e sadly. Neglecting to close the door I
stepped up to him and kissed him. When I turned to go out I saw that Gus
Martin, whom Leroy Crutcher, as I afterwards found out, had set to
watching me, had seen us kiss each other. I hurried on home embarrassed
that I could not explain the situation to him. When on the next day I
read of my brother's death, I immediately guessed all. That is how I had
the key to bringing Gus Martin to terms. When he found out his awful
mistake he was willing to surrender.

"So resulted my mother's plans for the mastery of your Southern pulpit."

Turning to Eunice, she said, "There is her daughter. Through her my
mother hoped to lay hold on the political power of the state. But that
girl loved a Negro, the son of the prosecutor, the Hon. H. G. Volrees
[sensation in the court].

"After leaving her husband, Eunice came to live with me. Earl Bluefield,
who is Mr. Volrees' son [decided sensation] was wounded in a scuffle
that was not so much to his credit, and he was brought to my house to
recover. Eunice waited on him. They fell in love, left my home and
married. This explains how that boy favors the Hon. Mr. Volrees. It is
his grandson."

Tiara now stood up and said, "Mr. Judge, it may not be regular, but
permit me to say a few words."

The whole court seemed under a spell and nobody stirred as Tiara spoke.

"My mother is dead and paid dearly for her unnatural course. But do not
judge her too harshly. You people who are white do not know what an
awful burden it is to be black in these days of the world. If some break
down beneath the awful load of caste which you thrust upon them, mingle
pity with your blame."

Tiara paused an instant and then resumed:

"One word to you all. I am aware of the fact that the construction of a
social fabric, such as your Anglo-Saxondom, has been one of the
marvelous works of nature, and I realize that the maintenance of its
efficiency for the stupendous world duties that lie before it demand
that you have strict regard to the physical, mental and moral
characteristics that go to constitute your aggregation. But I warn you
to beware of the dehumanizing influence of caste. It will cause your
great race to be warped, to be narrow. Oratory will decay in your midst;
poetry will disappear or dwell in mediocrity, taking on a mocking sound
and a metallic ring; art will become formal, lacking in spirit; huge
soulless machines will grow up that will crush the life out o