The black American

Chapter One

“Walla, I want you to have a new dress for the reception, next Thursday night. You have worn that gray dress to threads al¬ most.”

“But mamma, I do not care for a new dress. Why should I lose so much time and spend so much money on clothes when there is so much needed for the comfort of our boys? They will soon be drafted, and called to the battlefields in France, where they will need many things to comfort and cheer them in their darkest hours.” She said this with a pathetic note in her voice, as her soft, dark eyes wandered to a photo on her dressing-table.

Walla sat arranging her hair as her mother entered the room. The room was a tasty and daintily arranged bed-room. The fur¬ niture was mahogany, draperies of old-rose colors draped the win¬ dows, divan chairs and cushions, a few pictures and instructive mot¬ toes hung about upon the walls - , which all showed the taste and spirit of its occupant.

“Mamma, I believe that I will become a Red Cross nurse; I saw in the ‘Chicago Defender’ last week where they would admit Negro nurses now for overseas duties.”

“Walla, whatever put such a monstrous idea in your head? You are entirely too capricious here of late. This restless and discontented state of mind is evidently due to idleness. I shall see that your father gives you a position at once. You need employ¬ ment.” With a hurried movement and a feverish determination, made visible by her gestures, Mrs. Davis left the room, closing the door sharply behind her. .

Walla, with her heavy suit of dark brown hair falling in a mass about her beautiful brown face and slender shoulders, pushed back the shiny locks from her face, as her soft dark eyes looked full into those in the mirror, as she said, cutely:

“Walla, do you think that you have a very trying time with a mother who is so ambitious for her daughter to be a real societylady, instead of a nice, sweet and gentle nurse for Uncle Sam?”

Walla was gazing into the mirror that reflected her face, which was wreathed in a bewitching smile, while she made gestures as she

“But then you know, Walla, that she is the very best of moth¬ ers; she is only desirous that her daughter get her full share of life’s pleasures, as she has so often told you, that she never knew what real childhood was. That her youth was crowded with hard¬ ships, as she had no mother. So be patient and deal gently with her, always remembering that mother’s love is pure and unspotted.”

“But she doesn’t know that Gastonia is going to volunteer, and if he goes to France, Walla Davis must be found somewhere near him, even on the battlefields where carnage and bloodshed must be the soldier’s portion.”

Walla had taken a three years’ course in Nurse-Training at Spelman Seminary. But until now she had not been actively en¬ gaged in the work which she was so well fitted for. She finished her college course at Spelman.

Being the only child, Doctor and Mrs. Davis humored Walla’s every whim, and she was given every advantage possible to a girl of her age. She possessed a rare beauty and a personality that won for her a host of friends wherever she went. Walla was truly com¬ petent, as she possessed extraordinary ability.

She vied with Gastonia Bessington on the rostrum of the chapel the day of their graduation. From that day they became fast friends.

Gastonia’s gallantry and veracity won for him a warm place in Walla’s heart. And it is not strange to say that he did not dis¬ like her any less than she did him.

Gastonia Bessington was a dark, rugged-faced young man, with a great mental capacity, who had won his way through Morehouse College; he was not handsome, but manly; his face boasted of but one thing, that it denoted strength of character, the one thing that would first attract a person to him was his radiant smile. He was naturally intelligent, tall, commanding, with the air of a leader, he was a man of purpose and willpower. Although his face was rug¬ ged it was a face to be trusted even by a child. He was a great athlete, and Morehouse College and Spelman Seminary were proud of him.

In 1916 he took up work with the Pilgrim Insurance Company as Auditor. The next year he accepted a position at Morehouse College as instructor of Latin, French and German.

Chapter Two

Back at Morehouse College again, teachers and students alike greeted and welcomed Gastonia as he took up work among them again.

The boys had gathered about on the Campus, some practicing for the match game to be played between Morehouse College and Atlanta University.

