Easterly greeted Smith quietly.
"Got my letter?"
"Yes."
"Here are the three bills. You will go on the Finance Committee tomorrow; Sumdrich is chairman by courtesy, but you"ll have the real power. Put the Child Labor Bill first, and we"ll work the press. The Tariff will take most of the session, of course. We"ll put the cotton inspection bill through in the last days of the session--see? I"m manoeuvring to get the Southern Congressmen into line.... Oh, one thing.
Thompson says he"s a little worried about the Negroes; says there"s something more than froth in the talk of a bolt in the Northern Negro vote. We may have to give them a little extra money and a few more minor offices than usual. Talk with Thompson; the Negroes are sweet on you and he"s going to be the new chairman of the campaign, you know. Ever met him?"
"Yes."
"Well--so long."
"Just a moment," the statesman stayed the financier.
"Todd just let fall something of a combination against us in Congress--know anything of it?"
"Not definitely; I heard some rumors. Better see if you can run it down.
Well, I must hurry--good day."
While Bles Alwyn in the outer office was waiting and musing, a lady came in. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the curve of her gown, and as she seated herself beside him, the suggestion of a faint perfume.
A vague resentment rose in him. Colored women would look as well as that, he argued, with the clothes and wealth and training. He paused, however, in his thought: he did not want them like the whites--so cold and formal and precise, without heart or marrow. He started up, for the secretary was speaking to him.
"Are you the--er--the man who had a letter to the Senator?"
"Yes, sir."
"Let me see it. Oh, yes--he will see you in a moment."
Bles was returning the letter to his pocket when he heard a voice almost at his ear.
"I beg your pardon--"
He turned and started. It was the lady next to him, and she was colored!
Not extremely colored, but undoubtedly colored, with waving black hair, light brown skin, and the fuller facial curving of the darker world. And yet Bles was surprised, for everything else about her--her voice, her bearing, the set of her gown, her gloves and shoes, the whole impression was--Bles hesitated for a word--well, "white."
"Yes--yes, ma"am," he stammered, becoming suddenly conscious that the lady had now a second time asked him if he was acquainted with Senator Smith. "That is, ma"am,"--why was he saying "ma"am," like a child or a servant?--"I know his sister and have a letter for him."
"Do you live in Washington?" she inquired.
"No--but I want to. I"ve been trying to get in as a clerk, and I haven"t succeeded yet. That"s what I"m going to see Senator Smith about."
"Have you had the civil-service examinations?"
"Yes. I made ninety-three in the examination for a treasury clerkship."
"And no appointment? I see--they are not partial to us there."
Bles was glad to hear her say "us."
She continued after a pause:
"May I venture to ask a favor of you?"
"Certainly," he responded.
"My name is Wynn," lowering her voice slightly and leaning toward him.
"There are so many ahead of me and I am in a hurry to get to my school; but I must see the Senator--couldn"t I go in with you? I think I might be of service in this matter of the examination, and then perhaps I"d get a chance to say a word for myself."
"I"d be very glad to have you come," said Bles, cordially.
The secretary hesitated a little when the two started in, but Miss Wynn"s air was so quietly a.s.sured that he yielded.
Senator Smith looked at the tall, straight black man with his smooth skin and frank eyes. And for a second time that morning a vision of his own youth dimmed his eyes. But he spoke coldly:
"Mr. Alwyn, I believe."
"Yes, sir."
"And--"
"My friend, Miss Wynn."
The Senator glanced at Miss Wynn and she bowed demurely. Then he turned to Alwyn.
"Well, Mr. Alwyn, Washington is a bad place to start in the world."
Bles looked surprised and incredulous. He could conceive of no finer starting-place, but he said nothing.
"It is a grave," continued the Senator, "of ambitions and ideals. You would far better go back to Alabama"--pausing and looking at the young man keenly--"but you won"t--you won"t--not yet, at any rate." And Bles shook his head slowly.
"No--well, what can I do for you?"
"I want work--I"ll do anything."
"No, you"ll do one thing--be a clerk, and then if you have the right stuff in you you will throw up that job in a year and start again."
"I"d like at least to try it, sir."
"Well, I can"t help you much there; that"s in civil-service, and you must take the examination."
"I have, sir."
"So? Where, and what mark?"
"In the Treasury Department; I got a mark of ninety-three."
"What!--and no appointment?" The Senator was incredulous.
"No, sir; not yet."