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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
for the next day or two。
This note he dried by sprinkling it with sand from a box near at hand；
signed with his own name； and； with a fine courtesy； addressed to 〃Mrs。
Molly Walden。〃 Having first carefully sealed it in an envelope； he
stepped to the open door； and spied； playing marbles on the street near by；
a group of negro boys； one of whom the judge called by name。
〃Here； Billy；〃 he said； handing the boy the note； 〃take this to Mis'
Molly Walden。 Do you know where she livesdown on Front Street； in
the house behind the cedars？〃
〃Yas； suh； I knows de place。〃
〃Make haste； now。 When you come back and tell me what she says；
I'll give you ten cents。 On second thoughts； I shall be gone to lunch； so
here's your money；〃 he added； handing the lad the bit of soiled paper by
which the United States government acknowledged its indebtedness to the
bearer in the sum of ten cents。
Just here； however； the judge made his mistake。 Very few mortals
can spare the spring of hope； the motive force of expectation。 The boy
kept the note in his hand； winked at his companions； who had gathered as
near as their awe of the judge would permit； and started down the street。
As soon as the judge had disappeared； Billy beckoned to his friends； who
speedily overtook him。 When the party turned the corner of Front Street
and were safely out of sight of Judge Straight's office； the capitalist
entered the grocery store and invested his unearned increment in
gingerbread。 When the ensuing saturnalia was over； Billy finished the
game of marbles which the judge had interrupted； and then set out to
execute his commission。 He had nearly reached his objective point when
he met upon the street a young white lady； whom he did not know； and for
whom； the path being narrow at that point； he stepped out into the gutter。
He reached the house behind the cedars； went round to the back door； and
handed the envelope to Mis' Molly； who was seated on the rear piazza；
propped up by pillows in a comfortable rocking…chair。
〃Laws…a…massy！〃 she exclaimed weakly； 〃what is it？〃
〃It's a lettuh； ma'm；〃 answered the boy； whose expanding nostrils had
caught a pleasant odor from the kitchen； and who was therefore in no
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
hurry to go away。
〃Who's it fur？〃 she asked。
〃It's fuh you； ma'm；〃 replied the lad。
〃An' who's it from？〃 she inquired； turning the envelope over and over；
and examining it with the impotent curiosity of one who cannot read。
〃F'm ole Jedge Straight； ma'm。 He tole me ter fetch it ter you。 Is
you got a roasted 'tater you could gimme； ma'm？〃
〃Shorely； chile。 I'll have Aunt Zilphy fetch you a piece of 'tater pone；
if you'll hol' on a minute。〃
She called to Aunt Zilphy； who soon came hobbling out of the kitchen
with a large square of the delicacy；a flat cake made of mashed sweet
potatoes； mixed with beaten eggs； sweetened and flavored to suit the taste；
and baked in a Dutch oven upon the open hearth。
The boy took the gratuity； thanked her； and turned to go。 Mis' Molly
was still scanning the superscription of the letter。 〃I wonder；〃 she
murmured； 〃what old Judge Straight can be writin' to me about。 Oh；
boy！〃
〃Yas 'm；〃 answered the messenger； looking back。
〃Can you read writin'？〃
〃No 'm。〃
〃All right。 Never mind。〃
She laid the letter carefully on the chimney… piece of the kitchen。 〃I
reckon it's somethin' mo' 'bout the taxes；〃 she thought； 〃or maybe
somebody wants to buy one er my lots。 Rena'll be back terreckly； an' she
kin read it an' find out。 I'm glad my child'en have be'n to school。 They
never could have got where they are now if they hadn't。〃
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
XIV
A LOYAL FRIEND
Mention has been made of certain addressed envelopes which John
Warwick； on the occasion of his visit to Patesville； had left with his
illiterate mother； by the use of which she might communicate with her
children from time to time。 On one occasion； Mis' Molly； having had a
letter written； took one of these envelopes from the chest where she kept
her most valued possessions； and was about to inclose the letter when
some one knocked at the back door。 She laid the envelope and letter on a
table in her bedroom； and went to answer the knock。 The wind； blowing
across the room through the open windows； picked up the envelope and
bore it into the street。 Mis' Molly； on her return； missed it； looked for it；
and being unable to find it； took another envelope。 An hour or two later
another gust of wind lifted the bit of paper from the ground and carried it
into the open door of the cooper shop。 Frank picked it up； and observing
that it was clean and unused； read the superscription。 In his
conversations with Mis' Molly； which were often about Rena；the subject
uppermost in both their minds；he had noted the mystery maintained by
Mis' Molly about her daughter's whereabouts； and had often wondered
where she might be。 Frank was an intelligent fellow； and could put this
and that together。 The envelope was addressed to a place in South
Carolina。 He was aware； from some casual remark of Mis' Molly's； that
Rena had gone to live in South Carolina。 Her son's name was John that
he had changed his last name was more than likely。 Frank was not long
in reaching the conclusion that Rena was to be found near the town named
on the envelope； which he carefully preserved for future reference。
For a whole year Frank had yearned for a smile or a kind word from
the only woman in the world。 Peter； his father； had rallied him somewhat
upon his moodiness after Rena's departure。
〃Now 's de time； boy； fer you ter be lookin' roun' fer some nice gal er
yo' own color； w'at'll 'preciate you； an' won't be 'shamed er you。 You're
wastin' time； boy； wastin' time； shootin' at a mark outer yo' range