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ancient times； had spoken to men in visions of the night； what easier way
could there be for Him to convey his meaning to people of all ages？
Science； which has shattered many an idol and destroyed many a delusion；
has made but slight inroads upon the shadowy realm of dreams。 For Mis'
Molly； to whom science would have meant nothing and psychology would
have been a meaningless term； the land of dreams was carefully mapped
and bounded。 Each dream had some special significance； or was at least
susceptible of classification under some significant head。 Dreams； as a
general rule； went by contraries； but a dream three times repeated was a
certain portent of the thing defined。 Rena's few years of schooling at
Patesville and her months at Charleston had scarcely disturbed these hoary
superstitions which lurk in the dim corners of the brain。 No lady in
Clarence； perhaps； would have remained undisturbed by a vivid dream；
three times repeated； of some event bearing materially upon her own life。
The first repetition of a dream was decisive of nothing； for two dreams
meant no more than one。 The power of the second lay in the suspense；
the uncertainty； to which it gave rise。 Two doubled the chance of a third。
The day following this second dream was an anxious one for Rena。 She
could not for an instant dismiss her mother from her thoughts； which were
filled too with a certain self…reproach。 She had left her mother alone； if
her mother were really ill； there was no one at home to tend her with
loving care。 This feeling grew in force； until by nightfall Rena had
become very unhappy； and went to bed with the most dismal forebodings。
In this state of mind； it is not surprising that she now dreamed that her
mother was lying at the point of death； and that she cried out with heart…
rending pathos：
〃Rena； my darlin'； why did you forsake yo'r pore old mother？ Come
back to me； honey； I'll die ef I don't see you soon。〃
The stress of subconscious emotion engendered by the dream was
powerful enough to wake Rena； and her mother's utterance seemed to
come to her with the force of a fateful warning and a great reproach。 Her
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mother was sick and needed her； and would die if she did not come。 She
felt that she must see her mother；it would be almost like murder to
remain away from her under such circumstances。
After breakfast she went into the business part of the town and
inquired at what time a train would leave that would take her toward
Patesville。 Since she had come away from the town； a railroad had been
opened by which the long river voyage might be avoided； and； making
allowance for slow trains and irregular connections； the town of Patesville
could be reached by an all…rail route in about twelve hours。 Calling at the
post…office for the family mail； she found there a letter from her mother；
which she tore open in great excitement。 It was written in an unpracticed
hand and badly spelled； and was in effect as follows：
MY DEAR DAUGHTER；I take my pen in hand to let you know
that I am not very well。 I have had a kind of misery in my side for two
weeks； with palpitations of the heart； and I have been in bed for three days。
I'm feeling mighty poorly； but Dr。 Green says that I'll get over it in a few
days。 Old Aunt Zilphy is staying with me； and looking after things
tolerably well。 I hope this will find you and John enjoying good health。
Give my love to John； and I hope the Lord will bless him and you too。
Cousin Billy Oxendine has had a rising on his neck； and has had to have it
lanced。 Mary B。 has another young one； a boy this time。 Old man Tom
Johnson was killed last week while trying to whip black Jim Brown； who
lived down on the Wilmington Road。 Jim has run away。 There has
been a big freshet in the river； and it looked at one time as if the new
bridge would be washed away。
Frank comes over every day or two and asks about you。 He says to
tell you that he don't believe you are coming back any more； but you are to
remember him； and that foolishness he said about bringing you back from
the end of the world with his mule and cart。 He's very good to me； and
brings over shavings and kindling…wood； and made me a new well…bucket
for nothing。 It's a comfort to talk to him about you； though I haven't told
him where you are living。
I hope this will find you and John both well； and doing well。 I should
like to see you； but if it's the Lord's will that I shouldn't； I shall be thankful
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anyway that you have done what was the best for yourselves and your
children； and that I have given you up for your own good。
Your affectionate mother； MARY
WALDEN。
Rena shed tears over this simple letter； which； to her excited
imagination； merely confirmed the warning of her dream。 At the date of
its writing her mother had been sick in bed； with the symptoms of a
serious illness。 She had no nurse but a purblind old woman。 Three days
of progressive illness had evidently been quite sufficient to reduce her
parent to the condition indicated by the third dream。 The thought that her
mother might die without the presence of any one who loved her pierced
Rena's heart like a knife and lent wings to her feet。 She wished for the
enchanted horse of which her brother had read to her so many years before
on the front piazza of the house behind the cedars； that she might fly
through the air to her dying mother's side。 She determined to go at once
to Patesville。
Returning home； she wrote a letter to Warwick inclosing their mother's
letter； and stating that she had dreamed an alarming dream for three nights
in succession； that she had left the house in charge of the servants and
gone to Patesville； and that she would return as soon as her mother was
out of danger。
To her lover she wrote that she had been called away to visit a sick…bed；
and would return very soon； perhaps by the time he got back to Clarence。
These letters Rena posted on her way to the train； which she took at five
o'clock in the afternoon。 This would bring her to Patesville early in the
morning of the following day。
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XI
A LETTER AND A JOURNEY
War has been called the court of last resort。 A lawsuit may with
equal aptness be compared to a battlethe parallel might be drawn very
closely all along the line。 First we have the casus belli； the cause of
action； then the various protocols and proclamations and general orders；
by way of pleas； demurrers； and motions； then the preliminary skirmishes
at the trial table； and then the final struggle； in which might is quite as
likely to prevail as right； victory most often resting with the strongest
battalions； and truth and justice not seldom overborne by the weight of
odds upon the other side。 The lawsuit which Warwick and Tryon had
gone to try did not； however； reach this ultimate stage； but； after a three
days' engagement； resulted in a treaty of peace。 The case was
compromised and settled； and Tryon and Warwick set out on their
homeward drive。 They stopped at a farm… house at noon； and while at
table saw the stage… coach from the town they had just left； bound for their
own destination。