I had been travelling over the mountains most of the afternoon in an old-fashion stage-coach, when, late in the evening, the coach stopped for the night at a common, unpainted house called a hotel.

All the other passengers except myself were whites.

In my ignorance I supposed that the little hotel existed for the purpose of accommodating the passengers who travelled on the stage-coach.

The difference that the colour of one's skin would make I had not thought anything about.

After all the other passengers had been shown rooms and were getting ready for supper, I shyly presented myself before the man at the desk.