishment at
the maximum, twenty years in the penitentiary.
There was applause around the court-room when
the verdict was announced. The prisoner looked
resigned. The Court asked the attorney for the
defendant if he wished to make any motion. After
a hurried consultation with the prisoner, the at-
torney rose and told the Court that he had noth-
ing to offer. Thereupon the Court proceeded to 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 169
pronounce the sentence upon the prisoner of hard
labor in the penitentiary for twenty years. The
prisoner was taken back to the jail. The next
day his attorney called to see him and explained
the reason for his having taken the course he did
of nonresistance to the will of the Court and the
people. "I feared that if we entered a motion for a new
trial or took an appeal, that might cause an-
other outbreak of lawlessness, said Lawyer
Grimpky. "You know they charge that the
courts and bar are to blame for lawless-
ness because of delays in the judgment of
cases. My plan was to offer no objection to the
will of the Court and the people, and try to get
you pardoned after the people hereabout have had
time to cool off and see and feel the injustice of
your punishment. I think I can get many of them
to sign a petition for your release. And, too, if
there were to be another outbreak here, and you
in jail, they would lynch you the first thing they
did. I wished to save your life. "No, LaPrade, I don't charge you a cent for
what I have done nor will I charge for what I in-
tend to do for you in the future. I expect to do all
in my power to get you pardoned. Yes, I know
that you will suffer greatly in the state prison.
As a matter of humanity I wish I could prevent
your going there, for I know what it will be in its
mildest form to a man of your education and sen-
sibilities. Do all in your power to make friends 


170 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
of the prison officials, especially the guards,
though they are a brutal set of fellows, and hard
to get along with. On the slightest pretext they
would shoot you down, and report that you were
resisting or trying to escape. Many of the guards
and officers are felons and deserve to be serving
as convicts themselves instead of serving as
guards." "I feel the injustice of my punishment very keen-
ly and that I shall be called on to suffer much more
than I have yet suffered," said LaPrade. "These
brutal men will know that I have been convicted
of helping to murder a prominent white man;
that I was connected in the crime with a man who
has already been lynched, salted down and sent in
as food for Southern wrath, and they will be es-
pecially severe with me. While the punishment of
all Negroes in the South is retributive, mine will
be more than that—it will be the punishment of
revenge. I feel sure that their wrath will be
vented upon me. But do you know that in my darkest hour and greatest suffering I have felt
a joy in my heart, a kind of elation. I believe now
that I shall find satisfaction in undergoing all that is to be put upon me, even slow, torturous
death, since it is all, that she might live. I have
gladly undergone all the pain and suffering and
will undergo death if it comes to that, that she
might be saved from the blighting touch of that
vampire, Tarlton! I think I should not regret
to suffer thus for any worthy woman. But for 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 171
Marie, dearer to me than life itself, why, I be-
lieve I could sing my own funeral dirge while
burning at the stake for trying to protect that in
her which in any woman is worth more than life!
To die to save our poor, abused and misused wom-
anhood from the blight of villainous outrage ought
always to be sweet to true manhood! Yes, I shall
glory in my suffering for her sake! While I
know I am as innocent of any wrong as an angel,
yet I glory in my punishment. Had a white man
done what I did, he would be held up as a hero,
worthy of the highest encomiums that tongue can
utter. "I am glad, Mr. Grtmpky, thnt you took the
course you did. I trust you and shall try to do
what is best. When you write Mrs. Norris tell
her what I say, and she will talk it over with
Marie. They have done what they could to save
me from this, my last doom. They will con-
tinue to do what they can for my release, but
release I do not hope for, except in death. But if
die I must, it will be a happiness to me to offer
up a thing so worthless as my life for a cause so
noble and a girl so worthy. Tell them not to
fret and pine over my seeming misfortune, but to
look forward to better things. May the son and
brother be spared the agony and death that the
father and I have suffered for our defense of
womanly virtue. You are a hero, Mr. Grimpky,
among cowards and bullies, for that is what mobs
are made up of. No brave man is ever cruel or 


172 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
abusive to the weak and helpless. The loving
are the daring, and the brave are the true. You
have always stood for the right and urged justice
and fair treatment for all people. You have
braved popular ill-feeling against me, and at the
risk of injury to your practice stood up in my de-
fense while I was being tried by the men who
mobbed me. You may lose caste and custom in
this God-forsaken place, but you can and must
win your way upward in the world. Such vir-
tues as yours cannot go unrewarded. If I should
ever escape from the hell to which they have con-
signed me with life and breath, I shall use them
in speaking your praises. I go gladly, since it
is a sacrifice for.love and honor. Let them do
their worst.
"They cannot bend the lofty soul. Though friends and fame depart:
The car of fate may o'er him roll, Nor crush his hero heart."'For there is something will not die,
Where life hath once been, fair;
Some towering thought still rears on high; Some manhood lingers thorn.'"
The prisoner was not allowed to see any one at
Croton except his lawyer, or to attend to any of
his affairs. He left all in the hands of Mr.
Grimpky. His relatives at South Bend were
afraid to come, and hence did not see him.
On the third day after his sentence the prisoner 


OB DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 173
was taken to the penitentiary. When he had been
put in prison garb and instructed somewhat as
to rules and penalties, he was put to work in the
quarry. The work was very heavy, and the
prisoner had not fully recovered from his wounds.
He had never done heavy work; it almost pros-
trated him. The prisoner came in with the gang
at dark the first day so nearly dead that he could
scarcely drag himself along. His chainmate car-
ried the chain to relieve him as much as possible.
While the roll was being called he fell in a faint.
After the roll was called the prisoner was un-
chained from his mate and laid in a corner till the
prison doctor could attend to him. When the doc-
tor came he rolled him over with his foot, felt his
pulse with his walking cane, gave him a jab in
the ribs, and said, "There is nothing the matter
with that 'nigger.'" LaPrade was dragged up
by a guard and two "trustys," carried to his
cell, dumped upon a pile of straw and left
without food or medical attention. The pris-
oner had a high fever that night, but the next
morning was able to get up, though very weak
and dizzy. At four o'clock the prisoners were
roused, but remained in their cells till half past
four. They were then chained together two and
two, marched out to a water trough, where they
washed their faces and hands, without soap, or
anything on which to wipe. After this, the
prisoners were marched to a long shed, where
they stood before a shelf on the wall. On the 


174 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
shelf were placed for each prisoner a hunk of
cold corn bread, a small slice of fat bacon and a
cup of water called coffee. They were allowed
fifteen minutes in which to dispose of this sump-
tuous meal, then were marched out into the yard,
the roll called again and the squads formed and
marched off to their various places of labor. Although weak and sick, LaPrade swallowed
the swill called coffee, and the stuff called bread.
He knew he must get strength from something
for the work before him. Although sick and
weak, he struggled hard to do his task. But the
weather was so cold and damp that his fever
began to rise again in the afternoon, so that he
grew dizzy and fell with his burden. The boss
began to lash him with his whip, but he lay there
as one dead. After lashing his hands, face and
body for some time, the boss ordered two of the
squad to take and dump him on a pile of brush.
The air being chill and damp, his fever grew
worse and he became delirious. At last one of
the bosses came out and had the prisoner carried
to the doctor, who this time gave him some
quinine. He took the medicine during the night
and the next morning was in better shape. La-
Prade was given lighter work for a few days, and
soon gained strength. After the prisoner had been there six months it
was decided to send him with others to work in
the coal mines. This work was harder and more
dangerous. Each man was tasked at so many 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 175
bushels of coal per day. If he failed in his task
he was whipped with a big leather strap. The
strap was made with several thicknesses of raw-
hide nailed together at the loose end to make it
heavy. LaPrade had failed several times and
thereby fallen under the lash. He was often sick
and unable to perform his task, but if he failed
he was punished just the same. On several oc-
casions he was lashed into insensibility. The
fare at the mines was worse then than at the main
prison. The convicts came out of the mines about
dark, were marched off to the stockades, given
corn bread, often frozen, a tin cup of water sweet-
ened with sugar-house molasses, and then turned
into holes in log walls with their wet mining
clothes on. In winter they shivered all night, and
in summer they sweated and steamed. There was
no place for the sick—sick and well were crowded
together. Indeed the managers seemed to desire
to hasten the death of the sick as much as possi-
ble. Bad treatment and exposure were the
means used to get rid of them. They said: "The
dead tell no tales." LaPrade's mate took sick, but was forced to
his task and died under the lash of the boss, who
was trying to force him to his work. He was un-
chained, taken by two convicts under guard, car-
ried out to the burying place, a hole dug and the
body tumbled in just as picked up from the pit.
LaPrade said to himself, "Is this hell, and are
these men devils incarnate!" The prisoners 


176 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
goaded to desperation, often insane from torture
and hunger, made the dash of death for liberty.
Most times there would be two or three gun re-
ports, and the victim was picked up and tumbled
into the hole always kept ready. If one got be-
yond the range of the guns, the hounds were
turned loose and in a few hours his mangled body
would be found in the woods or brush. Then
brush, leaves and sticks would be piled upon it
and the body burned. The records said, "Killed
while attempting to escape." Now and then one
would escape. But for every one that escaped,
ten were killed or recaptured. Those recaptured
might well have wished they had met the
fate of those killed in the chase, for their groans
and yells could be heard for many days and nights
after they were recaptured. LaPrade saw and heard all this, squirmed un-
der the lash and groaned under the kicks and
cuffs, but hoped and trusted in deliverance. Death
would have been welcome, but he seemed fated
to live, labor ami suffer



CHAPTER XIII.
Close of School and Wedding. Their tables were stored full, to glad the sight, And not so much to feed on as delight;
All poverty was scorn'd and pride so great ,
The name of help grew odious to repeat. —Pericles. T was the balmy month of May when
earth, air and sky seemed joined in
conclave to make an occasion of beauty,
love and song. Woods, fields and air re-
sounded with the songs of joyous birds, and were
redolent with the breath of leaves and flowers.
All, everything, seemed to conspire to make the
closing scene of the school a gladsome time; to
make the launching of a new barque upon the
placid sea of matrimony one of joy mingled with
fond regret. Since Harold went home from school with the
teacher on that afternoon, and there at her home
they vowed to unite their destinies, Miss De-
Hart had gone to and from her school on the hill
as one who walks upon the air. The children
wondered what had come over her. All kindness
before, now she was the perfection of love and
» (177)


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 179
to the bridal party. Two receptions were to be
held; one at the home of the groom immediately
after the marriage and another following that at
the residence of Mr. Newton, a cousin of Miss
DeHart. At two o'clock a. m., accompanied by
their mother, they were to start on their bridal
tour, visiting Washington, Baltimore, Philadel-
phia, New York and Boston. They would return
to Oakland. Julian came a day or two ahead, as he was to
look into some legal matters for Harold. Lucius
came on the morning of the wedding day. At
ten o'clock, the groom and his two classmates
called upon the bride. The lawyer was in-
troduced. After they had spent an hour at her
residence they left for a stroll. The classmates
talked over old times at school, their successes
and failures since leaving the University, but
studiously avoided any expression that would
bring up the accident at the football game, or the
fainting spell on commencement day.
-'I like your fiancee very much," said Julian;
"she seems an accomplished lady. From what I
hear of her and the esteem in which she is held
by the people here, I think she is just the woman
for a man in the ministry." "Well, as an accomplished lady, I think she is
worthy of the high estimate which you and Julian
place upon her," said Lucius. But to be frank
with you, Harold, I am sorry to see you link your
destiny with a woman as dark as she. I could 


180 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
never bring myself to marry a woman of her
color; her complexion would always overshadow
her other qualities. I do not believe that I could
love my offspring born of such a union! You
should at least unite with a woman no darker
than yourself. Before I would make such an al-
liance, I should remain a bachelor, as I am, for-
ever." "Why, Lucius, not even our friendship as class-
mates warrants your indulgence in such free ex-
pression of opinion to me of my future wife.
Many a man has been challenged to mortal com-
bat for words less derogatory. But since I am
pre-eminently a man of peace, I shall pass your
disparaging remarks by, because you mention no
fault worthy of condemnation. Nor do you point
out one defect which she or I by any power we
possess could correct. You admit that she is all
that any cultured Christian lady could be. But
you fall back and offer the same objection to her
that the white people, especially the Southern
whites, offer to you or any one with Negro blood.
My friend, I always knew you to be full of color-
phobia, but did not think you would flaunt it in
the face of your host, friend and classmate on
the most joyous day of his life. That you could
thus challenge my respect and friendship in speak-
ing of the woman who, next to my mother, is
the dearest person on earth to me, surprises me.
But I opine that your zeal is not according to
knowledge, and dismiss it as the vaporings of a
disordered brain." 