As was his usual custom of taking a genuine interest in every¬ thing which concerned the pleasure and interest of the boys, Pro¬ fessor Bessington stood watching them intently. Often he had helped to win many a hard-fought game in football and baseball. It was his delight to foster enduring friendships among the boys and to encourage and stimulate patriotism among them.

“Well, Fess, what do you think of the morning papers?” said Jim Green, a tall brown lad of the junior class, as he gave Gastonia a slap on his broad shoulders laughingly.

“Do you think that the Negro will be called upon to fight?”

“Well, Green, I can not say; but I believe we will play a large part in this war before it closes. We do not want to fight, we want peace at all costs; we want it so earnestly that we-may be called upon to fight for it.”

“We want the ‘Democracy’ of America to mean something for the Negro. The Negro is a peace-loving race, but it may be he will be forced to fight for ‘His Democracy.’

“If we are called upon to fight, I want every black boy in America to shouflder arms and fight to the last man, if needs be, remembering that he is fighting for ‘Democracy’ for the Negro.

“We do not know what the next day may bring forth, but when the cry comes for the Negro to do his bit, we will be ready to do our best, as we have always done.”

Jim was visibly affected by the earnest voice of his teacher.

“If war is declared on Germany it will be no more than we could expect. Germany has insulted this country and has given her so many direct slaps that I fear its endurance can last but a short time longer. A country, like a race or individual, must resent cer¬ tain insults or be branded as cowards.

“So you see that war with Germany seems inevitable, I fear, Green, and if America fights, the Negro must fight, for we are Black Americans, are we not Green?”

“Oh, yes—er yes, sir,” said Jim, in a half stammering tone.

This conversation took place about the middle of November. That afternoon Professor Bessington strolled from the Campus and boarded a car for the city, as Morehouse College was about thirty minutes’ ride to the city.

Jim Green happened to tbe on the same car. As they left the car at the corner of Peachtree and Decatur Streets, a swarm of news¬ boys were shrieking:

“Extras, extras. America threatens break of diplomatic rela¬ tions with Germany! War is sure!” they cried with yells that fairly rent the air.

Professor Bessington ran his hand in his pocket and handed a boy five cents for a paper, opened it, and began to read the fresh headlines which were barely dry from the press.

“Well, it looks black, doesn’t it, Fess?” Gastonia looked up suddenly to see young Green gazing intently upon the paper.

“I am afraid so, Green,” he said soberly.

America suddenly found herself in the clutches of a terrible suspense. War clouds, thick and heavy, were gathering about the darling spot of Freedom.

The Christmas Holidays came and found a peaceful atmosphere pervading the entire country, in spite of the impending danger.

Gastonia spent the holidays in Augusta with Walla. As Mrs. Davis had said:

“Walla appeared capricious,” and always Gastonia was at a loss to understand her whims and change of moods. He had felt sure she would enjoy his short visit, but instead she appeared in¬ different and almost cold towards him. It puzzled him to find a reason for her moods. So he felt that he must give up all hope of ever calling her his wife.

Still there were times when her affectionate little body would tell him, by every gesture, that she loved him, and when he would go off into the third heaven of delight that she would, without ex¬ cuse, refuse to see him for a whole week.

So, perplexed, and without knowing What to decide for his future with Walla, he decided to volunteer and enter the Officers’

Training Camp at Des Moines, Iowa. Gastonia had had four years of military training in one of the best Northern Military Schools in America, and he felt that he was well fitted to serve Uncle Sam after the proper training at camp.

He returned to Atlanta only to hand in his resignation, as he would return to Augusta the latter part of February.

Several years prior to this time, Gastonia had spent several months abroad. In 1911 he traveled with a very rich man during the summer. He spent much time in England, France and Ger¬ many. Although a friendly spirit seemed to pervade the countries visited, Gastonia learned that they were virtually at war. At least Germany was ready to declare war on France at the least provoca¬ tion. But France, like a wise woman dealing with a contrary hus¬ band, simply ignored every effort on Germany’s part to start war. For France knew that her silence was the best wisdom to display at that time.

