Why did Armand's mother never leave France?

In Kate Chopin's story, "Desiree's Baby," she tells the tale of a young man of proud Louisiana heritage marrying a girl of unknown background. Shen they have a child that begins to show features of mixed race, Armand blames Desiree, saying she must have black heritage since she was an orphan. The ending reveals that Armand's mother, who lived in France, was black, making Armand the one with black heritage. 

There are several possible reasons...

In Kate Chopin's story, "Desiree's Baby," she tells the tale of a young man of proud Louisiana heritage marrying a girl of unknown background. Shen they have a child that begins to show features of mixed race, Armand blames Desiree, saying she must have black heritage since she was an orphan. The ending reveals that Armand's mother, who lived in France, was black, making Armand the one with black heritage. 

There are several possible reasons Armand's mother stayed in France, but the most commonly accepted one is that she or Armand's father decided to raise him as a white person. Because he was fair skinned and had white features, they knew he could 'pass' for a white person. If the mother came home to Louisiana, everyone would know Armand was of mixed race, which might make him have a lower status or less opportunity. Therefore, either the decision was made together--the mother and father--that she would stay behind or else Armand's father took his son and left. There is no textual evidence to prove this as the reason, but it is generally thought to be so.