OB DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 181
"Well said, well said," was the approval which
Julian gave to the defense of the noble woman.
Said he, "We who suffer so much as a people
from the blighting curse of color prejudice, ought
never allow our partiality as to color, if we have
any, to show itself in words or acts. This mental
defect, like that of concupiscence and drunken-
ness, should be crucified in our bodies. We should
try to be like our Master, always seeing that in
our fellows which is best, overlooking the weak-
nesses and faults." On Tuesday, May 26th, 18—, the children, par-
ents and friends gathered at ten o'clock a. m., to
hear oral examinations, speeches and songs, to
hear the results of their examinations, and to see
the work of the pupils. After the exercises were
over a basket dinner was served in the shady
grove. All then went home to prepare for the
event of the evening. At half past seven o'clock the people be-
gan to gather at the church to witness the
school exhibition. By eight the house was full,
and the exercises began. After an hour and a half of very excellent entertainment by the pupils,
the exercises closed with speeches of regret by
some of the patrons for the loss of their very ex-
cellent teacher. The speakers said they were glad,
since they could not retain the teacher, to turn her
over to the care of one of their most excellent sons.
She was still theirs, as she was going to one whose
family had been one of them for several genera-


182 OUT OF THE DAKKNESS,
tions, and that the couple would be loved and
cherished by them all. The exercises over the
people went to their homes to rest and prepare
for the grand event of the next evening. On Wednesday, early in the day, presents began
to arrive at the Scott residence and continued to
come in till a late hour that evening. There
were many valuable compliments from a distance
as well as at home. . Among those most prized
was a painting presented by the G. A. R. Post
of Oakland. It represented a colored soldier ly-
ing wounded on the battle-field. The scene was
night, but by the light of the camp fire a red
spot could be seen on the ground and leaves where
the soldier lay. . All who saw the face recognized
it as that of Sergeant Scott, the groom's father.
Promptly at seven thirty o'clock in the even-
ing the bridal party arrived at the church door,
and made their way down the aisle to the
slow music of the wedding march. Julian and
Miss Forrester came first, next Lucius and Miss
Newton, after them Harold with his mother
on his arm, and then came the bride on the arm
of Mr. Newton, preceded by four little girls with
baskets of flowers which they scattered in the
path of the bride. Remarks were heard: "She is
the black swan," "How beautiful," "How sweet
she looks," "Isn't she lovely," "He is getting a
noble woman!" "Yes, and he is a noble man."
The Bishop went through the ceremony with
eclat. The bridal party re-entered their carriages 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 183
and the audience was dismissed. The invited
guests repaired to the Newton and Scott resi-
dences, where feasting and congratulations were
the order till the time to say farewell to the bride
and groom. At two o'clock a. m., the members
of the bridal party accompanied the newly mar-
ried people and the mother to the train, and saw
them on a Pullman sleeper, and after wishing
them smooth sailing o'er life's stormy sea bade
them a final adieu! As Julian was so near Muskegon, he must needs
go to that city. Lucius not wishing to linger in
an atmosphere so pregnant with unhappy mem-
ories left the next day for his field of action. The
attorney was treated quite as well as the doctor
had been at Muskegon. The lawyers, doctors and
business men vied with each other in making
his visit pleasurable. Some said that he must
have enjoyed his visit more than the doctor did
for he stayed longer, and was with Miss DeShon
oftener. The look upon her face was different
when he was around from what it had been when
the doctor was near. Norman was not quite so
cordial with the lawyer as he had been with
the doctor, for he looked and acted as though he
were jealous. 


CHAPTER XIY. Prisoner and Promises. In adamantine chains shall death be bound.
And Hell's grim tyrant (eel th' eternal wound. —Pope. Is it for this we all have felt the flame,
This newer bondage and deeper shame?
Nay, not for this, a nation's heroes bled, And North and South with tears beheld their dead!
—Dunbar.
j|HE Norrises had never given up hope
of securing the release of Professor La-
Prade. They were kept posted by Mr.
Grimpky as to the status of his efforts
to secure a pardon for the prisoner. Lawyer
Grimpky had secured a large list of names to
a petition to the governor for the pardon of La-
Prade. Mr. Storms headed the list. The judge,
prosecuting attorney and some of the trial jury
signed the petition. But the Croton Bee, a newspaper published at
Croton, bitterly opposed the pardon, and said,
"Let the 'nigger' rot in chains. It was a mercy

(1S4)


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 185
to send him to the penitentiary. He should have
met the fate of Norris, or at least, have been
condemned to death! Any 'nigger' who kills
a white man should be killed, hung or lynched.
This is a white man's country. The 'nigger' is
only here by sufferance, and can only stay by
obedience to the whites. Whenever he raises his
black hand against a white man he should perish
like the other beasts." The paper had several
editorials along this line. The governor turned the petition down as
against the public good. That failing, the Nor-
rises and Buchanans decided to give five thou-
sand dollars to some trusty person who would un-
dertake the escape of LaPrade. An Ohio man,
who had been a detective, undertook the perilous
task. He had to have a confederate, of course.
One of them must commit a small offense, and be
convicted and sent to the penitentiary in order to
get into communication with LaPrade and perfect
the plans—and that might fail, for the confeder-
ate might not be sent to the mines where LaPrade
was, and then all would fail except the punish-
ment of the rescuer. The men came to Croton at different times, put
up at different hotels and were perfect strangers,
so far as any one except themselves knew. The
name of the principal one was V. B. Strong, and
the confederate's name was M. B. Devine. Strong
made complaint one morning that Divine had
forged his name to a check which he had given his 


186 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
landlord. When arraigned, Devine agreed to plead
guilty, provided he could get off at one year, in
the penitentiary. That was arranged, and he was
sent to prison for a term of one year. Devine
was a blacksmith, so they put him in the shop.
After he had been there about two months a call
was made for a blacksmith at the East mines.
One of the blacksmiths there had just been re-
leased, and Devine was sent to take his place. At
roll call he noticed the answers to names, to see
if LaPrade was called and to see and note who
answered. He soon found that LaPrade was
there, and that he was a miner. When Devine
had learned this he managed to communicate
with Strong, who had come and opened a photo-
graph gallery in the village, a mile from the pris-
on. Devine was allowed to write but his letters
had to be looked over by the prison authorities.
He was a chemist, and understood how to make a
fluid to write with, the letters of which could only
be seen after the sheet was heated. He wrote to
a lady at Stillwater, and left about half the sheet
blank, but in reality it had the invisible writing
upon it. The lady was V. B. Strong. Strong got
the letter on an order signed by the lady. The blacksmith, Devine, proved to be one of the
best they ever had. He could not only repair, but
make many of the tools they used. Devine was
also a man of fine education, played on several in-
struments, sang, and was one of the finest come-
dians the officers had ever heard. They had him 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 187
over at the mess hall of the officers as often as
they could. They declared that Devine was the
same as a circus or a minstrel show. In addition
to being a chemist, he had studied medicine and
pharmacy. This prisoner was so entertaining
that the officers came to feel that they could not
do without him, and regretted that his term was
so short, but thought it a pity for so smart a man
to be in prison. They made him a "trusty." As
a "trusty" he was often sent to the village of
Stillwater on errands for the prison authorities.
On these visits he always saw Strong. At those
times they formed plans to secure the escape of
LaPrade, who was having a hard time of it. His
work and his punishment grew harder and hard-
er. Devine had managed to have a conversation
or two with LaPrade while they were in the ex-
ercise pen on Sundays. LaPrade was told of what
had been done towards his escape, that there was
hope beyond, and to do his best to keep going. The prison burying ground was about a quarter
of a mile from the stockade. Most of the bury-
ing was done at the close of the day's work. In
winter it was quite dark at quitting time. Two
guards and four prisoners were sent out to where
graves about two feet deep were kept open. One
or two "trustys" worked at grave-digging most of
the time. There was a burial nearly every night,
and sometimes two or three. LaPrade was such a delicate man that he had
rarely ever been able to do his work, and hence 


OK DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 189
he saw the marked grave, and began the work of
disinterment . In about thirty minutes, he pulled
the body from the hole, and carried it to the
buggy, put it in and drove rapidly away. Strong had a room over the gallery, which no one but
himself and Devine were permitted to enter. To
this room he carried *the body. Once within, he
laid it on a long table, stripped it of the prison
rags and threw them into a red hot stove. He
first gave the body a thorough scrubbing, alter-
nating cold and hot water, and then rubbed the
body till it began to glow and show signs of cir-
culation. From many bottles he took fluids, ad-
ministered them by pouring a little into the mouth
of the subject and rubbing others on the body.
Now and then, he held vaporous substances to the
nose and chafed the body. Thus he worked for
two hours, when there was a slight vibration of
the chest, and in about ten minutes another and
so on, till there was a deep sigh, and the dead was
alive—living and breathing. "Z. W. LaPrade sent up from Coweater County,
died on Dec. 16th, 18—," was entered in the prison
records. There would be no excitement or search,
as the prisoner was dead. So Strong kept La-
Prade in the room, fed and administered medicine
to him till he was convalescent. In about a month
from the time he was rescued, LaPrade had grown
a beard and was recovered sufficiently to travel.
Strong destroyed all traces of the prisoner La-
Prade. His name was now L. A. Pardue. 


190 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
As Devine's time expired in two months after
the rescue of the prisoner, Strong made prepara-
tions to start North with Pardue. They would
go as far as Oakland and there await the coming
of Devine. On a dark night they drove by buggy
twenty-five miles to Lookout Station, and took the
four o'clock train for Oakland. Of course Par-
due had to ride in the Jim-Crow car, but he and
Strong kept in touch with each other. At Oak-
land Pardue stopped with a colored family and
Strong put up at a hotel, but they met at night
and discussed plans. As LaPrade had never been
at the place no one knew him; and he could not
have been recognized now, because he looked
more like some. foreigner than a Negro. The
Rev. Harold Scott was not at Oakland at
this time. He had gone to another charge,
and his wife and child were at Mrs. Scott's at
Croton. After Strong and Pardue had been at Oakland
about two weeks, Devine came to them. That
night they took the train for Cincinnati. Strong
rode in the sleeper, Devine in the day coach and
Pardue in the Jim-Crow car. They reached Cin-
cinnati without mishap. As they had passed from
the land of Egypt, they now traveled together in
the same coach, put up at the same hotels and
traveled as companions and associates. When
they reached Cleveland, Ohio, Devine went on to
his home at Oberlin, and Strong took Pardue to
his residence in Cleveland, and sent a telegram 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY.
191
to Mr. Norwood stating that they were at home,
and all was well. Mr. Norwood understood, and
answered that he would expect them on at the earliest date possible. 


CHAPTER XY. Physician and People. Sprinkled along the waste of years
Full many a soft green isle appears;
Pause where we may upon the desert road,
Some shelter is in sight, some sacred, safe abode.
—Keble.
t
IVE year's practice in Eastberg had
made Dr. Storms quite popular as a
physician and surgeon. He was making
reputation and money quite rapidly.
Having successfully performed several difficult
operations, caused his fame to spread to other
cities and towns. As the custom is when a new
physician comes to a place, many of the chronic
cases were brought to him. Of these several had
been declared incurable by other physicians. Yet
Dr. Storms cured some of them. The doctor was
kept busy day and night. It was largely through the influence of his class-
mate and chum, Dr. S. P. Tilton, that Dr. Storms
took up the practice in Eastberg, the home of the
Tiltons.

(19a)


DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 193
Dr. Tilton's family was quite wealthy and
prominent. Sebastian and his sister Cordelia were
the only children. The father, Dr. B. S. Tilton,
had been so successful as a physician that he
retired from active practice and turned it
over to his son. The elder Tilton devoted his
time to politics and speculation. Dr. S. P. Tilton
was succeeding nicely in his practice. Dr. Tilton
often visited the office of Dr. Storms, where they
held consultations. Dr. Tilton preferred always
to seek advice from Dr. Storms, as he knew his
ability to give reliable information. Often at
night when they had leisure they sat and dis-
cussed medical and other matters till a late hour.
When not discoursing on medical subjects they
often discussed civil, political and religious mat-
ters. Dr. Storms could speak freely with Dr.
Tilton, for they were fast friends. "It is unfortunate, I think for both the whites
and blacks that the better class of both races do
not come together and try to combine their efforts
to build up his wasted land," said Dr. Tilton.
"This is the land of my people as it is the
land of your people. Why should conditions be
such in this day of advanced thought and action
that I should feel more patriotic than you or your
people?" "Don't say my people, if you please! My coun-
try is the world, and my people are humanity,"
said Dr. Storms. "I belong to no race and no
clime. Am I without race or nation? How '3


194 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
can I, an outcast, disowned by my father and
my country, have other feelings than those of a
wanderer and a pariah. Though I am a black
man and of the black race, I am white. Who
has done me this injustice?"
"Unhappy thought! This is what I referred
to," said Dr. Tilton. "Conditions are such that
you have almost no love of country. You almost
hate the South for what it has been to your moth-
er, to you and your people. You feel that you
have no race. You do not claim the Negro race,
because you feel that you are more a white
man than a Negro. Your education and tastes
put you far above the average of that people. But
do you know that that comes of the degradation in
which the Negro is held by proscription and race
antagonism. In view of the rapid pace with
which the Negro has made strides up the steeps
of progress in these years of quasi freedom, what
would he not do in the next hundred years if
helped and not hindered by the white man? I
know it is asserted that if the Negro were left to
himself, or put off into a country to himself, he
would soon lapse into savagery. But that is no
proof that he may not attain to a high state of
civilization! There are no self-made men, races
or nations! No man can lift himself out of the
miro. lie must be helped out. No man can en-
lighten himself. He must be enlightened by oth-
ers. You and I are called learned physicians. Are we not using information received from others? 


