relating the story to Hertha; and she resolved to take
a part herself, if advisable, in the breaking of the news. While
extraordinary, it was tidings that a colored girl might easily bear. Two
legacies, one of money, one of race, were wonderful gifts. "Where is
Hertha?" she asked.

"Ellen stopped in this morning to say that she had been awake with a bad
headache and had then overslept. The dear child, she should have all her
strength for this news."

"Did you ever hear of anything like it before?"

"No, no, it is most extraordinary, most extraordinary. I remember George
Ogilvie well, a handsome man. His wife was a pretty woman with a small
mouth. They said she spent every penny he had. She died two years ago.
You may be sure _she_ would never have allowed the story to be known."

"Hertha should have known it years ago."

"No, my dear, no." Miss Patty sat erect ready to dispute such a
suggestion. Her voice quavered and her head had not ceased to shake, but
she was alert to defend her conception of what was right and proper.
"She should never have known it. This has put a stain forever upon her
mother's name."

"Her mother is long since dead," the northern woman answered sharply,
"while the child is living. I can think of nothing more cruel than to
save a daughter's honor by giving her infant to be reared by Negroes.
It's frightful."

"I don't agree with you." Miss Patty was herself once more. "The whole
thing is very sad and wicked, of course, but life among the Negroes is
not frightful, they are the happiest people in the world. One day is
just as good as another to them. If the sun doesn't shine this morning
it will the next. Hertha won't know what trouble means until she becomes
white."

"It's too bad, then, that you don't have more white children brought up
by blacks," Miss Witherspoon retorted. "Why not give the poor
unfortunates a fair chance in life?"

Sarcasm was lost upon her companion. "Grown-ups must take responsibility
whether they like it or not," Miss Patty said sententiously. "Negroes
are a child race and the white race must govern them. Hertha will be a
grown person now, one of the ruling class, and seeing she's an Ogilvie
it's likely she'll take easily to the position."

"Hertha has always seemed grown-up to me, too serious for her youth. She
loves to day dream, but I don't believe she ever dreamed of anything so
wonderful as this. What do you suppose she'll do?"

"Marry, of course, as eve