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her； but she smiling persisted in ascribing it all to his good…nature
and kindness of heart。
Chapter XIX。 Man's Highest Honor。
Van Berg had not been very long in discovering that Miss Burton
had a ruling passion； and it seemed to him a rather unique one。
He was familiar with the many forms of self…seeking； common in
society； he knew of those who were devoted to literature； science；
or some favorite calling； as he was to his art； he had seen a few
who apparently so abounded in genial good…nature that they rarely
lost an opportunity of performing a kind act； and there were men
and women in the world who； he believed； had fully consecrated
themselves to the work of doing good from the purest and divinest
motives： but he did not remember of ever having met with one whose
whole thought appeared bent on disseminating immediate sunshine。
And yet this seemed true of Miss Burton。 With admirable tact；
with a tireless patience； and an energy out of proportion in one
so fragile； she kept herself quietly and unobtrusively busy among
the miscellaneous people of the house。 Her charity was wide enough
for all。 Wherever she could discover gloom； despondency； dulness；
or pain； there she tried to shine like a sunbeam； as if that were
the primal law of her being。 She rarely sought to 〃do good〃 in the
ordinary acceptance of the term； still more rarely did she speak
of her own personal faith； to cheer and to brighten appeared to
be her one constant impulse。 It was evident that this had become
a kind of second nature in her now； but the thought occurred more
than once to Van Berg that she had adopted this course at first
to escape from herself and her own unhappy memories。 Every day
increased the conviction that sorrow was the black； heavy soil that
produced this constant bloom of unselfish deeds。
Before the week was over she gave him special reason to believe
that this was true。 They were walking up and down the piazza one
evening and had been talking with much animation on a subject of
mutual interest。 But she proved that there was in her mind a deeper
and stronger current of thought than that which had been apparent。
As the duskiness increased； and as in their promenade their faces
were turned away from those who might have observed them； she said
a little abruptly and yet with tremulous hesitancy：
〃Mr。 Van Berg； does your philosophy teach you to believe； as you
sung； on Sabbath evening； that
'There is no power to sever
The strong and true in mind？'〃
Before answering he turned to look at her。 Her face seemed to
stand out from the gloom of the night with a light of its own； and
was so white and eager as to be almost spirit…like。 His tones were
sad as he replied：
〃I wish I could answer you otherwise than as I must； for the impulse to
say some words of comfort； which I feel you need； is very strong。
I only sang of what I wished on Sunday evening。 I have little
philosophy； and still less of definite belief in regard to the
future life。 While I am not a theoretic skeptic； all questions of
faith are to me so vague and incomprehensible that I am a practical
materialist； and live only in the present hour。〃
〃But； Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she said； in a low tremulous tone； 〃can you
not understand that some people cannot live in the present hour；
try as they may？ Oh； how desperately hard I try to do so！ Can
you not imagine that something in one's past may make a future
necessary to save from despair？ If I lost my hold on that future
I should go mad；〃 she added in a whisper。 〃How can any materialistic
philosophy be true when it fails us and so bitterly disappoints us
in our need？〃
〃I do not say it is true；〃 he replied； earnestly。 〃Indeed your
words and manner prove to me； as could no labored argument； what a
poor superficial thing it is。 I feel； with the force of conviction；
that it can no more meet your need than could the husks which the
swine did eat。〃
〃Since you were sincere； I will be also；〃 she continued in the
same low tone； looking away from him into the dark cloudy sky。 〃As
the hymn I sung may have suggested to you； I have not got very far
beyond mere submission and hope。 Something in my own soul as well
as in revelation tells me that there is a 'happier shore；' and I
am trying to reach it； but the way； too often； is like that sky；
utterly opaque and rayless。〃
〃I regret more deeply than you can ever know； Miss Burton； that I
find nothing in my own knowledge or experience to help you。 All
I can offer is my honest sympathy； and that you have had from the
first； for from the time of our first meeting the impression has
been growing upon me that your character had obtained its power
and beauty through some deep and sorrowful experience。 But while
I am unable to give you any help； perhaps I can suggest a pleasant
thought from your own illustration。 The black clouds yonder which
seem to you a true type of the shadows that have fallen across
your path； are； after all； but a film in the sky。 The sun； and a
multitude of other luminous worlds； are shining beyond them in the
heavens。 I would I had your chances of reaching a 'happier shore。'〃
〃That's a pretty sentiment；〃 she said； shaking her head slowly；
〃but those luminous worlds are a great way off； with cold and vast
reaches of space between them。 Besides； a luminous world would
not do me one bit of good。 I want…〃 she stopped abruptly with
something like a low sob。 〃There； there；〃 she resumed hastily
dashing away a few tears。 〃I have occupied your thoughts too long
with my forlorn little self。 I did not mean to show this weakness；
but have been betrayed into doing os； I think； because you impressed
me as being honest； and I thought that perhapsperhaps your man's
reason might have thought of some argument or probably conjecture
relating to the subject that； for causes obvious to you； would be
naturally interesting to one so alone in the world as I am。〃
〃I am sorry indeed that I never used my reason to so good a purpose；〃
he replied； 〃and yet； as I said at first； these subjects have ever
seemed to me so above and beyond my reason that I have carelessly
given them the go…by。 My profession has wholly absorbed me since
I have been capable of anything worth the name of thought； and the
world； toward which your mind is turning； is so large and vague
that I cannot even follow you； much less guide。〃
She sighed： 〃It is indeed 'large and vague。'〃 Then she added in
firm； quiet tones： 〃Mr。 Van Berg； please forget what I have said。
The weak must show their weakness at times in spite of themselves；
and your kindness and sincerity have beguiled me into inflicting
myself upon you。〃
〃You ask that which is impossible； Miss Burton；〃 he replied earnestly。
〃I cannot forget what you have said； nor do I wish to。 I need not
assure you； however； that I regard your confidence as sacred as if
it came from my own sister。 Will you also let me say that I never
felt so honored before in my life as I have to…night； in the fact
that I seemed to your woman's intuition worthy of your trust。〃
They were now turned towards the light that streamed dimly from
one of the windows。 She looked up at him with a bright； grateful
smile； but she apparently saw something in his eager face and manner
which checked her smile as suddenly as if he had been an apparition。
she gave him her hand； saying hastily； 〃Good…night； Mr。 Van Berg；
I thank you。 IIdo not feel very well；〃 and she passed swiftly
to a side door and disappeared。
Chapter XX。 A Wretched Secret that Must be Kept。
The interview described in the previous chapter touched Van Berg
deeply； but its close puzzled him。 Under the influences of his
aroused feelings had his face expressed more than mere sympathy？
Had her strong intuition； that was like a second sight； interpreted
his heart more clearly than he had been able to understand it himself
as yet？ Reason and judgement； his privy council； had already begun
to advise him to win if possible this unselfish maiden； who with
a divine alchemy transmuted her shadows into sunshine for others；
and often suggested the thought； if she can do this in sorrow； how
inexpressibly happy she might make you and your aged father and
mother if you could first find out in some way how to make her
happy。
Indeed； so clear a case did these counsellors make out； that conscience
added her authoritative voice also； and assured him that he would
be false to himself and his future did he not； to the utmost； avail
himself and his future did he not； to the utmost； avail himself
of the opportunity of winning one whose society from the first had
been an inspiration to better thoughts and better living。
Until this evening his heart had remained sluggish。 Sweet and
potent as her voice had been； it