The Quest of the Silver Fleece - A Novel by W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt) Du Bois
page 55 of 484 (11%)
page 55 of 484 (11%)
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encyclopædias, and census-reports. When he went to that little lunch
with old Mrs. Grey he was not sure that he wanted his sister to leave the cotton-belt just yet. After lunch he was sure that he did not want her to leave. The rich Mrs. Grey was at the crisis of her fortunes. She was an elderly lady, in those uncertain years beyond fifty, and had been left suddenly with more millions than she could easily count. Personally she was inclined to spend her money in bettering the world right off, in such ways as might from time to time seem attractive. This course, to her husband's former partner and present executor, Mr. Edward Easterly, was not only foolish but wicked, and, incidentally, distinctly unprofitable to him. He had expressed himself strongly to Mrs. Grey last night at dinner and had reinforced his argument by a pointed letter written this morning. To John Taylor Mrs. Grey's disposal of the income was unbelievable blasphemy against the memory of a mighty man. He did not put this in words to Mrs. Grey--he was only head clerk in her late husband's office--but he became watchful and thoughtful. He ate his soup in silence when she descanted on various benevolent schemes. "Now, what do you know," she asked finally, "about Negroes--about educating them?" Mr. Taylor over his fish was about to deny all knowledge of any sort on the subject, but all at once he recollected his sister, and a sudden gleam of light radiated his mental gloom. "Have a sister who is--er--devoting herself to teaching them," he said. "Is that so!" cried Mrs. Grey, joyfully. "Where is she?" |
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