t. At last she
stood near the door, her whole frame trembling as a result of the
sweeping over her spirit of storm after storm of emotions. Her little
boy, unable to grasp the import of his mother's behavior was eagerly
scanning her face and weeping silently in instinctive sympathy.

With a sudden burst of courage Eunice stepped out of the court house
door and a young white man, who had been awaiting her, stepped up to
speak to her. His hat was tilted back on his head, a lighted cigar was
in his mouth, and his hands were thrust deep in his trousers pockets.

Eunice looked up at him, saw the wicked leer in his eyes, and recoiled.

"Don't be scared, Eunice. I stayed here to tell you that the hackman who
brought you here got a chance to make a little extra by taking some
white ladies home and said for you to stay here until he got back. He
won't be gone but a few minutes."

The suggestive look, the patronizing tone, the failure to use "Mrs.," on
the part of the man that addressed her, and the action of the hackman in
leaving her to take some white woman home, served as a tonic to brace up
the quailing spirit of Eunice.

Her first brush with the world as a member of the Negro race had aroused
her fighting spirit.

"How dare you address me in that manner, you boorish wretch!" exclaimed
Eunice, her small frame shaking with indignation.

The young man seemed rather to enjoy Eunice's rage and coolly replied,
"Well, Eunice, you know, Eunice, that you are a Negress now and there
are no misses and mistresses in that race. If you were a little older I
would call you 'aunty;' if you were a little older still I would call
you 'mammy;' if very old, 'grandma Eunice.' But as it is, I have to call
you plain 'Eunice.' My race would disrespect me if I didn't follow the
rule, you know."

"You wretched cur! You yap!" screamed Eunice.

"As this is your first day in the 'nigger' race I won't bother you for
calling me out of my name. But let me give you a piece of advice. We
white folks like a 'nigger' in his place only, and you find yours quick.
And remember that you 'nigger' women don't come in for all that stepping
back which we do for white women. We go so far as to burn your kind down
here sometimes. As for that brat there, bring him up as a 'nigger' and
teach him his place, if you don't want him to see trouble." So saying
the young white man turned and walked away, leaving Eunice enraged and
amazed at his effrontery.

The refi