ed his black housekeeper when she got religion and
wouldn't live with him no more.

All the rest of the connection are well. I have just been in to see
how Rena is. She is feeling some better, I think, and says give you
her love and she will write you a letter in a few days, as soon as she
is well enough. She bust out crying while she was talking, but I
reckon that is better than being out of her head. I hope this may find
you well, and that this man of Rena's won't say nor do nothing down
there to hurt you. He has not wrote to Rena nor sent her no word. I
reckon he is very mad.

Your affectionate mother,
MARY WALDEN.

This letter, while confirming Warwick's fears, relieved his suspense.
He at least knew the worst, unless there should be something still more
disturbing in Tryon's letter, which he now proceeded to open, and which
ran as follows:--

JOHN WARWICK, ESQ.

Dear Sir,--When I inform you, as you are doubtless informed ere the
receipt of this, that I saw your sister in Patesville last week and
learned the nature of those antecedents of yours and hers at which you
hinted so obscurely in a recent conversation, you will not be surprised
to learn that I take this opportunity of renouncing any pretensions to
Miss Warwick's hand, and request you to convey this message to her,
since it was through you that I formed her acquaintance. I think
perhaps that few white men would deem it necessary to make an
explanation under the circumstances, and I do not know that I need say
more than that no one, considering where and how I met your sister,
would have dreamed of even the possibility of what I have learned. I
might with justice reproach you for trifling with the most sacred
feelings of a man's heart; but I realize the hardship of your position
and hers, and can make allowances. I would never have sought to know
this thing; I would doubtless have been happier had I gone through life
without finding it out; but having the knowledge, I cannot ignore it,
as you must understand perfectly well. I regret that she should be
distressed or disappointed,--she has not suffered alone.

I need scarcely assure you that I shall say nothing about this affair,
and that I shall keep your secret as though it were my own.
Personally, I shall never be able to think of you as other than a white
man, as you may gather from the tone of this letter; and while I cannot
marry your sister, I wi