196 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
once the signs of the blighting hand of slavery,
and the bloody traces of Kukluxing, lynching and
whitecapping. No country on earth can prosper
that harbors such sins within its bosom. No
state or states can achieve their highest good that
send men to their law-making bodies who boast
of killing the people or depriving them of their
legal rights. How much better than Nero is a
man who stands up in our legislative and other
halls and declares that in the South a part of the
citizens will never be allowed to exercise their
rights? Nero acted blindly, but these act with
full knowledge of the injustice they do. Strange,
I know it sounds to you, Lucius, to hear a South-
ern man talk thus; but you know that in my heart
I love all men, and especially the weak and op-
pressed. You are aware of my treatment of you
and the other colored students at the University.
But going North did not change my heart or
opinions; they were ever thus from my boy-
hood days. When I was a child I used to play
with Saul, and thought it so strange that he was
not allowed to come in, eat with me, and stay
all night. When they said to me: 'Why, he is a
'nigger!' You can't eat and sleep with 'niggers!'
that did not satisfy my young heart or the ques-
tioning in my mind. "You must remember that many of the North-
ern men at the University upbraided me for treat-
ing Negroes as equals. I know many Southern
people, especially of the younger element, who 


198 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
by their follies they are only hastening their own
doom. Because they have not ruled in righteous-
ness the Lord will pluck the Kingdom out of their
hands and give it to another. The South will yet
read, written on its wall of prejudice, 'MENE,
MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN!' "Do you know, Lucius, that many of your
friends feel that the Negro is too tractable and
conciliatory—if he had more of the combative in
his make up he would be treated with more defer-
ence; that he trusts in God to fight the battle
which he must fight! Many who used to stand
up and contend for the rights of the Negro have
lost faith in him because of his non-resistance to
insults, oppressions and repressions heaped upon
him from year to year! 'He who would be free
must first strike the blow.' It is useless for a
man to pray when he ought to fight. 'God
helps those who help themselves.' Do you think
that the millions of any other race on earth would
submit as tamely as does the Negro to these out-
rages and injustices?" "At first I thought your position would seem to
be the correct one," said Lucius. "It does seem
cowardly for ten million people to allow them-
selves to be trodden under foot as the Negro is;
and that, too, in many sections where there are
twenty-five Negroes to one white person. To
persons who do not understand the situation it is
astounding that these ten million people, goaded
and exasperated as they are, insulted and misused 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 199
in every way, do not break forth in their despera-
tion and become a death-dealing mob. Since they
have become so accustomed to death it is thought
that they might rise in their might, and with the
sword of vengeance and the torch of destruction
go forth to avenge their three hundred years of
wrong and suffering. But they who say such
things do not know the Negro. He loves peace
and his brother man. He prefers to serve God
and his fellow, rather than to become a murderer.
"His record as a soldier in two hundred years of
war on a thousand battle-fields will attest the fact
that he is no coward. No man who has an ounce
of brains or one trait of honesty will call him
coward. The Negro soldier was never known to
turn his back to approaching foe. But the bravest
soldier is one who can stand in the face of a gall-
ing fire without firing in return. He who can
stand still and wait his time to shoot, in the face
of a shower of lead, is the bravest of the brave. It
would be easy for the Negro to strike back, kill
and slaughter, and himself be slaughtered, to-
gether with his helpless ones, but he is only
biding his time. He who thinks the Negro is not
chafing under these outrages and oppressions reck-
ons without his host. The Negroes are keenly alive
to every ill they suffer. Thousands and thousands
lay awake nights pondering over the wrongs
heaped upon the race. Of course the great majority
of the Negroes are ignorant, and like the lower
strata of any race or people, they pay little atten-


200 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
tion to the things which trammel us. But at least
half of the ten million Negroes in this country
are galled almost to desperation by the insults
and injustices heaped upon a docile, affectionate
and trustful people. The Negro is a part of the
citizenship of this republic. He has ever been
patriotic and has poured out streams of his best
blood in defense of a liberty enjoyed by everybody
but the Negro. No; they judge wrong who think
or say that the Negro is cowardly or indifferent
to the wrongs done him." These two young physicians often had such dis-
cussions. They felt almost like brothers when
thus together. They would do anything they
could for each other. They often consulted each
other over the diagnosis of difficult cases. In most
instances when Dr. Storms visited the patients
of Dr. Tilton they thought Dr. Storms was a white
man also. Wherever Dr. Storms went he made
a favorable impression as a physician. Many said
he was the best physician in the city, white or
black. Dr. Storms spent little time outside of his
professional work. He mingled little with the
people except in a professional way. His tastes
and prejudices had not changed, except to become
more intensified. His close attachment to Dr.
Tilton inclined him more towards his father's
people. On one occasion when calling at the office of
Dr. Tilton, he saw a beautiful young lady sitting
in the reception room. At a glance he knew by 


OB DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 201
the resemblance that she was the sister of Dr.
Tilton. He asked, with hat in hand, if the doc-
tor was in, and she called the doctor. When he
came in, as no other persons were present, he
said: "Cordelia, this is Dr. Lucius Storms, of whom
you have heard me speak so often." Cordelia blushed and recognized the introduc-
tion with a nod of the head. Lucius blushed also
and bowed and said: "Miss Tilton, your brother, always kind, is
more than obliging in thus honoring in this man-
ner one who is not entitled to -expect it. He has
ever been one of my best friends. I have been
helped so much by his kindnesses. We contem-
plate taking a journey sometime to the Old World.
We wish to visit the lands of history and achieve-
ment. There we shall be companions and broth-
ers." Cordelia blushed and bit her lip. She had
never been brought thus near to a social level with
one of the despised race. Dr. Storms bade them
good afternoon and left. When Dr. Storms was gone Cordelia said to her
brother, "Is he really a Negro? He doesn't look,
talk or act like one; at least, not like those I see.
Is it really true, Sebastian, that you associated
with and treated, and now treat this Negro as a
social equal?" "Yes, and no. I did when I could; I would
now, if I dared, treat him as my bosom friend. I 


202
OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
know no man on earth, except my father, whom
I esteem higher. I don't treat him as a social
equal now, because you and the rest will not per-
mit it." 


CHAPTER XVI. Pardue, Marie and Brownsville. Domestic happiness, thou only bliss, Of Paradise that has survived the tall!
—Cowper
|T waa necessary for Strong and Pardue
to remain in Cleveland for a few days
to attend to some business affairs. Mr.
Strong wished to consult a physician
as to the proper treatment for Mr. Pardue. He
wished to rid him of the ill effects of the exposure
and brutal treatment undergone while in prison.
And too, Mr. Pardue had to purchase suitable
clothing. For all necessary expenses they had
been instructed to draw on Mr. Norwood's bank
in Cleveland, and they spent ten days in that
city attending to business and seeing the points
of interest. When on board the train steaming
westward, Pardue became livelier than he had
been since his resurrection. He seemed filled with
happy anticipations of something that might pos-
sibly happen at the place to which he was going.
He discoursed felicitously of the future, and the
new life opening up to him. 
(ao3)


206 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
of your tortuous imprisonment. I am quite sure
from the look in her eyes and the faltering voice
in which she spoke of you that there is a very ten-
der feeling in her heart for you. I believe you
will realize your fondest hopes. The family has
spared no expense that might make your pardon
or escape secure." On arriving in Brownsville they were met at
the station by Mr. Norwood and Theodore with
their private carriage. They took the newcomers
to the Sumner House, where sumptuous rooms
and accommodations had been prepared for them.
After they had changed their dress and taken re-
freshments Mr. Norwood and Theodore took them
to the Norwood. residence. The mother and
daughter met them in the drawing-room. Mrs.
Norwood embraced Pardue as though he had been
her own son, rescued and returned to her from the
battle slain! Marie came forward with out-
stretched hands and tearful eyes and clasped
both Pardue's hands in hers and said:
"Professor, I am so glad to see you! It is as
though you had returned from the vale of shadows.
Indeed you are returned from death, as I am in-
formed. Well it is said, 'We live to die, and die
to live.'""Yes," said the professor, "that is just what I
did, Miss Marie. I chose to die that I might live.
I am alive, and wish to live now that life's beau-
ties and loveliness are opening to me. I once
desired to die, because I thought it necessary to 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 207
save those I cared for more than life! Now that
I have passed from death unto life, I want to live
and enjoy the loveliness and liberties of life. It
opens all the fountains of my soul to be thus alive
and enjoying life's hopes and realizations among
the redeemed. For have not nearly all of us been
redeemed—Miss Marie, from the demon de-
spoiler; Mr. Norwood, from the fury of the mob,
but alas! some poor innocent being was sacrificed
to save him; and me from the death-dealing hell-
hole of the South called a prison?" The Norwoods thanked Mr. Strong for his de-
votion to their cause. All financial matters re-
lating to Pardue's rescue had been settled. Af-
ter a pleasant chat of an hour, Mr. Strong bade
them good afternoon and accompanied by Theo-
dore, was driven to his hotel. Here he retired for
much needed rest. Theodore returned to his of-
fice. Mr. and Mrs. Norwood excused themselves
and left Marie and the Professor in the drawing-
room. The Professor was the first to break the
silence:"It seems to me that life never was so sweet
as at this moment. Can it be that I am about to
realize the fulfillment of the hopes and dreams
of my nights of torture and desolation! How
often, O how often in those hours of delirium
and exhaustion out of the darkness has my soul
wandered with a sylph-like spirit in verdant
groves filled with sweet odors and singing birds!
In my visions I sat beside the limpid streams anrt


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 209
"You have suffered much for me and mine;
poor is the reward which I can give. But, as
you ask, it is yours. My poor heart impels me
to render so far as I can some recompense for
such service and devotion as yours has been,"
said she. They talked for quite a while of the dark and
gloomy past with its rifts of sunshine, and then
of the bright and golden future. Hand in hand
the lovers now went to where the parents were
and asked for their approval and blessing upon
their betrothal. The father and mother were
not surprised at their coming, as they had long
surmised that there was an attachment between
the young people deeper than friendship. The Norwoods had invested in property and
traded till they were now much wealthier than
when in Georgia. Mr. Norwood owned two very
valuable farms, which he was cultivating, besides
several valuable pieces of city property. He
also owned and conducted a large agricultural and
hardware store. Theodore was State Commis-
sioner of Agriculture. Marie was one of his
clerks; but she was now relieved by Mr. Love-
joy A. Pardue, who took her place in the office. The time of the marriage was to be Thanks-
giving day. Messrs. Strong and Devine were
among those invited. On Thanksgiving evening
the new Ebenezer Church was full to overflowing
with the elite of Brownsville. The audience was
as neatly attired as was ever seen in any audito-
»4


210 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
rium on like occasion. At the Norwood mansion
presents were being brought in at a rapid rate.
Presents and congratulations had been coming in
for three days, and among them was one, a dia-
mond ring, from Mr. Strong. It had been en-
graved on the inside, "Risen." There was a gold
locket with a picture in it, of a body being taken
from a grave. It was presented by Devine. Elder Buchanan, in feeble, faltering voice,
united the pair in holy wedlock and remarked
at the close of the service that he thought this
would be his last ministerial act, as he was near
the end of his journey. The guests repaired to
the residence, of the bride, where feasting and
merriment continued to a late hour. The next
day, the newly-married folks began housekeep-
ing in their own cosy little nest, next door to the
paternal domicile. As they came in to the first
meal in their own dining-room, arm in arm. Love-
joy remarked that: "This is a love-feast;" and
as they sat side by side, he said: "Once I was
dead, but now I am alive forevermore." In the month of December, as it began to draw
near to the anniversary of the nativity of Him
who came to bind up the broken-hearted and
preach deliverance to the captives, while the
streets of Brownsville were thronged with merry
shoppers who were making their purchases of
things to gladden the hearts of their kindred and
friends, Elder Buchanan, the founder of the
beautiful, prosperous city, was stricken with par-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 211
alysis. When it was known about the streets
and in the places of business, the questions were
upon every lip: "Do you know that Elder Buchanan is very
ill?" "How is Elder Buchanan?" Many hundreds called at the residence to ex-
press their sympathy and offer their services; not
a few passed to ask after the condition of the
venerable father. Four of the best physicians
were in attendance upon the patient. But on
Christmas Eve, as the flickering rays of the win-
try sun fell faintly upon the leafless branches of
the trees upon the western slopes, he breathed
his last, full of years and good works. Full of faith he took his flight,
Out of darkness into light.
His funeral occurred on the day after Christmas,
and was attended by all the city officials in a body,
the Board of Trade, the business men and a vast
concourse of people. The services were held at
Ebenezer Church, where a sermon was preached
and eulogies and resolutions- were offered. A
double line of carriages and vehicles nearly a mile
in length followed the remains to Oak Hill, the
finest cemetery in the city. The body was deposited
in a private vault, to remain till the sarcophagus
which was to be erected by the city was ready.
In it the casket would rest permanently. His
death was mourned as a public loss. The will
of the deceased patriarch Buchanan was found 


212 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
to contain among other bequests one of a thou-
sand dollars to Ebenezer Church and one of Ave
hundred dollars to Mr. Leonidas Storms, the man
who out of the darkness of desolation came to
deliver him from the hands of the destroyer. 


