ntage of the opportunity to get a full look at
Ensal, who felt a little uneasiness at the intense interest which the
man's whole countenance showed that he had in him. The man's eyes had an
earnest, pained expression. His cheeks were hollow and seemed to
indicate that he was just going into or emerging from a hard spell of
sickness. His hat was a faded brown derby and his suit of clothes was of
a tough, coarse fibre and much worn. Standing by him on the sidewalk was
what appeared to be a much battered drummer's case to which the man's
eye would revert oftener than the utmost caution would seem to have
rendered necessary. Ensal passed on, but somehow this strange white man
came into his mind and demanded a share in the thoughts which would
otherwise have gone undividedly to Tiara.

Ensal called at the home of Mrs. Crawford and made it possible for Tiara
to arrange for a home with her, an alliance which would at once afford
Tiara an entrance into the social life of the best Negro circles. This
much accomplished, Ensal started in the direction of the Crump's to
apprise Tiara of the arrangements.

"Why so much haste?"

Ensal turned and looked into the face of his friend, Earl Bluefield.

"Was I walking fast?" asked Ensal.

"Fast!" exclaimed Earl. "If you can induce the saints in your church to
give the devil half as much trouble to catch them as you have given me,
why they will be saved all right. Really a person who didn't know would
have thought that your mother-in-law had died and that you were hurrying
to make arrangements for her funeral," said Earl.

"By the way," said Ensal, "I am glad that I met you. A-a friend of mine
from New York, a Miss Merlow, Tiara Merlow, is in the city. I wish you
to pay her a call with me to-morrow evening. May I make the engagement?"

Earl dropped his head in meditation. His brain was exceedingly active.
Beneath this apparently simple proposal of Ensal's lay hidden many
possibilities.

Ensal and Earl represented two types in the Negro race, the conservative
and the radical. They both stood for the ultimate recognition of the
rights of the Negro as an American citizen, but their methods were
opposite. They intuitively assumed, it seemed, opposite sides on every
question that arose pertaining to the race, and championed their
respective sides with much warmth and vigor. Yet they remained friends,
were great admirers of each other, and lived each in the hope of
converting the other t