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stern； white face； and heard him mutter： 〃What were you to me
that you should commit this awful deed and lay it at my door； thus
blighting a life full of the richest promise with your horrible
shadow？〃
〃Thank God； thank God！〃 she cried passionately。 〃It's all like a
dreadful dream and never happened。〃
〃Why； Ida； what IS the matter？〃 said Mrs。 Mayhew； coming in hastily。
〃I had a bad dream；〃 said Ida； with something like a low sob。
〃Ida； I want you to see the doctor； to…day。 You haven't acted like
yourself for over two weeks。〃
〃Mother； what time is it？〃
〃Ten o'clock and after。〃
〃Please draw the curtain。 I want to see the sunlight。〃
〃The sun is very hot to…day。〃
〃Is it？〃 Then under her breath she murmured： 〃Thank God； so it
is。〃
She arose and began making her toilet slowly； for the languor of
her long sleep and excessive fatigue was on her still。 But thought
was very busy。 The subject uppermost in her mind was the promised
visit to old Mr。 Eltinge； and she resolved to go at once； if it
were a possible thing。 Mrs。 Mayhew having again referred to her
purpose of sending for a physician； Ida turned to her and said；
decisively：
〃Mother； do you not realize that I am not a child？ What is the use
of sending for a doctor when I will not see him？ I askI insist
that you and Mr。 Stanton interfere with me no longer。〃
〃My goodness； Ida； shall not I； your own mother； take any care of
you？〃
〃It is too late in the day now to commence taking care of me。 You
have permitted me to grow up so wanting in mental and moral culture
that you naturally suspect me of the vilest action。 Henceforth
I take care of myself； and act for myself；〃 and she abruptly left
the room and went to Mr。 Burleigh's office； requesting that the
light phaeton and a safe horse； such as she could drive； should be
sent around to he door at once。
〃Miss Ida； you've not been well。 Do you think you had better go
out in the heat of the day？〃 asked Mr。 Burleigh； kindly。
She looked at him a moment； and then said； a little impulsively；
〃Mr。 Burleigh； I thank you for speaking to me in that way。 Yes；
I wish to go； and think I shall be better for it。〃
As she entered the large hall； Van Berg； who had been on the watch；
rose to greet her； but she merely bowed politely and distantly；
and passed at once into the dining room。 After a hasty breakfast
she returned to her room by a side passage； and prepared for her
expedition； paying no heed to her mother's expostulations。
Van Berg was on the piazza when she came down； but she passed him
swiftly； giving him no time to speak to her； and springing into the
phaeton； drove away。 His anxiety was so deep that he took pains to
note the road she took； and then waited impatiently for her return。
After driving several miles； and making a few inquiries by the
way； Ida found herself approaching an old…fashioned house secluded
among the hills。
It was on a shady side road； into which but few eddies from the
turbulent current of worldly life found their way。
The gate stood hospitably open； and she drove in under the shade of
an enormous silver poplar； whose leaves fluttered in the breathless
summer air； as if each one possessed a separate life of its own。
As she drew near to the house she saw old Mr。 Eltinge coming from
his garden to greet her。
〃I had about given you up；〃 he said； 〃and so you are doubly welcome。
Old people are like children； and don't bear disappointments very
well。〃
〃Did you really want to see me very much？〃 Ida asked； as he assisted
her to alight。
〃Yes； my child；〃 he replied； gravely； holding her hand in a strong；
warm grasp。 〃I felt； from your manner last evening； you were
sincere。 You come on an errand that is most pleasing to my Master；
and I welcome you in his name as well as my own。〃
〃Perhaps if you knew all you would not welcome me；〃 she said in a
low tone； turning away。
〃Only for one cause could I withdraw my welcome；〃 he said； still
more gravely。
〃What is that？〃 she asked in a lower tone； not daring to look at
him。
〃If you are not sincere；〃 he replied； looking at her keenly。
Giving him her hand again； and looking up into his face； she said；
earnestly：
〃Mr。 Eltinge； I am sincere。 I could not be otherwise with you
after your words last night。 I come to you in great trouble； with
a burdened heart and conscience； and I shall tell you everything；
