After Leroy had left the room, Marie sat awhile thinking of the wonderful change that had come over her.  Instead of being a lonely slave girl, with the fatal dower of beauty, liable to be bought and sold, exchanged, and bartered, she was to be the wife of a wealthy planter; a man in whose honor she could confide, and on whose love she could lean.

Very interesting and pleasant were the commencement exercises in which Marie bore an important part.  To enlist sympathy for her enslaved race, and appear to advantage before Leroy, had aroused all of her energies.  The stimulus of hope, the manly love which was environing her life, brightened her eye and lit up the wonderful beauty of her countenance.  During her stay in the North she had constantly been brought in contact with anti-slavery people.  She was not aware that there was so much kindness among the white people of the country until she had tested it in the North.  From the anti-slavery people in private life she had learned some of the noblest lessons of freedom and justice, and had become imbued with their sentiments.  Her theme was “American Civilization, its Lights and Shadows.”

Graphically she portrayed the lights, faithfully she showed the shadows of our American civilization.  Earnestly and feelingly she spoke of the blind Sampson in our land, who might yet shake the pillars of our great Commonwealth.  Leroy listened attentively.  At times a shadow of annoyance would overspread his face, but it was soon lost in the admiration her earnestness and zeal inspired.  Like Esther pleading for the lives of her people in the Oriental courts of a despotic king, she stood before the audience, pleading for those whose lips were sealed, but whose condition appealed to the mercy and justice of the Nation.  Strong men wiped the moisture from their eyes, and women’s hearts throbbed in unison with the strong, brave words that were uttered in behalf of freedom for all and chains for none.  Generous applause was freely bestowed, and beautiful bouquets were showered upon her.  When it was known that she was to be the wife of her guardian, warm congratulations were given, and earnest hopes expressed for the welfare of the lonely girl, who, nearly all her life, had been deprived of a parent’s love and care.  On the eve of starting South Leroy procured a license, and united his destiny with the young lady whose devotion in the darkest hour had won his love and gratitude.

In a few days Marie returned as mistress to the plantation from which she had gone as a slave.  But as unholy alliances were common in those days between masters and slaves, no one took especial notice that Marie shared Leroy’s life as mistress of his home, and that the family silver and jewelry were in her possession.  But Leroy, happy in his choice, attended to the interests of his plantation, and found companionship in his books and in the society of his wife.  A few male companions visited him occasionally, admired the magnificent beauty of his wife, shook their heads, and spoke of him as being very eccentric, but thought his marriage the great mistake of his life.  But none of his female friends ever entered his doors, when it became known that Marie held the position of mistress of his mansion, and presided at his table.  But she, sheltered in the warm clasp of loving arms, found her life like a joyous dream.