CHAPTER XVII.

Storma and Storms. Thou ugliest fiend of Hell! thy deadly venom
Preys on my vitals, turns the healthful hue
On my fresh cheeks to haggard sallowness,
And drinks my spirits up I —Hannah More. N returning one night about half past
twelve o'clock from the bedside of a
very sick patient, Dr. Storms found a
telegram awaiting him. With trem-
bling hand he opened it and read: "Mr. Leonidas Storms lies at the point of death.
Come at once!
"A. Grimpky."
He had only time while the office boy packed his
suit case to telephone Dr. Tilton to look after
his patients while he was away. He informed the
doctor that he had been called to Croton on account
of the severe illness of Mr. Storms, of whom he
had often told him. The boy drove the doctor to the
station and he caught the two-thirty o'clock train
for Croton. As Dr. Storms was well known by
the train men he had to go into the Jim-Crow car,
because he could not get a sleeper on such short
notice. It was very distasteful to the doctor to (213)


214 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
ride in that filthy, dingy, stinking car, among a
lot of dirty railroad hands. They were smoking
old, filthy, offensive pipes and acting in a very
boisterous manner. It so stung the doctor that
he tried to ride on the platform, but the brake-
man ordered him in from there. At last he set
his face to endure it, and went in. "I do not suffer one-thousandth part of what
Mr. Norris and Prof. LaPrade were made to un-
dergo for manhood's sake," said the doctor. I
must learn to endure this for a while that I may
rise to better things." After he got settled down
and somewhat overcame his repugnance to his
surroundings he fell into a musing mood. He
thought upon his father's illness and of his pos-
sible death; of all that his death meant to him;
the memory of his angel mother, and of the
wrongs to them both. Said he to himself:"The only difference between the blackest, dirt-
iest Negro on this train and me is my ability to
suffer. They feel no inconvenience on account of
these insults and injustices. My education and
refined feelings are the measure of my sufferings,
not my color. For my white skin avails me noth-
ing when it is known that there is Negro blood
in my body." Dr. Storms mused upon the chances of
trouble with his brother, who hated him be-
cause he was not only a natural child but a Negro.
He felt sure that his sister would not of herself
give him trouble, but she was married now and 


216 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
to her, he allowed his mind and heart to contem-
plate the possibility of attainment to an object
higher in the society scale and more to his liking.
If the young lady now in contemplation was not
higher in reality, she was at least so by the place
assigned to the races, by those who assume lord-
ship over all races, kindreds, nations, tongues,
principalities and powers. "I have always desired to cut my relations with
my mother's unfortunate race. To be one of them
only brings misfortune, insult and degrada-
tion. To be in this dirt trap, called a car; to see
this dirty, motley crowd; to contemplate what
they represent and what they stand for in this
country, fills my soul with disgust and an unutter-
able longing for something higher and better—
something that will carry me up into the atmos-
phere where men get a full draught of pure, free
air and life. This life for me is deep misery and
unendurable! I will aspire if I have to pay the
penalty with my life! I will live as a man or die
as a dog!" Before Lucius realized where he was the porter
cried out: "All off for Croton. Lucius sprang
up, grabbed his suit case and got off. No car-
riage was there to carry him to a stopping place.
He desired to go at once to his father's bedside,
but since the father was either dying or dead,
he must be cautious. So he gave his suit case to
a boy to carry and walked down town. Lucius
went to the office of Mr. Greer, Mr. Storm's law-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 217
yer, and learned that his father was very low,
and not expected to live for many hours. Lucius
paid the boy, and asked Mr. Greer to allow him
to leave his luggage there till he returned. Lucius
then went to the office of Mr. Grimpky and learned
further of the condition of Mr. Storms. Mr.
Grimpky told him that Gatewood had just gone
up town. So Lucius hurried on to see his father
while Gatewood was out. When he reached Mr.
Storm's room he found him speechless. Soon
after Lucius arrived there Alma came in. Having
given him her hand in greeting she left the room,
leaving Lucius and Mr. Storms together. Mr.
Storms looked at Lucius and seemed to recognize
him, but could not utter a word or move. Lucius
stood by the bed and wiped the bitter tears from
his eyes. He felt that he was recognized by his
father, but his utter loneliness and desolation
overcame him, and he sank to the floor by the
bed. When he had lain thus for some time Gate-
wood came in; and when he saw Lucius he grew
very red in the face and said, with much passion
in his voice:"'Nigger,' how dare you enter my father's
room unbidden? I am in charge here! You can-
not take privileges or hang around here as you
have done heretofore. When he who lies there
passes away, you pass from here forever." The father heard what was said, but could only
look distressed. He could utter no word of pro-
test, though he looked worried. 


218 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
Lucius said, "I am sorry conditions are such that
my presence is required or has been requested
here! I pray you to have some regard for your
suffering parent, who lies there almost in the
arms of death! I shall rid you of my presence,
if that will prevent your brawling over your dy-
ing father. You are his lawful son and legal heir.
I am his son of misfortune. He is a high-toned
man. All his life he tried, as far as he could, to
repair and atone for the wrong he had done my
mother and me by bringing me into the world
under untoward conditions. Yes, he is a noble
man! Would that his son and heir had some of
his traits! You know your power and I know it,
too; therefore I go from this house, but shall con-
tend for my rights whatever they are under his
last testament." "Yes, 'nigger', I know my rights and power,
and I shall use them on you if you don't get out.
Only the fact that you are one of our former
'niggers', keeps me from having you dealt with by
the 'Klan.' But even that will not restrain me
should you come around here again claiming any
rights or recognition as anything but the ex-slave
of my father. Do you understand? If you do
not govern yourself according to what I say, you
will be quieted." "I go, sir. Do not think you can frighten or
deter me! I am not of that blood that cringes
or cowers," said Lucius. Lucius returned to the city slowly, pondering 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 219
over the events of the last hour. He secured
lodging at the home of Mr. Warren, one of the
prosperous colored business men of the city. The
next day word was brought to Lucius that Mr.
Storms had died at three o'clock that morning.
The funeral took place the second day after his
death, at two o'clock in the afternoon, at the
Presbyterian Church. A large concourse of peo-
ple was present to do honor to the memory of one
of their foremost citizens. Among the floral de-
signs was one, a "keystone," sent by the family
of Elder Buchanan. Gatewood objected to its be-
ing placed by the bier, but Alma insisted that it
would be pleasing to her father to be thus re-
membered if he were living, so Gatewood yielded
to her. Of course Lucius was not among the
mourners; but he sat in the place in the church
set apart for colored people. The next day Lucius went to see his lawyer and
arranged for him to be present at the reading of
the will and to attend to his affairs. At eleven
o'clock that night he returned to his home. When
the will was read it was found that all the real
property had been left to Gatewood and Alma.
Lucius was to receive ten thousand dollars in cash
and bonds as his share of the estate. That
amount was considered to be about one-fourth
of the estate. The executor was to turn that
amount over to Lucius, providing, no contests or
lawsuits were instituted. But if there were law-
suits all were to take equal shares under the will, 


220 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
according to the decree of the court. Gatewood
fussed, fumed and talked a good deal about what
was left to the "nigger." He threatened to con-
test as to the bequest to Lucius, but Alma andher husband were disposed to let things stand
as the parent had willed. Gatewood asserted that
if Lucius had remained in Croton, he could have
had the whole business soon settled out of court
by the Klan. The executor after waiting one
year to see if any contests would be made, turned
Lucius' share of the estate over to him. Lucius invested the money in a beautiful resi-
dence in Eastberg. He had through his practice
and trading secured considerable estate be-
fore he purchased the lovely home in an aristo-
cratic section of the city. There was considerable
stir and complaint when it was known that the
Negro doctor had secured a residence in that sec-
tion. Several threatened to sell out and leave if
they could not freeze the Negro out. A commit-
tee of the residents waited on the doctor and said
to him: "We know you are as white, as intelligent and
refined as we are; we presume that when you
marry, your wife will be no darker than yourself,
and that most of your associates will be people
of your color, but you are known as a Negro;
therefore your presence in this section not only
injures us socially, but injures our property. You
know that the coming of a Jew, Negro or any one
of the dark races into any high-class section of a 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 221
city causes those living there to change their resi-
dence even at great sacrifice. We do not stop to
argue the justice or injustice of the feeling of
aversion to the Jew, Negro, or dark races, but we
know it is a fact. You also injure yourself, be-
cause you are now held in high esteem by the
best element of the white people of the city.
But when you undertake to ruin them financially
and socially, then you make them your enemies
and force them to drastic measures. You also
injure your race's interests by making friction be-
tween the whites and blacks."
"Gentlemen," said Dr. Storms, "I have no race;
I am an outcast. I am more a white than a
black man. I am what I am by no fault of mine.
In fact, all the misery and misfortune that I suf-
fer is due to your race. But one thing I know.
I am a man, and I will sacrifice my manhood to
humor no one. In purchasing this property the
white blood in me asserted itself in seeking that
which it deemed good for itself. I and the race
to which your prejudice has assigned me have
sacrificed life, liberty and property, to your greed
and hate; but this time I propose to stand upon
my constitutional rights. The enjoyment of life,
liberty and property you have guaranteed to every
man. No, I shall not sell; I did not buy to sell! I
have no ties on earth now, and if I am killed, the
property shall go to the education of the race
accursed, for the love I bear for my mother's
memory."


222 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
The committee went away with frowns of dis-
pleasure upon their faces and vengeance in their
minds. "There will come a time, Mr. 'Nigger,'
when your pride will wilt; when you will sing an-
other tune." Gatewood Storms came to Eastberg about this
time ostensibly on business, but in reality to stir
up feeling against Dr. Storms. He did all he
could to encourage the excitement about the "nig-
ger" doctor. He ranted about his impudence in
trying to be white folks by purchasing a home
among them. Gatewood did all in his power to fan
the fire of indignation against Dr. L. Storms into
a conflagration. .He talked with many of the
leading citizens about the trouble Lucius had given
him and his sister on account of some claim he
pretended to have on his father. He told them
that that "nigger" had always longed to be con-
sidered a white man, and that was the reason he
had stuck himself up among the best whites. "I understand that Dr. Tilton treats this 'nig-
ger' almost as an equal, and that he went so far as
to introduce him to his sister. Well, that is some-
thing no true Southern man will do or allow
others to do. The Southern gentleman will asso-
ciate with no man who treats a 'nigger' as his
equal, no matter what the 'nigger' knows or has. "Well, I warn you that you are going to have
trouble with that 'nigger.' Dr. Tilton had better
beware of how he associates with him. 'Play
with a dog and he will lick your face.'" 


