as this."

Here somebody got out; the old Friend sat down; and the coal-heaver,
roused by the stir, lifted himself from his drunken sleep, and, looking
round, saw who was beside him.

A vile oath, an angry stare from his bloodshot eyes.

"Ye ----, what are ye doin' here? out wid ye, quick!"

"What's the matter?" queried the conductor, who was collecting
somebody's fare.

"The matther, is it? matther enough! what's this nasty nagur doin' here?
Put him out, can't ye?"

The conductor took no notice.

"Conductor!" spoke up a well-dressed man, with the air and manner of a
gentleman, "what does that card say?"

The conductor looked at the card indicated, upon which was printed
"Colored people not allowed in this car," legible enough to require less
study than he saw fit to give it. "Well!" he said.

"Well," was the answer,--"your duty is plain. Put that fellow out."

The conductor hesitated,--looked round the car. Nobody spoke.

"I'm sorry, my man! I hoped there would be no objection when I let you
in; but our orders are strict, and, as the passengers ain't willing,
you'll have to get off,"--jerking angrily at the bell.

As the car slackened speed, a young officer, whom nobody noticed, got
on.

There was a moment's pause as the black man gathered up his crutches,
and raised himself painfully. "Stop!" cried a thrilling and passionate
voice,--"stand still! Of what stuff are you made to sit here and see a
man, mangled and maimed in _your_ cause and for _your_ defence, insulted
and outraged at the bidding of a drunken boor and a cowardly traitor?"
The voice, the beautiful face, the intensity burning through both,
electrified every soul to which she appealed. Hands were stretched out
to draw back the crippled soldier; eyes that a moment before were turned
away looked kindly at him; a Babel of voices broke out, "No, no," "let
him stay," "it's a shame," "let him alone, conductor," "we ain't so bad
as that," with more of the same kind; those who chose not to join in the
chorus discreetly held their peace, and made no attempt to sing out of
time and tune.

The car started again. The _gentleman_, furious at the turn of the tide,
cried out, "Ho, ho! here's a pretty preacher of the gospel of equality!
why, ladies and gentlemen, this high-flyer, who presumes to lecture us,
is nothing but a"--

The sentence was cut short in mid-career, the insolent sneer dashed out
of his face,--face and form prone on the floor of the c