I will not tire you with this subject, dear grandmama, but only say that the effort here and everywhere in America seems to be directed toward hushing the matter up.

But to return to Zoe: if her mother's father wished to secure the mother against misfortune by bringing her north and marrying her to a white man (my father, as it turned out) why should not I, her half-brother, try to protect her against the future that her mother might have incurred?
I reason that I have taken the place of Zoe's grandfather, and must do for her what he tried to do for Zoe's mother.

This inheritance of duty comes to me as the land comes to me, without my will.

Zoe's grandfather gave my father his start, gave him the $2500 bonus to marry Zoe's mother.

I think, in considering what share of the estate Zoe should have, these things cannot be ignored.