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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。 Both Henry and Gertrude were very
good…looking； and a mutual attachment sprang up between them。
Instead of finding fault with the unfrequent visits of Henry； Isabella
always met him with a smile； and tried to make both him and herself
believe that business was the cause of his negligence。 When he was with
her； she devoted every moment of her time to him； and never failed to
speak of the growth and increasing intelligence of Clotelle。
The child had grown so large as to be able to follow its father on his
departure out to the road。 But the impression made on Henry's feelings
by the devoted woman and her child was momentary。 His heart had grown
hard； and his acts were guided by no fixed principle。 Henry and Gertrude
had been married nearly two years before Isabella knew anything of the
event； and it was merely by accident that she became acquainted with the
facts。
One beautiful afternoon； when Isabella and Clotelle were picking wild
strawberries some two miles from their home； and near the road…side； they
observed a one…horse chaise driving past。 The mother turned her face from
the carriage not wishing to be seen by strangers； little dreaming that the
chaise contained Henry and his wife。 The child； however； watched the
chaise； and startled her mother by screaming out at the top of her voice；
〃Papa！ papa！〃 and clapped her little hands for joy。 The mother turned in
haste to look at the strangers； and her eyes encountered those of Henry's
pale and dejected countenance。 Gertrude's eyes were on the child。 The
swiftness with which Henry drove by could not hide from his wife the
striking resemblance of the child to himself。 The young wife had heard
the child exclaim 〃Papa！ papa！〃 and she immediately saw by the quivering
of his lips and the agitation depicted in his countenance； that all was not
right。
〃Who is that woman？ and why did that child call you papa？〃 she
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inquired； with a trembling voice。
Henry was silent； he knew not what to say； and without another word
passing between them； they drove home。
On reaching her room； Gertrude buried her face in her handkerchief
and wept。 She loved Henry； and when she had heard from the lips of her
companions how their husbands had proved false； she felt that he was an
exception； and fervently thanked God that she had been so blessed。
When Gertrude retired to her bed that night； the sad scene of the day
followed her。 The beauty of Isabella； with her flowing curls； and the look
of the child； so much resembling the man whom she so dearly loved； could
not be forgotten； and little Clotelle's exclamation of 〃Papa！ papa！〃 rang in
her ears during the whole night。
The return of Henry at twelve o'clock did not increase her happiness。
Feeling his guilt； he had absented himself from the house since his return
from the ride。
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CHAPTER XI
TO…DAY A MISTRESS； TO…MORROW A SLAVE
THE night was dark； the rain descended in torrents from the black
and overhanging clouds； and the thunder； accompanied with vivid flashes
of lightning； resounded fearfully； as Henry Linwood stepped from his
chaise and entered Isabella's cottage。
More than a fortnight had elapsed since the accidental meeting； and
Isabella was in doubt as to who the lady was that Henry was with in the
carriage。 Little； however； did she think that it was his wife。 With a smile；
Isabella met the young man as he entered her little dwelling。 Clotelle had
already gone to bed； but her father's voice aroused her from her sleep； and
she was soon sitting on his knee。
The pale and agitated countenance of Henry betrayed his uneasiness；
but Isabella's mild and laughing allusion to the incident of their meeting
him on the day of his pleasure…drive； and her saying； 〃I presume； dear
Henry； that the lady was one of your relatives；〃 led him to believe that she
was still in ignorance of his marriage。 She was； in fact； ignorant who the
lady was who accompanied the man she loved on that eventful day。 He；
aware of this； now acted more like himself； and passed the thing off as a
joke。 At heart； however； Isabella felt uneasy； and this uneasiness would at
times show itself to the young man。 At last； and with a great effort； she
said；
〃Now； hear Henry； if I am in the way of your future happiness； say so；
and I will release you from any promises that you have made me。 I know
there is no law by which I can hold you； and if there was； I would not
resort to it。 You are as dear to me as ever； and my thoughts shall always be
devoted to you。 It would be a great sacrifice for me to give you up to
another； but if it be your desire； as great as the sacrifice is； I will make it。
Send me and your child into a Free State if we are in your way。〃
Again and again Linwood assured her that no woman possessed his
love but her。 Oh； what falsehood and deceit man can put on when dealing
with woman's love！
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The unabated storm kept Henry from returning home until after the
clock had struck two； and as he drew near his residence he saw his wife
standing at the window。 Giving his horse in charge of the servant who was
waiting； he entered the house； and found his wife in tears。 Although he had
never satisfied Gertrude as to who the quadroon woman and child were； he
had kept her comparatively easy by his close attention to her； and by
telling her that she was mistaken in regard to the child's calling him
〃papa。〃 His absence that night； however； without any apparent cause； had
again aroused the jealousy of Gertrude； but Henry told her that he had
been caught in the rain while out； which prevented his sooner returning；
and she； anxious to believe him； received the story as satisfactory。
Somewhat heated with brandy； and wearied with much loss of sleep；
Linwood fell into a sound slumber as soon as he retired。 Not so with
Gertrude。 That faithfulness which has ever distinguished her sex； and the
anxiety with which she watched all his movements； kept the wife awake
while the husband slept。 His sleep； though apparently sound； was
nevertheless uneasy。 Again and again she heard him pronounce the name
of Isabella； and more than once she heard him say； 〃I am not married； I
will never marry while you live。〃 Then he would speak the name of
Clotelle and say； 〃My dear child； how I love you！〃
After a sleepless night； Gertrude arose from her couch； resolved that
she would reveal the whole matter to her mother。 Mrs。 Miller was a
woman of little or no feeling； proud； peevish； and passionate； thus making
everybody miserable that came near her； and when she disliked any one；
her hatred knew no bounds。 This Gertrude knew； and had she not
considered it her duty； she would have kept the secret locked in her own
heart。
During the day； Mrs。 Linwood visited her mother and told her all that
had happened。 The mother scolded the daughter for not having informed
her sooner； and immediately determined to find out who the woman and
child were that Gertrude had met on the day of her ride。 Three days were
spent by Mrs。 Miller in this endeavor； but without success。
Four weeks had elapsed； and the storm of the old lady's temper had
somewhat subsided； when； one evening； as she was approaching her
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daughter's residence； she saw Henry walking in the direction of where the
quadroon