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〃Ahem！ I fear our plain dinner will be a very prosaic interruption；
but…〃 he began。
〃Oh； Mr。 Eltinge；〃 cried Ida； springing to him； her cheeks putting
to shame any flower of his garden； 〃I owe all this to you！〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 said Mr。 Eltinge； with the stately courtesy of the
old school； 〃with your permission I now shall take full payment；〃
and stooping down he kissed her tenderly； with a fervent 〃God bless
you； my child！ God bless you both！ I thought it would all end in
this way。〃
It was late in the day when Ida drove up to the steps of the Lake
House and assisted Van Berg to alight with a care and solicitude
that Stanton； who was grimly watching them； thought a trifle too
apparent。 She gave a hasty side…glance to her cousin； but would
not trust herself to do more in the presence of others。
〃Mr。 Van Berg； I would like to see you alone a few moments；〃 said
Stanton in a low tone。
The artist hobbled cheerfully into one of the small private parlors；
and stretched himself out very luxuriously on the sofa； saying as
he did so； 〃Take the rocking…chair； Ik。〃
〃No； sir；〃 said Stanton stiffly。 〃I shall trespass but a few
moments on your timeonly long enough to keep a promise and perform
a duty。 In circumstances that you can scarcely have forgotten；
you assured me that I was in honor bound to give my cousin； Miss
Mayhew； a brother's care。 You asserted very emphatically that with
her peculiar temperament she ought to be saved from any serious
trouble。 What I then promised from a sense of duty I now perform
from warm affection。 As far as a brother's love and care is
concerned； Ida Mayhew is my sister； and as a brother I insist； in
view of your relations with Miss Burton； that you do not give to
her so much of your society。 Not that I mean to insinuate in the
faintest possible way； that my cousin entertains for you anything
more than an ordinary and friendly regard。 It is my intention
only to remind you that your course has been a little peculiar of
late； to say the least； and that it is often far better to prevent
trouble than remedy it。〃
〃The mischief is all done； Ik； you are too late。〃
〃What do you mean； sir？〃
〃Well； one thing at a time。 Miss Burton has refused me absolutely。〃
〃I don't wonder！〃 said Stanton indignantly。
〃Nor I either； Ik。 You are a hundredfold more worthy of her than
I am or ever was。 I once regarded myself as slightly your superior；
Isaac； but circumstances have proved that you have enough good
metal in you to make a dozen such men as I am。〃
〃I want explanations； not compliments；〃 said Stanton sternly。
〃Sit down； and I'll tell you everything。 Then you can brain me
with one of the crutches； if you wish；〃 and Van Berg related to
Stanton substantially all that occurred between himself and Jennie
Burton。 〃She said I could tell you after she was gone； but I think
it is best you should know before。 She understands and honors
you； and you should understand her。 Her heart is buried so deep
in some unnamed； unmarked grave that it will find； I fear； no
resurrection on earth。 I told you the first day she came to this
house that she had had an experience that separated her from ordinary
humanity； and also predicted that she would wake you up and make
a man of you。 She has made you a prince among men。 You are my
elder brother； Ik； from this time forth； and I won't put on any more
airs with you。 As I said； your remarks in regard to your cousin
came a little late。 You see； my ring is gone； and you know I have
often laughingly told you that my mother gave it to me on conditions
that made it very safe property。 I have parted with it； however；
and very honestly too； but you will see it again； soon。〃
〃Van；〃 said Stanton； with a slight quaver in his voice； and a very
sickly attempt at his old humor； 〃I have forfeited my wager that
followed your prediction； which I thought so absurd at the time；
but I'll forgive you everything； and bestow my blessing on you and
Ida； if you will paint me a portrait of Miss Burton。〃
〃The best I can possibly make； Ik； and she shall look as she did
when she called you a true； noble…hearted gentleman。〃
Van Berg now found no difficulty in bringing about a friendship
between Ida and Jennie Burton； and the two maidens spent the greater
part of Sabbath afternoon together。 Ida hid nothing in her full
