“But, Mr. Bascom,” Harry said, “I do not understand this.  It says my mother and father were legally married.  How could her marriage be set aside and her children robbed of their inheritance?  This is not a heathen country.  I hardly think barbarians would have done any worse; yet this is called a Christian country.”

“Christian in name,” answered the principal.  “When your father left you in my care, knowing that I was an Abolitionist, he confided his secret to me.  He said that life was full of vicissitudes, and he wished you to have a good education.  He wanted you and your sister to be prepared for any emergency.  He did not wish you to know that you had negro blood in your veins.  He knew that the spirit of caste pervaded the nation, North and South, and he was very anxious to have his children freed from its depressing influences.  He did not intend to stay South after you had finished your education.”

“But,” said Harry, “I cannot understand.  If my mother was lawfully married, how could they deprive her of her marital rights?”

“When Lorraine,” continued Mr. Bascom, “knew your father was dead, all he had to do was to find a flaw in her manumission, and, of course, the marriage became illegal.  She could not then inherit property nor maintain her freedom; and her children followed her condition.”

Harry listened attentively.  Things which had puzzled him once now became perfectly clear.  He sighed heavily, and, turning to the principal, said:  “I see things in a new light.  Now I remember that none of the planters’ wives ever visited my mother; and we never went to church except when my father took us to the Cathedral in New Orleans.  My father was a Catholic, but I don’t think mamma is.”

“Now, Harry,” said the principal, “life is before you.  If you wish to stay North, I will interest friends in your behalf, and try to get you a situation.  Going South is out of the question.  It is probable that by this time your mother and sister are removed from their home.  You are powerless to fight against the law that enslaved them.  Should you fall into the clutches of Lorraine, he might give you a great deal of trouble.  You would be pressed into the Confederate service to help them throw up barricades, dig trenches, and add to the strength of those who enslaved your mother and sister.”

“Never! never!” cried Harry.  “I would rather die than do it!  I should despise myself forever if I did.”

“Numbers of our young men,” said Mr. Bascom, “have gone to the war which is now raging between North and South.  You have been sick for several months, and much has taken place of which you are unaware.  Would you like to enlist?”

“I certainly would; not so much for the sake of fighting for the Government, as with the hope of finding my mother and sister, and avenging their wrongs.  I should like to meet Lorraine on the battle-field.”

“What kind of a regiment would you prefer, white or colored?”