按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃O； Miss Ida；〃 exclaimed Sibley； 〃this is the opportunity that I
have been wishing for all the evening。 I cannot tell you how gladly
I exchange the glare of that room for the light of your eyes only。
Would that life were but one long summer evening； and your eyes
the only starts in my sky。〃
〃Absurd；〃 she carelessly replied； and then they passed out of
hearing。
〃Good…night； Miss Burton；〃 said Mr。 Mayhew abruptly； and he hastily
descended the steps and was soon lost from view in the darkness。
His daughter and the man who seemed to be the companion of her
choice； brought back at once the old conditions of his life。 The
prison walls closed around him again； the air seemed all the more
foul and stifling in contrast with the pure atmosphere which he had
been breathing； and the gloom of the night was light in comparison
with his thoughts as he muttered：
〃If Ida were only like this good angel she might save even me； but
after my long absence she leaves me wholly to myself for the sake
of a man who ought to be an offence to her。 If I tell her and
her mother what his reputation in New York is they will not listen
to me。 Although he is the known slave of every vice； my daughter
smiles upon him。 Froth and mud we are now and ever will be。 After
a glimpse into the life of that pure； good woman who has tried to
be God's messenger to me to…night； I can find no words to express
my loathing of the slough in which I and mine have mired。 My only
child； by the force of natural selection； bids fair to add to our
number a drunkard and a libertine； and I am powerless to prevent
it。 The mother that should guard and guide her child； is blind to
everything save that he is rich。 Froth and mud！ Froth and mud！〃
Unable to endure his thoughts； he went to his room and found oblivion
in the stupor of intoxication。
On reaching the end of the long piazza； Sibley led Ida to a veranda
little frequented at that hour； saying； as he did so：
〃Let us get away from prying eyes。 I always feel when with you
that three is an enormous crowd。〃
A gentleman who had been smoking rose hastily at this broad hint；
which he could not help overhearing； and walked haughtily away。
Ida； with a regret deeper than she could have thought possible； saw
that it was Van Berg。 Her first impulse was to compel her companion
to go back； but that would look like following him。 Weary； disheartened
by the fate that seemed ever against her； she sank into the chair
he had just vacated。
For a time she did not heed or scarcely hear Sibley's characteristic
flatteries； but at last he said plainly：
〃Miss Ida； do you know that you are the one woman of all the world
to me？〃
〃Oh； hush！〃 she replied； rising。 〃I know you say that to every
pretty woman who will listen to you； as I shall no longer to…night。
Come。〃
Baffled and puzzled also by the moody girl； who of late seemed so
different from her former self； he had no resource but to accompany
her back to the main entrance。 Here； where the eyes of others were
upon her； she said abruptly； but with a charming smile：
〃Good…night； Mr。 Sibley；〃 and went directly to her room。
The young man looked rather nonplussed and muttered an oath as he
walked away to console himself after the fashion of his kind。
〃Is there no escape from this wretched life？〃 Ida sighed as she
wearily threw herself into a chair on reaching her room。 〃A man
whose addresses are an insult is my lover。 The only man I can ever
love associates me in his mind with this low fellow。 My father
obtains what little comfort he gets from the charity of a stranger。
How can I face this prospect day after day。 Oh； that I had never
come here！〃
〃Ida；〃 said her mother entering hastily； 〃what has happened to put
your father out so？ I had a headache this evening； and came up
early。 A little while ago he stalked in with his absurd tragic air。
'What is the matter；' I asked。 'Look to your daughter；' he said。
'What do you mean？' I asked； quite frightened。 'If you were a true
mother；' he replied； 'you would no more leave her with that roue
Sibley； than with so much pitch。 Yet he is courting her openly；
and what is worse； she receives his addresses； and permits herself
to be identified with him。' 'Oh； pshaw；' I answered carelessly；
'Sibley is about on a par with half the young men in society； and
