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way of diversion。
〃Hello； Plato；〃 called Tryon； 〃do you want a lift？〃
〃Hoddy； Mars Geo'ge。 Kin I ride wid you？〃
〃Jump up。〃
Plato mounted into the buggy with the agility to be expected from a
lad of his acrobatic accomplishments。 The two almost immediately fell
into conversation upon perhaps the only subject of common interest
between them。 Before the town was reached； Tryon knew； so far as Plato
could make it plain； the estimation in which the teacher was held by pupils
and parents。 He had learned the hours of opening and dismissal of the
school； where the teacher lived； her habits of coming to and going from
the schoolhouse； and the road she always followed。
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〃Does she go to church or anywhere else with Jeff Wain； Plato？〃 asked
Tryon。
〃No； suh； she don' go nowhar wid nobody excep'n' ole Elder Johnson
er Mis' Johnson； an' de child'en。 She use' ter stop at Mis' Wain's； but she's
stayin' wid Elder Johnson now。 She alluz makes some er de child'en go
home wid er f'm school；〃 said Plato； proud to find in Mars Geo'ge an
appreciative listener；〃sometimes one an' sometimes anudder。 I's be'n
home wid 'er twice； ann it'll be my tu'n ag'in befo' long。〃
〃Plato；〃 remarked Tryon impressively； as they drove into the town； 〃do
you think you could keep a secret？〃
〃Yas； Mars Geo'ge； ef you says I shill。〃
〃Do you see this fifty…cent piece？〃 Tryon displayed a small piece of
paper money； crisp and green in its newness。
〃Yas； Mars Geo'ge；〃 replied Plato； fixing his eyes respectfully on the
government's promise to pay。 Fifty cents was a large sum of money。
His acquaintance with Mars Geo'ge gave him the privilege of looking at
money。 When he grew up； he would be able； in good times； to earn fifty
cents a day。
〃I am going to give this to you； Plato。〃
Plato's eyes opened wide as saucers。 〃Me； Mars Geo'ge？〃 he asked in
amazement。
〃Yes； Plato。 I'm going to write a letter while I'm in town； and want
you to take it。 Meet me here in half an hour； and I'll give you the letter。
Meantime； keep your mouth shut。〃
〃Yas； Mars Geo'ge；〃 replied Plato with a grin that distended that organ
unduly。 That he did not keep it shut may be inferred from the fact that
within the next half hour he had eaten and drunk fifty cents' worth of
candy； ginger…pop； and other available delicacies that appealed to the
youthful palate。 Having nothing more to spend； and the high prices
prevailing for some time after the war having left him capable of
locomotion； Plato was promptly on hand at the appointed time and place。
Tryon placed a letter in Plato's hand； still sticky with molasses candy；
he had inclosed it in a second cover by way of protection。 〃Give that
letter；〃 he said； 〃to your teacher； don't say a word about it to a living soul；
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bring me an answer； and give it into my own hand； and you shall have
another half dollar。〃
Tryon was quite aware that by a surreptitious correspondence he ran
some risk of compromising Rena。 But he had felt； as soon as he had
indulged his first opportunity to talk of her； an irresistible impulse to see
her and speak to her again。 He could scarcely call at her boarding…place；…
… what possible proper excuse could a young white man have for visiting a
colored woman？ At the schoolhouse she would be surrounded by her
pupils； and a private interview would be as difficult； with more eyes to
remark and more tongues to comment upon it。 He might address her by
mail； but did not know how often she sent to the nearest post…office。 A
letter mailed in the town must pass through the hands of a postmaster
notoriously inquisitive and evil…minded； who was familiar with Tryon's
handwriting and had ample time to attend to other people's business。 To
meet the teacher alone on the road seemed scarcely feasible； according to
Plato's statement。 A messenger； then； was not only the least of several
evils； but really the only practicable way to communicate with Rena。 He
thought he could trust Plato； though miserably aware that he could not
trust himself where this girl was concerned。
The letter handed by Tryon to Plato； and by the latter delivered with
due secrecy and precaution； ran as follows：
DEAR MISS WARWICK；You may think it strange that I should
address you after what has passed between us； but learning from my
mother of your presence in the neighborhood； I am constrained to believe
that you do not find my proximity embarrassing； and I cannot resist the
wish to meet you at least once more； and talk over the circumstances of
our former friendship。 From a practical point of view this may seem
superfluous； as the matter has been definitely settled。 I have no desire to
find fault with you； on the contrary； I wish to set myself right with regard
to my own actions； and to assure you of my good wishes。 In other words；
since we must part； I would rather we parted friends than enemies。 If
nature and society or Fate； to put it another wayhave decreed that we
cannot live together； it is nevertheless possible that we may carry into the
future a pleasant though somewhat sad memory of a past friendship。
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Will you not grant me one interview？ I appreciate the difficulty of
arranging it； I have found it almost as hard to communicate with you by
letter。 I will suit myself to your convenience and meet you at any time
and place you may designate。 Please answer by bearer； who I think is
trustworthy； and believe me； whatever your answer may be；
Respectfully yours； G。 T。
The next day but one Tryon received through the mail the following
reply to his letter：
GEORGE TRYON； ESQ。
Dear Sir；I have requested your messenger to say that I will answer
your letter by mail； which I shall now proceed to do。 I assure you that I
was entirely ignorant of your residence in this neighborhood； or it would
have been the last place on earth in which I should have set foot。
As to our past relations； they were ended by your own act。 I frankly
confess that I deceived you； I have paid the penalty； and have no
complaint to make。 I appreciate the delicacy which has made you respect
my brother's secret； and thank you for it。 I remember the whole affair
with shame and humiliation； and would willingly forget it。
As to a future interview； I do not see what good it would do either of
us。 You are white； and you have given me to understand that I am black。
I accept the classification； however unfair； and the consequences； however
unjust； one of which is that we cannot meet in the same parlor； in the same
church； at the same table； or anywhere； in social intercourse； upon a
steamboat we would not sit at the same table； we could not walk together
on the street； or meet publicly anywhere and converse； without unkind
remark。 As a white man； this might not mean a great deal to you； as a
woman； shut out already by my color from much that is desirable； my
good name remains my most valuable possession。 I beg of you to let me
alone。 The best possible proof you can give me of your good wishes is to
relinquish any desire or attempt to see me。 I shall have finished my work
here in a few days。 I have other troubles； of which you know nothing；
and any meeting with you would only add to a burden which is already as
much as I can bear。 To speak of parting is superfluous we have