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write to you。 Frank is not going to say nothing about Rena's passing for
white and meeting this man； and neither am I； and I don't suppose Judge
Straight will say nothing； because he is our good friend； and Dr。 Green
won't say nothing about it； because Frank says Dr。 Green's cook Nancy
says this young man named George stopped with him and was some
cousin or relation to the family； and they wouldn't want people to know
that any of their kin was thinking about marrying a colored girl； and the
white folks have all been mad since J。 B。 Thompson married his black
housekeeper when she got religion and wouldn't live with him no more。
All the rest of the connection are well。 I have just been in to see how
Rena is。 She is feeling some better； I think； and says give you her love
and she will write you a letter in a few days； as soon as she is well enough。
She bust out crying while she was talking； but I reckon that is better than
being out of her head。 I hope this may find you well； and that this man of
Rena's won't say nor do nothing down there to hurt you。 He has not
wrote to Rena nor sent her no word。 I reckon he is very mad。
Your affectionate mother； MARY
WALDEN。
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This letter； while confirming Warwick's fears； relieved his suspense。
He at least knew the worst； unless there should be something still more
disturbing in Tryon's letter； which he now proceeded to open； and which
ran as follows：
JOHN WARWICK； ESQ。
Dear Sir；When I inform you； as you are doubtless informed ere the
receipt of this； that I saw your sister in Patesville last week and learned the
nature of those antecedents of yours and hers at which you hinted so
obscurely in a recent conversation； you will not be surprised to learn that I
take this opportunity of renouncing any pretensions to Miss Warwick's
hand； and request you to convey this message to her； since it was through
you that I formed her acquaintance。 I think perhaps that few white men
would deem it necessary to make an explanation under the circumstances；
and I do not know that I need say more than that no one； considering
where and how I met your sister； would have dreamed of even the
possibility of what I have learned。 I might with justice reproach you for
trifling with the most sacred feelings of a man's heart； but I realize the
hardship of your position and hers； and can make allowances。 I would
never have sought to know this thing； I would doubtless have been happier
had I gone through life without finding it out； but having the knowledge； I
cannot ignore it； as you must understand perfectly well。 I regret that she
should be distressed or disappointed；she has not suffered alone。
I need scarcely assure you that I shall say nothing about this affair； and
that I shall keep your secret as though it were my own。 Personally； I
shall never be able to think of you as other than a white man； as you may
gather from the tone of this letter； and while I cannot marry your sister； I
wish her every happiness； and remain； Yours very truly；
GEORGE TRYON。
Warwick could not know that this formal epistle was the last of a
dozen that Tryon had written and destroyed during the week since the
meeting in Patesville；hot； blistering letters； cold； cutting letters； scornful；
crushing letters。 Though none of them was sent； except this last； they
had furnished a safety…valve for his emotions； and had left him in a state of
mind that permitted him to write the foregoing。
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And now； while Rena is recovering from her illness； and Tryon from
his love； and while Fate is shuffling the cards for another deal； a few
words may be said about the past life of the people who lived in the rear of
the flower garden； in the quaint old house beyond the cedars； and how
their lives were mingled with those of the men and women around them
and others that were gone。 For connected with our kind we must be； if
not by our virtues； then by our vices；if not by our services； at least by our
needs。
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XVIII
UNDER THE OLD REGIME
For many years before the civil war there had lived； in the old house
behind the cedars； a free colored woman who went by the name of Molly
Waldenher rightful name； for her parents were free…born and legally
married。 She was a tall woman； straight as an arrow。 Her complexion
in youth was of an old ivory tint； which at the period of this story； time had
darkened measurably。 Her black eyes； now faded； had once sparkled
with the fire of youth。 High cheek…bones； straight black hair； and a
certain dignified reposefulness of manner pointed to an aboriginal descent。
Tradition gave her to the negro race。 Doubtless she had a strain of each；
with white blood very visibly predominating over both。 In Louisiana or
the West Indies she would have been called a quadroon； or more loosely； a
creole； in North Carolina； where fine distinctions were not the rule in
matters of color； she was sufficiently differentiated when described as a
bright mulatto。
Molly's free birth carried with it certain advantages； even in the South
before the war。 Though degraded from its high estate； and shorn of its
choicest attributes； the word 〃freedom〃 had nevertheless a cheerful sound；
and described a condition that left even to colored people who could claim
it some liberty of movement and some control of their own persons。
They were not citizens； yet they were not slaves。 No negro； save in
books； ever refused freedom； many of them ran frightful risks to achieve it。
Molly's parents were of the class； more numerous in North Carolina than
elsewhere； known as 〃old issue free negroes；〃 which took its rise in the
misty colonial period； when race lines were not so closely drawn； and the
population of North Carolina comprised many Indians； runaway negroes；
and indentured white servants from the seaboard plantations； who mingled
their blood with great freedom and small formality。 Free colored people
in North Carolina exercised the right of suffrage as late as 1835； and some
of them； in spite of galling restrictions； attained to a considerable degree of
prosperity； and dreamed of a still brighter future； when the growing
tyranny of the slave power crushed their hopes and crowded the free
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people back upon the black mass just beneath them。 Mis' Molly's father
had been at one time a man of some means。 In an evil hour； with an
overweening confidence in his fellow men； he indorsed a note for a white
man who； in a moment of financial hardship； clapped his colored neighbor
on the back and called him brother。 Not poverty； but wealth； is the most
potent leveler。 In due time the indorser was called upon to meet the
maturing obligation。 This was the beginning of a series of financial
difficulties which speedily involved him in ruin。 He died prematurely； a
disappointed and disheartened man； leaving his family in dire poverty。
His widow and surviving children lived on for a little while at the
house he had owned； just outside of the town； on one of the main traveled
roads。 By the wayside； near the house； there was a famous deep well。
The slim； barefoot girl； with sparkling eyes and voluminous hair； who
played about the yard and som