It was his opinion the Judge actually hated the sight of his son's child, and only harbored her in the house because he was compelled to do so.

All Haines really knew about these conditions had been told him secretly by an old negro slave, probably the only one left on the estate knowing the facts." "But, Captain," I exclaimed, "do you realize what this might mean?
If Judge Beaucaire has not issued papers of freedom, this woman Delia is still a slave." "Certainly." "And under the law her child was born into slavery ?" "No doubt of that." "But the unspeakable horror of it--this young woman brought up as free, educated and refined, suddenly to discover herself to be a negro under the law, and a slave.

Why, suppose Beaucaire should die, or lose his property suddenly, she could be sold to the cotton fields, into bondage to anyone who would pay the price for her." Thockmorton knocked the ashes out of his pipe.
"Of course," he admitted slowly.

"There is no question as to the law, but I have little doubt but what Beaucaire has attended to this matter long ago.

If he dies, the papers will be found hidden away somewhere.
It is beyond conception that he could ever leave the girl to such a fate." I shook my head, obsessed with a shadow of doubt.
"A mistake men often make--the putting off to the last moment doing the disagreeable task.