Although Isabella had been assured by Henry that she should be free
and that he would always consider her as his wife, she
nevertheless felt that she ought to be married and acknowledged by
him. But this was an impossibility under. the State laws, even had
the young man been disposed to do what was right in the matter.
Related as he was, however, to one of the first families in
Virginia, he would not have dared to marry a woman of so low an
origin, even had the laws been favorable.
Here, in this secluded grove, unvisited by any other except her
lover, Isabella lived for years. She had become the mother of a
lovely daughter, which its father named Clotelle. The complexion
of the child was still fairer than that of its mother. Indeed, she
was not darker than other white children, and as she grew older
she more and more resembled her father.
As time passed away, Henry became negligent of Isabella and his
child, so much so, that days and even weeks passed without their
seeing him, or knowing where he was. Becoming more acquainted with
the world, and moving continually in the society of young women of
his own station, the young man felt that Isabella was a burden to
him, and having as some would say, "outgrown his love," he longed
to free himself of the responsibility; yet every time he saw the
child, he felt that he owed it his fatherly care.
Henry had now entered into political life, and been elected to a
seat in the legislature of his native State; and in his
intercourse with his friends had become acquainted with Gertrude
Miller, the daughter of a wealthy gentleman living near Richmond.
Pages:
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58