a face illumined-第64章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



point；　however；　that　he　even　imagined　Ida　would　wish　veiled　from

the　knowledge　of　others。　　〃I　cannot　tell　you；〃　he　concluded；　〃how

deeply　the　scene　affected　me。　　It　not　only　awoke　all　the　artist　in

me；　but　the　man　also。　　In　one　brief　hour　I　learned　to　revere　that

noble　old　gentleman；　and　if　you　could　have　seen　him　leaning　against

the　emblematic　tree；　as　I　did；　I　think　he　would　have　realized　your

ideal　of　age；　wholly　devoid　of　weakness　and　bleakness。　　And　then

Miss　Mayhew's　face；　as　she　read　and　listened　to　him；　seemed　indeed；

in　its　contrast　with　what　we　have　seen　during　the　past　summer；　the

result　of　'heavenly　magic。'　　It　will　be　no　heavy　task　to　fulfil　the

conditions　on　which　I　was　permitted　to　enter　the　enchanted　garden。

They　expect　more　pencil　sketches；　but　I　shall　eventually　give　them

as　truthful　a　picture　as　I　am　capable　of　painting；　for　it　is　rare

good　fortune　to　find　themes　so　inspiring。〃



Guarded　as　Van　Berg　was　in　his　narrative；　Miss　Burton　was　able

to　read　more　〃between　the　lines〃　than　in　his　words。　　He　did　not

understand　her　motive　when　she　said；　as　if　it　were　her　first　obvious

thought：



〃The　picture　which　you　have　presented；　even　to　the　eye　of　my　fancy；

is　uniquely　beautiful；　and　I　think　it　must　redeem　Miss　Mayhew

in　your　mind；　from　all　her　disagreeable　associations。　　But　in　my

estimation　she　appeared　to　even　better　advantage　in　the　greeting

she　gave　her　father　last　evening。　　Was　there　ever　a　more　delicious

surprise　on　earth；　than　that　poor　man　had　when　he　returned　and

found　a　true　and　loving　daughter　awaiting　him？　　With　her　filial

hands　she　has　already　lifted　him　out　of　the　mire　of　his　degradation；

and　to…day　he　is　a　gentleman　whom　you　involuntarily　respect。　　O

Mr。　Van　Berg；　I　cannot　tell　ou　how　inexpressibly　beautiful　and

reassuring　such　things　are　to　me！　　You　look　at　the　changes　we　are

witnessing　from　the　standpoint　of　an　artist；　I　from　that　of　poor

wounded　humanity；　and　what　I　have　seen　in　Ida　Mayhew　and　her　father；

is　proof　to　me　that　there　is　a　good　God　above　all　the　chaos　around

me；　which　I　cannot　understand　and　which　at　times　disheartens　me。

Their　happier　and　ennobled　faces　are　a　prophecy　and　an　earnest　of

that　time　when　the　sway　of　evil　shall　be　broken；　when　famishing

souls　and　empty　hearts　shall　be　filled；　when　broken；　thwarted　lives

are　made　perfect；　and　what　was　missed　and　lost　regained。〃



She　looked　away　from　him　into　the　summer　sky；　which　the　sun　was

flooding　with　cloudless　light。　　There　were　no　tears　in　her　eyes；

but　an　expression　of　intense　and　sorrowful　longing　that　was　far

beyond　such　simple　and　natural　expression。



〃Jennie　Burton；〃　said　Van　Berg；　in　a　low；　earnest　voice；　〃there

are　times　when　I　could　suffer　all　things　to　make　you　happy。〃



She　started　as　if　she　had　almost　forgotten　his　presence；　and　answered

quietly：　　〃You　could　not　make　me　happy　by　suffering。　　Only　as　I

can　banish　a　little　pain　and　gloom　here　and　there　do　I　find　solace。

But　I　can　do　so　very；　very　little。　　It　reassures　me　to　see　God

doing　this　work　in　his　grand；　large　way。　　And　yet　it　seems　to　me

that　he　might　brighten　the　world　as　the　sun　fills　this　sky　with

light。　　As　it　is；　the　rays　that　illumine　hearts　and　faces　glint

only　here　and　there　between　the　threatening　clouds　of　evil。　　Mr。

Van　Berg；　you　do　not　knowyou　never　realized　how　shadowed　humanity

is。　　Within　a　mile　of　your　studio；　that　is　full　of　light　and　beauty；

there　are　thousands　who　are　perishing　in　a　slow；　remorseless　pain。

It　is　this　awful　mystery　of　evilthis　continuous　groan　and　cry

of　anguish　that　has　gone　up　to　heaven　through　all　the　agesthat

