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should irritate me so greatly because of its incongruous associations。〃
〃Not at all；〃 she replied； with a little nod。 〃I was not long in
discovering that you were a pagan； and that beauty was your divinity。〃
〃Correct in all respects save the divinity；〃 he answered promptly；
and he would have said more； but she passed into the parlor among
the other guests。
Ida found herself too weak and unnerved to walk far； but she
discovered a secluded nook into which the sunlight streamed with a
grateful warmth； for although the day was warm； she shivered with
cold as if the chill in her heart had diffused itself even to her
hands and feet。 Dense shrubbery hid her from the path along which
she saw Stanton pass in his fruitless quest。
For a long time she sat in dreary apathy； almost as motionless as
the mossy rock beneath her； and was conscious only of her throbbing
forehead and aching heart。 Gradually； however； nature's vital
touch began to revive her。 The sunlight warmed and tranquilized
the exquisite form that had been entering its shuddering protest
against the chill and corruption of the grave。 The south wind；
laden with fresh woodland odors； fanned her cheeks； and whispered
that there were flowers blooming that she could not see； and that
the future also might reveal joys now hidden and unknown； if she
would only be patient。 Every rustling leaf that fluttered in the
gale； but did not fall； called to her with its tiny voice： 〃Cling
to your place； as we do； till the frost of age or the blight of
disease brings the end in God's own time and way。〃 A partridge with
her brood rustled by along the edge of the forest； and the poor
girl imagined she saw in the parent bird； as she led forward her
plump little bevy； the pride and complacency of a happy motherhood；
which now would never be hers； and from the depths of her woman's
heart came nature's protest。 Then her heavy eyes were attracted
by the sport of two gray squirrels that were racing to the top of
one tree； scrambling down another； falling and catching again； and
tumbling over each other in their mad excitement。 She felt that；
at her age； their exuberant life and enjoyment should be a type of
her own； but their wild； innocent fun； in contrast with her despair；
became so unendurable that she sprang up and frightened them away。
But after she was quiet they soon returned； barking vociferously；
and sporting with their old abandon。 It was not long since they
had left the next in the old hemlock tree； and they were still like
Ida； before she had learned that there was anything in the world
that could harm her。 Other wild creatures flew or scampered by；
some stopping to look at her with their bright quick eyes； as if
wondering why she was so still and sad。 the woods seemed full of
joyous midsummer life； and Ida sighed：
〃Innocent； happy little things； but if they knew what was in my
heart； they would be so frightened they could scarcely creep away
to hide。〃
Then with a sudden rush of passionate grief； she cried：
〃Oh； why cannot I life and be happy； too？〃 and she sobbed till she
lay exhausted on the mossy rock。
Whether she had swooned； or from weakness had become unconscious；
she did not know； when； considerably later； she roused herself
from what seemed like a heavy and unrefreshing sleep。 Her dress
was damp with dew； the sun had sunk so low as to fill the forest
with a sombre shade； the happy life that had sported around her
was hushed and hidden； and the wind now sighed mournfully through
the trees。 Gloom and darkening shadows had taken the place of the
light and joyousness she first had seen。 In the face and voices
of nature； as in those of earthly friends； the changes are often
so great that we are tempted to ask in dismay； are theycan they
be the same？
She was stiff and cold as she rose from her rocky couch； but she
wearily turned her face towards the hotel； muttering； as she plodded
heavily along；
〃The little people of the woods are happy while they can be； as I
was； but the sportsman's gun； or the hawk； or winter's cold； will
soon bring to them bitter pain； and death。 their brief day will
soon be over； as mine is。〃
〃Ah； the sun is sinking behind that cloud；〃 she said； in a low tone；
as she came out into the open fields。 〃I shall not see it again；
it will not be able to warm me to…morrow；〃 and with a slight gesture