Gastonia was almost constantly with his employer and he learned that England, France and Germany were filled with spies, and that preparation for war was evident by the increase in the Navy and Army of each country. Still each country seemed eager for peace for all times.

Gastonia was receptive and possessed a responsive nature. He was thrown a great deal with the Foreign Detective Agency, as his employer’s business seemed largely with them. So he was able to get many helpful hints as to making discoveries that seemed to most people impossible.

This opportunity proved the greatest help to him in after years when he was called upon to serve his race and his country. It was the one treasured secret of his life that he had been permitted to take this trip. He visited many homes with his employer; one of the homes visited was destined to prove of the greatest benefit to him in making some daring discoveries. He laid many plans while waiting in the hallway and on the ground floor of this certain house for his employer. He felt sure that if war was declared and if he was permitted to land in France that he would prove of the greatest help to his country and a pride to his race.

He laid up all the knowledge he could store away for a future day, as the countries he visited seemed to have been doing.

Gastonia felt that America would eventually have to fight, and was glad.

Chapter Three

The 25th of February Professor Bessington took leave of the teachers and students of Morehouse College and Spelman Seminary and started for Augusta, where he would bid Walla good-bye and leave for camp.

The coach which carried him to Augusta, for once was not crowded. He stretched himself out and began to read the paper. Soon his hands relaxed and his head bent backward, the paper fell from his hands and with his head resting on the cushioned seat, he was soon lost in dreams. Dreaming that Walla had married, and had left the city on the train that pulled out of the station just as his train steamed in.

He slept almost all the way to Augusta, awaking with a dis¬ gusting feeling that he was left all alone in the world.

As the train steamed its way into the station, he aroused him¬ self and gathered up his baggage to leave the train, when all at once his eyes wandered to the window, and the first person he saw waiting in the crowd was Walla, with her eyes sparkling and a sweet smile lingering about her pretty mouth.

She could not see him, but his eyes feasted upon her upturned face with a ravishing delight that made his whole being quiver with satisfaction.

As Walla waited for Gastonia to appear and descend the steps, she suddenly caught sight of the manly figure as he descended the steps and made his way to her side. To her he was the same hon¬ orable man of old, with his radiant smile encircling his broad mouth.

“I am sure nothing is more surprising than this,” said Gastonia, as he rushed forward and caught Walla in his arms, letting his baggage fall to the ground at his side.

For a moment Walla was as a stature, then her modest eyes drooped, and she accepted the warm love-kisses which Gastonia im¬ printed upon her upturned lips. They then went side by side from the station, chatting gayly and entered her father’s car, which she had left waiting.

Soon they reached the happy home, where Walla had a sump¬ tuous dinner awaiting. After dinner, Walla asked her father if she might use the large car, and if she might drive herself. Doctor Davis consented, and Walla told Gastonia that they would spend the afternoon driving, and asked where he would like to go.

“Well, if I am to have my choice, I will suggest that we drive down through ‘Lover’s L'ane’ and down by the water’s edge.”

Although it was near the end of February, the day was warm and balmy and much like the beautiful days which greet us in early spring.

The drive was more than delightful to Gastonia. Walla was unusually amiable, and Gastonia allowed himself to enjoy to the fullest the felicity of that transient hour spent with her unchangeable mood.

All the orchestra of Nature was still, save for the noise of the automobile in which they were driving. As they drove along leisurely down through the wooded grove of trees, laden with with¬ ered moss, they came to the water’s edge where the Savannah River flowed on silently by the wooded banks of South Carolina and Georgia.

Walla brought her car to a standstill on the edge of the bank, the front wheels of the car touching the water. They looked about them in silence, so impressive was the scene before them.

Gastonia’s silence betrayed his heart even more than his spoken words had done. Walla guessed what he was thinking about, but she was determined not to help him in his effort to say what was uppermost in his mind to say to her.

