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table saw the stage… coach from the town they had just left； bound for their
own destination。 In the mail…bag under the driver's seat were Rena's two
letters； they had been delivered at the town in the morning； and
immediately remailed to Clarence； in accordance with orders left at the
post…office the evening before。 Tryon and Warwick drove leisurely
homeward through the pines； all unconscious of the fateful squares of
white paper moving along the road a few miles before them； which a
mother's yearning and a daughter's love had thrown； like the apple of
discord； into the narrow circle of their happiness。
They reached Clarence at four o'clock。 Warwick got down from the
buggy at his office。 Tryon drove on to his hotel； to make a hasty toilet
before visiting his sweetheart。
Warwick glanced at his mail； tore open the envelope addressed in his
sister's handwriting； and read the contents with something like dismay。
She had gone away on the eve of her wedding； her lover knew not where；
to be gone no one knew how long； on a mission which could not be
frankly disclosed。 A dim foreboding of disaster flashed across his mind。
He thrust the letter into his pocket； with others yet unopened； and started
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toward his home。 Reaching the gate； he paused a moment and then
walked on past the house。 Tryon would probably be there in a few
minutes； and he did not care to meet him without first having had the
opportunity for some moments of reflection。 He must fix upon some line
of action in this emergency。
Meanwhile Tryon had reached his hotel and opened his mail。 The
letter from Rena was read first； with profound disappointment。 He had
really made concessions in the settlement of that lawsuithad yielded
several hundred dollars of his just dues； in order that he might get back to
Rena three days earlier。 Now he must cool his heels in idleness for at
least three days before she would return。 It was annoying； to say the least。
He wished to know where she had gone； that he might follow her and stay
near her until she should be ready to come back。 He might ask Warwick…
… no； she might have had some good reason for not having mentioned her
destination。 She had probably gone to visit some of the poor relations of
whom her brother had spoken so frankly； and she would doubtless prefer
that he should not see her amid any surroundings but the best。 Indeed； he
did not know that he would himself care to endanger； by suggestive
comparisons； the fine aureole of superiority that surrounded her。 She
represented in her adorable person and her pure heart the finest flower of
the finest race that God had ever madethe supreme effort of creative
power； than which there could be no finer。 The flower would soon be his；
why should he care to dig up the soil in which it grew？
Tryon went on opening his letters。 There were several bills and
circulars； and then a letter from his mother； of which he broke the seal：
MY DEAREST GEORGE；This leaves us well。 Blanche is still
with me； and we are impatiently awaiting your return。 In your absence
she seems almost like a daughter to me。 She joins me in the hope that
your lawsuits are progressing favorably； and that you will be with us
soon。 。 。 。
On your way home； if it does not keep you away from us too long；
would it not be well for you to come by way of Patesville； and find out
whether there is any prospect of our being able to collect our claim against
old Mr。 Duncan McSwayne's estate？ You must have taken the papers
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with you； along with the rest； for I do not find them here。 Things ought
to be settled enough now for people to realize on some of their securities。
Your grandfather always believed the note was good； and meant to try to
collect it； but the war interfered。 He said to me； before he died； that if the
note was ever collected； he would use the money to buy a wedding present
for your wife。 Poor father！ he is dead and gone to heaven； but I am sure
that even there he would be happier if he knew the note was paid and the
money used as he intended。
If you go to Patesville； call on my cousin； Dr。 Ed。 Green； and tell him
who you are。 Give him my love。 I haven't seen him for twenty years。
He used to be very fond of the ladies； a very gallant man。 He can direct
you to a good lawyer； no doubt。 Hoping to see you soon；
Your loving mother； ELIZABETH TRYON。
P。 S。 Blanche joins me in love to you。
This affectionate and motherly letter did not give Tryon unalloyed
satisfaction。 He was glad to hear that his mother was well； but he had
hoped that Blanche Leary might have finished her visit by this time。 The
reasonable inference from the letter was that Blanche meant to await his
return。 Her presence would spoil the fine romantic flavor of the surprise
he had planned for his mother； it would never do to expose his bride to an
unannounced meeting with the woman whom he had tacitly rejected。
There would be one advantage in such a meeting： the comparison of the
two women would be so much in Rena's favor that his mother could not
hesitate for a moment between them。 The situation； however； would
have elements of constraint； and he did not care to expose either Rena or
Blanche to any disagreeable contingency。 It would be better to take his
wife on a wedding trip； and notify his mother； before he returned home； of
his marriage。 In the extremely improbable case that she should
disapprove his choice after having seen his wife； the ice would at least
have been broken before his arrival at home。
〃By Jove！〃 he exclaimed suddenly； striking his knee with his hand；
〃why shouldn't I run up to Patesville while Rena's gone？ I can leave here
at five o'clock； and get there some time to…morrow morning。 I can
transact my business during the day； and get back the day after to…morrow；
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for Rena might return ahead of time； just as we did； and I shall want to be
here when she comes； I'd rather wait a year for a legal opinion on a
doubtful old note than to lose one day with my love。 The train goes in
twenty minutes。 My bag is already packed。 I'll just drop a line to
George and tell him where I've gone。〃
He put Rena's letter into his breast pocket； and turning to his trunk；
took from it a handful of papers relating to the claim in reference to which
he was going to Patesville。 These he thrust into the same pocket with
Rena's letter； he wished to read both letter and papers while on the train。
It would be a pleasure merely to hold the letter before his eyes and look at
the lines traced by her hand。 The papers he wished to study； for the more
practical purpose of examining into the merits of his claim against the
estate of Duncan McSwayne。
When Warwick reached home； he inquired if Mr。 Tryon had called。
〃No； suh；〃 answered the nurse； to whom he had put the question； 〃he
ain't be'n here yet； suh。〃
Warwick was surprised and much disturbed。
〃De baby 's be'n cryin' for Miss Rena；〃 suggested the nurse； 〃an' I
s'pec' he'd like to see you； suh。 Shall I fetch 'im？〃
〃Yes； bring him to me。〃
He took the child in his arms and went out upon the piazza。 Several
porch pillows lay invitingly near。