"She says that she is my mother, my long-lost mother."
"Why, Minnie, what nonsense! She can't be your mother. Why don't you see she is colored?"
"Where do you live?" said Minnie, without appearing to notice the words of Carrie.
"I don't live anywhere. I just came here yesterday with some of the
Union soldiers."
"Come with me then, and I will show you a place to stop."
"Why, Minnie, you are not going to walk down the street with that Nig—colored woman; if you are, please excuse me. My business calls me another way."
And without any more ceremony Carrie and Minnie parted. Silently she walked by the side of the stranger, a thousand thoughts revolving in her mind. Was this the solution of the mystery which enshrouded her young life? Did she indeed belong to that doomed and hated race, and must she share the cruel treatment which bitter, relentless prejudice had assigned them?
Thomas Carpenter and Anna were stopping in P., at the house of relatives who knew Minnie's history, but who had never made any difference in their treatment of her on that account.
"Is father and mother at home?" said Minnie to the servant, who opened the door. She answered in the affirmative.
"Tell them to come into the parlor, they are wanted immediately."