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a pity you are interfering；〃 and he poured out a large glass of
brandy。
〃Would to God I had died before I had seen this day！〃 cried Ida
in a tone of such sharp agony that all turned towards her in a
questioning surprise； but she rushed into her own room and locked
the door after her。
〃Things have gone farther between her and Sibley than we thought；〃
said Stanton； gloomily。
〃Well； Ik；〃 said Mr。 Mayhew with a laugh that was dreadful to hear；
〃you had better cut loose from us。 We are all going to the devil
by the shortest cut。〃
〃Would to heaven I had never seen you！〃 cried Mrs。 Mayhew；
hysterically。 〃YOU are the one who is dragging us down。 If my
nephew deserts us； I will brand him as a coward and no gentleman。〃
〃I'll not desert you unless you desert yourself；〃 said Stanton； with
a gesture of disgust and impatience； 〃but if you persist in going
down into the deepest quagmires you can find； you cannot expect me
to follow you；〃 and with these words he left the room。
Mr。 Mayhew was soon sunk in the deepest lethargy； and his wife
spent the afternoon in impotently fretting and fuming against her
〃miserable fate；〃 as she termed it； and in trying to devise some
way of keeping up appearances。
Chapter XXVIII。 Rather Volcanic。
Stanton was glad to escape from the house after the interview
described in the previous chapter； and observing that Van Berg
was reclining under a tree at some little distance from the hotel；
stolled thither and threw himself down on the grass beside him。
But his perturbation was so evident that his friend remarked：
〃You are out of sorts； Ik。 What's the matter？〃
〃I've been settling this Sibley business with my aunt and cousin；〃
snarled Stanton； 〃and some women always make such blasted fools of
themselves。 But they won't have anything more to do with him； at
least； I'm sure my aunt won't。 As for Idabut the less said the
better。 I'm so out of patience with her folly that I can't trust
myself to speak of her。〃
〃Stanton；〃 said Van Berg； gloomily； 〃you have no idea of the regret
and disquiet which that girl has caused me as an artist。 I have
seen her features now for weeks； and I cannot help looking at them；
for they almost realize my idea of perfection。 But the associations
of this beauty are beginning to irritate me beyond endurance。〃
〃It was a motley crowd that I was the means of bringing to your
table；〃 said Stanton； with an oath； 〃and I've no doubt you have
wished us all away many times。〃
Van Berg laid his hand on his friend's arm； and looked into his
eyes。
〃Ik；〃 he said slowly； 〃I was your friend when I came hereI am
your friend still。 If I cannot love you better than I do myself；
you must forgive me。 But I shall never take one unfair advantage
of you； and I recognize the fact that you have equal rights with
myself。 Ik； let us be frank with each other this once more； and
then the future must settle all questions。 The woman we both love
is too pure and good for either of us to do a mean thing to win her。
Do your best； old fellow。 If you succeed； I will congratulate you
with an honest heart even thought it be a heavy one。 I shall not
detract from you in the slightest degree； or cease to show for you
the thorough liking and respect that I feel。 It shall simply be
a maiden's choice between us two； and you know it is said that the
heart makes this choice for reasons inexplicable even to itself。〃
〃Van； you are a noble； generous fellow；〃 said the impulsive Stanton；
grasping his friend's hand。 〃I must admit that you have been a
fair and considerate rival。 Even my jealousy could find no fault。〃
Then he added； in deep despondency： 〃But it is of no use。 You
have virtually won her already。〃
〃No；〃 said Van Berg； thoughtfully； 〃I wish you were not mistaken；
but you are。 There is something in her manner towards me at times
which I cannot understand； but I have a conviction that I have not
touched her heart。〃
〃She does not avoid you as she does me；〃 said Stanton； moodily。
〃No； she accepts my society much too frankly and composedly；〃 answered
Van Berg with a shrug。 〃I fear that I can join her anywhere and
at any time without quickening her pulse or deepening the color
in her cheeks。 Now； Ik； we understand each other。 Happy the man
who wins； and if you are the fortunate one； I'll dance at your
