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〃T'anky'； honey； de Lawd gwine bless you sho'。 You wuz alluz a
good gal； and de Lawd love eve'ybody w'at he'p de po' ole nigger。 You
gwine ter hab good luck all yo' bawn days。〃 〃I hope you're a true prophet；
Aunt Zilphy；〃 laughed the girl in response。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
The sound of her voice gave Warwick a thrill。 It was soft and sweet
and clearquite in harmony with her appearance。 That it had a faint
suggestiveness of the old woman's accent he hardly noticed； for the
current Southern speech； including his own； was rarely without a touch of
it。 The corruption of the white people's speech was one elementonly
oneof the negro's unconscious revenge for his own debasement。
The houses they passed now grew scattering； and the quarter of the
town more neglected。 Warwick felt himself wondering where the girl
might be going in a neighborhood so uninviting。 When she stopped to
pull a half…naked negro child out of a mudhole and set him upon his feet；
he thought she might be some young lady from the upper part of the town；
bound on some errand of mercy； or going； perhaps； to visit an old servant
or look for a new one。 Once she threw a backward glance at Warwick；
thus enabling him to catch a second glimpse of a singularly pretty face。
Perhaps the young woman found his presence in the neighborhood as
unaccountable as he had deemed hers； for； finding his glance fixed upon
her； she quickened her pace with an air of startled timidity。
〃A woman with such a figure；〃 thought Warwick； 〃ought to be able to
face the world with the confidence of Phryne confronting her judges。〃
By this time Warwick was conscious that something more than mere
grace or beauty had attracted him with increasing force toward this young
woman。 A suggestion； at first faint and elusive； of something familiar；
had grown stronger when he heard her voice； and became more and more
pronounced with each rod of their advance； and when she stopped finally
before a gate； and； opening it； went into a yard shut off from the street by a
row of dwarf cedars； Warwick had already discounted in some measure
the surprise he would have felt at seeing her enter there had he not walked
down Front Street behind her。 There was still sufficient unexpectedness
about the act； however； to give him a decided thrill of pleasure。
〃It must be Rena；〃 he murmured。 〃Who could have dreamed that she
would blossom out like that？ It must surely be Rena！〃
He walked slowly past the gate and peered through a narrow gap in the
cedar hedge。 The girl was moving along a sanded walk； toward a gray；
unpainted house； with a steep roof； broken by dormer windows。 The
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
trace of timidity he had observed in her had given place to the more
assured bearing of one who is upon his own ground。 The garden walks
were bordered by long rows of jonquils； pinks； and carnations； inclosing
clumps of fragrant shrubs； lilies； and roses already in bloom。 Toward the
middle of the garden stood two fine magnolia…trees； with heavy； dark
green； glistening leaves； while nearer the house two mighty elms shaded a
wide piazza； at one end of which a honeysuckle vine； and at the other a
Virginia creeper； running over a wooden lattice； furnished additional shade
and seclusion。 On dark or wintry days； the aspect of this garden must
have been extremely sombre and depressing； and it might well have
seemed a fit place to hide some guilty or disgraceful secret。 But on the
bright morning when Warwick stood looking through the cedars； it seemed；
with its green frame and canopy and its bright carpet of flowers； an ideal
retreat from the fierce sunshine and the sultry heat of the approaching
summer。
The girl stooped to pluck a rose； and as she bent over it； her profile
was clearly outlined。 She held the flower to her face with a long…drawn
inhalation； then went up the steps； crossed the piazza； opened the door
without knocking； and entered the house with the air of one thoroughly at
home。
〃Yes；〃 said the young man to himself； 〃it's Rena； sure enough。〃
The house stood on a corner； around which the cedar hedge turned；
continuing along the side of the garden until it reached the line of the front
of the house。 The piazza to a rear wing； at right angles to the front of the
house； was open to inspection from the side street； which； to judge from its
deserted look； seemed to be but little used。 Turning into this street and
walking leisurely past the back yard； which was only slightly screened
from the street by a china…tree； Warwick perceived the young woman
standing on the piazza； facing an elderly woman； who sat in a large
rocking…chair； plying a pair of knitting…needles on a half…finished stocking。
Warwick's walk led him within three feet of the side gate； which he felt an
almost irresistible impulse to enter。 Every detail of the house and garden
was familiar； a thousand cords of memory and affection drew him thither；
but a stronger counter…motive prevailed。 With a great effort he restrained
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himself； and after a momentary pause； walked slowly on past the house；
with a backward glance； which he turned away when he saw that it was
observed。
Warwick's attention had been so fully absorbed by the house behind
the cedars and the women there； that he had scarcely noticed； on the other
side of the neglected by…street； two men working by a large open window；
in a low； rude building with a clapboarded roof； directly opposite the back
piazza occupied by the two women。 Both the men were busily engaged
in shaping barrel…staves； each wielding a sharp…edged drawing…knife on a
piece of seasoned oak clasped tightly in a wooden vise。
〃I jes' wonder who dat man is； an' w'at he 's doin' on dis street；〃
observed the younger of the two； with a suspicious air。 He had notic