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into the poor little rose…bud；〃 she thought； and her face grew
more rigid and inscrutable under his gaze。 as early as possible
she left the table。
〃I wish I knew just what her trouble was；〃 thought the artist。 〃If
not connected with that wretch Sibley； I could pity her with all
my heart。 Well； take all the good the gods send； I'll sketch her
face this afternoon as I have last seen it。〃
〃Your cousin begins to look decidedly ill；〃 he said to Stanton；
after dinner。
His friend's only reply was an imprecation。
〃Your remark is emphatic enough； but I don't understand it any
better than I do Miss Mayhew。〃
〃It's to your credit you don't。 Her mother has reason to believe
that there is some deviltry on foot between her and Sibley。 I'm to
find out and thwart her if I can。 I suppose I shall have to say；
in substance： 'Since you will throw yourself away on the fellow；
go through all the formalities that society demands。 In such case
your family will submit； if they can't approve。 You see I'm frank
with you； as I've been from the first。' Would to heaven she had
never come here； and now think of it there has been a change in
her for the worse ever since she came。 It must be the influence of
that cursed Sibley。 Some women are fools to begin with； but from
a fool infatuated with a villain； good Lord deliver us！〃
〃You fear an elopement then？〃 said Van Berg； his face darkening
into his deepest frown。
〃I fear worse than that。 Sibley is as treacherous as a quagmire。
If a woman ventured into a false position with him he would marry
her only when compelled to do so。 I'm savage enough to shoot
them both this afternoon。 I see but one way out。 I must warn her
promptly； and in language so emphatic that she will understand it；
that everything must be after the regulation style。〃
Van Berg made a gesture of contempt； but said to his friend：
〃Stanton； I'm sorry for you。 Such trouble as this would cut
me deeper than any other kind。 If I can do anything to help you；
count on me。 I'm in the mood myself to shoot Sibley； for he has
spoiled for me the fairest face that evil ever perverted。〃
Van Berg did not sketch Ida Mayhew's face that afternoon。 On the
contrary； he resolutely sought to banish her image from his mind。
When last he saw that face； it seemed made of Parian marble。 Now
it rose before him so blackened and besmirched that he thought of
it only with anger and disgust。
Ida kept herself so secluded in the afternoon that Stanton could
not find her； but this very seclusion； which the poor girl sought
in order to hide her wounds； only increased his own and Mrs。 Mayhew's
fears deepened their suspicions。
She was a little late in appearing at the super…table； for her
return from the wanderings of the afternoon had required more time
than she supposed。 She was very weary； moreover； the hours spent
in solitude with nature had quieted her overstrung nerves。 The
sun had shone upon her； though the world seemed to frown。 Flowers
had looked shyly and sweetly into her face as if they saw nothing
there to criticise。 She had plucked a few and fastened them into
her breast…pin； and their faint perfume was like a low； soothing
voice。 She was in a softened and receptive mood； and a kind word；
even a kind glance； might have tuned the scale in favor of better
thoughts and better living。
But she did not receive them。 Her coming to the table was greeted
with an ominous silence； for each one was conscious of thoughts
so greatly to her prejudice that they scarcely wished to meet her
eye。 Mrs。 Mayhew looked excessively worried and anxious。 Stanton
was flushed and angry。 The artist was icy as he only knew how to
be when he deemed there was sufficient occasion； and in his opinion；
the presence of the prospective and willing bride of the man who
had attempted his life； and； what was far worse； insulted the woman
he most honored； was occasion； indeed。
From time to time he gave her a cold； curious glance； as one might
look at some strange； abnormal thing for which there is no accounting；
but his slight scrutiny was no longer furtive。 He looked at her
openly as he would at an OBJECT； and not at a woman whose feelings
he would not wound for the world。 His thought was： 〃A creature
akin to Sibley deserves no consideration； and can put in no just
claim for delicacy。〃
