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him any further developments。
Returning to the doctor's office； Tryon listened to that genial
gentleman's comments on the accident； his own concern in which he； by a
great effort； was able to conceal。 The doctor insisted upon his returning
to the Hill for supper。 Tryon pleaded illness。 The doctor was solicitous；
felt his pulse； examined his tongue； pronounced him feverish； and
prescribed a sedative。 Tryon sought refuge in his room at the hotel； from
which he did not emerge again until morning。
His emotions were varied and stormy。 At first he could see nothing
but the fraud of which he had been made the victim。 A negro girl had
been foisted upon him for a white woman； and he had almost committed
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the unpardonable sin against his race of marrying her。 Such a step； he
felt； would have been criminal at any time； it would have been the most
odious treachery at this epoch； when his people had been subjugated and
humiliated by the Northern invaders； who had preached negro equality and
abolished the wholesome laws decreeing the separation of the races。 But
no Southerner who loved his poor； downtrodden country； or his race； the
proud Anglo…Saxon race which traced the clear stream of its blood to the
cavaliers of England； could tolerate the idea that even in distant
generations that unsullied current could be polluted by the blood of slaves。
The very thought was an insult to the white people of the South。 For
Tryon's liberality； of which he had spoken so nobly and so sincerely； had
been confined unconsciously； and as a matter of course； within the
boundaries of his own race。 The Southern mind； in discussing abstract
questions relative to humanity； makes always； consciously or
unconsciously； the mental reservation that the conclusions reached do not
apply to the negro； unless they can be made to harmonize with the customs
of the country。
But reasoning thus was not without effect upon a mind by nature
reasonable above the average。 Tryon's race impulse and social prejudice
had carried him too far； and the swing of the mental pendulum brought his
thoughts rapidly back in the opposite direction。 Tossing uneasily on the
bed； where he had thrown himself down without undressing； the air of the
room oppressed him； and he threw open the window。 The cool night air
calmed his throbbing pulses。 The moonlight； streaming through the
window； flooded the room with a soft light； in which he seemed to see
Rena standing before him； as she had appeared that afternoon； gazing at
him with eyes that implored charity and forgiveness。 He burst into tears；…
… bitter tears； that strained his heartstrings。 He was only a youth。 She
was his first love； and he had lost her forever。 She was worse than dead
to him； for if he had seen her lying in her shroud before him； he could at
least have cherished her memory； now； even this consolation was denied
him。
The town clockwhich so long as it was wound up regularly recked
nothing of love or hate； joy or sorrowsolemnly tolled out the hour of
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midnight and sounded the knell of his lost love。 Lost she was； as though
she had never been； as she had indeed had no right to be。 He resolutely
determined to banish her image from his mind。 See her again he could
not； it would be painful to them both； it could be productive of no good to
either。 He had felt the power and charm of love； and no ordinary shook
could have loosened its hold； but this catastrophe； which had so rudely
swept away the groundwork of his passion； had stirred into new life all the
slumbering pride of race and ancestry which characterized his caste。
How much of this sensitive superiority was essential and how much
accidental； how much of it was due to the ever…suggested comparison with
a servile race； how much of it was ignorance and self…conceit； to what
extent the boasted purity of his race would have been contaminated by the
fair woman whose image filled his memory；of these things he never
thought。 He was not influenced by sordid considerations； he would have
denied that his course was controlled by any narrow prudence。 If Rena
had been white； pure white （for in his creed there was no compromise）； he
would have braved any danger for her sake。 Had she been merely of
illegitimate birth； he would have overlooked the bar sinister。 Had her
people been simply poor and of low estate； he would have brushed aside
mere worldly considerations； and would have bravely sacrificed
convention for love； for his liberality was not a mere form of words。 But
the one objection which he could not overlook was； unhappily； the one that
applied to the only woman who had as yet moved his heart。 He tried to
be angry with her； but after the first hour he found it impossible。 He was
a man of too much imagination not to be able to put himself； in some
measure at least； in her place；to perceive that for her the step which had
placed her in Tryon's world was the working out of nature's great law of
self… preservation； for which he could not blame her。 But for the sheerest
accident；no； rather； but for a providential interference；he would have
married her； and might have gone to the grave unconscious that she was
other than she seemed。
The clock struck the hour of two。 With a shiver he closed the
window； undressed by the moonlight； drew down the shade； and went to
bed。 He fell into an unquiet slumber； and dreamed again of Rena。 He
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must learn to control his waking thoughts； his dreams could not be curbed。
In that realm Rena's image was for many a day to remain supreme。 He
dreamed of her sweet smile； her soft touch； her gentle voice。 In all