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them； and I can scarcely imagine that such an idiot exists that he
would not retain them if he could。 That is Fort Montgomery yonder；〃
and he resolutely continued the story of its defence and capture；
until her father returned saying it was time to come down ad prepare
to land。
Ida had scarcely heard a word。 Her heart almost stood still with
dread and foreboding； and like a dreary refrain the words kept
repeating themselves； 〃Oh； I'm punished； I'm punished。 I thought
to win him from Jennie Burton； and my reckless words will now make
him true to her at every cost to himself。 He knows that I must
have seen how he won the kingdom of her heart； and he'll keep it
now in spite of my love and something I thought love that I saw in
his face。 Oh； my punishment is greater than I can bear； but it is
deserved； well deserved。 If he had won my love first； what would
I think of the woman who tried to win him from me？ She would have
suffered what I now must suffer。 My bright but guilty dream is
over forever。〃
Van Berg assisted her down to the gangway and out on the wharf with
a grave and scrupulous politeness； but she felt even more than she
saw that her words had stung his very soul。 It was their apparent
truth which he could never explain away that gave them their power
to wound so deeply； and every moment brought to him a clearer
realization of the fact that he had tried to win； and was pledged
to win a woman whom to wrong even unwittingly would be an act for
which he could never forgive himself。 And yet his heart sank at
the thought of meeting her； indeed； so guilty and embarrassed did
he become in his feelings that he decided he would not meet her
before others； and sprang out of the stage； saying to the driver
that he preferred walking the remainder of the way。 Mr。 Mayhew
looked at him in some surprise； for his manner had changed so now
as to attract his attention and excite disagreeable surmises。
To Ida's great relief Stanton had come down to meet her with his
light…wagon。 He had seen Van Berg at her side again with surprise；
and； after his fast horses had whirled them well away by themselves；
he asked a little abruptly：
〃Ida； have you seen Van this week？〃
She hesitated a moment； and then said briefly： 〃Yes。 We met at
the concert…garden again； and he dined with us last evening。〃
Stanton turned and looked at her earnestly； and her color rose
swiftly under his questioning eyes。
〃My poor little Ida； we are in the same boat； I fear；〃 he said
compassionately。
She hid her face on his shoulder。 〃Oh； Ik； spare me；〃 she faltered。
〃It's just as I feared；〃 Stanton resumed； with a deep sigh。
〃Maledictions on such a world as ours！ The devil rules it； sure
enough。〃
〃Oh； hush； hush；〃 Ida sobbed。
〃I see it all； now； indeed； I've thought it all out this past week。
You Sibley used only as a blind； poor child。〃
〃Yes； Ik； I loathed and detested him almost from the first。〃
〃And in the meantime the sagacious Van Berg and myself were
trampling on you like a couple of long…eared beasts。 How did you
ever forgive us！〃
〃Oh； Ik； Ik； my heart is breaking。 I've had such dreams the last
two weeks。 I've dared to think I had learned a little of God's love；
and ohwas I blinded by my wishes； by my hopes； by the passionate
longing of my heart？I thought I saw love in his eyes； and heard
it in his tones； last evening。 Everything now is slipping from
mehappiness； hope； and even my faith。 But I deserve it all；〃 she
added in her heart。 〃I could almost curse the woman who tried to
win him from me。〃
Stanton turned his horses off into a shady and unfrequented side
road where they would not be apt to meet any one。 〃Good heavens！〃
he thought； 〃this is just the condition of mind that Van warned me
to guard against； and； confound him； he is the cause of the evils
he feared； and in their worst form。 I be hanged if I can understand
him。 All through July he was Jennie Burton's open suitorat least
he made no secret of it to me； although his cool head enabled him
to throw the people of the house off the scentand now he follows
another lady to New York； and leaves his first love on very flimsy
pretexts。 By Jove！ I don't like it； even though it were possible
for me to profit by his folly。〃
〃My poor little Ida；〃 he said gently； putting his arms around her；
〃you and I must stand by each other； for we are like to have rough
