a face illumined-第30章

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sorrows　and　troubles　of　others；　even　when　sedulously　hidden　from

general　observation。



She　discovered　that　something　was　amiss　with　Ida　almost　as　soon　as

did　the　troubled　girl　herself；　but　for　once　her　quick　perception

of　causes　failed　her。　　She　had　explained　Ida's　apparent　antipathy

to　Van　Berg　on　the　ground　of　the　natural　resentment　of　a　frivolous

society　girl　toward　the　man　who　had；　by　his　manner　and　character；

asked　her　to　think　and　be　a　woman。　　It　appeared　to　her；　from　her

limited　acquaintance；　that　Ida　was　developing　into　the　counterpart

of　her　mother；　and　for　such　a　person　as　Mrs。　Mayhew；　Van　Berg　could

never　have　anything　more　than　polite　toleration。



Miss　Burton　was　aware　that　the　artist's　manner　toward　Ida　had

indeed　been　humiliating。　　During　the　previous　week　he　had　sought

her　society；　but　in　the　emphatic　language　of　his　action；　he　had

almost　the　same　as　said　of　late：



〃Even　for　the　sake　of　your　beauty　I　cannot　endure　your　shallowness

and　moral　deformity。〃



Little　wonder　that　the　flattered　belle　should　feel　hate　or　at　least

spite　toward　the　man　who　had　virtually　given　her　such　a　stinging

rebuke。



But　while　this　fact　and　the　differences　of　character　explained　Ida's

manner　toward　the　artist；　it　did　not　account　for　the　expression

of　pain　and　perplexity　that　she　occasionally　detected　in　the　young

girl's　face。　　It　did　not　explain　why　she　should　sit　for　an　hour　at

a　time；　as　she　had　that　morning　in　the　parlor；　her　eyes　fixed　on

vacancy；　and　her　face　full　of　dread　and　trouble；　as　if　there　were

something　present　to　her　mind　from　which　she　shrank　inexpressibly。

She　tried　several　times　to　make　advances　toward　the　unhappy　girl；

but　was　in　every　instance　repelled；　coldly　and　decidedly。



〃What　IS　preying　upon　Miss　Mayhew's　mind？〃　she　queried　with

increasing　frequency。　　Her　experience　as　a　teacher　of　young　girls

made　her　quick　to　detect　the　presence　of　those　dangerous　thoughts

which　beset　the　entrance　on　mature　womanhood。　　With　a　frown　that

formed　a　marked　contrast　with　her　customary　gentle　and　genial

expression；　she　surmised：　〃Can　Sibley；　or　any　one　else；　be　seeking

to　tempt　and　lead　her　astray？〃



As　the　most　plausible　explanation　she　finally　concluded　that　Ida

was　brooding　over　her　father's　unhappy　tendencies。　　Mrs。　Burleigh

had　told　Miss　Burton　the　whole　story；　and　she　had　listened；　not

as　to　a　bit　of　scandal；　but　as　to　another　instance　of　that　kind　of

trouble　which　ever　evoked　from　her　more　of　sympathy　than　censure。



Ida　might　treat　her　fancied　rival；　therefore；　as　coldly　as　she

chose；　but　the　fact　of　suffering　and　the　shadow　resting　upon　her　from

her　father's　course；　would　bind　Jennie　Burton　to　her　as　a　watchful

friend　with　a　tie　that　only　returning　happiness　could　sunder。



Stanton　and　Van　Berg　were　standing　together　on　Saturday　evening；

when　Mrs。　Mayhew　and　her　daughter　came　down　to　await　the　arrival　of

the　stage。　　Ida　did　not　see　them　at　first；　and　Van　Berg　was　again

struck　by　the　pallor　and　stony　apathy　of　her　face。　　She　looked　like

one　wearied　by　conflict　of　mind；　but　the　quiet　of　her　face　was　not

that　of　peace　or　decision。　　It　was　simply　the　vacancy　and　languor

of　one　worn　out　with　contending　emotions。



〃I　once　said；〃　thought　Van　Berg；　〃that　she　would　be　beautiful　if

she　were　dead；　and　her　frivolous　mind　could　no　longer　mar　the　repose

of　her　features　with　the　suggestion　of　petty　thoughts　and　ignoble

vices。　　By　Jove；　I　never　realized　how　true　my　words　were。　　As　her

motionless　figure　and　pallid　expression　appear　in　yonder　door…way；

