He would
find her; he would tell her that he loved her, that she was all the
world to him, that he had come to marry her, and take her away where
they might be happy together. He pictured to himself the joy that
would light up her face; he felt her soft arms around his neck, her
tremulous kisses upon his lips. If she were ill, his love would woo
her back to health,--if disappointment and sorrow had contributed to
her illness, joy and gladness should lead to her recovery.

He urged the mare forward; if she would but keep up her present pace,
he would reach Patesville by nightfall.

Dr. Green had just gone down the garden path to his buggy at the gate.
Mis' Molly came out to the back piazza, where Frank, weary and haggard,
sat on the steps with Homer Pettifoot and Billy Oxendine, who, hearing
of Rena's return, had come around after their day's work.

"Rena wants to see you, Frank," said Mis' Molly, with a sob.

He walked in softly, reverently, and stood by her bedside. She turned
her gentle eyes upon him and put out her slender hand, which he took in
his own broad palm.

"Frank," she murmured, "my good friend--my best friend--you loved me
best of them all."

The tears rolled untouched down his cheeks. "I'd 'a' died, fer you,
Miss Rena," he said brokenly.

Mary B. threw open a window to make way for the passing spirit, and the
red and golden glory of the setting sun, triumphantly ending his daily
course, flooded the narrow room with light.

Between sunset and dark a traveler, seated in a dusty buggy drawn by a
tired horse, crossed the long river bridge and drove up Front Street.
Just as the buggy reached the gate in front of the house behind the
cedars, a woman was tying a piece of crape upon the door-knob. Pale
with apprehension, Tryon sat as if petrified, until a tall,
side-whiskered mulatto came down the garden walk to the front gate.

"Who's dead?" demanded Tryon hoarsely, scarcely recognizing his own
voice.

"A young cullud 'oman, sah," answered Homer Pettifoot, touching his
hat, "Mis' Molly Walden's daughter Rena."

End of Project Gutenberg's The House Behind the Cedars, by Charles W. Chesnutt

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS ***

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