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cried passionately：
〃O Christ； hope of the sinful； if there is mercy for such as I；
forgive me； for my crime is like a falling mountain！〃
A moment later she sprang up and put her arms around the old man's
neck。
〃My friend； my more than father！〃 she sobbed； 〃I thinkI almost
believe God has heard me。 It seems as if I had escaped from death；
andandmy heart was breaking； but nowoh； it's all a heavenly
mystery！〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Mr。 Eltinge brokenly； and with answering emotion；
〃it is a heavenly mystery。 'Not by might； nor by power； but by my
Spirit； saith the Lord。'〃
Ida could never forget the remaining hours which she spent that
day in the old garden。 it was then and there that she experienced
the sensations of those entering a new spiritual life and a new
world； and with some； these first impressions are very vivid； and
with some； these first impressions are very vivid。
It was according to nature that it should be so in the instance of
Ida Mayhew； for she was simple； positive； and warm in her feelings；
rather than cold and complex。 But she was sane； and abounded in
the homely common sense which enabled her to understand herself and
those about her。 She formed fairly correct estimates of all whom
she had met； and with the same simple directness she began to
recognize the character of the Divine Man that Mr。 Eltinge and the
Bible they read together presented。
No earthly casuistry could ever lead her to doubt that he had heard
her prayer that morning。 She might reply simply to all cavil and
questioning：
〃I know he heard and answered me； and if I do not know this to be
true； I cannot know anything to be true；〃 for never before had her
consciousness made anything so distinct and real。
To say that she and multitudes of others are mistaken； is begging
the whole question。 It is baldly taking the ground of denial of
everything outside of personal understanding and knowledge。 The
skepticism of very many would blot out the greater part of science；
history； and geography。 The facts of Christian experience and
Christian testimony are as truly facts as those which are discovered
by people who are hostile or indifferent to the Bible。
The broad； liberal man is he who accepts all truth and humbly
waits till the fuller wisdom of coming ages reconciles what is
now apparently conflicting。 The bigot is he who shuts his eyes to
truth he does not like； or does not understand； and he is as apt
to be a scientist as the man who has learned that the God who made
him can also speak to him； through his inspired word and all…pervading
Spirit。
We are surrounded by earthly mysteries which the wisest cannot
solve； and some of them are very sad and dark。 Why should there
not be； as Ida said； a heavenly mystery？
After all； it is a question of fact。 The Christ of the New Testament
offers to give peace and spiritual healing。 Does he keep his word？
We say yes； on the broad ground of human experience and human
testimonythe ground on which is built the greater part of human
knowledge。
If this be true； what a reproach is contained in the words of our
Lord： 〃Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life〃！
Chapter XLIV。 〃The Garden of Eden。〃
〃Mr。 Eltinge；〃 Ida asked； as they were about to part； 〃have I a right
to the glad sense of escape and safety that has come so unexpectedly？〃
〃Your right；〃 he replied； 〃depends on the character of the Friend
you have found。 Do you think he is able and willing to keep his
word？〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Eltinge； how plain you make it all！〃
〃No； my dear； it was made plain centuries ago。 You have as much
right to your happy feelings as to the sunshine； but never put your
feelings in the place of Christ； and trust in them。 That's like
putting faith in one's gratitude； instead of the friend whose
services inspired the gratitude。 But come again to…morrow； and
we'll go on with the 'old； old story。' I've read it scores of
times； but am enjoying it now with you more than ever。 Good…by。〃
As Ida drew near to the hotel； Stanton stepped from the roadside
to meet her。
〃Ida；〃 he said； 〃if you cannot forgive me （and perhaps you cannot）；
I'll leave to…morrow morningand perhaps I had better any way。 I
fear it was an evil day for us both when we came to this place。〃
〃I've thought so too； Cousin Ik；〃 she said kindly； 〃but I don't
