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South Carolina lawyer； and not a carpet…bagger。 Such credentials were
unimpeachable； and the passengers found him a very agreeable traveling
companion。 Apparently sound on the subject of negroes； Yankees； and
the righteousness of the lost cause； he yet discussed these themes in a lofty
and impersonal manner that gave his words greater weight than if he had
seemed warped by a personal grievance。 His attitude； in fact； piqued the
curiosity of one or two of the passengers。
〃Did your people lose any niggers？〃 asked one of them。
〃My father owned a hundred；〃 he replied grandly。
Their respect for his views was doubled。 It is easy to moralize about
the misfortunes of others； and to find good in the evil that they suffer；
only a true philosopher could speak thus lightly of his own losses。
When the steamer tied up at the wharf at Wilmington； in the early
morning； the young lawyer and a veiled lady passenger drove in the same
carriage to a hotel。 After they had breakfasted in a private room；
Warwick explained to his sister the plan he had formed for her future。
Henceforth she must be known as Miss Warwick； dropping the old name
with the old life。 He would place her for a year in a boarding…school at
Charleston； after which she would take her place as the mistress of his
house。 Having imparted this information； he took his sister for a drive
through the town。 There for the first time Rena saw great ships； which；
her brother told her； sailed across the mighty ocean to distant lands； whose
flags he pointed out drooping lazily at the mast… heads。 The business
portion of the town had 〃an ancient and fishlike smell；〃 and most of the
trade seemed to be in cotton and naval stores and products of the sea。
The wharves were piled high with cotton bales； and there were acres of
barrels of resin and pitch and tar and spirits of turpentine。 The market； a
long； low； wooden structure； in the middle of the principal street； was
filled with a mass of people of all shades； from blue… black to Saxon
blonde； gabbling and gesticulating over piles of oysters and clams and
freshly caught fish of varied hue。 By ten o'clock the sun was beating
down so fiercely that the glitter of the white； sandy streets dazzled and
pained the eyes unaccustomed to it； and Rena was glad to be driven back
to the hotel。 The travelers left together on an early afternoon train。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
Thus for the time being was severed the last tie that bound Rena to her
narrow past； and for some time to come the places and the people who had
known her once were to know her no more。
Some few weeks later； Mis' Molly called upon old Judge Straight with
reference to the taxes on her property。
〃Your son came in to see me the other day；〃 he remarked。 〃He seems
to have got along。〃
〃Oh； yes； judge； he's done fine； John has； an' he's took his sister away
with him。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the judge。 Then after a pause he added； 〃I hope she
may do as well。〃
〃Thank you； sir；〃 she said； with a curtsy； as she rose to go。 〃We've
always knowed that you were our friend and wished us well。〃
The judge looked after her as she walked away。 Her bearing had a
touch of timidity； a shade of affectation； and yet a certain pathetic dignity。
〃It is a pity；〃 he murmured； with a sigh； 〃that men cannot select their
mothers。 My young friend John has builded； whether wisely or not； very
well； but he has come back into the old life and carried away a part of it；
and I fear that this addition will weaken the structure。〃
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
V
THE TOURNAMENT
The annual tournament of the Clarence Social Club was about to
begin。 The county fairground； where all was in readiness； sparkled with
the youth and beauty of the town； standing here and there under the trees
in animated groups； or moving toward the seats from which the pageant
might be witnessed。 A quarter of a mile of the race track； to right and left
of the judges' stand； had been laid off for the lists。 Opposite the grand
stand； which occupied a considerable part of this distance； a dozen
uprights had been erected at measured intervals。 Projecting several feet
over the track from each of these uprights was an iron crossbar； from
which an iron hook depended。 Between the uprights stout posts were
planted； of such a height that their tops could be easily reached by a
swinging sword…cut from a mounted rider passing upon the track。 The
influence of Walter Scott was strong upon the old South。 The South
before the war was essentially feudal； and Scott's novels of chivalry
appealed forcefully to the feudal heart。 During the month preceding the
Clarence tournament； the local bookseller had closed out his entire stock
of 〃Ivanhoe；〃 consisting of five copies； and had taken orders for seven
copies more。 The tournament scene in this popular novel furnished the
model after which these bloodless imitations of the ancient passages…at…
arms were conducted； with such variations as were required to adapt them
to a different age and civilization。
The best people gradually filled the grand stand； while the poorer
white and colored folks found seats outside； upon what would now be
known as the 〃bleachers；〃 or stood alongside the lists。 The knights；
masquerading in fanciful costumes； in which bright…colored garments； gilt
paper； and cardboard took the place of knightly harness； were mounted on
spirited horses。 Most of them were gathered at one end of the lists； while
others practiced their steeds upon the unoccupied portion of the race track。
The judges entered the grand stand； and one of them； after looking at his
watch； gave a signal。 Immediately a herald； wearing a brig