wedding； and no one shall see that I carry a thousand pounds weight；
more or less； in my heart。〃
〃I can't promise to do as much for you； Van；〃 said Stanton； trying
to smile。 〃I could not come to your wedding。 In fact； Van； II
hardly know what I would dowhat I will do。 A few weeks since
and the world was abundantly satisfactory。 Now it is becoming a
vacuum。 I fear I haven't a ghost of a chance； and IIdon't like
to think of the future。 Ye gods！ What a change one little woman
can make in a man's life！ I used to laugh at these things； and
for the past few years thought myself invulnerable。 And yet； Van；〃
he added with sudden energy； 〃I think the better of myself that I
can love and honor that woman。 Did I regard her now as I supposed
I would when you first uttered your half…jesting prophecy； what a
base； soulless anatomy I would be…〃
〃SACRE！ here comes Sibley and others of the same ilk； gabbling like
the unmitigated fools that they are。〃
Van Berg turned his back upon the advancing party in an unmistakable
manner； and Stanton smoked with a stolid； impassive face that had
anything but welcome in it。 Sibley was just sufficiently excited
by wine to act out recklessly his evil self。
〃What's the matter； Stanton？〃 he exclaimed。 〃Your phiz is as long
as if the world looked black and blue as a prize…fighter's eye。 Is
Sunday an off day in your flirtation？ Does the little school…ma'am
take after her Puritan daddies； and say 'Hold thy hand till Monday？'
Get her out of the crowd； and you'll find it all a pretence。〃
Stanton rose to his feet； but was so quiet that Sibley did not
realize the storm he was raising。 Van Berg remained on the ground
with his back to the party； but was smoking furiously。
By an effort at self…control that made his voice harsh and constrained；
Stanton said； briefly：
〃Mr。 Sibley； I request that you never mention that lady's name to
me again in any circumstances。 I request that you never mention
her name to any one else except in tones and words of the utmost
respect。 I make these requests politely； as is befitting the day
and my own self…respect； but if you disregard them the consequences
to you will be very serious。〃
〃Good Lord； Stanton！ has she treated you so badly！ But don't take
it to heart。 It's all Yankee thrift； designed to enhance her value。
We are all men of the world here； and know what women are。 If it
is true every man has his price； every woman has a smaller…〃
Before he could utter another word a blow in his face from Stanton
sent him sprawling to the earth。 He sprang up and was about to
draw a concealed weapon； when his companions interfered and held
him。
〃I shall settle with you for this；〃 he half shouted； grinding his
teeth。
〃You shall indeed； sir；〃 said Stanton； 〃and as early； too； as the
light will permit to…morrow。 Here is my friend Mr。 Van Berg；〃
pointing to the artist who stood beside him； 〃and you have your
friends with you。 You must either apologize； or meet me as soon
as Sunday is past。〃
〃I'll meet you now；〃 cried Sibley； with a volley of oaths。 〃I want
no cowardly subterfuge of Sunday。〃
Stanton hesitated a moment； and then said decidedly：
〃No； I'm not a blackguard like yourself； and out of respect for the
Sabbath and others I will have nothing more to do with you to…day；
but I will meet you tomorrow as soon as it is light；〃 and Stanton
turned away to avoid further provocation。
Van Berg thus far had stood quietly to one side； but his face had
that white； rigid aspect which indicates the rare but dangerous
anger of men usually quiet and undemonstrative in their natures。
〃Now that you are through； Stanton； I have something to say concerning
this affair；〃 he began； in words that were as clean…cut and hard
as steel。 〃If you propose to give this fellow a dog's whipping
to…morrow； I will go with you and witness the well…deserved
chastisement。 But if you are intending a conventional duel； I'll
have nothing to do with it； for two reasons。 The first reason this
fellow will not understand。 Dueling is against my principles； and
he knows nothing of principle。 But even if I accepted the old and
barbarous code； I should insist that a friend of mine should fight
with a gentleman； and not a low blackguard。〃
〃You use that epithet again at your peril；〃 hissed Sibley； advancing
a step towards him。
Van Berg made a gesture of contempt toward the speaker as he turned
and said：
〃You unde