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〃If I had been twenty years younger； I should have cut you out。〃
〃You mean you would have tried。 But as I was saying； this girl is a
beauty； I reckon we might guess where she got some of it； eh； Judge？
Human nature is human nature； but it's a dd shame that a man should
beget a child like that and leave it to live the life open for a negro。 If she
had been born white； the young fellows would be tumbling over one
another to get her。 Her mother would have to look after her pretty
closely as things are； if she stayed here； but she disappeared mysteriously
a year or two ago； and has been at the North； I'm told； passing for white。
She'll probably marry a Yankee； he won't know any better； and it will
serve him rightshe's only too white for them。 She has a very striking
figure； something on the Greek order； stately and slow…moving。 She has
the manners of a lady； too a beautiful woman； if she is a nigger！〃
〃I quite agree with you； Ed；〃 remarked the judge dryly； 〃that the
mother had better look closely after the daughter。〃
〃Ah； no； judge；〃 replied the other； with a flattered smile； 〃my
admiration for beauty is purely abstract。 Twenty…five years ago； when I
was younger〃
〃When you were young；〃 corrected the judge。
〃When you and I were younger；〃 continued the doctor ingeniously；
〃twenty…five years ago； I could not have answered for myself。 But I
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would advise the girl to stay at the North； if she can。 She's certainly out
of place around here。〃
Tryon found the subject a little tiresome； and the doctor's enthusiasm
not at all contagious。 He could not possibly have been interested in a
colored girl； under any circumstances； and he was engaged to be married
to the most beautiful white woman on earth。 To mention a negro woman
in the same room where he was thinking of Rena seemed little short of
profanation。 His friend the doctor was a jovial fellow； but it was surely
doubtful taste to refer to his wife in such a conversation。 He was very
glad when the doctor dropped the subject and permitted him to go more
into detail about the matter which formed his business in Patesville。 He
took out of his pocket the papers concerning the McSwayne claim and laid
them on the judge's desk。
〃You'll find everything there； sir；the note； the contract； and some
correspondence that will give you the hang of the thing。 Will you be able
to look over them to…day？ I should like；〃 he added a little nervously； 〃to
go back to…morrow。〃
〃What！〃 exclaimed Dr。 Green vivaciously； 〃insult our town by staying
only one day？ It won't be long enough to get acquainted with our young
ladies。 Patesville girls are famous for their beauty。 But perhaps there's
a loadstone in South Carolina to draw you back？ Ah； you change color！
To my mind there's nothing finer than the ingenuous blush of youth。 But
we'll spare you if you'll answer one questionis it serious？〃
〃I'm to be married in two weeks； sir；〃 answered Tryon。 The statement
sounded very pleasant； in spite of the slight embarrassment caused by the
inquiry。
〃Good boy！〃 rejoined the doctor； taking his arm familiarlythey were
both standing now。 〃You ought to have married a Patesville girl； but you
people down towards the eastern counties seldom come this way； and we
are evidently too late to catch you。〃
〃I'll look your papers over this morning；〃 said the judge； 〃and when I
come from dinner will stop at the court house and examine the records and
see whether there's anything we can get hold of。 If you'll drop in around
three or four o'clock； I may be able to give you an opinion。〃
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〃Now； George；〃 exclaimed the doctor； 〃we'll go back to the office for a
spell； and then I'll take you home with me to luncheon。〃
Tryon hesitated。
〃Oh； you must come！ Mrs。 Green would never forgive me if I didn't
bring you。 Strangers are rare birds in our society； and when they come
we make them welcome。 Our enemies may overturn our institutions； and
try to put the bottom rail on top； but they cannot destroy our Southern
hospitality。 There are so many carpet…baggers and other social vermin
creeping into the South； with the Yankees trying to force the niggers on us；
that it's a genuine pleasure to get acquainted with another real Southern
gentleman； whom one can invite into one's house without fear of
contamination； and before whom one can express his feelings freely and
be sure of perfect sympathy。〃
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XIII
AN INJUDICIOUS PAYMENT
When Judge Straight's visitors had departed； he took up the papers
which had been laid loosely on the table as they were taken out of Tryon's
breast… pocket； and commenced their perusal。 There was a note for five
hundred dollars； many years overdue； but not yet outlawed by lapse of
time； a contract covering the transaction out of which the note had grown；
and several letters and copies of letters modifying the terms of the contract。
The judge had glanced over most of the papers； and was getting well into
the merits of the case； when he unfolded a letter which read as follows：
MY DEAREST GEORGE； I am going away for about a week； to
visit the bedside of an old friend； who is very ill； and may not live。 Do
not be alarmed about me； for I shall very likely be back by the time you
are。 Yours lovingly；
ROWENA WARWICK。
The judge was unable to connect this letter with the transaction which
formed the subject of his examination。 Age had dimmed his perceptions
somewhat； and it was not until he had finished the letter； and read it over
again； and noted the signature at the bottom a second time； that he
perceived that the writing was in a woman's hand； that the ink was
comparatively fresh； and that the letter was dated only a couple of days
before。 While he still held the sheet in his hand； it dawned upon him
slowly that he held also one of the links in a chain of possible tragedy
which he himself； he became uncomfortably aware； had had a hand in
forging。
〃It is the Walden woman's daughter； as sure as fate！ Her name is
Rena。 Her brother goes by the name of Warwick。 She has come to visit
her sick mother。 My young client； Green's relation； is her loveris
engaged to marry heris in town； and is likely to meet her！〃
The judge was so absorbed in the situation thus suggested that he laid
the papers down and pondered for a moment the curious problem involved。
He was quite aware that two races had not dwelt together； side by side； for
nearly three hundred years； without mingling their blood in greater or less
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degree； he was old enough； and had seen curious things enough； to know
that in this mingling the current had not always flowed in one direction。
Certain old decisions with which he was familiar； old scandals that had
crept along obscure channels； old facts that had come to the knowledge of
an old practitioner； who held in the hollow of his hand the honor of more
than one family； made him know that there was dark blood among the
white peoplenot a great deal； and that very much diluted； and； so long as
it was sedulously concealed or vigorously denied； or lost in the mists of
tradition； or ascribed to a foreign or an aboriginal strain； having no
perceptible effect upon the racial type。