Page:By Sanction of Law.pdf/99

 "Yes, I'm of that race.—There is Negro blood in my veins.—Not slave blood, however—the blood of men is in my veins and of my ancestors and parents.—There's nothing shame-worthy in my blood. None of us are responsible for our birth. Our responsibility is the use we make of life. I have been taught that color counts for nothing. It is what we are.—Therefore I forget color. Besides, of what color am I?"

Lida's head drooped and she sobbed.

"Why couldn't you have told me this before. Why couldn't I have learned it before? Oh, God, what shall I do?"

"It never occurred to me that it would make any difference," he defended. "I loved you and you loved me, of what matter anything else? I gave no thought to ancestry, either yours or mine. When we marry we don't wed ancestry, we wed not tradition, but one another."

"I'm sorry," was all she said. "Take me back, Truman, please."

As they neared the gymnasium, Bennet felt her body shudder and turned to her tenderly. He held her arm tightly to comfort her and was conscious there was no shrinking away as he had half expected from this new turn of events. When they reached the steps and started to mount she turned, with:

"No—no—. Not now—I want to go home—Take me home."

Forgetful of her wraps in the reception room, she turned toward the waiting line of taxicabs. Truman dis-