“Deal justly with them,” said Dr. Gresham, “and let them alone.  Try to create a moral sentiment in the nation, which will consider a wrong done to the weakest of them as a wrong done to the whole community.  Whenever you find ministers too righteous to be faithless, cowardly, and time serving; women too Christly to be scornful; and public men too noble to be tricky and too honest to pander to the prejudices of the people, stand by them and give them your moral support.”

“Doctor,” said Latrobe, “with your views you ought to be a preacher striving to usher in the millennium.”

“It can’t come too soon,” replied Dr. Gresham.

CHAPTER XXVII.

DIVERGING PATHS.

On the eve of his departure from the city of P——­, Dr. Gresham called on Iola, and found her alone.  They talked awhile of reminiscences of the war and hospital life, when Dr. Gresham, approaching Iola, said:—­

“Miss Leroy, I am glad the great object of your life is accomplished, and that you have found all your relatives.  Years have passed since we parted, years in which I have vainly tried to get a trace of you and have been baffled, but I have found you at last!” Clasping her hand in his, he continued, “I would it were so that I should never lose you again!  Iola, will you not grant me the privilege of holding this hand as mine all through the future of our lives?  Your search for your mother is ended.  She is well cared for.  Are you not free at last to share with me my Northern home, free to be mine as nothing else on earth is mine.”  Dr. Gresham looked eagerly on Iola’s face, and tried to read its varying expression.  “Iola, I learned to love you in the hospital.  I have tried to forget you, but it has been all in vain.  Your image is just as deeply engraven on my heart as it was the day we parted.”

“Doctor,” she replied, sadly, but firmly, as she withdrew her hand from his, “I feel now as I felt then, that there is an insurmountable barrier between us.”

“What is it, Iola?” asked Dr. Gresham, anxiously.

“It is the public opinion which assigns me a place with the colored people.”

“But what right has public opinion to interfere with our marriage relations?  Why should we yield to its behests?”

“Because it is stronger than we are, and we cannot run counter to it without suffering its penalties.”

“And what are they, Iola?  Shadows that you merely dread?”

“No! no! the penalties of social ostracism North and South, except here and there some grand and noble exceptions.  I do not think that you fully realize how much prejudice against colored people permeates society, lowers the tone of our religion, and reacts upon the life of the nation.  After freedom came, mamma was living in the city of A——­, and wanted to unite with a Christian church there.  She made application for membership.  She passed