There was no one in the
building at the time but the old woman and the slaves, and
although the latter might have saved their mistress, they made no
attempt to do so. Thus, after a frightful career of many years,
this hard-hearted woman died a most miserable death, unlamented by
a single person."
Clotelle wiped the tears from her eyes, as her father finished this
story, for, although Mrs. Miller had been her greatest enemy, she
regretted to learn that her end had been such a sad one.
"My peace of mind destroyed," resumed the father, "and broke down
in health, my physician advised me to travel, with the hope o
recruiting myself, and I sailed from New York two months ago."
Being brought up in America, and having all the prejudice against
color which characterizes his white fellow-countrymen, Mr. Linwood
very much regretted that his daughter, although herself tinctured
with African blood, should have married a black man, and he did
not fail to express to her his dislike of her husband's
complexion.
"I married him," said Clotelle, "because I loved him. Why should
the white man be esteemed as better than the black? I find no
difference in men on account of their complexion. One of the
cardinal principles of Christianity and freedom is the equality
and brotherhood of man."
Every day Mr. Linwood became more and more familiar with Jerome,
and eventually they were on the most intimate terms.
Fifteen days from the time that Clotelle was introduced into her
father's room, they left Ferney for Geneva.
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