doctor's enthusiasm
not at all contagious. He could not possibly have been interested in a
colored girl, under any circumstances, and he was engaged to be married
to the most beautiful white woman on earth. To mention a negro woman
in the same room where he was thinking of Rena seemed little short of
profanation. His friend the doctor was a jovial fellow, but it was
surely doubtful taste to refer to his wife in such a conversation. He
was very glad when the doctor dropped the subject and permitted him to
go more into detail about the matter which formed his business in
Patesville. He took out of his pocket the papers concerning the
McSwayne claim and laid them on the judge's desk.

"You'll find everything there, sir,--the note, the contract, and some
correspondence that will give you the hang of the thing. Will you be
able to look over them to-day? I should like," he added a little
nervously, "to go back to-morrow."

"What!" exclaimed Dr. Green vivaciously, "insult our town by staying
only one day? It won't be long enough to get acquainted with our young
ladies. Patesville girls are famous for their beauty. But perhaps
there's a loadstone in South Carolina to draw you back? Ah, you change
color! To my mind there's nothing finer than the ingenuous blush of
youth. But we'll spare you if you'll answer one question--is it
serious?"

"I'm to be married in two weeks, sir," answered Tryon. The statement
sounded very pleasant, in spite of the slight embarrassment caused by
the inquiry.

"Good boy!" rejoined the doctor, taking his arm familiarly--they were
both standing now. "You ought to have married a Patesville girl, but
you people down towards the eastern counties seldom come this way, and
we are evidently too late to catch you."

"I'll look your papers over this morning," said the judge, "and when I
come from dinner will stop at the court house and examine the records
and see whether there's anything we can get hold of. If you'll drop in
around three or four o'clock, I may be able to give you an opinion."

"Now, George," exclaimed the doctor, "we'll go back to the office for a
spell, and then I'll take you home with me to luncheon."

Tryon hesitated.

"Oh, you must come! Mrs. Green would never forgive me if I didn't
bring you. Strangers are rare birds in our society, and when they come
we make them welcome. Our enemies may overturn our institutions, and
try to put the bottom rail on top, but they c