now。 I'm glad I came here； though it has cost me a great deal of
suffering andandmaybut no matter。 I was better and worse than
you thought me。 I must in sincerity say that it has been hard to
forgive you； for your suspicion wounded me more deeply than you'll
ever know。 But my own need of forgiveness has taught me to forgive
others； and I now see that I also have been very disagreeable to
you； Ik。 Let us exchange forgiveness and be friends。〃
〃Ida； what has come over you？ You are no more like the girl that
I brought to the country than I'm like the self…satisfied fool that
accompanied you。〃
〃No； Ik； you are not a fool； and never were； but； like myself； you
had a good deal of self…complacency； and not much cause for it。
Pardon me for speaking plainly； but after what has passed between
us we can afford to be frank。 You may not win Jennie Burton； but
I believe she'll wake you up； and make a strong； genuine man of
you。〃
〃Ida；〃 he said in a low tone； and with lips that quivered a little；
〃I'm not sorry that I love Jennie Burton； though in consequence I
may never see another happy day。 But good…by； I'm too confoundedly
blue to…day to speak to another mortal。 It's a great relief；
though； that you have forgiven me。 I wouldn't if I had been in
your place； and don't think I forgive myself because you have let
me off so easily；〃 and he turned hastily away； and was soon lost
to her view in the shrubbery by the roadside。
If Ida had puzzled Van Berg in the morning； he was still more
perplexed in the evening。 Slight traces of her deep emotion still
lingered around her eyes； but in the eyes themselves there shone
a light and hopefulness which he had never seen before； and which
he could not interpret。 Moreover； her face was growing so gentle
and womanly； so free from the impress of all that had marred
it heretofore； that he could not help stealing glances so often
that were Jennie Burton of a jealous disposition she might think
his interest not wholly artistic。 Although there was much of the
shrinking and retiring manner of the morning； and she did not join
in the general conversation； all traces of resentment and coldness
towards her companions had vanished。 She was considerate and even
kind to her mother； but in reply to her questions concerning the
people she had visited； said gently but firmly：
〃I will take you there some day； mother； and then you can judge
for yourself。〃
But with the exception of a promptness to check all reference to
herself and the day's experiences； her manner was so different from
what Mrs。 Mayhew had been accustomed to； that she could not help
turning many perplexed and curious glances toward her daughter；
and was evidently no better able to understand the subtle and yet
real change than was the artist himself。
Miss Burton； with her keen； delicate perceptions； recognized this
difference more fully than any of the others； and her instinct； rather
than anything she saw in Ida； enabled her to divine the cause in
part。 〃I know of but one thing that can account for Miss Mayhew's
behavior；〃 she thought； 〃and though she guards her secret well；
she cannot deceive a woman who has passed through my experience。
I begin to see it all。 She used Sibley as a blind； and she was
blind herself； poor child； when she did so； to everything save the
one womanly necessity of hiding an unsought love。 Well； well； my
outspoken lover has eyes for her sweet； chastened beauty to…night。
Perhaps he thinks he is studying her face as an artist。 Perhaps he
is。 But it strikes me that he has lost the critical and judicial
expression which I have noticed hitherto；〃 and a glimmer of a smile
that did not in the least suggest the 〃green…eyed monster〃 hovered
for a moment like a ray of light over Jennie Burton's face。
〃Mother；〃 said Ida； in a low； sympathetic tone； 〃I see one of your
headaches coming on。 Let me bathe your head after tea。〃
〃Ida；〃 whispered Mrs。 Mayhew； 〃you are so changed I don't know
you。〃
The young girl flushed slightly； and by a quick； warning look
checked all further remark of this tendency。
〃She is indeed marvelously changed；〃 thought Miss Burton。 〃I feel
it even more than I can see it。 There must be some other influence
at work。 Who are these friends she is visiting； and who send her
back to us daily with some unexpected grace？ Yesterday it was
truthfulnessto…day an indescribable charm of manner that has
banished the element of eart