Anonymous: The memoirs of Dolly Morton

An soon as I had got fairly settled in my new home, I put five-hundred dollars in the bank and went on housekeeping with the remainder of the money. At first I did nothing but amuse myself, and I thoroughly enjoyed being mistress of a house of my own without anyone to bother me. But, after a time, money constantly was going out and none was coming in, and, since I had determined not to touch the five-hundred dollars in the bank except in case of absolute necessity, I saw that I should have to replenish my purse. There was only one way for me to do it.

I did not like having to adopt the wanton life, for notwithstanding all I had gone through, I still was to a certain extent a modest woman. But I made the plunge and, since I had a pretty face, a well-shaped figure, good clothes and handsome jewelry, I attracted admiration and soon made a number of friends.

I hated the life at first, and I dislike it still, but I have new grown accustomed to it-like other women in the same position. Nearly four years have passed since that time, and I have done well in the profession. I have many good friends, some of whom are rich and liberal. I have saved money and am still saving, and I have had a couple of offers of marriage. Perhaps I will get married some day if I get an offer from a man whom I could love, for, though I am what I am, I will never marry a man unless I love him.

About a year ago, I paid a visit of a couple of days to Philadelphia and, while there, I heard that Miss Dean still was unmarried and that she was as charitable as ever. It had never got to be known that she had been shamefully whipped during her stay in the South. I need hardly tell you that I did not call upon her, though I should have liked to have seen and spoken to the sweet woman again.

My story is finished, and now you know why I said that I hated the Southerners. Don’t you think I have good reason to hate them? They were the cause of all my misfortunes. If they had not whipped me and ridden me on a rail, I should not have been outraged by three ruffians, and I should not have been compelled to adopt my present life.

I remained in New York for three weeks after Dolly had related her story to me, and I frequently paid her a visit, not only because she was a pretty little woman and a splendid poke, but because I had grown to like her and because I also pitied her very much. She certainly had been hardly dealt with by men while she was in the South.

On the day when I bade her goodbye, I gave her my address and told her that I should like to hear from her if she ever felt inclined to write to me. I think that she was a little sorry to part with me, for there were tears in her eyes and her voice shook when she wished me goodbye.

The next day I sailed from New York in the Scotia, and, after a rather rough passage, arrived in Liverpool, from which I went straight home and settled down to my usual life. Six months afterwards, I received a letter from Dolly, telling me that she was going to be married to a man in a prosperous business. She described him as a good chap, a few years older than herself, who loved her, and whom she really loved.

I was glad to hear the news. She was a good-tempered, amiable young woman who, though weak in many respects, would, I was convinced, make a good and faithful wife to the man she loved.

I wrote her a letter of congratulations and sent her a wedding present, which she acknowledged in a nicely-worded letter. Our correspondence never was renewed, but I hope she is a happy wife.

The poor little woman, who had suffered so much from no fault of her own, deserved, after all her troubles, to enjoy some good fortune in…