of farewell； she continued on her way with bowed head。
Chapter XXXVIII。 A Good Man Speaks。
As Ida approached the hotel； Van Berg and Stanton saw her； and the
latter hastened down the steps to join her。
〃Why； Ida！〃 he exclaimed； 〃where have you been？ I've searched for
you high and low。〃
〃You had no right to do so； sir；〃 she said coldly； as she passed
on。
〃Wait a moment； Ida； please。 I wish to speak with youto ask your
pardonto apologize in the strongest terms。〃
She would not break again her ominous silence； but continued on
with bowed head； up the steps； and through the hall。 Stanton； to
save appearances before the guests who were near； walked at her
side； but her manner chilled and embarrassed him so greatly； that
only as she was about to enter her room did he again address her；
and now entreatingly：
〃Ida； won't you speak to me？〃
〃No！〃 was her stern； brief response； and she locked her door against
him。
〃Van；〃 said Stanton gloomily； 〃I'd give a year's income if I had
not spoken to my cousin as I did last night。 She'll never forgive
me。 It seems as if my words had turned her into ice； she is so cold
and calm； and yet her eyes were red with weeping。 I have strange
misgivings about the girl。〃
〃Yes； Ik；〃 said the artist； gloomily； 〃we have both made an
unpardonable blunder。 If Miss Burton cannot thaw her out； I shall
not dare to try。〃
〃With her usual perversity；〃 replied Stanton； 〃she dislikes Miss
Burton； and I doubt if she will listen to her。〃
〃I have great faith in her tact and genuine goodwill。 It was wonderful
how quickly she brought Mr。 Mayhew under her genial spells。 She
has promised to see your cousin this evening。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 said Stanton； gloomily； 〃that it should have been
at your request rather than mine。 But I suppose your wishes are
becoming omnipotent with her。〃
〃No； Ik； I regret to say that they weigh with her only as those of
a friend；〃 was Van Berg's quiet response。
〃Well； well； Van； bear with me； for I'm in a devil of a scrape。〃
Even Miss Burton's efforts could not brighten the clouded faces
that gathered at the supper…table。 In truth； her attempts were
brief and fitful； for she seemed absorbed in thought herself。 She
heard Mrs。 Mayhew whisper to Stanton；
〃If I were a perfect stranger she could not keep me at a greater
distance。 I can do nothing with her or for her。〃
To their surprise； Ida quietly walked in and took her place。 Her
face was very grave and very pale； the traces of her grief were
still apparent； and they caused in Van Berg the severest compunction。
She was now dressed richly； but plainly and unobtrusively。 Her
manner was quiet and self…possessed； but there was an expression
of desperate trouble in her eyes that soon filled Van Berg with a
strong and increasing uneasiness。 She returned his bow politely；
but distantly。 Poor Stanton scarcely dared to look towards her。 At
supper； on the previous evening； he had taken no pains to conceal
his contempt and displeasure； now he was unable to hid his
embarrassment and fear。 As in the parlor on the previous evening
so now again； there was an element in Ida Mayhew's appearance or
in herself that caused deep disquietude。
〃I'm very glad； Ida； you've changed your mind and come down；〃 began
Mrs。 Mayhew； volubly。
〃I have not changed my mind；〃 she replied； with such sad； stern
emphasis that they all involuntarily looked at her for a moment。
Poor Mrs。 Mayhew was so quenched and depressed that she did not
venture to speak again。
Only Miss Burton was able to maintain her self…possession and tact；
and she was intently but unobtrusively studying Miss Mayhew。 Her
college…life had made her acquainted with so many strange feminine
problems that she had the nerve and experience of a veteran； but she
could not penetrate the dark mystery in which Ida had now shrouded
herself。 Resolving； however； that she would not succumb to the
chill and restraint that paralyzed the others； she persisted in
conversing with her in simple； natural tones。
Ida replied in perfect courtesy and not with unnecessary brevity；
but if her words were polished； they were also as cold and hard
as ice。 Nothing that Miss Burton said could bring the glimmer of
a smile athwart her features that were growing so thin and transparent
that even an approach to a pleasant thought would have lighted them
up with a momentary gleam。 Miss Bur