Zoe took up my remark about the spaciousness of the country with telling me that young Douglas had been to supper a few nights before I had come to myself out of the fever, and that he had said that the prairie affected him as liberty would affect an eagle released from a cage; and that he looked back upon the hills of Vermont as barriers to his vision.  “He is nearly your age,” said Zoe; “only two years older.  You will like him; every one does.  No one can talk like him that I have ever heard."....

At last I brought forward the subject of our father’s will.  Zoe was silent for a moment, for my specific question was what she wished to have done.  Then she said:  “It’s all foolishness.  These lawyers here have been bothering me to get me to fight the will, and trying to get me to break the will because my pa drank.  I know he drank, but I don’t see what difference that makes.  He always knew what he was doing, so far as I know; and even if he didn’t I’d never say nothin’ about it.  I know my place; and things is gettin’ worse about colored folks, and less chance for a colored girl to marry a white man even if she wanted to, ‘specially if I knew he was marryin’ me to get my land.  I’m satisfied with the will the way it is and always have been, or any way you want it, Mr. James.  I know my place, and that there is a kind of curse on me for bein’ dark skinned; and I think my pa was mighty kind to make the will the way he did.  This 5000 acres he left is worth a lot of money, more than $5000 Mr. Reverdy says; and if I had what the will gives me I’d have $500, and what would I do with it?  For I’ve always got to work anyway.”

Suddenly we saw lights ahead in the road and heard the rattle of wheels.  It was the stage coming into Jacksonville.  It was upon us almost at once.  The lights of the lantern made us blink our eyes.  We stepped to one side.  A voice called out:  “Well I’ll be damned if there ain’t a white feller strollin’ with a nigger!” “Shut your trap,” said the driver, and the stage rolled rapidly away from us.

My mind was suddenly made up as to the farm by the remark falling so brutally from these unknown lips.  I took Zoe’s hands.  I drew her to me.  She was weeping.  Was not one half of her blood English blood?  Yes, and what Englishman would not resent with tears an insult which he could neither deny nor punish?  But I would punish it.  Zoe should have her rightful half....  And silently we walked back.

CHAPTER IX

The next morning the alarm over the cholera is more intense.  All kinds of horrifying stories go the rounds.  News has been brought by passengers on the stage that a man and his wife, living near the Illinois River, died within an hour of each other.  They were well at dawn.  At noon they were both under the black soil of the river’s shore, buried by three stalwart sons, who carried their bodies in the bed clothing and let them down by it into hastily made graves.