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colored woman？ At the schoolhouse she would be surrounded by her
pupils； and a private interview would be as difficult； with more eyes to
remark and more tongues to comment upon it。 He might address her by
mail； but did not know how often she sent to the nearest post…office。 A
letter mailed in the town must pass through the hands of a postmaster
notoriously inquisitive and evil…minded； who was familiar with Tryon's
handwriting and had ample time to attend to other people's business。 To
meet the teacher alone on the road seemed scarcely feasible； according to
Plato's statement。 A messenger； then； was not only the least of several
evils； but really the only practicable way to communicate with Rena。 He
thought he could trust Plato； though miserably aware that he could not
trust himself where this girl was concerned。
The letter handed by Tryon to Plato； and by the latter delivered with
due secrecy and precaution； ran as follows：
DEAR MISS WARWICK；You may think it strange that I should
address you after what has passed between us； but learning from my
mother of your presence in the neighborhood； I am constrained to believe
that you do not find my proximity embarrassing； and I cannot resist the
wish to meet you at least once more； and talk over the circumstances of
our former friendship。 From a practical point of view this may seem
superfluous； as the matter has been definitely settled。 I have no desire to
find fault with you； on the contrary； I wish to set myself right with regard
to my own actions； and to assure you of my good wishes。 In other words；
since we must part； I would rather we parted friends than enemies。 If
nature and society or Fate； to put it another wayhave decreed that we
cannot live together； it is nevertheless possible that we may carry into the
future a pleasant though somewhat sad memory of a past friendship。
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Will you not grant me one interview？ I appreciate the difficulty of
arranging it； I have found it almost as hard to communicate with you by
letter。 I will suit myself to your convenience and meet you at any time
and place you may designate。 Please answer by bearer； who I think is
trustworthy； and believe me； whatever your answer may be；
Respectfully yours； G。 T。
The next day but one Tryon received through the mail the following
reply to his letter：
GEORGE TRYON； ESQ。
Dear Sir；I have requested your messenger to say that I will answer
your letter by mail； which I shall now proceed to do。 I assure you that I
was entirely ignorant of your residence in this neighborhood； or it would
have been the last place on earth in which I should have set foot。
As to our past relations； they were ended by your own act。 I frankly
confess that I deceived you； I have paid the penalty； and have no
complaint to make。 I appreciate the delicacy which has made you respect
my brother's secret； and thank you for it。 I remember the whole affair
with shame and humiliation； and would willingly forget it。
As to a future interview； I do not see what good it would do either of
us。 You are white； and you have given me to understand that I am black。
I accept the classification； however unfair； and the consequences； however
unjust； one of which is that we cannot meet in the same parlor； in the same
church； at the same table； or anywhere； in social intercourse； upon a
steamboat we would not sit at the same table； we could not walk together
on the street； or meet publicly anywhere and converse； without unkind
remark。 As a white man； this might not mean a great deal to you； as a
woman； shut out already by my color from much that is desirable； my
good name remains my most valuable possession。 I beg of you to let me
alone。 The best possible proof you can give me of your good wishes is to
relinquish any desire or attempt to see me。 I shall have finished my work
here in a few days。 I have other troubles； of which you know nothing；
and any meeting with you would only add to a burden which is already as
much as I can bear。 To speak of parting is superfluous we have already
parted。 It were idle to dream of a future friendship between people so
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widely different in station。 Such a friendship； if possible in itself； would
never be tolerated by the lady whom you are to marry； with whom you
drove by my schoolhouse the other day。 A gentleman so loyal to his race
and its traditions as you have shown yourself could not be less faithful to
the lady to whom he has lost his heart and his memory in three short
months。
No； Mr。 Tryon； our romance is ended； and better so。 We could never
have been happy。 I have found a work in which I may be of service to
others who have fewer opportunities than mine have been。 Leave me in
peace； I beseech you； and I shall soon pass out of your neighborhood as I
have passed out of your life； and hope to pass out of your memory。
Yours very truly； ROWENA WALDEN。
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XXX
AN UNUSUAL HONOR
To Rena's high…strung and sensitive nature； already under very great
tension from her past experience； the ordeal of the next few days was a
severe one。 On the one hand； Jeff Wain's infatuation had rapidly
increased； in view of her speedy departure。 From Mrs。 Tryon's remark
about Wain's wife Amanda； and from things Rena had since learned； she
had every reason to believe that this wife was living； and that Wain must
be aware of the fact。 In the light of this knowledge； Wain's former
conduct took on a bla