she　would　make　a　good　picture　of　the　clay　of　Eve；　before　God　breathed

life　into　the　perfect　form。　　Oh！　that　I　had　such　power！　　I　would

give　years　to　light　up　that　face　there　with　the　expressions　of

which　it　is　capable。〃



Then　Ida　saw　him；　and　she　turned　hastily　away；　but　not　before　he

caught　a　glimpse　of　the　blood　mounting　swiftly　to　her　face。　　She　was

beginning　to　puzzle　him；　and　to　suggest　that　possibly　his　estimate

of　her　character　had　been　superficial。



〃Your　cousin　has　not　seemed　well　for　the　past　few　days；〃　he　remarked

to　Stanton。



〃Oh！　Ida　is　as　full　of　moods　as　an　April　day；　only　they　scarcely

have　a　vernal　simplicity；〃　was　the　satirical　answer。　　From　some

caprice　or　other　she　is　affecting　the　pale　and　interesting　style　now。

See！　　she　has　dressed　herself　this　evening　with　severe　simplicity；

but　the　minx　knows　that　thin　white　drapery　is　more　becoming　to

her　marble　cheeks　and　neck　than　the　richest　colors。　　Besides；　she

remembers　that　it　is　a　sultry　evening；　and　so　gets　herself　up　as

cool　as　a　cucumber。　　By　all　the　jolly　gods！　but　she　is　statuesque；

isn't　she？　　Say　what　you　please　Van；　the　best　of　you　artists

couldn't　imagine　a　much　fairer　semblance　of　a　woman　than　you　see

yonderbut　when　you　come　to　her　mental　and　moral　furniturethe

Good　Lord　deliver　us！〃



〃'Tis　pity；　'tis　pity；〃　said　Van　Berg；　in　a　low；　regretful　tone。



〃An'　pity　'tis；　'tis　true；〃　added　Stanton；　with　a　shrug。



〃I　can't　think　it　is　only　affection　that　has　made　her　appear　ill

the　last　two　or　three　days；〃　resumed　Van　Berg；　musingly。　　〃Her　face

suggests　trouble　and　suffering　of　some　kind。〃



〃Touch　of　dyspepsia；　like　enough。　　However；　Sibley　will　be　here　in

a　few　minutes　and　he　will　cheer　her　up；　never　fear。　　I'm　disgusted

with　her　that　she　takes　so　to　that　fellow；　for　although　no　saint

myself；　I　can't　stomach　him。〃



At　the　mention　of　Sibley's　name；　Van　Berg　frowned；　turned　on　his

heel　and　walked　away。



〃If　Stanton　is　right　about　that　fellow's　power　over　her；〃　he　muttered；

〃I'll　tear　up　the　sketch　I　made　this　afternoon　and　never　give　her

another　thought。〃



The　moment　Ida　became　conscious　of　Van　Berg's　observant　eyes　her

languor　passed　away。　　She　had　scarcely　glanced　at　him　while　at

dinner；　but　she　had　felt；　by　some　subtle　power　of　perception；　that

he　was　furtively　watching　her；　and　she　also　felt　there　was　more

of　curiosity　than　kindliness　in　his　regard。　　With　an　instinct　as

strong　as　that　of　self…preservation；　she　sought　to　hide　her　secret；

and　when　a　few　moments　later　the　stage　was　driven　to　the　door；

she　was　prepared　to　welcome　the　man　she　now　detested；　in　order　to

conceal　her　heart　from　the　man　she　loved。



Van　Berg；　leaning　against　a　pillar　near；　saw　Mr。　Mayhew　with　his

sallow；　listless　face　and　lifeless　tread　mount　the　steps　to　greet

his　wife　and　daughter；　but；　before　he　could　take　Ida's　hand；　Sibley；

in　snowy　linen　and　a　coat　from　which　the　stains　and　dust　of　earth

seemed　ever　kept　miraculously；　brushed　past　him；　and　seizing　the

daughter's　hand；　exclaimed：



〃You　see　I've　kept　my　promise；　and　am　here。〃　　And　then　he　whispered

in　her　ear：　　〃By　Jupiter；　Miss　Ida；　you　look　like　a　houri　just　from

Paradise　to…night。〃



Mr。　Mayhew　paused　a　moment　and　looked　from　the　forward　youth　to

his　daughter's　scarlet　face；　frowned　heavily；　and　then　gave　her

and　her　mother　a　very　cool　greeting　before　passing　on　to　his　room。



Ida　could　not　forbear　stealing　a　look　at　Van　Berg；　and　her　face

grew　pale　again　as　she　encountered　his　scornful　glance。　　Pride　was

one　of　her　predominant　traits；　and　his　manner　touched　it　to　the

quick。　　She　resolved　to　return　him　scorn　for　scorn；　and　to　show　him

