the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第21章
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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。 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
