the house behind the cedars(雪松后的房子)-第25章
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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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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
〃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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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
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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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
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。
Such people were； for the most part； merely on the ragged edge of the
white world； seldom rising above the level of overseers； or slave…catchers；
or sheriff's officers； who could usually be relied upon to resent the drop of
black blood that tainted them； and with the zeal of the proselyte to visit
their hatred of it upon the unfortunate blacks that fell into their hands。
One curse of negro slavery was； and one part of its baleful heritage is； that
it poisoned the fountains of human sympathy。 Under a system where
men might sell their own children without social reprobation or loss of
prestige； it was not surprising that some of them should hate their distant
cousins。 There were not in Patesville half a dozen persons capable of
thinking Judge Straight's thoughts upon the question before him； and
perhaps not another who would have adopted the course he now pursued
toward this anomalous family in the house behind the cedars。
〃Well； here we are again； as the clown in the circus remarks；〃
murmured the judge。 〃Ten years ago； in a moment of sentimental
weakness and of quixotic loyalty to the memory of an old friend； who；
by the way； had not cared enough for his own children to take them away
from the South； as he might have done； or to provide for them handsomely；
as he perhaps meant to do；I violated the traditions of my class and
stepped from the beaten path to help the misbegotten son of my old friend
out of the slough of despond； in which he had learned； in some strange
way； that he was floundering。 Ten years later； the ghost of my good deed
returns to haunt me； and makes me doubt whether I have wrought more
evil than good。 I wonder；〃 he mused； 〃if he will find her out？〃
