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perceived that the writing was in a woman's hand； that the ink was
comparatively fresh； and that the letter was dated only a couple of days
before。 While he still held the sheet in his hand； it dawned upon him
slowly that he held also one of the links in a chain of possible tragedy
which he himself； he became uncomfortably aware； had had a hand in
forging。
〃It is the Walden woman's daughter； as sure as fate！ Her name is
Rena。 Her brother goes by the name of Warwick。 She has come to visit
her sick mother。 My young client； Green's relation； is her loveris
engaged to marry heris in town； and is likely to meet her！〃
The judge was so absorbed in the situation thus suggested that he laid
the papers down and pondered for a moment the curious problem involved。
He was quite aware that two races had not dwelt together； side by side； for
nearly three hundred years； without mingling their blood in greater or less
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degree； he was old enough； and had seen curious things enough； to know
that in this mingling the current had not always flowed in one direction。
Certain old decisions with which he was familiar； old scandals that had
crept along obscure channels； old facts that had come to the knowledge of
an old practitioner； who held in the hollow of his hand the honor of more
than one family； made him know that there was dark blood among the
white peoplenot a great deal； and that very much diluted； and； so long as
it was sedulously concealed or vigorously denied； or lost in the mists of
tradition； or ascribed to a foreign or an aboriginal strain； having no
perceptible effect upon the racial type。
Such people were； for the most part； merely on the ragged edge of the
white world； seldom rising above the level of overseers； or slave…catchers；
or sheriff's officers； who could usually be relied upon to resent the drop of
black blood that tainted them； and with the zeal of the proselyte to visit
their hatred of it upon the unfortunate blacks that fell into their hands。
One curse of negro slavery was； and one part of its baleful heritage is； that
it poisoned the fountains of human sympathy。 Under a system where
men might sell their own children without social reprobation or loss of
prestige； it was not surprising that some of them should hate their distant
cousins。 There were not in Patesville half a dozen persons capable of
thinking Judge Straight's thoughts upon the question before him； and
perhaps not another who would have adopted the course he now pursued
toward this anomalous family in the house behind the cedars。
〃Well； here we are again； as the clown in the circus remarks；〃
murmured the judge。 〃Ten years ago； in a moment of sentimental
weakness and of quixotic loyalty to the memory of an old friend； who；
by the way； had not cared enough for his own children to take them away
from the South； as he might have done； or to provide for them handsomely；
as he perhaps meant to do；I violated the traditions of my class and
stepped from the beaten path to help the misbegotten son of my old friend
out of the slough of despond； in which he had learned； in some strange
way； that he was floundering。 Ten years later； the ghost of my good deed
returns to haunt me； and makes me doubt whether I have wrought more
evil than good。 I wonder；〃 he mused； 〃if he will find her out？〃
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The judge was a man of imagination； he had read many books and had
personally outlived some prejudices。 He let his mind run on the various
phases of the situation。
〃If he found her out； would he by any possibility marry her？〃
〃It is not likely；〃 he answered himself。 〃If he made the discovery
here； the facts would probably leak out in the town。 It is something that a
man might do in secret； but only a hero or a fool would do openly。〃
The judge sighed as he contemplated another possibility。 He had
lived for seventy years under the old regime。 The young man was a
gentleman so had been the girl's father。 Conditions were changed； but
human nature was the same。 Would the young man's love turn to disgust
and repulsion； or would it merely sink from the level of worship to that of
desire？ Would the girl； denied marriage； accept anything less？ Her
mother had；but conditions were changed。 Yes； conditions were
changed； so far as the girl was concerned； there was a possible future for
her under the new order of things； but white people had not changed their
opinion of the negroes； except for the worse。 The general belief was that
they were just as inferior as before； and had； moreover； been spoiled by a
disgusting assumption of equality； driven into their thick skulls by Yankee
malignity bent upon humiliating a proud though vanquished foe。
If the judge had had sons and daughters of his own； he might not have
done what he now proceeded to do。 But the old man's attitude toward
society was chiefly that of an observer； and the narrow stream of sentiment
left in his heart chose to flow toward the weaker party in this unequal
conflict； a young woman fighting for love and opportunity against the
ranked forces of society； against immemorial tradition； against pride of
family and of race。
〃It may be the unwisest thing I ever did；〃 he said to himself； turning to
his desk and taking up a quill pen； 〃and may result in more harm than
good； but I was always from childhood in sympathy with the under dog。
There is certainly as much reason in my helping the girl as the boy； for
being a woman； she is less able to help herself。〃
He dipped his pen into the ink and wrote the following lines：
MADAM；If you value your daughter's happiness； keep her at home
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for the next day or two。
This note he dried by sprinkling it with sand from a box nea