appalls　my　heart　and　staggers　my　faith。　　But　thereafter　what　I　have

seen　to…day　I　have　no　right　to　such　gloomy　thoughts。　　I　suppose　my

religion　seems　to　you　no　more　than　a　clinging　faith　in　a　far…away；

incomprehensible　God；　and　so　is　not　very　attractive？　　I　wish　I　could

suggest　to　you　something　more　satisfactory；　but　since　I　cannot　I'll

leave　you　to　find　better　influences。〃



〃It　does　seem　to　me　that　rash；　faulty　Ida　Mayhew　has　a　better

faith　than　this；〃　he　thought；　〃she　believes　she　has　found　a　near

and　helpful　Friend；　while　my　sad…eyed　saint　has　only　a　God；　and　is

always　in　pathetic　doubt　whether　her　prayer　can　bridge　the　infinite

distance　between　them。　　Who　is　right？　　Is　either　right？　　I　used　to

be　impressed　with　how　much　I　knew；　I'm　glad　the　opposite　impression

is　becoming　so　strong；　for；　as　Miss　Burton　says；　the　hopeless　fools

are　those　who　never　find　themselves　out。



〃She　was　right。　　Ida　Mayhew　will　ever　appear　to　better　advantage

in　aiding　her　poor　father　to　regain　his　manhood；　than　by　the　most

artistic　combination　of　circumstances　that　I　could　imagine。　　All

the　man　in　me　recognizes　the　sacredness　of　the　duty　and　the　beauty

of　its　performance。　　And　yet　but　yesterday　I　was　stupid　enough　to

believe　that　her　best　chance　for　development　was　to　escape　from　her

father　and　live　a　separate　life。　　It　has　taken　only　a　few　hours　to

prove　how　superficial　was　my　philosophy　of　life。　　Guided　simply　by

the　instinct　of　love　and　duty；　this　faulty　girl　has　accomplished

more　than　I　had　supposed　possible。　　But　her　mother　will　continue

a　thorn　in　her　side；〃　and　Van　Berg　was　not　far　astray。











Chapter　XLVI。　　A　Resolute　Philosopher。









Mr。　Mayhew　attended　church　with　his　family　that　morninga　thing

that　he　had　not　done　for　yearsand　in　the　afternoon　Ida　took

him　to　see　her　spiritual　birthplace；　and　to　call　on　her　spiritual

father。　　The　welcome　that　old　Mr。　Eltinge　gave；　and　the　words　he

spoke；　did　much　towards　establishing　in　the　man　who　had　been　so

disheartened；　hope　that　a　new　and　better　future　was　opening　before

him。



When　about　to　part　he　put　his　left　arm　around　his　daughter；　and

giving　his　hand　to　Mr。　Eltinge；　said；　with　a　voice　broken　by　his

feelings：



〃I　am　bewildered　yet。　　I　can't　understand　my　happiness。　　Yesterday

I　was　perishing　in　a　boundless　desert。　　To…day　the　desert　has

vanished；　and　I'm　in　this　sweet　old　garden。　　There　are　no　flowers

or　fruits　in　it；　however；　that　can　compare　with　the　love　and　truth

I　now　see　in　this　child's　face。　　I　won't　speak　of　the　service　you

have　rendered　us　both。　　It's　beyond　all　words。〃



It　was　indeed　greater　than　he　knew；　for　Id　had　concluded　never

to　speak　again　of　her　terrible　secret。　　God　had　forgiven　her；　and

nothing　was　to　be　gained　by　any　reference　to　a　subject　that　had

become　inexpressibly　painful。　　〃Remember；〃　said　the　staunch　and

faithful　old　man　as　they　were　about　to　drive　away；　〃nothing　good

lasts　unless　built　up　from　the　Author　of　all　good。　　Unless　you　act

on　this　truth　you'll　find　yourself　in　the　desert　again；　and　all

you　are　now　enjoying　will　seem　like　a　mirage。〃



Poor　Mr。　Mayhew　could　not　endure　to　lose　a　moment　of　his　daughter's

society；　for　the　long　thirst　of　years　was　to　be　slaked。　　They

took　a　round…about　way　home；　and　the　summer　evening　deepened　into

twilight　and　dusk　before　they　approached　the　hotel。



〃See；　father；　there　is　the　new　moon；　and　it　hangs　over　your　right

shoulder；〃　cried　Ida；　gleefully。



〃It's　over　your　right　shoulder；　too；　and　that　thought　pleases　me

better　still。　　I　wish　I　could　make　you　very　happy。　　Tell　me　what

I　can　do　for　you。〃