CHAPTER XVIII. Congressman and Constituents. Thou hast prevaricated with thy friend,
By underhand contrivances undone me;
And while my open nature trusted in thee;
Thou hast stept between me and my hopes.
And ravished from me all my soul held dear.
Thou hast betrayed me. —Rowe.
EECH HAVEN was an important legal
as well as business center. There were
found nearly all the courts. Besides
the state courts, all Federal courts, ex-
cept the Supreme Court, were held there. It was
on that account a city full of lawyers. The courts
were in session most of the year, hence nearly all
the attorneys were busy. On the bulletin board of a fine office building
owned by a wealthy Negro, on one of the busiest of
the city's thoroughfares, was this sign: "JULIAN
JARNIGAN, LAWYER AND COUNCILLOR-
5th-14." Taking the elevator and reaching No.
14 on the fifth floor, one found a nicely furnished
suite of three rooms, with all the modern outlit
for such an office. The front office was a recep-


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 227
"What do we care for their morals so we get
cotton and make money?" The Hon. Roscoe DeWitt introduced a bill in
Congress to cut down the representation of those
states which had debarred from voting any of
their citizens of votable age. Hon. Westmore-
land was among those who strenuously opposed
the measures. "The 'nigger' is little above the brute." "All
he is fit for is to work and do the white man's
drudgery," said Mr. Westmoreland. The bill was laid over till the next session
of Congress. When Congress adjourned Hon.
Westmoreland invited Hon. DeWitt and five other
members who favored the bill and two who op-
posed it to visit his plantations. Hon. DeWitt and
the other Republicans had never been in the South,
so they gladly accepted. The day appointed for
them to start was a month away. Westmoreland
made a trip home and instructed the bosses and
foremen to get all the Negroes, nearly a thousand,
together on the Saturday after the gentlemen ar-
rived ; to give them the biggest day and night they
ever had; to make preparations for two thousand,
and invite the "niggers" from all the surrounding
plantations. They made ready as directed. On
the day appointed the Negroes came by hundreds
and ran up into thousands. Two string bands
were on hand to furnish music. Barbecue for two
thousand was prepared and twenty loads of water-
melons were brought. A blind tiger was run with 


228 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
the knowledge of the landlord, so that the Negroes
might be at their worst. Rag-time dancing and
cake-walking were in their glory. At two o'clock
Hon. Westmoreland drove the Congressmen out
and carried them all through the crowds in the
midst of their wild drunken debauch. The scene
was really obscene. Westmoreland carried the
visitors to a building where a sumptuous country
dinner had been prepared. They were served in
grand old Southern hospitable style. The visitors
were then taken out to a grand stand and given
seats where they could observe all that went on
at the worse than Neroan revel. The visitors
were shocked by what they saw and heard. "Is it possible, Westmoreland, said Mr. DeWitt,
"that you allow your people to conduct themselves
in this manner? Do you offer no objection to
these bestial sports?" "Why, this is 'nigger' life and character," said
Westmoreland. "This is 'nigger' civilization. Why,
do you see that fellow lying yonder by that large
oak? He is beastly drunk. That 'nigger' is one
of the leading preachers at the church here. That
one you see staggering over that woman is an-
other. Both of them have at least a dozen women
here on my plantations. These are some of your
citizens. These are the people whom you wish to
place beside me and the chivalry of the South." At night he drove out again with the visitors.
By the bright moonlight and a few flickering
lamps they saw sights that made them shiver with
disgust. 


CHAPTER XIX. Beech Haven and New Orleans. Up comes the gale,
And the mist-wrought veil
Gives way to the lightning's glaro
And the cloud drifts fall
A somber pall,
O'er water, earth and air.
—(Dunbar.
Alas! by some degree of woe
We every bliss must gain;
The heart can ne'er a transport know, That never feels a pain.—
—Lord Lyttleton.
LARGE mass meeting was held at Re-
former Hall. Speeches were made pro-
testing against the manner in which
Hon* Westmoreland was trying to bias
sentiment against the Negro by exhibiting the
worst element and qualities of the race. "We do not deny that we have bad people in the
race and many of them. Where is a race or nation
which has not? But we demand to be measured
like others, not by our worst, but by our best,"
said they. 


234 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
drove about the plantation for some time, admir-
ing the crops and talking over the past, present
and future. Their minds were so full of the
things about them that they failed to note the
rapid flight of time. When Julian and Ernestine
returned to the house the weather was still hot
and sultry, although it was late in the after-
noon. When Mr. Simpkins, the man of the house, came
in the couple drove up and said they must start
for the city right away, as they would be late
getting in any way. Mr. Simpkins told them
they had better stay all night, as he feared
there would be a. storm before many hours. Ju-
lian said he hoped not. Ernestine remarked that
they must go, as they were compelled to be in the
city that evening to attend a reception given by
the "Langston Legal Club" in honor of Mr.
Jarnigan. They had driven only a few miles when Julian
noticed a dark cloud rising in the southwest.
Soon after, they saw a flash of lightning. "It looks as though what Mr. Simpkins pre-
dicted will occur," remarked Julian. "I hope not," said Ernestine. In less than thirty minutes it began to grow
dark. The clouds were covering the skies, the
lightning flashing and fierce winds blowing.
The storm had not yet burst upon them,
though it was coming fearfully fast. Julian
wished to take shelter in some of the cabins 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 235
not far from the road, but Ernestine preferred
that he drive on. "We are in a top buggy, and have a storm
curtain. We can keep dry, I think," said she. "Well, the storm has no terrors for me. It is
only for your sake that I wish to take refuge.
The wind might blow a tree or limb upon us. I
would not have anything happen to you for my
own life." said Julian. Just then the storm burst upon them in all its
fury. As they were driving in the face of the
storm the rain beat in upon them and soon had
their ardor somewhat dampened, but they strug-
gled on as best they could. It was now pitch
dark! Only by the flashes of the lightning could
Julian see the road. The horse became fretful,
jumped and reared, and tried to run, as several
limbs fell near. At last the horse began to
surge and run, and before Julian could check
him plunged forward in the dark, and ere they
knew it all were in what had been the dry bed
of a stream, which they had noticed on the way
out, but now it was a raging torrent. Ernestine
screamed when the water rushed in upon her!
She clung to Julian and Julian clung to the reins.
The horse struggled, kicked and finally got loose
from the buggy. Julian clung to the reins with one
hand and with the other tried to hold to Ernes-
tine, who had fainted; but the horse dragged him
loose from Ernestine. She was held in the bug-
gy by the storm curtain. Julian was dragged to the 


236 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
shore by the horse, while Ernestine and the buggy
were whirled down with the torrent tide. As soon
as Julian reached firm ground he rushed down the
side of the stream calling loudly to Ernestine.
But no response came. He ran up and
down the bank calling wildly, stumbling over
stumps, logs and gullies, but he rushed on blindly.
Julian fell into the flood two or three times
and had a hard struggle to keep from drowning.
At last he made a wild rush going further down
the stream. The clouds had begun to break a little
and he could see better. After he had run
down the side of the stream about a mile he
came suddenly upon the buggy, turned bottom up-
wards in an eddy. He rushed on as fast as he
could, falling over logs, stumps and into gullies.
Finally he thought he heard a scream. Now he
tried to fly and even prayed for wings! At last
he made a long leap and fell into the flood, but
managed to keep on top of the water and to
retain his presence of mind. Several times he
was hit by floating logs and limbs of trees and
knocked under the seething waters, but he had
resolved to rescue Ernestine alive or dead,
or perish. After Julian had been in the tor-
rent for what seemed to him an age, he was
hurled around a bend in the stream, and saw
what appeared to be a white garment. The al-
most drowned man struggled towards the
object, often knocked back by objects floating
on the bosom of the flood, but struggled on, 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 237
fighting a death struggle, and at last got close
enough to see one fair hand sticking above the
waters.
"0 God, it is she! Help me to save her," prayed
Julian. Just then a huge wave lifted and threw him
right to the object. He grasped the cold, life-
less hand, made another prayer for help, and with
one arm bore the apparently lifeless body, and with
the other fought for the shore. Having reached
an eddy he picked up the body and carried it to
smooth ground, laid it down and began to do all
he knew about restoring drowned persons to life.
He worked thus for some minutes. During the
time he was trying to resuscitate the drowned, the
storm had subsided, the clouds rolled away and the
moon shone out in all her beauty. Low mutter-
ing thunders were heard now and then in the dis-
tance, as though saying: "Well, keep out of our
path next time!" At the end of half an hour Ernes-
tine began to show signs of returning life. Julian
now took her in his arms and began to walk
as rapidly as he could back up the stream. When he
had gone about half a mile he saw a light, which
seemed not far away, and towards that light he
bore his burden, but it was further away than he
supposed. When he reached the cabin the peo-
ple had not retired for the night. He carried the
rescued in and laid her on a cloth spread on the
floor. After Julian had in a few words explained
what was the matter a bed was made ready by 


238 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
the women and dry clothes, such as they had, were
put on Ernestine. An old lady in the house who
knew well what to do in such cases took charge of
her, and after chafing and bathing with restor-
atives for sometime, Ernestine opened her eyes
and said. "Where am I? What has happened? 0 yes,
I remember it all now. There was a storm; the
horse ran into the stream. Where is Julian—I
mean Mr. Jarnigan? 0 my God! what has hap-
pened? Where is Julian?" Julian hearing her call came into the room to
soothe her. When Ernestine saw him she ex-
claimed:
"Saved! Saved! Thank God! Thank God!" For the first time Julian asked what o'clock it
was, and when told that it was just 10 p. m. it
seemed to him incredible. Why, said he: "It
seems to me that it has been years since we left
the plantation. Can I get one of the men to
go to the road and see if anything can be seen of
the horse? The buggy is on the bank of the
stream between this place and the road." The man sent to see about the horse, returned
in an hour, but instead of the horse he had with
him two young lawyers from the city.
"Well, my friend, we did not expect this eve-
ning's meeting to be thus," said the lawyers. "How came you here, my friends?" said Julian.
"Well, it is like this: the horse you drove came
to the stable with his harness all torn and bespat-


240 OUT OP THE DARKNESS,
then she would shiyer, heave a sigh and whisper-
ingly thank God! They reached the city and
retired to their respective homes. The recep-
tion went off without the guest of honor, but it
was repeated two evenings later. On the morning after the storm Julian calling
at the DeShon mansion was informed by the maid
that Miss Erestine was in the summer house, so
he turned down the flower-lined walk to that
place of sweet odors and reveries. He found
Ernestine looking pale and languid. Instead of
the conventional black, she was dressed in white
with a blue ribbon at her throat. Julian thought
her angelic. She looked up with a sweet smile,
when she saw Julian coming to her. "Good morning, Miss DeShon." "Good morning, Mr. Jarnigan," said Ernestine,
with a seeming ironical break in her tone. "The maid wished to call you, but I would not
have it so, and took the liberty to approach the
throne of the goddess of beauty. Though the maid
seems to have orders not to permit the devo-
tees to offer homage on this morning, yet to me it
is the one of all others in which I am feeling de-
vout," said Julian. She looked at him for a while, then blushed and
let her eyes fall to the gravel floor. Julian came
up to where she sat; she started to rise and offer
him a seat, but he demurred. He requested her
to remain sitting, as she must be weak at least
from the experiences of the night. But beyond a 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 241
little stiffness and a few bruises, she said she felt
quite herself. "No, I could not be a faithful subject if I sat
while my queen is on her throne," said he. "I
come to worship at your feet. Ernestine, never
till last night did I know how necessary your life
is to mine. Not till I thought I must lose you did
I realize that life is nothing without you. Dearer
to me than all else in the world, what could I be
without you. When I jumped into the flood it was
to find you alive or my grave amid the angry
waves. If you were dead what would there be for
me to live for? Since we were schoolmates, and
you know that all through these years you have
been my guiding, reigning sovereign, I have looked
forward steadfastly to the time when I might tell
you of the hope and desire of my heart, of the bar-
ren and desolate waste in my life where your
sweet image does not appear. Now that you are
alone in the world, neither father nor mother to
dwell in your mind or occupy your heart; now
that you need some friend who will be closer than
a brother, may I not be that friend? May I not
serve you? I shall not ask if you love me. I
know that in your heart there is no guile; that in
your mind there is no deceit; that like my darling
mother you are one of earth's noble women; that
you would neither by word nor deed mislead any-
one. Just say I may live in the paradise of your
love!
"'If you say mo nay, Then gloom and death must end my sway.'"
16


242 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
"Julian, and remember I have never so called
you before," said Ernestine, "you say too many
nice things of me. I shall feel happy if I can be
the good woman and live the beautiful life
you have often pictured to me of your mother.
My life is not worth much. Last night in that
fearful torrent, it was worth nothing till you
snatched it back from the gaping jaws of death.
Though worth little or much, it belongs to you, and
the cause of which you speak, not because you
saved it, for worthy men have sought the place
you occupy in my heart and mind; but there
was no room for any of them, and my conscience
acquits me of having ever encouraged them. For
in the hospital, when you had been sent there by
one who hated you, my spirit went out and called
yours back from the realms of shades and the
grasp of death as yours called me back last night."
As she rose from her seat and stood beside him
he clasped her to his heart, saying: "Idol of my heart, it is for this hour I have
prayed, pined and waited. Once before, Ernes-
tine, my queen, when returning to life and con-
sciousness you called me Julian. Now that you
have lifted me out of the darkness of doubt and
disaster I am Julian forever." After attending the reception on the following
evening in company with Miss DeShon, Julian
left for Beech Haven to take up the battle of life
with renewed vim and determination. 