She was right, for towering above, like a frowning mountain, was the painful thought that he loved Walla with his whole soul and wanted to ask her to become his wife, but he felt sure that she would reject him, if for no other reason than because he had asked her.

Suddenly he could bear the strain no longer. He threw his arms about Walla and with a long and full embrace, he whispered:

“Walla, I love you; I love you. You must marry me; I can not do without you; you must become my wife, my sweetest love.”

Just thdn, a long line of farmers and trades people came to¬ wards the water’s edge to cross on the Ferry.

Walla drew herself up, cranked her car, turned and started for the city. It all happened so suddenly that for a moment Walla’s actions showed nervousness.

Gastonia felt sure that Walla hated him more than ever for his awkwardness. He seemed possessed with a terrible uncertainty con¬ cerning his success with her. The disgust that filled his heart at that moment was almost beyond endurance.

But it was all because we mortal beings have not the power of knowing the hearts of those whom we mingle with.

Walla was far from being capricious, but she often assumed that attitude towards many, to be able to carry out some of her most noble purposes. And at this particular time she had many reasons for appearing changeable.

No greater heart nor nobler soul lived in a being than pul¬ sated in the breast of Walla Davis. Her ideals, her ideas and her ambitions made her appear restless to those who were not given to deep thinking.

Chapter Four

The living-room and spacious halls of Doctor and Mrs. Davis’ home were ablaze with the golden rays of electric lights.

Gastonia would leave for camp on the early morning train, and Walla had spared no pains in making arrangements for the farewell reception in his honor.

Mrs. Davis had, without Walla’s knowledge, ordered one of the prettiest evening dresses conceivable from the “J. B. White” Department Store. As Walla was about to get out of one of her so-called best dresses, Mrs. Davis pulled a box from under Walla’s bed and presented it to her smilingly, and waited to see the result of the surprise.

“Oh, mamma!” said Walla, as she lifted the soft silky dress of flesh crepe de chine from the box.

“You are satisfied, then? Do you like it?”

“Like it, mamma? Why, it is divine; it is simply a dream! There never was such a beautiful dress in the whole wide world, I am sure.

“I am very happy tonight, and my sweetest of mothers has proven to be my Fairy God-mother.

“After all, mamma, I am not so old-timey; I did want very much to have a pretty dress for this occasion, but I wanted to save my money for a purpose, and I was determined to make the sacri¬ fice.”

Throwing the dress gently upon the bed, Walla went over to her mother and threw her arms around her. “Mamma, I am very happy, and I mean to try harder than ever before to live out the best there is in me, for your and Daddy’s dear sakes. And because I am sure that God wants me to be both noble and good, and prove it by serving Humanity.”

“But mamma, I do wish that you were willing for me to go as a Red Cross Nurse.” She stood apart from her mother, with both hands resting upon her mother’s shoulders. She looked with her most bewitching smile into her mother’s eyes.

“Walla, my darling,” said Mrs. Davis, softly, with all the beauti¬ ful mother-love shining in her eyes, “enjoy your life while you are young; gather the roses while you may, for the dark days with their gray shadow will come when you may no longer be happy as now, my dear darling.

“Do not hurry to leave mother’s side for the rough, cold world; for the world is cruel and has no mercy for a woman, Walla. And who knows but that you may arrive in France safely, all right, but to be treated as the French and Belgium women?

“Walla, my heart is set on you. • Should you make a failure of the life which God has given you, it would break my heart. I do not want you to hurry into married life, either, as it also has its sunshine and its shadows, and when the clouds of disappointments come you may not be able to stand their falling shadows.”

“Oh, mamma, please do not take life so seriously. I am sure that God will take care of me and watch tenderly over me wherever He may send me. My sweetest and best of mothers that you are, you wish everything that a fond and devoted mother could wish for her daughter. And I am going to prove worthy of all you could ever hope for me. I am going to enjoy life to its fullest by being of the best possible service to God by serving mankind; and mamma, you may rest assured that your Walla will not marry until she has your consent and the man must be a true Black American that should dare wed your Georgia rosebud; ha, ha, ha.