〃Take　me　to　New　York　with　you　to…morrow；〃　said　Ida；　promptly。



〃Now　you　are　trying　to　make　a　martyr　of　yourself　for　me。　　You　forget

how　hot　and　dusty　the　city　is　in　August。〃



〃I'm　going　with　you；〃　she　said　decisively；　〃unless　you　say　no。〃



〃I'm　going　to　spend　part　of　the　time　with　you　until　your　vacation

begins　next　month；　and　then　we'll　explore　every　nook　and　corner　of

this　region。〃



〃There　Ida；　say　no　more　to…day。　　My　cup　is　overflowing　now；　and

the　fear　is　already　growing　that　such　happiness　won't　lastcan't

last　in　a　world　like　ours。〃



〃Father；〃　said　Ida；　gently；　〃I've　found　a　Friend　that　has　promised

me　more　than　present　happiness。　　He　has　promised　me　eternal　life。

He　is　pledged　to　make　all　seemingly　evil　result　in　my　final　good。

How　it　can　be　I　don't　see　at　all；　but　I'm　trying　to　take　him　at

his　word。　　You　must　not　worry　if　I'm　not　always　in　good　spirits。　　I

suppose　every　one　in　the　world　has　a　burden　to　carry；　but　I　don't

think　it　can　crush　us　if　our　Saviour　helps　us　carry　it。　　My　faith

is　very　simple；　you　see；　I　feel　I'm　like　one　of　those　little　children

he　took　in　his　arms　and　blessed；　and　I'm　sure　his　blessing　is　not

an　empty　form。　　It　has　made　me　love　and　trust　him；　and　that's　all

the　religion　I　have　or　know　anything　about。　　You　must　not　expect

great　things　of　me；　you　must　not　watch　me　too　closely。　　Just　let

me　take　my　own　quiet　way　in　life；　for　I　want　my　life　henceforth　to

be　as　quiet　and　unobtrusive　as　the　little　brook　that　runs　through

Mr。　Eltinge's　garden；　that　is　often　in　the　shade；　you　know；　as

well　as　in　the　light；　but　Mr。　Eltinge　lets　it　flow　after　its　own

fashion；　so　you　must　let　me。　　I'll　always　try　to　make　a　little

low；　sweet　music　for　you；　if　not　for　the　world。　　So　please　do　not

commence　puzzling　your　poor　tired　brain　how　to　make　me　happy　or

gay；　or　want　to　take　me　here　and　there。　　Just　leave　me　to　myself；

let　me　have　my　own　way　for　awhile　at　least；　and　if　you　can　do

anything　for　me　I　promise　to　tell　you。〃



Ever　since　her　drive　with　Van　Berg　the　previous　day；　there　had　been

a　deep　undercurrent　of　thought　in　Ida's　mind；　and　she　had　at　last

concluded　that　she　could　scarcely　keep　her　secret　with　any　certainty

while　under　his　eyes；　and　especially　those　of　Miss　Burton。　　She　was

too　direct　and　positive　in　her　nature；　and　her　love　was　too　strong

and　absorbing　for　the　cool　and　indifferent　bearing　she　was　trying

to　maintain。　　Her　eyes；　her　cheeks；　her　tones；　and　even　words；

might　prove　traitors　at　any　time　and　betray　her。　　She　longed　to　be

alone；　and　teh　large　empty　city　house　seemed　the　quiet　refuge　that

she　needed。　　At　the　same　time　it　would　give　her　deep　satisfaction

to　be　with　her　father　after　hs　return　from　business；　and　make　amends

for　years　of　neglect。



He　looked　at　her　wistfully；　feeling；　in　a　vague　way；　that　he　did

not　understand　her　yet。　　There　was　a　minor　chord　in　her　voice；

and　there　had　been　a　sadness　in　her　eyes　at　times　which　began　to

suggest　to　him　that　he　had　not　learned　all　the　causes　that　were　so

marvellously　transforming　her　form　her　old　self。　　Her　mother　would

question　and　question。　　He；　on　the　contrary；　would　wait　patiently

till　the　confidence　was　given；　and　so　he　merely　said　gently；



〃All　right；　little　girl；　I'll　try　to　make　you　happy　in　your　own

way。〃



Van　Berg；　going　out　for　a　walk　after　tea；　again　heard　the　girlish

voice　singing　the　quaint　hymn　tune　that　had　awakened　the　memories

of　his　childhood　the　previous　day。　　He　instantly　concealed　himself

by　the　roadside；　and　in　a　moment　or　two　Ida　and　her　father　drove

by。　　He　was　able　in　the　dusk　to　note　only　that　her　head　rested　on

her　father's　shoulder；　and　her　voice　was　sw