One drop of negro blood in her veins curses all the rest." "I know it," said Eugene, sadly, "but I have weighed the consequences, and am prepared to take them." "Well, Eugene, your course is _so_ singular! I do wish that you would tell me why you take this unprecedented step ?" Eugene laid aside his cigar, looked thoughtfully at Lorraine, and said, "Well, Alfred, as we are kinsmen and life-long friends, I will not resent your asking my reason for doing that which seems to you the climax of absurdity, and if you will have the patience to listen I will tell you." "Proceed, I am all attention." "My father died," said Eugene, "as you know, when I was too young to know his loss or feel his care and, being an only child, I was petted and spoiled.

I grew up to be wayward, self-indulgent, proud, and imperious.

I went from home and made many friends both at college and in foreign lands.

I was well supplied with money and, never having been forced to earn it, was ignorant of its value and careless of its use.

My lavish expenditures and liberal benefactions attracted to me a number of parasites, and men older than myself led me into the paths of vice, and taught me how to gather the flowers of sin which blossom around the borders of hell.