The Blacker the Berry Read Online Free PDF

the fact that she was so close to those she wished to find, and perplexed because she did not know how to approach them. Had there been only one person standing there, the matter would have been comparatively easy. She could have approached with a smile and said, “Good morning.” The person would have returned her greeting, and it would then have been a simple matter to get acquainted.
    But five people in one bunch all known to one another and all chatting intimately together!—it would seem too much like an intrusion to go bursting in to their gathering—too forward and too vulgar. Then, there was nothing she could say after having said “good morning.” One just didn’t break into a group of five and say, “I’m Emma Lou Morgan, a new student, and I want to make friends with you.” No, she couldn’t do that. She would just smile as she passed, smile graciously and friendly. They would know that she was a stranger, and her smile would assure them that she was anxious to make friends, anxious to become a welcome addition to their group.
    One of the group of five had sighted Emma Lou as soon as she had sighted them:
    “Who’s this?” queried Helen Wheaton, a senior in the College of Law.
    “Some new ’pick,’ I guess,” answered Bob Armstrong, who was Helen’s fiancé and a senior in the School of Architecture.
    “I bet she’s going to take Pharmacy,” whispered Amos Blaine.
    “She’s hottentot enough to take something,” mumbled Tommy Brown. “Thank God, she won’t be in any of our classes, eh Amos?”
    Emma Lou was almost abreast of them now. They lowered their voices, and made a pretense of mumbled conversation among themselves. Only Verne Davis looked directly at her and it was she alone who returned Emma Lou’s smile.
    “Whatcha grinnin’ at?” Bob chided Verne as Emma Lou passed out of earshot.
    “At the little frosh, of course. She grinned at me. I couldn’t stare at her without returning it.”
    “I don’t see how anybody could even look at her without grinning.”
    “Oh, she’s not so bad,” said Verne.
    “Well, she’s bad enough.”
    “That makes two of them.”
    “Two of what, Amos?”
    “Hottentots, Bob.”
    “Good grief,” exclaimed Tommy, “why don’t you recruit some good-looking co-eds out here?”
    “We don’t choose them,” Helen returned.
    “I’m going out to the Southern Branch where the sight of my fellow female students won’t give me dyspepsia.”
    “Ta-ta, Amos,” said Verne, “and you needn’t bother to sit in my car any more if you think us so terrible.” She and Helen walked away, leaving the boys to discuss the sad days which had fallen upon the campus.
    Emma Lou, of course, knew nothing of all this. She had gone her way rejoicing. One of the students had noticed her, had returned her smile. This getting acquainted was going to be an easy matter after all. It was just necessary that she exercise a little patience. One couldn’t expect people to fall all over one without some preliminary advances. True, she was a stranger, but she would show them in good time that she was worthy of their attention, that she was a good fellow and a well-bred individual quite prepared to be accepted by the best people.
    She strolled out onto the campus again trying to find more prospective acquaintances. The sun was warm now, the grass dry, and the campus overcrowded. There was an infectious germ of youth and gladness abroad to which Emma Lou could not remain immune. Already she was certain that she felt the presence of that vague something known as “college spirit.” It seemed to enter into her, to make her jubilant and set her very nerves tingling. This was no time for sobriety. It was the time for youth’s blood to run hot, the time for love and sport and wholesome fun.
    Then Emma Lou saw a solitary Negro girl seated on a stone bench. It did not take her a second to decide what to do. Here was her chance. She would make friends with this girl and should