“Why darling,” said Louis, gazing admiringly upon the earnest enthusiasm lighting up her face, “I shall begin to believe that you are a strong-minded woman.”

“Surely, you would not have me a weak-minded woman in these hours of trial.”

“But, darling, I did not think that you were such an advocate for women’s voting.”

“I think, Louis, that basing our rights on the ground of our common humanity is the only true foundation for national peace and durability.  If you would have the government strong and enduring you should entrench it in the hearts of both the men and women of the land.”

“I think you are right in that remark,” said Louis.  And thus their evenings were enlivened by pleasant and interesting conversations upon the topics of the day.

Once when a union friend was spending an evening at their home Louis entered, looking somewhat animated, and Minnie ever ready to detect his moods and feelings, wanted to know what had happened.

“Oh, I have been to a wedding since I left home.”

“And pray who was married?”

“Guess.”

“I don’t know whom to guess.  One of our friends?”

“Yes.”

“Was it Mr. Welland?”

“Yes.”

“And who did he marry?  Is she a Northern woman, and a staunch unionist?”

“Well, I can’t imagine who she can be.”

“Why he married Miss Henson, who sent you those beautiful flowers.”

“Why, Louis, is it possible?  Why she is a colored woman.”

“I know.”

“But how came he to marry her?”

“For the same reason I married you, because he loved her?”

“Well,” said the union man, who sat quietly listening, “I am willing to give to the colored people every right that I possess myself, but as to intermarrying with them, I am not prepared for that.”

“I think,” said Louis, “that marrying and social equality among the races will simply regulate itself.  I do not think under the present condition of things that there will be any general intermarrying of the races, but this idea of rooted antagonism of races to me is all moonshine.  I believe that what you call the instincts of race are only the prejudices which are the result of custom and education, and if there is any instinct in the matter it is rather the instinct of nature to make a Semi-tropical race in a Semi-tropical climate.  Welland told me that he had met his wife when she was a slave, that he loved her then, and would have bought her had it been in his power, but now that freedom had come to her he was glad to have the privilege of making her his wife.  He is an Englishman by birth and he intends taking her home with him to England when a favorable opportunity presents itself.  And that is far more honorable and manly than living together after the old order of things.  I think,” said Louis facing the floor “that a cruel wrong was done to Minnie and myself when life was given to us under conditions that doomed us to hopeless slavery, and from which we were rescued only by good fortune.  I have heard some colored persons boasting of the white blood, but I always feel like blushing for mine.  Much as my father did for me he could never atone for giving me life under the conditions he did.”