244 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
i
•
times they are ruled out altogether in times of
great distress or disaster, and so it was at East-
berg. None knew but he or she would be the
next to succumb to the dread disease. For that
reason all were on their good behavior. It is re-
lated that during the earthquake at Charleston,
S. C, white women rushed from their tottering,
falling mansions and begged any one they hap-
pened to see, whether white or black, to save them,
and it is told to their honor that not once did the
colored man offer any indignity to defenseless
women, white or black. Would that the same
could be said of the white men! Dr. Tilton and.Dr. Storms worked side by side
among the stricken, in the hospital and in the
homes. Both expected to be attacked by the di-
sease at any moment. Drs. Long and Peterson
had already fallen victims to the epidemic. Sev-
eral of the nurses had also succumbed to the
dreaded leveler! But what Dr. Tilton most dread-
ed was that his sister might be attacked. The fa-
ther and mother had been sent out of the city at
the outbreak of the malady, but the mother had
died while away of another ailment. The sister
refused to leave her brother in time of such
peril. Dr. Storms in anticipation of an attack had
telegraphed Lawyer Grimpky to meet him at Wil-
liamsburg, and there they put Dr. Storms' busi-
ness in proper legal shape, so that if he did fall his
estate would go as he desired it should. On his re-
turn in the evening the first news which reached 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 249
tion of the visits, Miss Moultrie told her that al-
ready the gossiping tongues of prejudice were
wagging. "Of course, I feel somewhat ashamed and humil-
iated at being treated by a physician known to be
a Negro: but since he is my brother's friend and
has saved my life, I try to overcome my prejudice
on account of his race with my feelings of grati-
tude. While I am aware that the doctor is not
reckoned to be as good as a white man, I know
that he has few equals in his profession, even
among white men. Much as I love and honor
my father and brother, I am forced to confess
that this colored physician is far above them in
ability. I am sure that I owe my life to his
knowledge and skill! Why, he is no more like
the Negroes I see and know than the great eagle
is like the titmouse," said Cordelia. "My child, you must not say such things. Sup-
pose the ears of envious prejudice heard those
words," said Miss Moultrie! After the patient had so far recovered her
strength as to be able to walk about the grounds
Miss Moultrie took her departure. The first time
she met Dr. Storms Miss Moultrie told him of
the grateful feelings of Miss Tilton, but said she
hoped that he would take a platonic view of those
things!Dr. Storms was considerably moved by what
was told him, pondered much over it, and as he
paced the floor, exclaimed:


250 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
"0 what am I? What destiny awaits me?
The thing to which I would aspire is in me a con-
suming fire. The things which I have learned
only make the fire within me seethe and burn the
more! I know that my ambition must consume
and turn to ashes within my own heart! When I
know my own feelings I am in a torture, because I
know full well the chasm of hate—deep as hell
and black as damnation! Yes, yes; I know all too
well, the wall of prejudice and pride, as impassa-
ble as the 'Gulf of Despair!' Hence I must cruci-
fy my heart on the cross of caste! Again, she is
the sister of my best friend. Alas! for that
friend to know that one of the despised has ten-
der thoughts of his sister would be to turn him
into a deadly enemy; it would be as a dagger's
thrust! Strange, how strange! It makes no dif-
ference how much they may respect and honor
you, when it comes to a union even by honorable
marriage of a man with one drop of the blood ac-
cursed in his veins with their sister or daughter,
all the demoniac hate of race pride is aroused.
I know that my friend, Dr. Tilton, has as little of
this senseless pride as any Southern man living;
but even he would take sides against me. God
knows I am blameless in this matter! For his
sake, yes, for him, I would stifle my hopes and sac-
rifice my heart's idol on the partition wall of
prejudice! For this I shall do all things! For
his name's sake I shall be nothing, nothing, do
nothing and know nothing but to suffer!" 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 251
The fever having nearly abated, the doctors
had much more leisure and were often together.
One evening at the office of Dr. Storms, Dr. Til-
ton said to him:"Lucius, my sister is dearer to me than any
being on earth. It seems to me that if it were
possible I love her more since her miraculous es-
cape from death; and you wrought the miracle.
You also imparted the priceless secret of her sal-
vation to me." "Don't, don't mention those things. They prick
like needles," said Lucius.
"Lucius, 1 have just sent Miss Moultrie a check
for five hundred dollars, and now I wish to reward
you for what you have done for us. Please accept
this as a small token of the high appreciation I
and my people feel for you, and your invaluable
services," said Dr. Tilton.
"What is it?" said Lucius.
"Look and see," said Dr. Tilton.
Dr. Storms took the slip of paper and looked at
it, but dropped it as though it had stung him. It
was a check for one thousand dollars. Dr. Storms
drew himself up as though some great indignity
had been offered him and said: "Dr. Tilton, I cannot believe that you intend to
insult me, or to wound my feelings. How could a' friend so far forget a friendly act as to attempt
to reward it in this manner. All the gold of Ophir
could not have induced me to render the service I
have given you and your sister or to impart to you 


252 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
the priceless secret of saving human life—only
devoted deathless friendship could lead me to
do what I have done. Don't humiliate me by of-
fering to reward me with gold for that which I
hold above price. Heart coin is the only medium
of exchange for those labors." "Pardon me, my friend," said Sebastian,
giving him his hand. "It was thoughtlessness
or overthankfulness that prompted the act. The
money shall go to relieve the distress and want
of those poor who have lost loved ones in this
dreadful epidemic—the widow and orphan. Lu-
cius, you know that you have the most
profound gratitude of my heart. My sis-
ter also appreciates your services very
much. She often speaks of your wonderful power
over disease and has requested me to thank you
for what you have done for her, but I have been
criticised so much because of my relations with
you that I have refrained from saying so. Gate-
wood Storms seems to be trying every means he
can command to win the esteem of my sister. He
never fails to speak disparagingly of you when
occasion offers, and he appears to follow your foot-
steps like a detective, but what his purpose is I
do not know. I believe he would be glad to do you
some deadly injury. Young Storms talks con-
stantly of the bequest you received from his fath-
er's estate. It seems that he wishes to recover
it for himself. He points to that Fourth-Avenue
house of yours, and says that it is his by right." 


CHAPTER XXI. Sunshine and Shadow. Far from the madding crowd's Ignoble strife.
Their sober wishes never learned to stray; Along the cool, sequestered vole of life,
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
—Grey.
jpsHSEjlIME, the great leveler, has wrought
Hot ||ft many changes among the people and
KO lH$ Plnces that we have known. Croton,
PgjLy?fl| once a struggling, straggling village,
has become a thriving, bustling city. Mr. Forrester sleeps beside his faithful wife
in the old family burying-ground at Beechgrove.
The children have married and gone to other
cities and countries. The Storms's plantations
are owned by Yankees and Jews. The Norris's
lands are owned by thrifty colored farmers. The
Hon. A. Grimpky is one of the presiding judges of
Coweater County, and is spoken of as an upright
judge. Harold with his wife and two children are at
Croton now on a sad mission. Mrs. Scott, quite (*54)


256 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
indulge them in whims and harmful allow-
ances. Refrain from that which tends to vanity
or undue self-esteem! Love them with sublime
love! Love your neighbor and God supremely.
Love your enemies. Love those also who abuse
you and despitefully use you! "The Lord has permitted me to live many years
in this country. I have seen the wicked in power
and heard the people groan. But I remembered
that God is just, and that His righteousness must
prevail. I have seen and felt most of the troubles
that beset our people in this place, but I have
never lost faith in the justice and mercy of God.
I have seen many of those who have abused and
maltreated my people die miserable deaths; and
their very memory is a hiss and a byword. I have
tried always to live a pure, devoted, Christian life.
Both of you are apostles of Him who is the
avenger of every wrong. 'Wait thou on the
Lord.'"Laying her hands upon the heads of the chil-
dren, she blessed them, saying: "Little Paul, your
grandfather was a soldier who fought for free-
dom of our bodies, and your father is a soldier in
the army of those who are fighting for the free-
dom of the mind. May the Lord combine in thee
both of these virtues. Paul, fight a good fight;
keep the faith. My little Virginia, may you re-
semble somewhat your grandmother, but more
your mother, whose life has been one season of
well-doing. The Lord spare you to take up
her noble work when she must lay it down; may 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 257
our Master seal you all for His Kingdom; let
your life, like the virgin mother's, be given for
the salvation of men." As fades the daylight from the landscape, while
the shadows of evening softly glide through for-
est and fen, as the voices of the night whisper a
gentle farewell to passing day, so passed the spirit
of the tender, loving mother, Mrs. Scott. The neighbors and friends had visited "Mother
Scott," as she was called, all during her illness.
Many called to pay their respects and offer sym-
pathy and service, among them not a few whites.
Lawyer Jarnigan and Dr. Storms were both noti-
fied of the death and were asked to be present at
the obsequies. Julian came. Lucius telegraphed
his sympathy and regret, as he could not be
present. The funeral was very largely attended. It was necessary for Harold to spend some time
in winding up his mother's affairs. He requested
Julian to remain for a few days to assist him some-
what with the business. They spent several days
in winding up the estate. Harold and Julian
learned several things while there, and among
them, that Gatewood Storms was very much en-
amored with a Miss Tilton, whom he had met at
Eastberg. Also that Gatewood was quite angry with Dr. Storms on account of the share he had
received out of the estate of his father. Further,
he was very indignant and greatly incensed by a
rumor which had reached Croton, to the effect
that Dr. Storms had attended this samo Miss
'7


258 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
Tilton while she was suffering with yellow fever.
Julian resolved to write Lucius and put him on
his guard, and informed Harold of his intention.
Harold commended his purpose, saying: "It
shows a Christian spirit in you thus to treat one
who has always been your deadly enemy, and that
too without cause, except that you seemed to be
his rival for the affections of Miss DeShon. Now
that you are the crowned victor in the contest, you
can, I think, well afford to be magnanimous."
Julian wrote thus: "Croton, Ga., July 10, 18—
"Dear Lucius: "I will not say. Dr. Storms, for that is too cold
and formal. I know you will be surprised to re-
ceive a letter from one whom you have always
chosen to regard and treat as an enemy. Though
I am happy to say I know that I have never felt
or acted in such manner as to merit that kind of
treatment from you. I am only nerved to write
you now because from what I have learned since
I came here danger seems to threaten you! You
are my classmate and brother whether you will or
not. I should feel mean all my life, did I not do
all in my power to avert a danger which threat-
ens you or any one else, and especially one who
does not like me. "It is asserted here that you and a Dr. Tilton
are very intimate friends; that you were chums
at Harvard; that you two are often together; that
you, at Dr. Tilton's solicitation, treated and at-
tended his sister during an attack of yellow fever;
that before that, you had greatly incensed the
best citizens of your city by purchasing a home 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 259
in a very aristocratic section of the city. But
to make bad matters worse, it is whispered that
you care more for the young lady than is allow-
able in the South for one of your blood to care
for one of her blood. Now you know it is death
for one in the South of Negro blood to think about
a woman of the dominant race. If she cared for
you that would only make the vengeance surer
and more terrible which will certainly come upon
you if those matters are not cut short. Your
brother Gatewood is furious, and is doing all in
his power to foment trouble for you. He is lay-
ing plans; I dont know what they are, but I can
only say, 'Be warned!' I have sent a copy of this
letter to my fiancee, Miss Ernestine DeShon, that
she may know you are in danger. I shall not
expect a reply. Harold knows all and he and
wife join me in expressions of anxiety and sym-
pathy. They understand fully why you did not
wish to come to this place to attend Mrs. Scott's
funeral. "Hoping that all may end well, I am yours, as
ever,
"Julian."
Lawyer Jarnigan wrote Miss DeShon that he
would come on to New Orleans and spend a few
days. He also wrote Mr. Wilford, as Wilford had
written him sometime before that he expected to
be in New Orleans about that time. Julian in-
vited him to stop at his hotel as his guest. Harold sold out all the personal property which
he could not ship home, and put the house in the
custody of a real estate agent. He and his wife
spent several days visiting old friends. The people 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 2C1
and business affairs, and of her schoolmates,
Dr. Storms, Elder Scott, and that other one near-
er to her than all, Hon. Julian Jarnigan, Wilford
broached the subject nearest his heart. "I am forced through courtesy to congratulate
you on your affiance," said Wilford. "While I do
so with vain regret, I must say that I think you
have chosen both a worthy and eminent man. I
know you will excuse me if I ask if your mind is
unalterably fixed." Miss DeShon looked at him fixedly for a sec-
ond, and then said: "Ordinarily I would take
your question as an affront, but knowing your in-
terest in, and esteem for me, I excuse the ques-
tion. Yes, my mind has been fixed since I was a
school girl—fixed till death changes it! Whatever
other faults I may have, I thank God that none
of them is fickleness. But you and I can be very
dear friends. You know that I have never en-
couraged your seeming preference for me, or
given you cause to hope that we might be any-
thing but friends." "True, true," said he, "and I honor you the
more for it." Wilford took his leave, wishing that she might
live long to enjoy the happy lot she had chosen. The death of Julian's mother came as a blight-
ing shadow over his path. He had visited her
only two months before and found her in so much
better health than she had been for many years,
that he had reason to expect she would be spared 


CHAPTER XXII. Barter of Birthright.
Tie liberty alone that Elves the flower Of fleeting life its luster and perfume; And we are weeds without it —Cowper.
HE visit of the members of Congress
to the Westmoreland plantations ac-
complished more than the Colonel in-
tended. As aimed at, the visit caused
the delay or death of the bill then before Congress
to cut down representation in that body in such
states as refused the right to vote under the Con-
stitution of theUnitedStates to any of the qualified
voters thereof. The death of the bill emboldened
other Southern states to adopt constitutions which
eliminated the Negro as a voter. The whole
South arose and demanded that the Negro not
only be not allowed to vote, but prohibited from
holding any official position. Said they: "His
mission in the world is to serve the dominant race
in the most menial capacity." But in addition
to the foregoing this discussion put in motion two
distinct ideas as to the destiny of the Colored
<»«3>


