The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-27
READS LIKE FICTION.
THE TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN WELL
KNOWN IN CHICAGO.


At tho Height OF Her Ambition She Learns
That sho Ua1 Negro Blood In Her Veins.
A Young Driton Made Her His Wife.
Earning Her Living Now.
There Is o woman In Chicago who was
brought up In tho belief that she was
white, and TO whom one day IN cruel
manner It was revealed that her mother
was nogrcss The story of this woman's
life is stranger than fiction, and although
several stirring novels have been written
which have for their motive similar themes
yet no romance could possibly contain the
pathos which surrounds her and her his
tory.
Today this woman Is earning a liveli-
hood In Chicago, and not a day passes that
she docs not meet some Of the women who
were the companions Of her girlhood.
They know her life's story and admire her
for tho heroism she has shown In rising
above the position In which she was placed
by a stroke of fate which was enough to
crush weaker spirit. Her name, for OBJ
vious reasons, need not be mentioned In
this story, but many Chicagoans, especial
ly North Siders know the brave little wom-
story tho other day, omitting no detail,
and those who heard her shuddered when
they listened. No man or woman can con-
ceive Of q moro humiliating blow than this
woman Nceived, and yet she is cheerful
and happy, although she admits her path
would have been far different II the revela-
tion had not come to her when 1t did.
She was born in the south. Her father
was an Englishman and spent his time in
travelling. He brought his daughter to
Chicago to De educated and placed her In
an exclusive North Side boarding house.
She was bright, pretty and intelligent and
was well liked by all with whom she came
In contact. AS she progressed In her
studies she increased In popularity and So
cially was a great success.
Her bills were all paid by her father,
who stinted her In nothing She was well
supplied with pocket money, and when9v-
er she needed anything she asked him for
1t, and there was never a complaint that
sho was spending too much money. One
day the girl received q letter from her ia
ther, telling her to prepare at once for a
long European tour. He asked her to hur-
ry and inclosed large check for her to
use In securing the necessary outfit. She
got ready and was awaiting the arrival in
Chicago Of her father when one morning
she was handed telegram which anounc-
ed that her father had suddenly died when
about TO take the train for this city. Over
come with grief at the sad end Of her par
ent, the girl abandoned all thought of her
European tour, and again settled down to
her old life on the North Side.
Several weeks passed without anything
being made known to the girl about the
arrangements her father had made for her
support Finally she needed money and
wrote letter to the city where her father
had died, asking for a remittance. After
some delay she received letter which Of
fered her big sum Of money and home
for life, provided she would never again
attempt TO communicate with a brother
she had discovered during the correspond
ence concerning her fathers death, and of
whose existence she had before been in ig-
norance.
Suspecting something wrong, but not
dreaming of the truth, the girl answered
the peculiar request declining to agree to
any such proposition and asking for the
brothers reasons for debating such terms.
Then came the crushing and humiliating
truth. She was told she had negro blood
in her veins; that her mother was ne
gress and, in fact, was even at that time
living on Dearborn street in Chicago.
The letter which turned the Efe's story
of this girl into n new channel carried also
the information that If she needed proof
she might go TO n prominent Chicago pas
tor who knew the facts and would advise
her what TO do. Tho girl, stricken and
heartbroken, could not believe at first that
she had negro blood In her veins, but she
went to the pastor, who, when she insist
ed, told her the truth. He had no advice
to give for the girl had decided at once
what she would do
''If am n negrcss, 4" she said, "my place
is with the colorcd race. have no bust
ness TO associate longer with my friends.
I will leave them and take my place where
] belong"
The girl at once wrote to her supposed
brother, accepting his terms She got the
money, and then she found her mother
and fitted up home for her. She took up
her life with her negro relatives and no
word of regret was ever heard from her.
She bore her blow in silence and her hu-
initiation with fortitude.
One day there came to Chicago q young
Englishman who had known tho girl when
she was happier and her spirit had not
been crushed. He went to her old North
side home and was referred to a friend for
an explanation of the reason why he should
not see her. The young Briton was quiet
ly told that his girl friend was negress
and was living with her mother. He de-
clared at onco that whatever position she
was I'm would make no change in the feel
ing he held toward her, and he Immediate
ly went 70 her home and after few days
made her proposal of marriage, telling
her he loved her and the story of her life
was nothing TO him. She accepted him;
they were married and went to England,
where they lived several years
Then came another blow. The husband
died The mother and young child were
left without means, and after some strug-
Cling managed TO reach Chicago, where
the woman entered n business life and Is
making q success.
II am not ashamed Of the fact that there
Is negro blood In my veins" she said.
True, am not proud Of IL and do not any
lonpcr associate with colored neonle do