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〃All right。 Never mind。〃
She laid the letter carefully on the chimney… piece of the kitchen。 〃I
reckon it's somethin' mo' 'bout the taxes；〃 she thought； 〃or maybe
somebody wants to buy one er my lots。 Rena'll be back terreckly； an' she
kin read it an' find out。 I'm glad my child'en have be'n to school。 They
never could have got where they are now if they hadn't。〃
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
XIV
A LOYAL FRIEND
Mention has been made of certain addressed envelopes which John
Warwick； on the occasion of his visit to Patesville； had left with his
illiterate mother； by the use of which she might communicate with her
children from time to time。 On one occasion； Mis' Molly； having had a
letter written； took one of these envelopes from the chest where she kept
her most valued possessions； and was about to inclose the letter when
some one knocked at the back door。 She laid the envelope and letter on a
table in her bedroom； and went to answer the knock。 The wind； blowing
across the room through the open windows； picked up the envelope and
bore it into the street。 Mis' Molly； on her return； missed it； looked for it；
and being unable to find it； took another envelope。 An hour or two later
another gust of wind lifted the bit of paper from the ground and carried it
into the open door of the cooper shop。 Frank picked it up； and observing
that it was clean and unused； read the superscription。 In his
conversations with Mis' Molly； which were often about Rena；the subject
uppermost in both their minds；he had noted the mystery maintained by
Mis' Molly about her daughter's whereabouts； and had often wondered
where she might be。 Frank was an intelligent fellow； and could put this
and that together。 The envelope was addressed to a place in South
Carolina。 He was aware； from some casual remark of Mis' Molly's； that
Rena had gone to live in South Carolina。 Her son's name was John that
he had changed his last name was more than likely。 Frank was not long
in reaching the conclusion that Rena was to be found near the town named
on the envelope； which he carefully preserved for future reference。
For a whole year Frank had yearned for a smile or a kind word from
the only woman in the world。 Peter； his father； had rallied him somewhat
upon his moodiness after Rena's departure。
〃Now 's de time； boy； fer you ter be lookin' roun' fer some nice gal er
yo' own color； w'at'll 'preciate you； an' won't be 'shamed er you。 You're
wastin' time； boy； wastin' time； shootin' at a mark outer yo' range。〃
But Frank said nothing in reply； and afterwards the old man； who was
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
not without discernment； respected his son's mood and was silent in turn；
while Frank fed his memory with his imagination； and by their joint aid
kept hope alive。
Later an opportunity to see her presented itself。 Business in the
cooper shop was dull。 A barrel factory had been opened in the town； and
had well…nigh paralyzed the cooper's trade。 The best mechanic could
hardly compete with a machine。 One man could now easily do the work
of Peter's shop。 An agent appeared in town seeking laborers for one of
the railroads which the newly organized carpet…bag governments were
promoting。 Upon inquiry Frank learned that their destination was near
the town of Clarence； South Carolina。 He promptly engaged himself for
the service； and was soon at work in the neighborhood of Warwick's home。
There he was employed steadily until a certain holiday； upon which a
grand tournament was advertised to take place in a neighboring town。
Work was suspended； and foremen and laborers attended the festivities。
Frank had surmised that Rena would be present on such an occasion。
He had more than guessed； too； that she must be looked for among the
white people rather than among the black。 Hence the interest with which
he had scanned the grand stand。 The result has already been recounted。
He had recognized her sweet face； he had seen her enthroned among the
proudest and best。 He had witnessed and gloried in her triumph。 He
had seen her cheek flushed with pleasure； her eyes lit up with smiles。 He
had followed her carriage； had made the acquaintance of Mimy the nurse；
and had learned all about the family。 When finally he left the
neighborhood to return to Patesville； he had learned of Tryon's attentions；
and had heard the servants' gossip with reference to the marriage； of which
they knew the details long before the principals had approached the main
fact。 Frank went away without having received one smile or heard one
word from Rena； but he had seen her： she was happy； he was content in
the knowledge of her happiness。 She was doubtless secure in the belief
that her secret was unknown。 Why should he； by revealing his presence；
sow the seeds of doubt or distrust in the garden of her happiness？ He
sacrificed the deepest longing of a faithful heart； and went back to the
cooper shop lest perchance she might accidentally come upon him some
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
day and suffer the shock which he had sedulously spared her。
〃I would n' want ter skeer her；〃 he mused； 〃er make her feel bad； an'
dat's w'at I'd mos' lackly do ef she seed me。 She'll be better off wid me
out'n de road。 She'll marry dat rich w'ite gent'eman； he won't never
know de diffe'nce；an' be a w'ite lady； ez she would 'a' be'n； ef some ole
witch had n' changed her in her cradle。 But maybe some time she'll
'member de little nigger w'at use' ter nuss her w'en she woz a chile； an'
fished her out'n de ole canal； an' would 'a' died fer her ef it would 'a' done
any good。〃
Very generously too； and with a fine delicacy； he said nothing to Mis'
Molly of his having seen her daughter； lest she might be disquieted by the
knowledge that he shared the family secret；no great mystery now； this
pitiful secret； but more far… reaching in its consequences than any blood…
curdling crime。 The taint of black blood was the unpardonable sin； from
the unmerited penalty of which there was no escape except by
concealment。 If there be a dainty reader of this tale who scorns a lie； and
who writes the story of his life upon his sleeve for all the world to read； let
him uncurl his scornful lip and come down from the pedestal of superior
morality； to which assured position and wide opportunity have lifted him；
and put himself in the place of Rena and her brother； upon whom God had
lavished his best gifts； and from whom society would have withheld all
that made these gifts valuable。 To undertake what they tried to do
required great courage。 Had they possessed the sneaking； cringing；
treacherous character traditionally ascribed to people of mixed bloodthe
character which the blessed institutions of a free slave…holding republic
had been well adapted to foster among them； had they been selfish enough
to sacrifice to their ambition the mother who gave them birth； society
would have been placated or humbugged； and the voyage of their life
might have been one of unbroken smoothness。
When Rena came back unexpectedly at the behest of her dream； Frank
heard again the music of her voice； felt the joy of her presence and the
benison of her smile。 There was； however； a subtle difference in her
bearing。 Her words were not less kind； but they seemed to come from a
remoter source。 She was kind； as the sun is warm or the rain refreshing；
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THE HO