Rebel in Paradise

The employee opened the door, entered and closed it after him. Gabriel looked around. A woman working in an office? he thought. In his native state, where slavery was widespread, it was rare to see such a thing.

The male employee came back. Holding the door ajar, he said, "Mr. Dumont is waiting for you. Come in, please."

Gabriel walked toward the man. As he did, the front door was opened and a young woman walked in. The female employee stood, greeting the visitor. Gabriel gazed at the women as he reached the office and stepped inside. The male employee returned to his desk and sat, pretending to look at his documents, though his eyes were actually on the two women.

A middle-aged man stood in front of Gabriel. "Mr. Gilbert, I am Mr. Dumont," the man said, smiling as he closed the door. "Glad to meet you."

"Thanks, Mr. Dumont." Gabriel answered, shaking hands.

"Please, sit. How is Boston treating you?" While speaking, Mr. Dumont went behind an elegant bureau and sat in a comfortable-looking chair. To his left was another fancy desk that was currently unoccupied.

"Very good. This is a pleasant community," Gabriel answered as he sat in a chair facing Mr. Dumont's desk.

A young Northern woman becomes a Southerner by marriage. The profound differences of worlds, slavery, customs and patriarchal masterful ego, soon collide. No matter how hard she tries to assimilate her new world, the Civil War conflict aggravated her struggle to reconcile and secure happiness.