when you married _me_, you didn't marry a chambermaid or
housekeeper, but a lady of one of the first families of Virginia, and
such people brook _no bullying_," and Emily arose and glared at her
husband like a tigress.

Ben Hartright quailed. Never had he seen his little wife in such a state
of anger and defiance.

"If you are man enough to reveal your whereabouts until the small hours
of the morning, you can tell where your wife was."

Ben Hartright raised his eyes from the floor and looked at his wife in
amazement.

"When you entered the house of your mistress, Molly Pierrepont,
to-night, I saw you. I, your _wife_, whom _you_ swore to honor and
protect, saw you. She saw you embrace and kiss a Negro woman, the woman
of a race whom you pretend to despise, and whom you and your pals are
secretly scheming to cold bloodedly murder and drive from their homes.
Take care! God knows your hypocrisy and the deeds you commit will recoil
upon your own heads."

"Emily, are you mad?" gasped the elder lady who stood as if transfixed
to the floor.

"Ask him," returned the young lady, "he knows whether or not I utter the
truth, or whether I am a victim of a beclouded brain. He knows that he
has wronged me; he knows that he has lied to me. I care not for your
frowns. _You_ a gentleman? You hate Niggers, yet you can embrace one so
fondly. I will no longer live with such a gentleman, who night after
night under the excuse of 'clubs' and 'business' spends his time away
from his wife, and in company of a Negro woman. I am going home to my
people."

"Now, Emily," said the elder Mrs. Hartright, "don't start a scandal;
remember that you are a Southerner. Southern people do not countenance
the airing of unpleasant family matters!"

"Yes," replied the young lady, "this fear of airing family troubles on
the part of our women, has made us slaves, while the men are licensed to
indulge in all manner of indecencies with impunity. I will be the first
Southern woman to sever the chain of 'formality,' and cry aloud to the
world that I leave my husband because of his unfaithfulness. It is my
right, and I will exercise that right."

Ben who had again sank into his seat arose and advanced toward his wife
to sue for forgiveness.

"Don't touch me!" she cried, with uplifted hand. "The cup is full. Go
back to her who has monopolized the best portion of your time since you
have married me."

Ben Hartright sank again into his chair and buried his