Indeed he felt a peculiar vindictiveness towards her to…night； because
she had so thwarted him； and was about to carry her extraordinary
dower of beauty to the moral slough that seemingly awaited
her。 Therefore； his glance swept carelessly over her with a cold
indifference that chilled her very soul。
But these transient glances caught enough to trouble him with a
vague uneasiness。 Although he was steeled against her by prejudice
and anger； something in her appearance so pleaded in her favor
that misgivings would arise。 Once he thought she met his eyes with
something like an appeal in her own； but he would not look long
enough to be sure。 A moment later he was vexed with himself that
he had not。
The silence or the forced remarks at the table were equally oppressive；
and Ida immediately felt that she was the cause of the restraint。
She was about to leave the table in order to relieve them of her
presence； when Miss Burton unexpectedly entered and took her chair；
which hitherto had been vacant。 She was a little pale and wan；
but this only made her look the more interesting； and both Stanton
and Van Berg welcomed her as they would the sunshine after a dreary
storm。 Even Mrs。 Mayhew seemed to find a wonderful relief in her
coming； and added her voluble congratulations。
〃I have had nervous headaches myself； and know how to sympathize
with you；〃 she concluded。
〃She does not know how to sympathize with me；〃 sighed her daughter。
The sigh caught Van Berg's attention； and he was surprised to see
that the maiden's eyes were full of tears。 She bowed her head a
moment to hide them； and then abruptly left the table and the room。
The artist's misgivings ended in something like compunction； as
he thought： 〃Her tears are caused by the contrast between the icy
reception we gave her； and the cordial welcome we have just given
Miss Burton。 Confound it all！ I wish I knew the exact truth； or
that she would leave for parts unknown where I could never see her
again。〃
Miss Burton glanced wistfully after the retreating maiden； but no
explanation was offered。 Then； as if feeling that she had lost a
day's opportunity for diffusing sunshine； she became more genial
and brilliant than Van Berg had ever known her to be。 They lingered
long at the table； Mr。 Burleigh and others joined them。 Their
laughter rang out and up to the dusky room in which poor Ida was
sobbing；
〃I wish I were dead and out of every one's way。〃
Van Berg laughed with the others； but never for a moment did he
lose the uneasy consciousness that he might possibly be misjudging
Ida Mayhew。 Although Mr。 Burleigh's portly form occupied her
chair； it did not prevent him from seeing a pale tearful face that
was far too beautiful； far too free from all gross and sensual
elements； to harmonize with the character he was supposing her to
possess。 He re…called what she had said about the 〃fragrance〃 of
the rose…bud he had torn and tossed away； rising to him like 〃a
low； timid appeal for mercy。〃 Had she shyly and timidly appealed
to him for a kinder judgement that evening； and had he been too
blind and prejudiced to see anything save the stains left by Sibley's
name？ If she proposed to go to Sibley； why was she not like him
in manner？ It was strange that one akin to such a fellow should
fasten wild flowers on her bosom； and still more strange that they
should be so becoming。
The cool and sagacious Van Berg； who so prided himself on his
correct judgment； was decidedly perplexed and perturbed。
Chapter XXXV。 Desperately Wounded。
Stanton basked in Miss Burton's smiles until a significant look
from Mrs。 Mayhew reminded him of his disagreeable task； for the
performance of which there seemed a greater urgency than ever。
Ida's rather precipitate withdrawal from the supper…room was another
proof in their eyes that some mischief was brewing。
He listened at her door for a moment； and could not fail to hear
the stifled sound of her passionate grief； then knocked； but there
was no response。
〃Ida；〃 he said； in a kinder tone than usual； 〃I want to see you。〃
She tried to quiet her sobbing； and after a moment faltered： 〃You
had better leave me to myself。〃
〃No； I must see you；〃 he said kindly but firmly。 〃I have something
to say to you。〃
The poor girl was so lonely and heart…broken； that she was ready
for the least ray of comfort。 She now saw that she was ignorant
and exceedingly faulty。 She