“Madeline’s case rests in an odd sort of limbo. She is many things at the same time: legitimate, but not; her father’s ward, but not. If she is illegitimate, I have the claim to her legally, as I am Madeline’s closest male relative. If she is legitimized, then Dennis has full legal claim as her father. I don’t want Madeline to suffer the stigma of illegitimacy, even if it means Dennis regaining his parental rights. Fortunately, Dennis wants nothing to do with his daughter.