“Now, how did you like that little speech, Mrs. Seriousness?

“Now, mamma, I am sure that your experiences have been the stepping-stones to the making of your true and noble character. So why not let me go to France and nurse our boys and give them the tender care which only a colored nurse can give to the Negro sol¬ dier? If it comes hard to me, why not let me have my share of the world’s hardships now while I am young and able to withstand them? Then I will be better able to spend a peaceful old age. But since the world is in such a tumult we can not be really happy, while others are sorrowing over their lost. Death on the battlefield may not come to us, as Daddy is too old and we have no son or brother, but it is coming to our neighbors; they will weep and sorrow for their dead and wounded upon the battlefield, and it is our duty to make the sacrifice of all ages and serve our Negro boys and their heart-broken wives, mothers, sisters—and—and sweet¬ hearts.”

Walla again put her arms about her mother’s waist in a pretty, protecting way, and laid her soft cheek against her mother’s with a caressing little gesture.

“Walla, are you in love with Gastonia Bessington?” spoke Mrs. Davis, suspiciously.

Walla shook her head and said pettishly: “No—o; of course not, ma-mere; not exactly, only I like him pretty well.

“There now; ‘I done told you,’ as Uncle Ben says.”

Walla’s form trembled perceptibly. “There, now, mamma, dear; what a selfish and thoughtless daughter I am to have kept my mother standing all this time.

“Here, sit down while I adorn my beautiful gown in honor of M—er, mamma, of course, for you are the sweetest mother in the wide world. But I almost said Mr. Bessington, as he is the guest of honor tonight. You aren’t jealous, are you, mamma, dear?”

Walla spoke playfully, but it was evident that she was some¬ what confused by the partial confessiQn of her interest in Gastonia to her mother.

Chapter Five

It was a beautiful, heart-breaking night, no moon, but a per¬ fect canopy of stars in a deep blue sky, made the night bewitching.

Walla’s friends and Gastonia’s friends had gathered at Walla’s bidding to make merry on the eve of Gastonia’s departure for camp.

Walla left the room where the young people were flittering about by the sweet strains of music. She joined a dark-eyed young man on the steps leading to the lawn and together they walked out in the open air.

A soft wind twisted itself among the trees; the fragrance of unseen flowers greeted them, for although it was the last of Feb¬ ruary, Walla possessed flowers which had been taken from her mother’s pit and placed about the lawn, and they had not lost their fragrance during the frofet and snow of winter, for Walla had cared tenderly for them. Monthly roses and violets dared to bloom, as the weather was so spring-like; thus they perfumed the lawn for lovers that night.

Cupid seemed to have been resting its tired wings and nestling among the foliage of the trees and lurking among the unseen flowers.

“Walla, am I to leave tomorrow without knowing what the fu¬ ture holds for me, if God should spare me to return to you again? You are mine, are you not, Walla? he whispered passionately.

She smiled up into his face, her beautiful dark eyes full of a tender light and her head drooped.

“I am afraid it is true, Gastonia,” she said, demurely.

“Then you do love me?” he cried, rapturously, drawing her closer to his heart. Her eyes drooped with shyness, as she said: “Yes, I love you, Gastonia.” She whispered those words softly.

“I think that I have always loved you ever since I first knew you in college.”

“And I may speak to your parents now, my darling?”

Walla shook her head dubiously; she turned away with a strange gesture.

“I am not so sure about that,” she returned, a look of amuse¬ ment passing over her beautiful face.

Gastonia bit his lips to suppress the disappointment. “Nice prospect for a man going to war,” he said ruefully.

“Now sweetheart, let me lay down the law to you. I shall go now to your parents with the matter. If they will give their con¬ sent to give their treasure into my keeping I shall leave you with them until I am stationed, but we will be married tonight. Then when I leave for France, why, you may return home with your parents until God sends me back to you.”