Ida might do a great deal worse。 No fear of her； for there isn't
a girl living who knows how to take care of herself better than
she。' 'Bah！' he said； 'if she knew how to take care of herself；
she would permit a snake to touch her sooner than that man。 Ida
might do worse； might she？ God knows how： I don't。 A pretty family
we shall be when he is added to our charming group。 The mud will
predominate then；' and with that he opened a bottle of brandy and
drank himself stupid。〃
As Mrs。 Mayhew rattled this conversation off in a loud whisper；
Ida seemed turning into stone； but at its close she said icily：
〃In speaking of such a union as possible； my parents have shown
their opinion of me。 Good…night。 I wish to be alone。〃
〃But did anything happen between you to set your father off so？〃
persisted Mrs。 Mayhew。
〃Nothing unusual。 I suppose father heard one of Mr。 Sibley's
compliments； and that was enough to disgust any sensible man。
Good…night。〃
〃My gracious！ You might as well turn me out of your room。〃
〃Mother； I wish to be alone；〃 said Ida； passionately。
〃A pretty life I lead of it between you and your father；〃 sobbed
Mrs。 Mayhew； retreating to her own apartment。
〃A hateful； wretched life we all three shall lead to the end
of time； for aught that I can see；〃 Ida groaned as she restlessly
paced her room； 〃but I have no better resource than to follow
father's example。〃
She took an opiate； and so escaped from thought for a time in the
deep lethargy it brought。
Chapter XXV。 Half…truths。
A church bell was ringing in a neighboring village the following
morning when Ida awoke。 The sunlight streamed in at the open window
through the half…closed blinds； flecking the floor with bars of
light。 Birds were singing in the trees without； and a southern
breeze rustled through the foliage as a sweet low accompaniment。
Surely it was a bright pleasant world on which her heavy eyes were
opening。
Poor child！ she was fast learning now that the darkest clouds that
shadow our paths are not the vapors that rise from the earth； but
the thoughts and memories of an unhappy and a sinful heart。
The sunlight mocked her； and her spirit was so out of tune that
the sweet sounds of nature made jarring discord。
But the church bell caught her attention。 How natural and almost
universal is the instinct which leads us when in trouble to seek
the support of some Higher power。 No matter how wayward the human
child may have been； how hardened by years of wrong； or arrogantly
entrenched in some phase of rational philosophy； when the darkness
of danger or sorrow blots out the light of earthly hopes； or hides
the path which was trodden so confidently； then； with the impulse
of frightened children whom night has suddenly overtaken； there is
a longing for the Father's hand and the Father's reassuring voice。
If there is no God to love and help us； human nature is a lie。
Thus far Ida Mayhew had no more thought of turning Heavenward for
help than to the philosophy of Plato。 Indeed； religion as a system
of truth； and Greek philosophy were almost equally unknown to her。
But that church…bell reminded her of the source of hope and help to
which burdened hearts have been turning in all the ages； and with
the vague thought that she might find some light and cheer that was
not in the sunshine； she hastily dressed and went down in time to
catch one of the last carriages。 When she reached the church； she
found her mother had preceded her； and that her cousin Ik Stanton
was also there； but she correctly surmised that the only devotion
to which he was inclined had been inspired by Miss Burton； who sat
not far away。 She was soon satisfied that Van Berg was not present。
As a general thing； when at church； Ida had given more consideration
to the people and the toilets about her than to either the service
or the sermon； but to…day she wistfully turned her thoughts to
both； in the hope that they might do her good； although she had as
vague an idea as to the mode or process as if both were an Indian
incantation。
But she was thoroughly disappointed。 Her thoughts wandered continually
from the services。 With almost the vividness of bodily presence；
three faces were looking upon herher father's with an infinite
reproach； Sibley's； with smiling lips and wolfish eyes； and Van
Berg's； first coolly questioning and exploring in its expression；
and then coldly averted and scornful in cons