confidence； not even the crime that had been in her thoughts； and
which might have destroyed the life that now was growing so rich
and beautiful。 When her pathetic story was completed； Jennie said：
〃Mr。 Van Berg has told me some things in your favor that you have
omitted。 I cannot flatter myself now that my love is stronger than
yours； but you are stronger； you are braver。 What is the secret of
your strength？ Your religion seems to do you more good than mine
does me。〃
〃Well； Jennie；〃 said Ida musingly； there seems to me this difference。
〃You have a God； I have a Saviour； you have a faith； I have a tender
and helpful Friend。 Jesus Christ has said to those who love and
trust him： 'Let not your hearts be troubled。' He said these words
to men who were to suffer all things； and did so； Mr。 Eltinge told
me。 It's just the same as if he said； You don't know； I do； leave
everything to me； and it shall all be for the best in the end。 See
how all my trouble this summer has just prepared for this happiness；
and I believe； Jennie； that your eternity of happiness will be
made all the richer for every sad day of your unselfish life。 The
souls of such men as Harrold Fleetwood are God's richest treasures；
and he whose name is Love surely kindled such love as yours and
his。 The God that the Bible reveals to me will not permit it to be
lost；〃 and with Jennie's head on her bosom she sang low and sweetly：
No hope； 'tis said； though buried deep；
But angels o'er it vigils keep；
No love in sepulchre shall stay；
For Christ our Friend has rolled away
The heavy stone of death。
〃Oh； sing me those words again；〃 sobbed Jennie： 〃sing them again
and again； till they fill my heart with hope。〃
Ida did so。
〃O Ida！ God's good angel to me as well as to Harold Van Berg；〃
said Jennie； smiling through her tears。 〃I bless you for those
hopeful words。 They will repeat themselves in my heart till all
is clear and our souls that God mated are joined again。 My Harrold
was not one who said 'Lord； Lord' very often； but I know that
he tried to 'do the will of his Father which is in heaven。' I am
going to your Friend； Ida； for if ever a poor mortal needed more
than mortal help and cheer； I do。 I shall just give up everything
into his hands； and wait patiently。〃
〃The life he will give you again； Jennie； will be infinitely richer
than the one you have lost。〃
Early in the following week Miss Burton returned to her college
duties。 Before parting she said to Ida： 〃I do not think I shall
ever give way again to my old； bitter； heart…breaking grief。〃
Almost every one in the house wanted to shake hands with her
in farewell。 Poor Mr。 Burleigh tried to disguise his feelings by
putting crepe on his hat and tying black shawl of his wife's around
his arm； but he blew his nose so often that he finally said he was
〃taking cold on the piazza；〃 and so made a hasty retreat。
Ida and Van Berg accompanied Jennie to the depot； but Stanton was
not to be found till they reached the station； when he quietly
stepped forward and handed Jennie her checks。 She was trying to
say something that she meant should show her appreciation； when the
train thundered up； and he handed her into a palace car； in which
she found he had secured her a seat； and before she had time to
say a word her tickets were in her hands and he was gone。
When； after several hours' riding； she approached a station at which
she must change cars and recheck her trunks； a friendly voice said
to her：
〃Miss Burton； if you will give me your checks I will attend to this
little matter for you。〃
〃Mr。 Stanton！〃 she exclaimed。 〃What does this mean？〃
〃It means that since I am on the same train with you； I can do no
less than offer so slight a service。〃
She looked at him very doubtfully； as she said： 〃I don't know
what to think of this journey of yours。 Let me now pay you for my
ticket。〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg handed me the money you gave him for that purpose。
It's all right。 Your checks please； there is but little time。〃
His manner was so quiet and assured； that she handed them to him
hesitatingly； and a moment later stepped out on the platform。
In a few moments she called： 〃Oh； Mr。 Stanton； you have lost your
train。〃
〃Not at all。 I am going to Boston。 There are your checks once
more； and here is your train and seat；〃 he added； as he accompanied
her to it。 Then he lifted his hat； and was about to depart； when
she s