He is a well-respected railroad stationary clerk and property owner who stands as an eligible bachelor in his Northern town. He holds conservative views within his social club, preferring to maintain strict boundaries between different social classes of African Americans. He focuses intensely on upward mobility and social refinement. He prepares to secure his societal standing by proposing to Mrs. Molly Dixon.

Liza Jane is an older woman whose physical appearance reflects a lifetime of harsh labor and the physical toll of Southern slavery. She was separated from her husband twenty-five years ago when her master sold her further South. Resilient and deeply faithful, she has spent the ensuing decades traveling to search for him. She consistently wears clothing that evokes older plantation life.

Mrs. Molly Dixon is an attractive widow who possesses formal education and refined manners. A life insurance payout from her late husband has left her prosperous. She is light-skinned and moves comfortably within the elite social circles of the Northern town. Her presence inspires the town's major upcoming ball.