Melanctha Herbert was always losing what she had in wanting all the
things she saw. Melanctha was always being left when she was not
leaving others.
Melanctha Herbert always loved too hard and much too often. She was
always full with mystery and subtle movements and denials and vague
distrusts and complicated disillusions. Then Melanctha would be sudden
and impulsive and unbounded in some faith, and then she would suffer
and be strong in her repression.
Melanctha Herbert was always seeking rest and quiet, and always she
could only find new ways to be in trouble.
Melanctha wondered often how it was she did not kill herself when she
was so blue. Often she thought this would be really the best way for
her to do.
Melanctha Herbert had been raised to be religious, by her mother.
Melanctha had not liked her mother very well. This mother, 'Mis'
Herbert, as her neighbors called her, had been a sweet appearing and
dignified and pleasant, pale yellow, colored woman. 'Mis' Herbert had
always been a little wandering and mysterious and uncertain in her
ways.
Melanctha was pale yellow and mysterious and a little pleasant like
her mother, but the real power in Melanctha's nature came through her
robust and unpleasant and very unendurable black father.
Melanctha's father only used to come to where Melanctha and her mother
lived, once in a while.
It was many years now that Melanctha had not heard or seen or known of
anything her father did.
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