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He had heard that Wain was unmarried； and he could not see how； this
being so； he could help wishing Rena for a wife。 Frank would have been
content to see her marry a white man； who would have raised her to a
plane worthy of her merits。 In this man's shifty eye he read the liarhis
wealth and standing were probably as false as his seeming good…humor。
〃Is that you； Frank？〃 said a soft voice near at hand。
He looked up with a joyful thrill。 Rena was peering intently at him；
as if trying to distinguish his features in the darkness。 It was a bright
moonlight night； but Frank stood in the shadow of the piazza。
〃Yas 'm； it's me； Miss Rena。 Yo' mammy said I could come over an'
see you…all dance。 You ain' be'n out on de flo' at all； ter…night。〃
〃 No； Frank； I don't care for dancing。 I shall not dance to…night。〃
This answer was pleasing to Frank。 If he could not hope to dance
with her； at least the men inside at least this snake in the grass from
down the countryshould not have that privilege。
〃But you must have some supper； Frank；〃 said Rena。 〃I'll bring it
myself。〃
〃No； Miss Rena； I don' keer fer nothin'I did n' come over ter eat
r'al'y I didn't。〃
〃Nonsense； Frank； there's plenty of it。 I have no appetite； and you
shall have my portion。〃
She brought him a slice of cake and a glass of eggnog。 When Mis'
Molly； a minute later； came out upon the piazza； Frank left the yard and
walked down the street toward the old canal。 Rena had spoken softly to
him； she had fed him with her own dainty hands。 He might never hope
that she would see in him anything but a friend； but he loved her； and he
would watch over her and protect her； wherever she might be。 He did not
believe that she would ever marry the grinning hypocrite masquerading
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
back there in Mis' Molly's parlor； but the man would bear watching。
Mis' Molly had come to call her daughter into the house。 〃Rena；〃 she
said； 〃Mr。 Wain wants ter know if you won't dance just one dance with
him。〃
〃Yas； Rena；〃 pleaded Mary B。； who followed Miss Molly out to the
piazza； 〃jes' one dance。 I don't think you're treatin' my comp'ny jes' right；
Cousin Rena。〃
〃You're goin' down there with 'im；〃 added her mother； 〃an' it 'd be just
as well to be on friendly terms with 'im。〃
Wain himself had followed the women。 〃Sho'ly； Miss Rena； you're
gwine ter honah me wid one dance？ I'd go 'way f'm dis pa'ty sad at hea't
ef I had n' stood up oncet wid de young lady er de house。〃
As Rena； weakly persuaded； placed her hand on Wain's arm and
entered the house； a buggy； coming up Front Street； paused a moment at
the corner； and then turning slowly； drove quietly up the nameless by…
street； concealed by the intervening cedars； until it reached a point from
which the occupant could view； through the open front window； the
interior of the parlor。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
XXIV
SWING YOUR PARTNERS
Moved by tenderness and thoughts of self…sacrifice； which had
occupied his mind to the momentary exclusion of all else； Tryon had
scarcely noticed； as be approached the house behind the cedars； a strain of
lively music； to which was added； as he drew still nearer； the
accompaniment of other festive sounds。 He suddenly awoke； however； to
the fact that these signs of merriment came from the house at which he had
intended to stop； he had not meant that Rena should pass another
sleepless night of sorrow； or that he should himself endure another
needless hour of suspense。
He drew rein at the corner。 Shocked surprise； a nascent anger； a
vague alarm； an insistent curiosity； urged him nearer。 Turning the mare
into the side street and keeping close to the fence； he drove ahead in the
shadow of the cedars until he reached a gap through which he could see
into the open door and windows of the brightly lighted hall。
There was evidently a ball in progress。 The fiddle was squeaking
merrily so a tune that he remembered well；it was associated with one of
the most delightful evenings of his life； that of the tournament ball。 A
mellow negro voice was calling with a rhyming accompaniment the
figures of a quadrille。 Tryon； with parted lips and slowly hardening heart；
leaned forward from the buggy… seat； gripping the rein so tightly that his
nails cut into the opposing palm。 Above the clatter of noisy conversation
rose the fiddler's voice：
〃Swing yo' pa'dners； doan be shy； Look yo' lady in de
eye！ Th'ow yo' ahm aroun' huh wais'； Take yo' time
dey ain' no has'e！〃
To the middle of the floor； in full view through an open window；
advanced the woman who all day long had been the burden of his
thoughtsnot pale with grief and hollow…eyed with weeping； but flushed
with pleasure； around her waist the arm of a burly； grinning mulatto；
whose face was offensively familiar to Tryon。
With a muttered curse of concentrated bitterness； Tryon struck the
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mare a sharp blow with the whip。 The sensitive creature； spirited even in
her great weariness； resented the lash and started off with the bit in her
teeth。 Perceiving that it would be difficult to turn in the narrow roadway
without running into the ditch at the left； Tryon gave the mare rein and
dashed down the street； scarcely missing； as the buggy crossed the bridge；
a man standing abstractedly by the old canal； who sprang aside barely in
time to avoid being run over。
Meantime Rena was passing through a trying ordeal。