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observed the younger of the two； with a suspicious air。 He had noticed
the gentleman's involuntary pause and his interest in the opposite house；
and had stopped work for a moment to watch the stranger as he went on
down the street。
〃Nev' min' 'bout dat man；〃 said the elder one。 〃You 'ten' ter yo' wuk
an' finish dat bairl…stave。 You spen's enti'ely too much er yo' time
stretchin' yo' neck atter other people。 An' you need n' 'sturb yo'se'f 'bout
dem folks 'cross de street； fer dey ain't yo' kin'； an' you're wastin' yo' time
both'in' yo' min' wid 'em； er wid folks w'at comes on de street on account
of 'em。 Look sha'p now； boy； er you'll git dat stave trim' too much。〃
The younger man resumed his work； but still found time to throw a
slanting glance out of the window。 The gentleman； he perceived； stood
for a moment on the rotting bridge across the old canal； and then walked
slowly ahead until he turned to the right into Back Street； a few rods
farther on。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
II
AN EVENING VISIT
Toward evening of the same day； Warwick took his way down Front
Street in the gathering dusk。 By the time night had spread its mantle over
the earth； he had reached the gate by which he had seen the girl of his
morning walk enter the cedar… bordered garden。 He stopped at the gate
and glanced toward the house； which seemed dark and silent and deserted。
〃It's more than likely；〃 he thought； 〃that they are in the kitchen。 I
reckon I'd better try the back door。〃
But as he drew cautiously near the corner； he saw a man's figure
outlined in the yellow light streaming from the open door of a small house
between Front Street and the cooper shop。 Wishing； for reasons of his
own； to avoid observation； Warwick did not turn the corner； but walked on
down Front Street until he reached a point from which he could see； at a
long angle； a ray of light proceeding from the kitchen window of the house
behind the cedars。
〃They are there；〃 he muttered with a sigh of relief； for he had feared
they might be away。 〃I suspect I'll have to go to the front door； after all。
No one can see me through the trees。〃
He retraced his steps to the front gate； which he essayed to open。
There was apparently some defect in the latch； for it refused to work。
Warwick remembered the trick； and with a slight sense of amusement；
pushed his foot under the gate and gave it a hitch to the left； after which it
opened readily enough。 He walked softly up the sanded path； tiptoed up
the steps and across the piazza； and rapped at the front door； not too loudly；
lest this too might attract the attention of the man across the street。 There
was no response to his rap。 He put his ear to the door and heard voices
within； and the muffled sound of footsteps。 After a moment he rapped
again； a little louder than before。
There was an instant cessation of the sounds within。 He rapped a
third time； to satisfy any lingering doubt in the minds of those who he felt
sure were listening in some trepidation。 A moment later a ray of light
streamed through the keyhole。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
〃Who's there？〃 a woman's voice inquired somewhat sharply。
〃A gentleman；〃 answered Warwick； not holding it yet time to reveal
himself。 〃Does Mis' Molly Walden live here？〃
〃Yes；〃 was the guarded answer。 〃I'm Mis' Walden。 What's yo'r
business？〃
〃I have a message to you from your son John。〃
A key clicked in the lock。 The door opened； and the elder of the
two women Warwick had seen upon the piazza stood in the doorway；
peering curiously and with signs of great excitement into the face of the
stranger。
〃You 've got a message from my son； you say？〃 she asked with
tremulous agitation。 〃Is he sick； or in trouble？〃
〃No。 He's well and doing well； and sends his love to you； and hopes
you've not forgotten him。〃
〃Fergot him？ No； God knows I ain't fergot him！ But come in； sir；
an' tell me somethin' mo' about him。〃
Warwick went in； and as the woman closed the door after him； he
threw a glance round the room。 On the wall； over the mantelpiece； hung
a steel engraving of General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans； and； on
the opposite wall； a framed fashion…plate from 〃Godey's Lady's Book。〃
In the middle of the room an octagonal centre…table with a single leg；
terminating in three sprawling feet； held a collection of curiously shaped
sea…shells。 There was a great haircloth sofa； somewhat the worse for
wear； and a well…filled bookcase。 The screen standing before the
fireplace was covered with Confederate bank…notes of various
denominations and designs； in which the heads of Jefferson Davis and
other Confederate leaders were conspicuous。
〃Imperious Caesar； dead； and turned to clay； Might
stop a hole to keep the wind away；〃
murmured the young man； as his eye fell upon this specimen of
decorative art。
The woman showed her visitor to a seat。 She then sat down facing
him and looked at him closely。 〃When did you last see my son？〃 she
asked。
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THE HOUSE BEHIND THE CEDARS
〃I've never met your son；〃 he replied。
Her face fell。 〃Then the message comes through you from somebody
else？〃
〃No； directly from your son。〃
She scanned his face with a puzzled look。 This bearded young
gentleman； who spoke so politely and was dressed so well； surelyno； it
could not be！ and yet
Warwick was smiling at her through a mist of tears。 An electric spark
of sympathy flashed between them。 They rose as if moved by one
impulse； and were clasped in each other's arms。