第167章 An Illumined Face.(3)

"Give me a few minutes to think,"she pleaded,and he saw,from the quick rise and fall of her bosom and the nervous clasp of her hands,that she was deeply agitated.She turned from him and looked wistfully at the young tree on which she had inscribed her name the day she had promised Mr.Eltinge to receive all heavenly influences and guidance.She soon lifted her eyes above the tree and her lips moved in earnest prayer as ever came from a human heart.She was facing the sorest temptation of her life,for she had only to be silent now,she believed,and the success of her efforts to win him from Jennie Burton would be complete.If left to himself in this wild,distracted mood he would indeed break every tie that bound him to her rival;but after time had blunted his poignant self-condemnation he would inevitably come back to her.The conscience whispered:"Who forgave you here?What did you promise here?What does that tree mean with its branches reaching out towards heaven?What would you think of Jennie Burton were she trying to win him from you?""O Friend of the weak!be though my strength in this moment of desperate need,"she sighed.

Van Berg watched her with increasing wonder,and his heart beat thick and fast as she at last turned to him with an expression such as he never had seen before on a human face.Was it the autumn sunlight that illumined her features?He learned eventually that it was the spiritual radiance of the noblest self-sacrifice of which a woman is capable.

"Mr.Van Berg,"she said,in tones that were quiet and firm,"please take Mr.Eltinge's seat,for I wish to speak to you as a friend."He obeyed mechanically,without removing his eyes from her face.

"I once took counsel of passion and despair,"she resumed,"and you know what might have resulted,but on this spot God forgave me and I promised to try to do right.With shame I confess I have not fully kept that promise,but I shall try to do so hereafter,be the consequences what they may.Pardon me for speaking so plainly,but you are now taking counsel of passion and turning your back on duty.While almost insane from self-reproach and wounded pride you are taking steps that may blast your own life and the lives of others.To my mind there is an infinite distance between the error you naturally fell into in view of Miss Burton's loveliness of character and any base intent,but even if I should share in your harsh judgement--which I never can--I would still say that you cannot help the past,and you are now bound by all that's sacred to ask only what is right,and to do that at every cost to yourself.

You are pledged to Miss Burton,and you must make good your pledge.""What!I go to that snow-white maiden with a lie on my lips!"he exclaimed indignantly.

"No!go to her with truth on your lips and in your heart,except as in unselfish loyalty to her and to your word you may hide some truth that would give her pain.Mr.Van Berg,you word is pledged.

You have won her love and this is your only honorable course.Thus far you have not done her intentional wrong,but if you rush away from duty now in cowardly flight you will do her a bitter and fatal wrong,for she loves you as only few women can love.She has grown wan and pale in your absence,and it touched me to the heart to see her yesterday,though she made such brave efforts to be cheerful and to encourage father.O God,forgive me that I--Go to her when you have become calm--your true self.Love like hers will take what you can give till you can give more,and surely one so lovely will soon win all.If ever I have seen human idolatry in any face it has been in hers,and she will soon banish all this wild passion from your mind.But be that as it may you must keep your word if you would keep my respect,and I would not lose my respect for you for the world.I know you too well to doubt but that you will take up this sacred duty and seek to perform it with the whole strength of your manhood."Never for a moment had Van Berg removed his eyes from Ida's face,and her words and manner seemed both to awe and control him.As she spoke,his expression became quiet and strong,and when she concluded he came to her side and said earnestly:

"Miss Mayhew,since it is still possible,I will keep your respect,for it is absolutely essential to me.God has indeed given you a woman's soul,and he NEVER MADE A NOBLER WOMAN.You are a friend in truth and not in name,and you have saved me from madly destroying my own future,and perhaps the future of others,which is of far more consequence.If I fail in obeying both the letter and spirit of your words it will be because I cannot help myself."Her face,which had been so sweet and luminous with her generous impulse and noble thoughts,was growing very pale now,but she rose and gave him her hand,saying with a faint smile that was like the fading light of evening,"I knew you would not disappoint me;I was sure you were worthy of my trust.Let the honest right be our motto henceforth,and all will be well some day.Good-by."He pressed her hand in both of his as he said fervently,"God bless you,Ida Mayhew!"Then he turned and hastened away,flying from his own weakness and a womanly loveliness which at the moment far excelled any ideal he had ever formed.

He had scarcely reached the road before he remembered that he had left his sketch-book,and he went back for it,but as he turned the corner of the shady path he stopped instantly.The strong,clear-eyed maiden who had rallied the forces of his shattered manhood,and given him the vantage-ground again in life's battle,had bowed her head on the arm of the rustic seat and was sobbing convulsively.Indeed,her grief was so uncontrollable and passionate that in his very soul he trembled before it.

"Oh,Jennie Burton,"she moaned,"it would have been easier for me to die for you than to give him up.God help him--God help me through the dreadful years to come!"His first impulse was to spring to her side,but he hesitated,and then with a gesture and look of infinite regret he turned and stole silently away.