264 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
American. Each class was supported by strong
men. . One proposition was the "Utilitarian Edu-
cational Field and Industrialism" for the Negro,
and the other, "Universal Educational and Politi-
cal Opportunities" for his highest development.
Harold Scott, being a minister, became a devout
apostle of the gospel of salvation through indus-
trial and political acquiescence. He preferred to
work along the line of least resistance. Julian Jarnigan, being a lawyer, a combative
calling, took up the cudgel in defense of the prop-
aganda, "Universal Educational and Political
Opportunity" for all men, whether black, white,
red, brown or yellow—for "all men up, and not
some men dowih" Harold spoke through his
church paper, the "Messenger." Julian was
heard in the "Tocsin" of his town. Said the Messenger: "First of all let the Ne-
groes make friends of the Southern white peo-
ple. We are here and here to stay (if the white
people will permit us). The South is our home
by all the ties of blood and tears—tears shed
amid our toils and sufferings, in making this
country what it is. It is ours by struggles on
many gory battle-fields. Negroes have en-
riched this soil with their blood and bodies that
the tree of liberty, planted at Bunker Hill and
grafted at Appomattox, might grow and flourish.
But are there not peaceful victories not less far
reaching than those of bloody conflict? Then the
Negro should bide his time. 'Wait thou on the 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 266
Lord!' He has said, 'My plans are not your plans, My thoughts are not your thoughts. I will
avenge mine own. Though there be deep wa-
ters they shall not overflow thee.' Though they
may be grievous is it not better to suffer our pres-
ent ills than by opposing them incur others far
more disastrous? While it is true that our people
are largely ignorant, it is not so wholly by their
fault. For amid oppression and repression they
have, through sweat and blood, reduced their ig-
norance nearly sixty per cent up to the present
"Although just out of the slave pen, where im-
morality was encouraged and even enforced, our
people are fast coming to regard the family re-
lation and the home as sacred institutions. Still
they are forced to battle against ignorance and
superstition among themselves and the traps and
pitfalls set for them by bad white men. But is
it not better to fight these forces of evil with the
weapons of the Master than by a resistance which
can only end in defeat? "Ours is a moral fight—a battle of intellect
with infamy. Both races must be educated up
to the philanthropic standard. There is far too
much acrimony. The evils from which we suf-
fer because of our weakness are not chargeable
wholly to either side. One of our great publicists
has said, 'To the Negro the ballot has been neither
a sword of offense nor a shield of defense.' It is
urged by others that the very fact that he could
not maintain his citizen rights is proof that the 


268 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
"We should be encouraged by the fact that
many colored people enjoy privileges and bless-
ings which thousands of whites do not possess.
Many colored people can draw on the banks for
thousands of dollars, give orders which will be
honored by the best business houses, secure com-
forts in their luxurious homes, and enjoy many
other privileges and attentions which thousands
of white people do not have. And too, he is
making the white man's wrath to praise him in
that he is turning it into money, through his own
enterprises. "In a final reckoning and righting of all things
the strong religious zeal and firm faith of the
Negro will be his great support and sustaining
grace amid his turmoils, troubles and failures.
'Trust thou in the Lord and thou shalt dwell in
the land and verily shalt thou be fed.'"In the Tocsin, Julian was heard to say: "We
certainly do wish the friendship of all people and
especially of the white people of the South. Col-
ored people should court their favor and do every
decent thing to secure their approbation. We
need their sympathy and help because we are here in their midst and wish to remain.
Within these precincts repose the ashes of our be-
loved dead of the centuries of our thralldom.
The spirits of the martyrs to the Demon Slavery
are here. Their spirits hover over our devious
pathway. Their memory is instinct with every
hill and valley. Here by her smoothly flowing 


270 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
dren that he nursed and fed in those dark days
are to-day his lynchers, Jim Crowers and oppress-
ors! The Negro has been the friend of the white
man and has made proof of that friendship, and
this the white man has admitted in words, if not
in deeds, on many occasions. It seems now to
be about time a more friendly spirit was mani-
fested on the part of the whites. We are not
forgetful of the fact that we have many good
friends among the better class of Southern whites,
who, as individuals, do acts of kindness, but the
masses have not so proven, especially in these
later times.
"On a thousand battle-fields of this nation, which
fosters a liberty which the Negro has never en-
joyed, he has given his life and blood freely to
prove his friendship for the white man. The tree
of liberty which he helped to plant shelters every
race but the Negro. Our struggle is not one of
force and arms, but is a contest of intelligence
against intolerance! It is sometimes better to
fight and lose than not to fight at all! Some-
times defeat is more glorious than victory. While
the Lord helps those who strive, he intends
that all his intelligent creatures shall struggle to
attain that which is highest and best, not only in
this life, but in the life to come. He implanted
this aspiration in the breast of the Negro; there-
fore he will not be content with anything less than
what other men enjoy. The Negro aspires to the
best in religion, education, morals, liberty both 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 271
civil and political, and industry. Yea, he may be
thrust back with kicks and curses; he may be
advised that it is his to live on the lower plane of
human existence; he may he advised that what
others aspire to and enjoy is not for such as he;
but he will never listen to the voice of the defamer
or the compromiser. He will struggle on to victory
or annihilation! For what shall it profit him if he
gain the skill of a Tubal Cain or the wealth of a
Croesus and lose the elements of true manhood
and the desire for the very best to which human
life invites." "The Tocsin believes and teaches that the
Negro is a man, not a quasi man, and that being
a man he needs that which is necessary to man-
hood, and needs it badly. That living as he does,
in this busy, hustling twentieth century civiliza-
tion, he desires whatever it offers that is best, and
needs it now. That if admittedly a backward
race, he is in need of the best and strongest helps
to bring him up to the demands of the times. If
he needs goodness and knowledge, which is power,
why wait till next year or the next century? I
say, Why wait while we perish? It doth not yet
appear what he shall be, but he feels and knows
that when he has reached his journey's end he
will be in all essentials like his ideal, the mighty
white man. "Let no man delude himself with the thought
that any man can remain in chains and ignorance
under the blaze of the twentieth century. The 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 275
sions and proscriptions are blessings. It is all
like the practice once in vogue in Europe of dis-
figuring the human face and form for the pur-
pose of making money by them. They are
like those Africans, who think distorted features
lend beauty to the face. Such persons thank God
for the existence of the Devil and evil. Although
they cry from the housetops that the Negroes
will stay where they are grossly mistreated, they
are leaving by thousands annually, and few if
any ever return. They hear the complaint of the
South as to the scarcity of labor, and charge
that it is due to the indolence of the Negro,
but will not admit that it is largely due to mis-
treatment, starvation wages and the consequent
migration of the Negro. They make much of the
prejudice and proscription at the North, but for
all that, the Negro stays when he goes and he
don't starve either. He loses that scared, cowed
look that ever haunts his face while here. The Ne-
gro realizes that he is more humanely treated and
better paid and is willing to suffer and pay the
other penalties for the greater freedom and se-
curity of life and limb. Yes, they prefer the
North, though colder, more exacting and active
to the warm, lax, lynching South. These traits
show, him a man like other men, and that what
is good for others is good for him. Again we
say his highest destiny lies along the path trav-
ersed by other men and races." 


DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 277
University. But as to the occurrences to which
Julian referred there could be no mistake. He
also realized that Gatewood hated him with a ter-
rible hatred, and would do anything in his power
to bring disaster to him. He had heard Dr.
Tilton speak of Gatewood's attentions to his sis-
ter Cordelia. At last he concluded that Julian
was, as he represented in the letter, a friend
who steps out of the darkness to warn him of hid-
den danger! Dr. Storms decided once to carry
the letter to Dr. Tilton and ask his advice and
assistance, but changed his mind. "For," said
he, "This letter may prove to be a false alarm,
or the things spoken of in it may be only myths.
Then, too, Dr. Tilton might be insulted and high-
ly indignant at such bandying the name of
his sister. Although I know that Sebastian is
my true friend, and that he is very grateful to
me for the recovery of his sister, he might turn
to be my deadly foe on hearing my name men-
tioned in connection with that of his sister.
Rather than bring one pang to his heart I would
willingly go to death! His sister, too, is an an-
gelic woman, and though she has a queenly air
and pride, she has an humble heart, full of kind-
ness and sympathy for every thing that is good.
To save this illustrious family any humiliation
I shall be prudent, as I am warned to be; to save
my best friend, I shall be cautious; to cheat my
most deadly enemy, my brother, I shall be on my
guard, not to save myself from the penalty sure 


278 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
and swift, which in the South is always visited
upon any of my blood for even looking upon
a woman of the superior race, but for her and
hers! For myself I do not fear, but because
I honor the family and love Sebastian, I will
not cause him pain, or bring to that family of
families one pang or stain. Yea, I will stifle my
own feelings and crucify my idol in my own
heart, not to save myself, but Sebastian and his."
Gatewood Storms was a frequent visitor to East-
burg, and was often at the Tilton home, and al-
though he pressed his suit most assiduously, it
was rumored that he was not making any head-
way with the young lady. He could not chain
her heart or command her thoughts. Young
Storms was considerably chagrined over the poor
progress he was making with the pet of the Til-
ton home. So seeking some one upon whom to
vent his wrath Gatewood redoubled his efforts
to entrap Dr. Storms in some way so as to ruin
him. Lucius sometimes felt that Gatewood's
persecutions were a sort of retribution laid upon
him in double measure for the manner in which
he had used his classmate Julian while in school.
Gatewood, serpent-like, not only crossed his path
often, but seemed to have others employed to
hound his steps. Dr. Storms had not spoken to Miss Tilton since
his last call to her during her illness. He studi-
ously avoided meeting her if she happened to be
at her brother's office when he called there, even 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 279
though the brother had often told him that his
sister was desirous of thanking him personally
for his .great service in saving her life. But Dr.
Storms felt that he could not see her, as he had
already aroused deadly hatred by attending and
saving her life when all others had failed and
fled, and also because he desired to live as a man
and breathe the pure sweet air of possibility and
respectability. Dr. Storms felt that if he were
seen talking to the young lady it would prove
to be the last straw upon the camel's back. Since Cordelia's recovery she was accustomed
to drive in the afternoons, and she sometimes car-
ried her maid with her; often she went alone—out
along the country roads that she might catch the
breath of the woods and fields and inhale the
bracing autumn air. One afternoon Dr. Storms was called out into
the country several miles to treat a patient suffer-
ing with fever, and as the day was quite warm he
did not start on his return trip till late in the aft-
ernoon. The doctor drove leisurely along, think-
ing over the vicissitudes of his eventful life and
of possibilities yet ahead. He was pondering over
the trials of his career and his triumphs in his
profession; he was also thinking of the wonderful
recovery of Miss Tilton and of what had been told
him of her gratitude to those who had aided in
that recovery. He was suddenly roused from his
dream-like revery by a great noise and commo-
tion; and as he looked up the road ahead of him 


280 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
saw a cloud of dust and heard a woman's piercing
screams. The doctor saw at once that it was a
runaway, and that the horse was coming in his
direction. In an instant he turned his horse to
one side, jumped to the ground and prepared to
stop the maddened animal. As the terrified horse
came dashing by Dr. Storms leaped to catch him,
but the brute sprang to one side, overturned the
vehicle and threw the lady out; and the beast
dashed on in his wild flight! The doctor hurried to
the prostrate form, and when he reached the lady
and saw that it was Miss Tilton he grew weak
from fear and anxiety. Blood was streaming
from a wound on her head. The doctor rushed to
the buggy, got bandages and restoratives, and
soon stanched the wound. While endeavoring to
revive the lady he forgot all else save the restora-
tion of the sister of his friend to consciousness
and life. Thus engaged and absorbed, he did not
observe the lowering cloud of death which had
settled about him in that brief space to change
that scene of love and mercy to hell and demons!
A vehicle with four men with guns drove up.
They had been out hunting. Three of the men
sprang out and ran up to the prostrate forms. In-
stantly they knew the lady and the doctor, for
one of them was Gatewood Storms and another
was the son of the chairman of the committee
which waited on Dr. Storms when he purchased
the Fourth-Avenue house. Gatewood was the
first to speak, saying:


282 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
an outrage upon Miss Tilton; thus the lie that
Dr. Storms had attempted rape upon a white
woman flew like the wind. Men, boys and
the riff-raff from saloons, dens of infamy,
places of business and the homes, many of
them without coat or hat, but with guns, pistols
and knives in hand, crying, "Death to the 'nig-
ger,'" By ten o'clock there was a howling, yell-
ing mob of several thousand at the jail demand-
ing that they be given the 'nigger.' "We are going to have that 'nigger' or blow up
the jail." When Cordelia was carried home apparently
dead Dr. Levy was called at once, and after a time
she was restored to consciousness. When the anx-
iety for her life was passed her father and brother
told her what was being reported through the city.
Through her groans and tears she told her father
and brother of the runaway. She said that she
was certain the doctor had offered her no in-
dignities and that they ought to go at once and
do all in their power to rescue the accused; that
he had done too much for them to sit there and
let an innocent man be put to death! Then the
father and brother hurried out to try to disperse
the mob; but their words of admonition and re-
monstrance seemed only to add fuel to the flame
of wrath and hate! Some one in the mob yelled: "Git out! We ought to lynch you two. You
had that 'nigger' treat your daughter and sister
when she was sick. You brought on this crime 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 287
Gatewood with bloody hands persisted in trying
to gain in the estimation of Miss Tilton. He even
wrote her several letters, but she threw them into
the fire with a shudder as they always seemed to
have blood upon them and to smell of perdition.
Miss Tilton said to all who talked to her on the
question of matrimony, that she would never
marry, as she had undergone enough. She
would devote herself to helping, as far as she
could, the helpless, unfortunate and outcast. So
she joined several eleemosynary women's societies
and was a constant contributor to the "Storms
School and Hospital." "Out of the darkness of
night comes the dawn of a new light! Out of
death comes forth life!" 


