denied that his course was controlled by any narrow prudence。 If Rena
had been white； pure white （for in his creed there was no compromise）； he
would have braved any danger for her sake。 Had she been merely of
illegitimate birth； he would have overlooked the bar sinister。 Had her
people been simply poor and of low estate； he would have brushed aside
mere worldly considerations； and would have bravely sacrificed
convention for love； for his liberality was not a mere form of words。 But
the one objection which he could not overlook was； unhappily； the one that
applied to the only woman who had as yet moved his heart。 He tried to
be angry with her； but after the first hour he found it impossible。 He was
a man of too much imagination not to be able to put himself； in some
measure at least； in her place；to perceive that for her the step which had
placed her in Tryon's world was the working out of nature's great law of
self… preservation； for which he could not blame her。 But for the sheerest
accident；no； rather； but for a providential interference；he would have
married her； and might have gone to the grave unconscious that she was
other than she seemed。
The clock struck the hour of two。 With a shiver he closed the
window； undressed by the moonlight； drew down the shade； and went to
bed。 He fell into an unquiet slumber； and dreamed again of Rena。 He
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must learn to control his waking thoughts； his dreams could not be curbed。
In that realm Rena's image was for many a day to remain supreme。 He
dreamed of her sweet smile； her soft touch； her gentle voice。 In all her
fair young beauty she stood before him； and then by some hellish magic
she was slowly transformed into a hideous black hag。 With agonized
eyes he watched her beautiful tresses become mere wisps of coarse wool；
wrapped round with dingy cotton strings； he saw her clear eyes grow
bloodshot； her ivory teeth turn to unwholesome fangs。 With a shudder he
awoke； to find the cold gray dawn of a rainy day stealing through the
window。
He rose； dressed himself； went down to breakfast； then entered the
writing…room and penned a letter which； after reading it over； he tore into
small pieces and threw into the waste basket。 A second shared the same
fate。 Giving up the task； he left the hotel and walked down to Dr。 Green's
office。
〃Is the doctor in？〃 he asked of the colored attendant。
〃No； suh；〃 replied the man； 〃he's gone ter see de young cullud gal w'at
fainted w'en de doctah was wid you yistiddy。〃
Tryon sat down at the doctor's desk and hastily scrawled a note； stating
that business compelled his immediate departure。 He thanked the doctor
for courtesies extended； and left his regards for the ladies。 Returning。
to the hotel； he paid his bill and took a hack for the wharf； from which a
boat was due to leave at nine o'clock。
As the hack drove down Front Street； Tryon noted idly the houses that
lined the street。 When he reached the sordid district in the lower part of
the town； there was nothing to attract his attention until the carriage came
abreast of a row of cedar…trees； beyond which could be seen the upper part
of a large house with dormer windows。 Before the gate stood a horse and
buggy； which Tryon thought he recognized as Dr。 Green's。 He leaned
forward and addressed the driver。
〃Can you tell me who lives there？〃 Tryon asked； pointing to the house。
〃A callud 'oman； suh；〃 the man replied； touching his hat。 〃Mis' Molly
Walden an' her daughter Rena。〃
The vivid impression he received of this house； and the spectre that
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rose before him of a pale； broken…hearted girl within its gray walls；
weeping for a lost lover and a vanished dream of happiness； did not argue
well for Tryon's future peace of mind。 Rena's image was not to be easily
expelled from his heart； for the laws of nature are higher and more potent
than merely human institutions； and upon anything like a fair field are
likely to win in the long ran。
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XVII
TWO LETTERS
Warwick awaited events with some calmness and some philosophy；
he could hardly have had the one without the other； and it required much
philosophy to make him wait a week in patience for information upon a
subject in which he was so vitally interested。 The delay pointed to
disaster。 Bad news being expected； delay at least put off the evil day。
At the end of the week he received two letters；one addressed in his own
hand writing and postmarked Patesville； N。 C。； the other in the
handwriting of George Tryon。 He opened the Patesville letter； which ran
as follows：
MY DEAR SON；Frank is writing this letter for me。 I am not well；
but； thank the Lord； I am better than I was。
Rena has had a heap of trouble on account of me and my sickness。 If
I could of dreamt that I was going to do so much harm； I would of died
and gone to meet my God without writing one word to spoil my girl's
chances in life； but I didn't know what was going to happen； and I hope
the Lord will forgive me。
Frank knows all about it； and so I am having him write this letter for
me； as Rena is not well enough yet。 Frank has been very good to me and
to Rena。 He was down to your place and saw Rena there； and never said
a word about it to nobody； not even to me； because he didn't want to do
Rena no harm。 Frank is the best friend I have got in town； because he
does so much for me and don't want nothing in return。 （He tells me not
to put this in about him； but I want you to know it。）
And now about Rena。 She come to see me； and I got better right
away； for it was longing for her as much as anything else that made me
sick； and I was mighty mizzable。 When she had been here three days and
was going back next day； she went up town to see the doctor for me； and
while she was up there she fainted and fell down in the street； and Dr。
Green sent her home in his buggy and come down to see her。 He couldn't
tell what was the matter with her； but she has been sick ever since and out
of her head some of the time； and keeps on calling on somebody by the
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name of George； which was the young white man she told me she was
going to marry。 It seems he was in town the day Rena was took sick； for
Frank saw him up street and run all the way down here to tell me； so that
she could keep out of his way； while she was still up town waiting for the
doctor and getting me some camphor gum for my camphor bottle。 Old
Judge Straight must have knowed something about it； for he sent me a
note to keep Rena in the house； but the little boy he sent it by didn't bring
it till Rena was already gone up town； and； as I couldn't read； of course I
didn't know what it said。 Dr。 Green heard Rena running on while she
was out of her head； and I reckon he must have suspicioned something； for
he looked kind of queer and went away without saying nothing。 Frank
says she met this man on the street； and when he found out she wasn't
white； he said or done something that broke her heart and she fainted and
fell down。
I am writing you this letter because I know you will be worrying about
Rena not coming back。 If it wasn't for Frank； I hardly know how I could
write to you。 Frank is not going to say nothing about Rena's passing for
white and meeting this man； and neither
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