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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
THE HOUSE BEHIND
THE CEDARS
BY CHARLES W。 CHESNUTT
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
I
A STRANGER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
Time touches all things with destroying hand； and if he seem now
and then to bestow the bloom of youth； the sap of spring； it is but a brief
mockery； to be surely and swiftly followed by the wrinkles of old age； the
dry leaves and bare branches of winter。 And yet there are places where
Time seems to linger lovingly long after youth has departed； and to which
he seems loath to bring the evil day。 Who has not known some even…
tempered old man or woman who seemed to have drunk of the fountain of
youth？ Who has not seen somewhere an old town that； having long since
ceased to grow； yet held its own without perceptible decline？
Some such trite reflectionas apposite to the subject as most random
reflections arepassed through the mind of a young man who came out of
the front door of the Patesville Hotel about nine o'clock one fine morning
in spring； a few years after the Civil War； and started down Front Street
toward the market…house。 Arriving at the town late the previous evening；
he had been driven up from the steamboat in a carriage； from which he
had been able to distinguish only the shadowy outlines of the houses along
the street； so that this morning walk was his first opportunity to see the
town by daylight。 He was dressed in a suit of linen duckthe day was
warma panama straw hat； and patent leather shoes。 In appearance he
was tall； dark； with straight； black； lustrous hair； and very clean…cut； high…
bred features。 When he paused by the clerk's desk on his way out； to
light his cigar； the day clerk； who had just come on duty； glanced at the
register and read the last entry：
〃‘JOHN WARWICK； CLARENCE； SOUTH CAROLINA。'
〃One of the South Ca'lina bigbugs； I reckon probably in cotton； or
turpentine。〃 The gentleman from South Carolina； walking down the
street； glanced about him with an eager look； in which curiosity and
affection were mingled with a touch of bitterness。 He saw little that was
not familiar； or that he had not seen in his dreams a hundred times during
the past ten years。 There had been some changes； it is true； some
melancholy changes； but scarcely anything by way of addition or
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
improvement to counterbalance them。 Here and there blackened and
dismantled walls marked the place where handsome buildings once had
stood； for Sherman's march to the sea had left its mark upon the town。
The stores were mostly of brick； two stories high； joining one another after
the manner of cities。 Some of the names on the signs were familiar；
others； including a number of Jewish names； were quite unknown to him。
A two minutes' walk brought Warwickthe name he had registered
under； and as we shall call himto the market…house； the central feature of
Patesville； from both the commercial and the picturesque points of view。
Standing foursquare in the heart of the town； at the intersection of the two
main streets； a 〃jog〃 at each street corner left around the market…house a
little public square； which at this hour was well occupied by carts and
wagons from the country and empty drays awaiting hire。 Warwick was
unable to perceive much change in the market…house。 Perhaps the
surface of the red brick； long unpainted； had scaled off a little more here
and there。 There might have been a slight accretion of the moss and
lichen on the shingled roof。 But the tall tower； with its four… faced clock；
rose as majestically and uncompromisingly as though the land had never
been subjugated。 Was it so irreconcilable； Warwick wondered； as still to
peal out the curfew bell； which at nine o'clock at night had clamorously
warned all negroes； slave or free； that it was unlawful for them to be
abroad after that hour； under penalty of imprisonment or whipping？ Was
the old constable； whose chief business it had been to ring the bell； still
alive and exercising the functions of his office； and had age lessened or
increased the number of times that obliging citizens performed this duty
for him during his temporary absences in the company of convivial spirits？
A few moments later； Warwick saw a colored policeman in the old
constable's placea stronger reminder than even the burned buildings that
war had left its mark upon the old town； with which Time had dealt so
tenderly。
The lower story of the market…house was open on all four of its sides
to the public square。 Warwick passed through one of the wide brick
arches and traversed the building with a leisurely step。 He looked in vain
into the stalls for the butcher who had sold fresh meat twice a week； on
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market days； and he felt a genuine thrill of pleasure when he recognized
the red bandana turban of old Aunt Lyddy； the ancient negro woman who
had sold him gingerbread and fried fish； and told him weird tales of
witchcraft and conjuration； in the old days when； as an idle boy； he had
loafed about the market…house。 He did not speak to her； however； or give
her any sign of recognition。 He threw a glance toward a certain corner
where steps led to the town hall above。 On this stairway he had once
seen a manacled free negro shot while being taken upstairs for
examination under a criminal charge。 Warwick recalled vividly how the
shot had rung out。 He could see again the livid look of terror on the
victim's face； the gathering crowd； the resulting confusion。 The murderer；
he recalled； had been tried and sentenced to imprisonment for life； but was
pardoned by a merciful governor after serving a year of his sentence。 As
Warwick was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet； he could not
foresee that； thirty years later； even this would seem an excessive
punishment for so slight a misdemeanor。
Leaving the market…house； Warwick turned to the left； and kept on his
course until he reached the next corner。 After another turn to the right； a
dozen paces brought him in front of a small weather…beaten frame building；
from which projected a wooden sign…board bearing the inscription：
ARCHIBALD STRAIGHT； LAWYER。
He turned the knob； but the door was locked。 Retracing his steps past
a vacant lot； the young man entered a shop where a colored man was
employed in varnishing a coffin； which stood on two trestles in the middle
of the floor。 Not at all impressed by the melancholy suggestiveness of
his task； he was whistling a lively air with great gusto。 Upon Warwick's
entrance this effusion came to a sudden end； and the coffin…maker
assumed an air of professional gravity。
〃Good…mawnin'； suh；〃 he said； lifting his cap politely。
〃Good…morning；〃 answered Warwick。 〃Can you tell me anything
about Judge Straight's office hours？〃
〃De ole jedge has be'n a little onreg'lar sence de wah； suh； but he
gin'ally gits roun' 'bout ten o'clock er so。 He's be'n kin' er feeble fer de
las' few yeahs。 An' I reckon；〃 continued the undertaker solemnly； his
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
glance unconsciously seeking a row of fine caskets standing against the
wall；〃I reckon he'll soon be goin' de way er all de earth。 ‘Man dat is
bawn er 'oman hath but a sho't time ter lib； an' is