290 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
The white blood in them makes them assertive
and they are more clamorous for their supposed
rights than the blacks. They chafe and complain
more at the barriers raised against them than do
the full bloods. They do not like to be classed
with the blacks or to be treated as the ordinary
negro is treated. The real negro has little or no
ambition to be anything above what the white man
has assigned to him. If he can be around, wait
on, and grin at and fawn upon the white man, he
is as happy as the days are long. The real negro
is a sort of happy-go-lucky fellow. If he has his
banjo and jug of whiskey, he cares not who is
president, or whether cotton is a dollar a pound
or a dime a bale. "The white man will never consent to be put on
any kind of level, political, civil or social, with
negroes of any grade, whether they be educated
or uneducated, rich or poor, fair, yellow or black.
The negro can stay here and do our work and at-
tend upon us if he is obedient to our mandates;
otherwise he must go! go! The white man does
not stop to ask what is just in dealing with infe-
riors, but what is expedient—what is best for him-
self. He did this when he drove the Indians from
this garden spot of earth. He did the same when
he sent to Africa and brought a million black
people here to fell the forests and till the fields.
Now that they are by accident free, we will allow
them to remain in our midst if they stay in their
places. Their accidental freedom and subsequent 


800 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
ured by any rule of justice, save the 'Klan's' code
of death, we have done no wrong. We have ut-
tered no word but in defense of justice and right!
We urge also obedience to the laws. We have
not equivocated, neither will we retract! Our
tongue will only be silenced in death. The cow-
ardly, cutthroat 'Klan' can silence the voice of the
Watchman, but they cannot blind the 'All-Seeing
Eye of Justice!' The white man knows and feels
deep down in his heart that the Negro is a man.
He has met the negro too often on battle plain. When cannon thundered and bullets fell like Autumn rain. "He has both fought with and against the black
soldier on many a battle-field. And the Negro
has always proved himself a knight worthy of the
white man's steel! Let them do their worst! The
diabolical ruler of darkness can only be appeased
by blood. The Negro question will not down till
the ghost is laid by atonement for the hundred
thousand Negroes murdered since their freedom,
and the fifty millions destroyed in fastening
slavery upon this nation!" The other papers took the matter up and pushed
it, saying many bitter things. Some of their edi-
torials were more bitter than the utterances of
the Record. The "Klan" was called together and
they decided that the Watchman was a dangerous
organ and must be suppressed. So a committee
waited on the editor and gave him the choice of
discanting or leaving the city. A committee of 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 801
the leading Negroes met a committee of the white
business men of the city and tried to adjust mat-
ters, but the rabble and the "Klan" had decreed
that the paper must be suppressed, and the editor
run out of the country or killed. Editor Monroe
was warned and advised to leave, but he was ob-
stinate. So on the morning of Nov. 18th, 18—,
about half past 2 o'clock, the mob came to the
"Watchman Building." They came with torches
flaming and guns and pistols firing. The mob de-
manded entrance and when the door was not
opened broke it down, rushed in and up stairs to
the printing office. They threw the presses out
of the windows, broke them to pieces, scattered
the files, type and everything to the four winds.
Some hotheads set the building on fire; and they
shot, danced and howled around the fire like
Comanche Indians. Many of the mob went in
search of the editor, but he had been taken by a
friend and carried away to save his life. Not find-
ing him the mob vented their spite on several de-
fenseless Negroes, killing two and wounding oth-
ers. Many Negroes fled for their lives, leaving
all of their possessions behind. Thus was the
Watchman torn from the wall, and diabolism,
darkness and desolation were enthroned. Many
Negroes sold out their possessions at great sacri-
fice and left, saying: "If they persecute you in
one city, flee ye to another." It was many months
before the Negroes who remained became easy and
reconciled to conditions. 


OR DIABOU3M AND DESTINY. 305
"'If you do not accept me I am sure I shall
never again seek an alliance with one of my
mother's race!' "—fate and destiny! "I urged him then to fling away such an ambi-
tion as unworthy. It is a two-edged sword and
often wounds to death those who by it would carve
a path to honor, distinction and power. How like
a caged lion Lucius chafed and tugged at the bars
of his prison (prejudice). Race hatred caused
his death 1 His only crime was to labor and love
where love is the bride of death. Fate over-
shadowed his fancy! But for his black blood he
would have been lauded to the sky for thus saving
the life of a woman at the risk of his own. Alas,
alas! his heroic deed was his death!" Julian felt Lucius's death as a great loss to the
race. Said he: "We have so few really strong
men that we can ill afford to lose one so eminent
as was Dr. Storms. He was the peer in education
and his profession of any man in the city and far
above most of them. It is said that he was one of
the most skilled physicians and surgeons in the
State. I am thankful of one thing—he had com-
mitted no wrong. He only broke that hell-born law
of caste; he left no stain upon his useful life. Al-
though the beasts which slew him attempted to
besmirch his illustrious record, they failed utterly,
for the young lady, one of the brightest gems of
Southern higher life, swept that black falsehood
away by declaring openly and fearlessly to every
one that Dr. Storms had only done that which in a 


306 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
white man would have been praised and heralded
abroad as a heroic deed. The only thing he did
was to save her life on two different occasions.
Dr. Storms offered her nothing but the most
gentlemanly respect and the tenderest attention
in her afflictions. It was deplorable that he
should have to pay with his life for saving hers.
Had he not at the first saved her life he might
be living to-day. We are indeed proud of the
fact that Miss Tilton, her father and brother
did all in their power to avert the sad disaster
and save poor Lucius. When they failed and
the foul deed was done, she did what she could
to atone for her part in it by giving of her
means and money to help establish and fos-
ter the school and hospital which was founded
through the death of Dr. Storms. This last act
of that angelic girl sanctified the death of Dr.
Storms, and she still gives towards the support of
this philanthropic enterprise, a monument to
the life and character of the man of destiny. Dr.
Storms's life and death are still going out in bless-
ings to the Negro race. That institution is afford-
ing shelter and medical aid to hundreds of the poor
and is lessening the enormous death-rate among
our people. The Storms Nurse Training School is
sending out well-trained nurses who care for the
sick in white as well as black homes, hence it is a
blessing to all the people. Dr. Storms is dead
by the hand of cruel murderers, yet his life is
going on down the path of time shedding the gold-


S08 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,'
Elder Harold Scott was present and spoke next
With words full of truth and pathos, he recited
the incidents in the career of the deceased. He
related the story of their boyhood days in the vil-
lage and at school; their presence at the mobbing
of Elder Buchanan and Deacon Brown; of their
course at Livingston University, and of the ambi-
tions and foibles of his companion in tribulation.
The speaker told of their witnessing the acts of the
revolution and the deeds of blood in the overthrow
of republican rule in their State, and the speaker
paid a glowing tribute to the ability and learning
of the martyr. "The deceased had been full of zeal for
all that is best in a human career. His nature
and intellect were so elevated that he felt more
keenly than most men the injustices heaped upon
us because of our race. He was ever chafing un-
der the repressions, proscriptions and oppressions
heaped upon the Negro people. "My friends, though the deceased is gone from
us, he left us not without a comforter. His strenu-
ous life of activity for the uplift of all people he
bequeathed to us a blessed inheritance. We are
his witnesses that he contended nobly and well, al-
though in the struggle he fell! There stands his
monument—Storms School and Hospital—to en-
lighten and save the lives of unnumbered genera-
tions to come! To such as he there can be no
death! Dr. Storms lives on in those who carry
forward his work. They have, it is true, slain his 


OR DIABOLISM AND DESTINY. 309
body, but they only freed his immortal soul that
it may go marching down the ways of eternity,
calling us out the darkness of the devious ways of
this changeful and uncertain life to that truer,
surer and more perfect life above! May we so
live that whether snatched away at midnight or
at noonday we shall be found ready. "But the man who stirred up all this excitement,
and for rancor and hate caused the death of this
noble man—what of him? The hand of retribution
has followed fast and followed faster every day
since he concocted and carried into execution his
diabolical plot of murder! Stung by the relent-
less worm of remorse, not for killing his brother,
but because of his defeat in gaining his object, the
hand of Miss Tilton, he took to drink, and its con-
sequent debauchery. I saw in the Croton Bee, a
few days ago, that Gatewood Storms had been on a
great spree, and carousing among very low Negro
women; that he, in company with some others as
wild as he, had concluded to 'whitecap' some Ne-
groes and on that raid he and two of his compan-
ions in crime were killed! 'Vengeance is mine, I
will repay,' are the words of Him who rightens
every wrong! In behalf of my wife and self, I
give one hundred dollars toward the memorial
fund. We wish further to give fifty dollars an-
nually to the Storms School and Hospital. You
see that his death, like his life, has been a bless-
ing." One thousand dollars was raised and a suitable 


310 OUT OF THE DARKNESS, -
monolith set up over the last resting place of Dr.
Storms. Things were quite lively at the offices of Law-
yer Jarnigan in November, 18—. Many impor-
tant papers were being prepared by the clerks.
The stenographers and typewriters were very
busy. Men were coming in with bills and going
out with checks. A clerk was busy addressing
what seemed to be invitations. One of the most
reliable contractors and builders of the city was
often in close consultation with Lawyer Jarni-
gan. Plumbers, furnishers and all classes of fitters
and suppliers of household effects were coming
and going. It was quite apparent that the law-
yer was preparing to take a partner. He was
building and fitting up a fine new house in the
latest and most approved style. It was currently
remarked that Mr. Jarnigan was going to have
one of the prettiest and best appointed homes in
the city, not excepting Mr. LaSalle's, the banker.
He was having his new house fitted to the taste
of the intended mistress. The invitations had
gone out to all quarters, even members of Con-
gress were among those who were expected. Mr. Wilford ordered a painting from a New
York artist and Messrs. Sinclair and LaRoche
ordered another; they were presents to the bride-
elect. The one by Mr. Wilford was a beautiful
landscape scene, an afternoon on a farm. Men
were in the fields. Cows were grazing on the
meadow. At the farmhouse door stood a horse 


312 OUT OF THE DARKNESS,
no more and whose destinies are to flow on and
on forever in one common channel. After the
usual felicitous greetings of lovers long absent
they held sweet converse upon past events, pres-
ent happiness and anticipations of wedded bliss.
They did not fail to express regrets for the sad
ending of the brilliant career of their schoolfel-
low, Lucius! Ernestine asked many questions
about Beech Haven and their future residence
there. Together they planned for the manage-
ment of her estates and financial interests in New
Orleans. Lawyer LaRoche was to continue as
their attorney and agent to look after those af-
fairs. As Julian bade Ernestine good afternoon,
he asked her if she thought there was going to
be a storm! She replied laughingly: "I hope not. The
storms have done their work." "What we wish now is a gentle, calm and
smooth sea," remarked Julian! On the afternoon of the wedding day, at four
o'clock, the people began to assemble at the church.
Several presents and people came from a distance.
The President of Livingstone University was in
attendance, as well as teachers and guests from
Muskegon and Beech Haven. Julian's brother
and sisters from Bon Aqua were present.
Promptly at five o'clock the bridal party
arrived at the church and to the solemn tones
of the wedding march, proceeded with slow step
to the altar. With impressive ceremony the pas-
tor united the lives and destinies of Julian Jarni-


316 OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
Southern whites, who will do much for individual
Negroes whom they like. The great pressure
and friction comes from the lower middle class,
or laboring element. The friendship of such
men as the elder Storms, Grimpky and the Tiltons
is the bright star in our more than Egyptian
darkness! We must labor on, hoping and trusting
that somewhere, at some time during our long
and weary night the star of hope and of empire
will burst upon our anxious eyes from out the
darkness, and that diabolism will yield to destiny,
seeing and hearing which, we shall take courage
and press on to our higher destiny."


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