that　in　spite　of　her　heart　that　had　turned　against　her　and　become

his　ally；　she　could　still　be　her　old　gay　self。　　Therefore　she　gave

Sibley　back　his　badinage　in　kind；　and　in　repartee　that　was　bright

and　sharp　as　well　as　reckless；　she　answered　the　compliments　of

other　gay　young　fellows　who　also　gathered　around　her。



〃Did　I　not　tell　you　Sibley　would　revive　her？〃　Stanton　remarked　as

they　went　down　to　supper。　　〃Such　humdrum　fellows　as　you　and　I　are

not　to　the　taste　of　one　who　has　been　brought　up　on　a　diet　of　cayenne

pepper　and　chocolate　cream。〃



〃But　what　kind　of　blood　does　such　a　diet　make？〃



〃Judge　for　yourself。　　It　looks　well　as　it　comes　and　goes　in　a　pretty

face。〃



〃Look　here；　Stanton；〃　said　Van　Berg；　pausing　at　the　dining　room

door；　〃there　is　that　Sibley　at　our　table。〃



〃Oh；　certainly！　　He　claims　to　be　Ida's　friend；　and　you　see　that

Mrs。　　Mayhew　is　very　gracious　to　him。　　He's　rich；　and　will　inherit

his　father's　business　also；　and　my　sagacious　aunt　inquires　no

further。〃



〃Stanton；　we　both　fee　that　he　is　not　fit　to　sit　at　the　same　table

with　Miss　Burton。〃



〃You　are　right；　Van；〃　Stanton　replied　with　a　deep　flush；　〃but　I　can

do　nothing　without　drawing　attention　to　my　relatives。　　After　all；

it　is　only　a　casual　and　transient　association　in　a　public　place；

over　which　we　have　no　control。　　While　she　seems　too　near　to　him

there　you　know　that　heaven　is　as　near　to　hell　as　they　are　to　each

other。　　For　the　sake　of　poor　Mr。　Mayhew；　if　for　no　one　else；　let

the　matter　pass。〃



〃Very　well；　Stanton；　but　it　must　not　happen　so　another　week；〃　and

then　the　young　men　who　had　withdrawn　into　the　hall…way　entered；

but　the　expression　of　coldness　and　displeasure　did　not　wholly　pass

from　their　faces。











Chapter　XXIII。　　Jennie　Burton's　〃Remedies。〃









Fortunately　Mr。　Mayhew　had　been　placed　at　the　supper…table　next

to　Miss　Burton；　and　Van　Berg　speedily　became　absorbed　in　watching

the　impression　made　on　each　other　by　these　two　characters　that　were

so　utterly　diverse。　　It　needed　but　a　glance　to　see　that　Mr。　Mayhew

was　a　heavy…hearted；　broken…spirited　man。　　His　shrunken　inanimate

features；　and　slight；　bent　form；　looked　all　the　more　dim　and　shadowy

in　contrast　with　his　stout；　florid　wife；　who　even　in　public　scarcely

more　than　tolerated　his　presence。　　This　evening　she　devoted　herself

to　Sibley；　who　sat　between　her　and　her　daughter。



Mr。　Mayhew　seemed　unusually　depressed　even　for　him；　and　began　to

make　a　supper　only　in　form。　　Jennie　Burton　stole　a　few　shy　glances

at　his　sallow　face；　and　seemed　to　find　an　attraction　in　it　she　could

not　resist。　　Two　handsome　lovers　sat　near　her；　but　she　evidently

forgot　them　wholly　save　when　they　addressed　her；　and　she　wooed　the

elderly　man　at　her　side　with　consummate　tact　and　grace。



At　first　he　was　unconscious　of　her　presence。　　She　was　but　another

human　atom；　and　of　no　more　interest　to　him　than　the　chair　on　which

she　sat。　　Mechanically　he　declined　one　or　two　things　she　passed　to

him；　and　in　an　absent　manner　replied　to　the　few　casual　remarks　by

which　she　sought　to　engage　him　in　conversation。　　At　last　she　said；

in　a　voice　that　was　indescribably　winning　and　sympathetic：



〃Mr。　Mayhew；　your　sultry　week　in　town　has　wearied　you。　　Our　country

air　will　do　you　good。〃



There　was　so　much　more　in　her　tones　than　in　her　words　that　he

turned　to　look　at　her；　and　then；　for　the　first　time；　became　aware

that　he　was　not　sitting　at　the　side　of　an　ordinary；　well…bred　lady。



〃Country　air　is　good　as　far　as　it　goes；〃　he　said　slowly；　scanning

her　face　as　he　spoke；　〃but　it　does　not　make　much　difference　with

me。〃



〃There　are　other　remedies；〃　she　re