and then you must advise me； for I have no other friend to whom I
can go。〃
〃Oh； yes； you have； my child；〃 said the old man； cheerily。 〃The
One they called the 'Friend of sinners' is here to…day to welcome
you； and is more ready to receive and advise you than I am。 I'm
not going to do anything for you but lead you to him who said；
'Come unto me； all ye that are heavy laden；' and； 'Whosoever cometh
I will in nowise cast out。'〃
〃How much you make those words mean； as you speak them；〃 faltered
Ida。 〃You almost lead me to feel that not far away there is some
one； good and tender…hearted； who will take me by the hand with
reassuring kindness； as you have。〃
〃And you are right。 Why； bless you； my child； religion doesn't do
us much good until we learn to know our Lord as 'good and tender…hearted；'
and so near； too； that we can speak to him； whenever we wish； as
the disciples did in old times。 So don't be one bit discouraged；
see； I'll fasten your horse right here in the shade； and by and by
I'll have him fed； for you must spend the day with us； and not go
back until the cool of the evening。 It hasn't seemed hospitable
that you should have stood so long here under the trees； and I
didn't mean that you should； but things never turn out as we expect。〃
〃It is often well they don't；〃 thought Ida； as she looked around
the quiet and quaintly beautiful spot； to which a kind Providence
had brought her。 It seemed as if her burden already were beginning
to grow lighter。
〃Now come in； my child； and tell me all your trouble。〃
〃Please； Mr。 Eltinge； may I not go back with you into the garden？〃
〃Yes； why not？ We can talk there just as well；〃 and he led her
to a rustic seat in a shady walk； while from a tool…house near he
brought out for himself a chair that had lost its back。
〃I'll lean against this pear…tree；〃 he said。 〃It's young and
strong； and owes me a good turn。 Now； my child； tell me what you
think best； and then I'll tell you of One whose word and touch
cures every trouble。〃
But poor Ida had sudden and strong misgivings。 As she saw the
old gentleman surrounded by his flowers and fruits； as she glanced
hesitatingly into his serene； quiet face； from which the fire and
passion of youth had long since faded； she thought。 〃So Adam might
have looked had he never sinned but grown old in his beautiful
garden。 This aged man； who lives nearer heaven than earth； can't
understand my wicked； passionate heart。 My story will only shock
and pain him； and it's a shame to pollute this place with such a
story。〃
〃You spoke as if you were alone and friendless in the world；〃 said
Mr。 Eltinge； trying to help her make a beginning。 〃Are you an
orphan？〃
〃No；〃 said Ida； with rising color； and averting her face。 〃My
parents are both living。〃
〃And yet you cannot go to them？ Poor child！ That is the worst
kind of orphanage。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Eltinge； this place seems like the garden of Eden； and I
am bringing into it a heart full of trouble and wickedness。〃
〃Well； my child；〃 replied the old gentleman； with a smile。 〃I've
brought here a heart full of trouble and wickedness many a time；
so you need not fear hurting the garden。〃
〃But I fear I shall pain and shock you。〃
〃I hope you will。 I'm going to feel with and for you。 What's the
good of my sitting here like a post？〃
〃Well；〃 said Ida； desperately； 〃I promised to tell you everything；
and I will。 If there is any chance for me I'll then know it； for
you will not deceive me。 Somehow； what I am and what I have to say
seemed in such sad contrast with you and your garden that I became
afraid。 You asked about my parents。 My father is a very unhappy
man。 He seems to have lost hope and courage。 I now begin to see
that I have been chiefly to blame for this。 I do nothing for his
comfort。 Indeed； I have been so occupied with myself and my own
pleasure that I have given him little thought。 He does not spend
much of his time at home； and when I saw him he was always tired；
sad； and moody。 He seemed to possess nothing that could minister
to my pride and pleasure save money； and I took that freely； with
scarcely even thanks in return。
〃I don't like to speak against my mother； but truth compels me to
add that she acts much in the same way。 I don't think she loves
papa。 Perhaps our treatment is the chief reason why life； seemingly；
has bec