States as a hunting ground for our slaves.  The Presidential chair has been filled the greater number of years by Southerners, and the majority of offices has been shared by our men.  We wanted representation in Congress on a basis which would include our slaves, and the North, whose suffrage represents only men, gave us a three-fifths representation for our slaves, whom we count as property.  I think the step will be suicidal.  There are extremists in both sections, but I hope, between them both, wise counsels and measures will prevail.”

Just then Alfred Lorraine was ushered into the room.  Occasionally he visited Leroy, but he always came alone.  His wife was the only daughter of an enterprising slave-trader, who had left her a large amount of property.

Her social training was deficient, her education limited, but she was too proud of being a pure white woman to enter the home of Leroy, with Marie as its presiding genius.  Lorraine tolerated Marie’s presence as a necessary evil, while to her he always seemed like a presentiment of trouble.  With his coming a shadow fell upon her home, hushing its music and darkening its sunshine.  A sense of dread oppressed her.  There came into her soul an intuitive feeling that somehow his coming was fraught with danger.  When not peering around she would often catch his eyes bent on her with a baleful expression.

Leroy and his cousin immediately fell into a discussion on the condition of the country.  Lorraine was a rank Secessionist, ready to adopt the most extreme measures of the leaders of the movement, even to the reopening of the slave trade.  Leroy thought a dissolution of the Union would involve a fearful expenditure of blood and treasure for which, before the eyes of the world, there could be no justification.  The debate lasted late into the night, leaving both Lorraine and Leroy just as set in their opinions as they were before they began.  Marie listened attentively awhile, then excused herself and withdrew.

After Lorraine had gone Marie said:  “There is something about your cousin that fills me with nameless dread.  I always feel when he enters the room as if some one were walking over my grave.  I do wish he would stay at home.”

“I wish so, too, since he disturbs you.  But, Marie, you are growing nervous.  How cold your hands are.  Don’t you feel well?”

“Oh, yes; I am only a little faint.  I wish he would never come.  But, as he does, I must make the best of it.”

“Yes, Marie, treat him well for my sake.  He is the only relative I have who ever darkens our doors.”

“I have no faith in his friendship for either myself or my children.  I feel that while he makes himself agreeable to you he hates me from the bottom of his heart, and would do anything to get me out of the way.  Oh, I am so glad I am your lawful wife, and that you married me before you brought me back to this State!  I believe that if you were gone he wouldn’t have the least scruple against trying to prove our marriage invalid and remanding us to slavery.”