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reasonable inference from the letter was that Blanche meant to await his
return。 Her presence would spoil the fine romantic flavor of the surprise
he had planned for his mother； it would never do to expose his bride to an
unannounced meeting with the woman whom he had tacitly rejected。
There would be one advantage in such a meeting： the comparison of the
two women would be so much in Rena's favor that his mother could not
hesitate for a moment between them。 The situation； however； would
have elements of constraint； and he did not care to expose either Rena or
Blanche to any disagreeable contingency。 It would be better to take his
wife on a wedding trip； and notify his mother； before he returned home； of
his marriage。 In the extremely improbable case that she should
disapprove his choice after having seen his wife； the ice would at least
have been broken before his arrival at home。
〃By Jove！〃 he exclaimed suddenly； striking his knee with his hand；
〃why shouldn't I run up to Patesville while Rena's gone？ I can leave here
at five o'clock； and get there some time to…morrow morning。 I can
transact my business during the day； and get back the day after to…morrow；
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for Rena might return ahead of time； just as we did； and I shall want to be
here when she comes； I'd rather wait a year for a legal opinion on a
doubtful old note than to lose one day with my love。 The train goes in
twenty minutes。 My bag is already packed。 I'll just drop a line to
George and tell him where I've gone。〃
He put Rena's letter into his breast pocket； and turning to his trunk；
took from it a handful of papers relating to the claim in reference to which
he was going to Patesville。 These he thrust into the same pocket with
Rena's letter； he wished to read both letter and papers while on the train。
It would be a pleasure merely to hold the letter before his eyes and look at
the lines traced by her hand。 The papers he wished to study； for the more
practical purpose of examining into the merits of his claim against the
estate of Duncan McSwayne。
When Warwick reached home； he inquired if Mr。 Tryon had called。
〃No； suh；〃 answered the nurse； to whom he had put the question； 〃he
ain't be'n here yet； suh。〃
Warwick was surprised and much disturbed。
〃De baby 's be'n cryin' for Miss Rena；〃 suggested the nurse； 〃an' I
s'pec' he'd like to see you； suh。 Shall I fetch 'im？〃
〃Yes； bring him to me。〃
He took the child in his arms and went out upon the piazza。 Several
porch pillows lay invitingly near。 He pushed them toward the steps with
his foot； sat down upon one； and placed little Albert upon another。 He
was scarcely seated when a messenger from the hotel came up the walk
from the gate and handed him a note。 At the same moment he heard the
long shriek of the afternoon train leaving the station on the opposite side
of the town。
He tore the envelope open anxiously； read the note； smiled a sickly
smile； and clenched the paper in his hand unconsciously。 There was
nothing he could do。 The train had gone； there was no telegraph to
Patesville； and no letter could leave Clarence for twenty…four hours。 The
best laid schemes go wrong at timesthe stanchest ships are sometimes
wrecked； or skirt the breakers perilously。 Life is a sea； full of strange
currents and uncharted reefswhoever leaves the traveled path must run
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the danger of destruction。 Warwick was a lawyer； however； and
accustomed to balance probabilities。
〃He may easily be in Patesville a day or two without meeting her。
She will spend most of her time at mother's bedside； and he will be
occupied with his own affairs。〃
If Tryon should meet herwell； he was very much in love； and he had
spoken very nobly of birth and blood。 Warwick would have preferred；
nevertheless； that Tryon's theories should not be put to this particular test。
Rena's scruples had so far been successfully combated； the question would
be opened again； and the situation unnecessarily complicated； if Tryon
should meet Rena in Patesville。
〃Will he or will he not？〃 he asked himself。 He took a coin from his
pocket and spun it upon the floor。 〃Heads； he sees her； tails； he does
not。〃
The coin spun swiftly and steadily； leaving upon the eye the
impression of a revolving sphere。 Little Albert； left for a moment to his
own devices； had crept behind his father and was watching the whirling
disk with great pleasure。 He felt that he would like to possess this
interesting object。 The coin began to move more slowly； and was
wabbling to its fall； when the child stretched forth his chubby fist and
caught it ere it touched the floor。
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XII
TRYON GOES TO PATESVILLE
Tryon arrived in the early morning and put up at the Patesville Hotel；
a very comfortable inn。 After a bath； breakfast； and a visit to the
barbershop； he inquired of the hotel clerk the way to the office of Dr。
Green； his mother's cousin。
〃On the corner； sir；〃 answered the clerk； 〃by the market…house； just
over the drugstore。 The doctor drove past here only half an hour ago。
You'll probably catch him in his office。〃
Tryon found the office without difficulty。 He climbed the stair； but
found no one in except a young colored man seated in the outer office；
who rose promptly as Tryon entered。
〃No； suh；〃 replied the man to Tryon's question； 〃he ain't hyuh now。
He's gone out to see a