weather ahead for awhile。 It's no kindness to you now to hide the
truth。 I do not know that Van Berg has formally proposed to Miss
Burton； but； as an honorable man； he is committed to her； and
I believe he has won her affections； although I confess I don't
understand her very well。 She has evidently had very deep sorrows
in the past； and I am satisfied that she has felt his absence keenly
this week。〃
〃I deserve it all；〃 Ida murmured again； but so low he could not
hear her； and she gave way to another outburst of grief。
〃It will pain even your heart； Ida； to see how slight and pale
Miss Burton is becoming。 She also appears strangely restless； and
takes long walks that are far beyond her strength。〃
〃It's all plain；〃 groaned Ida。 〃How can she act otherwise！ Well；
she will be comforted now； no matter what becomes of me。〃
〃You will be a brave woman； Ida； and pull through all right。〃
〃No； Ik； I'm not brave。 I could easily die for those I love； but
I can't just suffer and be patient； at least I don't see how I can；
but I suppose I must。〃
His arm tightened about her waist； and she felt it trembling。
〃Ida；〃 he said； in a low solemn tone； 〃promise me before God that
whatever happens you will never…〃
〃Hush！〃 she gasped； shuddering； 〃I will die in God's own way。 I
will endure as best I can。〃
He stooped down and kissed her tenderly as he said： 〃Ida； dear；
from this hour I'm no longer your cousin merely； but a brother； and
your companion in misfortune。 I'm going to stand by you and see
you through this trouble。 Just count on me to shield you in every
possible way。 I don't care what the world thinks of me； but never
a tongue shall wag against you again； or there will be a heavy score
to settle with me。 Van and I have been good friends； but he's on
ticklish ground now。 He'll find he can't play fast and loose with
two such women as you and Jennie Burton。 Curse it all！ it isn't
like him to do it either。 But the world is topsy…turvey； anyhow。〃
〃Ik； I plead with you； say nothing； do nothing。 Be blind and deaf
to everything of which we have spoken。 Only help me hide my secret
and get away from this place to some other where I am not known。〃
〃Has your father any idea of all this？〃
Ida explained in part her father's knowledge。
〃We can easily manage it then；〃 he said。 〃I had decided to leave
next week。 Miss Burton leaves for her college duties very soon
also。 The idea of that fragile flower being trampled on nine months
of the year by a crowd of thoughtless； heedless girls！ And so our
disastrous summer comes to an end。 And yet I'm wrong in applying
that term to my own experience。 I wish you felt as I do； Ida。 I
haven't a particle of hope； and yet I would not give up my love for
Jennie Burton for all the world； and I don't believe I ever shall
give it up。 I think she is beginning to understand me a little
better now； although she does not give me much thought。 One day；
while you have been gone； I met her returning from one of her walks；
and she looked so faint and sad that I could not endure it； and I
went straight to her and took her hand as I said： 'Miss Burton；
is there anything Ik Stanton can do to make you happier？ It's
none of my business； I suppose； but it's breaking my heart to see
you becoming so sad and pale。 I may seem to you very foolish and
Quixotic； but there is no earthly think I would not do or suffer for
you。' She did not withdraw her hand as she replied； very gently：
'Mr。 Stanton； please do me the kindness to be happy yourself； and
forget me。' I could only say； in honesty： 'You have asked just
the two things which are utterly impossible。' Tears came into
her eyes as she replied； with emphasis： 'Then； my FRIEND； you can
understand me。 There is one whom I can never forget。' She was
kind enough to say some words about my having been generous and
considerate of her feelings； etc。； but no matter about them。 We
parted； and it's all over as far as she is concerned。 When I left
town last June I thought I'd be a bachelor always； because I loved
my jolly ease。 I've a better reason now； Ida。 Of course Van must
be the one referred to by Miss Burton。 You have seen how she looks
at him at times when thinking herself unobserved！〃
〃Yes；〃 sighed Ida； 〃it's all right。 God is just； and there is no
use of trying to thwart his will。〃
〃Well； Ida； I don't know。 It's all a snarl to me。 Sometimes
I t