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Warwick was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet； he could not
foresee that； thirty years later； even this would seem an excessive
punishment for so slight a misdemeanor。
Leaving the market…house； Warwick turned to the left； and kept on his
course until he reached the next corner。 After another turn to the right； a
dozen paces brought him in front of a small weather…beaten frame building；
from which projected a wooden sign…board bearing the inscription：
ARCHIBALD STRAIGHT； LAWYER。
He turned the knob； but the door was locked。 Retracing his steps past
a vacant lot； the young man entered a shop where a colored man was
employed in varnishing a coffin； which stood on two trestles in the middle
of the floor。 Not at all impressed by the melancholy suggestiveness of
his task； he was whistling a lively air with great gusto。 Upon Warwick's
entrance this effusion came to a sudden end； and the coffin…maker
assumed an air of professional gravity。
〃Good…mawnin'； suh；〃 he said； lifting his cap politely。
〃Good…morning；〃 answered Warwick。 〃Can you tell me anything
about Judge Straight's office hours？〃
〃De ole jedge has be'n a little onreg'lar sence de wah； suh； but he
gin'ally gits roun' 'bout ten o'clock er so。 He's be'n kin' er feeble fer de
las' few yeahs。 An' I reckon；〃 continued the undertaker solemnly； his
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glance unconsciously seeking a row of fine caskets standing against the
wall；〃I reckon he'll soon be goin' de way er all de earth。 ‘Man dat is
bawn er 'oman hath but a sho't time ter lib； an' is full er mis'ry。 He
cometh up an' is cut down lack as a flower。' ‘De days er his life is three…
sco' an' ten'an' de ole jedge is libbed mo' d'n dat； suh； by five yeahs； ter
say de leas'。〃
〃‘Death；'〃 quoted Warwick； with whose mood the undertaker's remarks
were in tune； 〃‘is the penalty that all must pay for the crime of living。'〃
〃Dat 's a fac'； suh； dat 's a fac'； so dey mus' so dey mus'。 An' den all
de dead has ter be buried。 An' we does ou' sheer of it； suh； we does ou'
sheer。 We conduc's de obs'quies er all de bes' w'ite folks er de town；
suh。〃
Warwick left the undertaker's shop and retraced his steps until he had
passed the lawyer's office； toward which he threw an affectionate glance。
A few rods farther led him past the old black Presbyterian church； with its
square tower； embowered in a stately grove； past the Catholic church； with
its many crosses； and a painted wooden figure of St。 James in a recess
beneath the gable； and past the old Jefferson House； once the leading hotel
of the town； in front of which political meetings had been held； and
political speeches made； and political hard cider drunk； in the days of
〃Tippecanoe and Tyler too。〃
The street down which Warwick had come intersected Front Street at a
sharp angle in front of the old hotel； forming a sort of flatiron block at the
junction； known as Liberty Point；perhaps because slave auctions were
sometimes held there in the good old days。 Just before Warwick reached
Liberty Point； a young woman came down Front Street from the direction
of the market…house。 When their paths converged； Warwick kept on
down Front Street behind her； it having been already his intention to walk
in this direction。
Warwick's first glance had revealed the fact that the young woman was
strikingly handsome； with a stately beauty seldom encountered。 As he
walked along behind her at a measured distance； he could not help noting
the details that made up this pleasing impression； for his mind was
singularly alive to beauty； in whatever embodiment。 The girl's figure； he
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
perceived； was admirably proportioned； she was evidently at the period
when the angles of childhood were rounding into the promising curves of
adolescence。 Her abundant hair； of a dark and glossy brown； was neatly
plaited and coiled above an ivory column that rose straight from a pair of
gently sloping shoulders； clearly outlined beneath the light muslin frock
that covered them。 He could see that she was tastefully； though not
richly； dressed； and that she walked with an elastic step that revealed a
light heart and the vigor of perfect health。 Her face； of course； he could
not analyze； since he had caught only the one brief but convincing glimpse
of it。
The young woman kept on down Front Street； Warwick maintaining
his distance a few rods behind her。 They passed a factory； a warehouse
or two； and then； leaving the brick pavement； walked along on mother
earth； under a leafy arcade of spreading oaks and elms。 Their way led
now through a residential portion of the town； which； as they advanced；
gradually declined from staid respectability to poverty； open and
unabashed。 Warwick observed； as they passed through the respectable
quarter； that few people who met the girl greeted her； and that some others
whom she passed at gates or doorways gave her no sign of recognition；
from which he inferred that she was possibly a visitor in the town and not
well acquainted。
Their walk had continued not more than ten minutes when they
crossed a creek by a wooden bridge and came to a row of mean houses
standing flush with the street。 At the door of one； an old black woman
had stooped to lift a large basket； piled high with laundered clothes。 The
girl； as she passed； seized one end of the basket and helped the old woman
to raise it to her head； where it rested solidly on the cushion of her head…
kerchief。 During this interlude； Warwick； though he had slackened his
pace measurably； had so nearly closed the gap between himself and them
as to hear the old woman say； with the dulcet negro intonation：
〃T'anky'； honey； de Lawd gwine bless you sho'。 You wuz alluz a
good gal； and de Lawd love eve'ybody w'at he'p de po' ole