“In the pocket of your automobile you will find our marriage license. I bought it today, and, as I was passing Von Kamp’s, I saw you when you left the car standing, so I put it in there for safe¬ keeping. So we marry tonight my little girl.”

“Tonight!” said Walla with a frightened start. “Oh, Gastonia, that is impossible; it will spoil all my plans.”

“Nothing is impossible, my darling, with two who love as we do,” he said, coolly, yet the passion of his soul was in his eyes.

Feeling a sense of satisfaction and deeming it wise to let well enough alone, and without giving her a chance to refuse absolutely, he said: “Walla, why not take this waltz, the music has struck up again:

Without a word she laid her arm on his black coat sleeve and they returned to the house, where they were soon floating away to the sweet waltz music.

As the last strains of the music ceased, Gastonia took a polite, but hurried, leave of Walla to speak to James Horton, one of his old college chums. Soon James was in search of his hat and ask¬ ing for a few moments leave.

James left the house hurriedly; his eyes had a mischievous twinkle in them as he passed Walla on his way out.

Chapter Six

Gertrude Langston was a lifelong friend of Walla’s. She had seen Gastonia leave Walla’s side, so she came over to Walla.

“Why, where is Gastonia—er—Mr. Bessington, I should say?” she began at once. “I promised to take the next dance with him, and he insisted that 1 spare him a few minutes afterwards, as he assured me that he wanted to talk over some serious matter with me tonight. She said this with a rippling laugh and a swift glance into Walla’s face.

“Lookout, Walla; Gastonia likes to flirt, and he is fickle. He has been trying to impress me; he has been saying all sorts of sweet things to me tonight.”

“I do not believe it.” Walla’s beautiful eyes flashed with in¬ dignant protest

Gertrude laughed outright. “What sublime trust, to be sure,” she exclaimed.

“Walla, you will learn the world belter when you have grown older and have seen more of it, my dear child. Whatever you do, never put your trust in a man; they are all false and fickle.”

“Gastonia is not,” spoke Walla with unspeakable anger burning her heart at the taunting words of this pretended friend.

“Ah, so you acknowledge that you love Gastonia?”

“Really, Walla, 1 am surprised that a girl of your ability and common sense could be so blind, for he has not been in earnest with you at all. I have every reason to believe that he cares a great deal for me and wants to propose to me tonight, is why he asked me to spare him a few moments after our dance together.”

“It is all false, Gertrude, and you know it is,” panted Walla, indignantly, as she remembered Gastonia’s devotion to her for the past two years.

“Gertrude, I did not think you capable of such depravity;” with this she turned and walked away.

Sergeant Perry, an old Augusta boy who was home on a few days’ leave from Camp Upton, crossed over to speak to Walla as she turned to leave Gertrude’s side.

“Sergeant Perry,” you look tip-top; you are at your best tonight; where is Orietta? She likes you in khaki, doesn’t she? It is becoming to the brave, you know.”

Walla said this as she extended her hand to Sergeant Perry in greeting him, as he approached her.

Gertrude’s dark eyes followed Walla, and a curious brassy light crept into their depths. Glancing up she saw Gastonia com¬ ing swiftly in her direction. A look of passionate love flashed into her eyes, and under her breath she muttered harshly: He is looking for her now, but he shall not find her. He shall come with me; I will make love to him and win him tonight.

“I believe he cares a little for me, anyway, for he has always been so very kind and gentle whenever he was with me.

“He shall love me; I swear it; he shall,” she muttered passion¬ ately.

“Oh, Gastonia, for your sake, for your dear sake, I would lay down my life for you. All hope of happiness is gone unless I win you, and I must win tonight, as tomorrow will be too late, for you leave me perhaps forever.

“But to wear your name in a garb of mourning would be more joy to me than to have you free to choose and marry another.”