a face illumined-第62部分
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wilderness and perish when the night comes； as it surely will？ If
you will follow him as well as you can； he'll bring you to a happy
and eternal home。 Thanks to his patient kindness which never
falters； he has brough me almost there。
〃And now； my young friends； beat with an old man； and let me say；
in conclusion； that you all need the kind； patient； faithful Friend
that I found so long ago。 No evil； no misfortune can come into any
human life that is beyond his power to remedy and finally banish
forever。 I you have not found this Friend； this Life…giver； I am
younger and happier than you are to…day； although I am eighty…eight
years old。〃
Once before a rash； despairing man lifted his hand against his life；
but God's message to him； through his apostle； was； 〃Do thyself no
harm。〃 And now again a faithful servant； speaking for him whose
coming was God's supreme expression of good…will towards men； had
brought a like merciful message to another poor soul that had taken
counsel of despair。 Ida Mayhew might learn； as did the jailer of
Philippi； that God has a better remedy than death for seemingly
irretrievable disasters。
The old gentleman's words came home to her with such a force
of personal application that she was deeply moved； and even awed。
They seemed like a divine messagenay more； like a restraining
hand。 〃How strange it was；〃 she thought； that she had come to this
place！how strange that a serene old； man； with heaven's peace
already on his brow； should have uttered the words best adapted
to her desperate need。 If he had spoken of duty； obligation； of
truth in the abstract； his tones would have been like the sound of
a wintry wind。 But he had spoken of a Friend； as tender； patient；
and helpful as he was powerful。 What was far more； he spoke with
the strong convincing confidence of personal knowledge。 He had tried
this Friend through all the vicissitudes of over half a century；
and found him true。 Could human assurancecould human testimony
go farther？ Deep in her heart she was conscious that hope was
reviving againthat the end had not yet come。
The gay young party； touched and subdued； passed out quietly with
the others。 But Ida lingered。
〃Who is that old gentleman？〃 she asked of a lady near her。
〃That is Mr。 EltingeMr。 James Eltinge；〃 was the reply。
Ida passed slowly towards the door； looking wistfully back at the
old man； who stopped to greet cheerily one and another。
〃No one need be afraid to speak to him；〃 she thought。 〃His every
look and tone show him to be kind and sincere。 I'll see him
beforebefore〃she shuddered； and scarcely dared to put her dark
purpose in thought in the presence of one who had lived patiently
at God's will for nearly a century。
She stepped out into the night and watched for his coming。 In a
moment or two the old gentleman also passed out； and stood waiting
for his carriage。
Timidly approaching him； she said； 〃Mr。 Eltinge； may I speak with
you？〃
He stepped with her a little aside from the others。
〃Mr。 Eltinge；〃 she continued； in a voice that trembled and was
broken by her feeling； 〃I am one of the young people you spoke to
this evening。 I'm in troubledeep trouble。 I want such a Friend
as you described to…night。〃
He took her hand and said； in a hearty voice； 〃God bless you； my
child。 He wants you more than you want him。〃
〃May I come and see you to…morrow morning？〃 asked Ida； hurriedly；
for his tones of kindness； for which her heart was famishing； were
fast breaking down her self…control。
〃I'll come and see you；〃 was his prompt and cordial response。
〃No；〃 she faltered； 〃let it be as I wish。 Please tell me where to
find you。〃
As he finished directing her； she stooped down and kissed his hand；
and then vanished in the darkness。
〃Perhaps I'm not yet a cumberer of the ground；〃 murmured the old
man； wiping a sudden moisture from his eyes。
Chapter XXXIX。 Van Berg's Escape。
Ida found the party； on whose companionship she had in a measure
forced herself； waiting and calling for her。 The words of the old
gentleman had inspired them with kinder and more considerate feeling。
〃I'm coming；〃 she answered； 〃don't wait for me； I'll keep near
you。〃
As they had already observed her evident wish to be left to herself；
they complied with her request。
The icy calm of her despair was now broken。
〃God bless him for his kindness！〃 she murmured； and 〃God bless
him for his hearty； hopeful words； they may save me yet；〃 and she
followed the others； crying softly to herself like a little child。
It would seem as if every warm tear fell on her heart； that had
been so hard and desperate before； so rapidly did it melt at the
thought of the old man's kindness。
But before she reached the hotel she began to grow excessively
weary。 She had not only overtaxed her powers of endurance； but
had over…estimated them。
At last； as she was about to ask her companions to walk more slowly；
lest she should be left alone by the roadside in her weakness； she
heard the sound of strong； rapid steps。
〃Where is Miss Mayhew？〃 was the anxious query of a voice that made
her heart bound and color come into her face； even at the moment
of almost mortal weakness and weariness。
〃Here is Miss Mayhew；〃 said one of the half…grown youths。 〃She
prefers to walk by herself； it seems。〃
〃Thank you；〃 replied Van Berg； decisively。 〃I will see her safely
home；〃 and the part went on； leaving him face to face with the
maiden whom he now believed he had very greatly wronged； and who；
he feared might yet proved herself capable of a terrible crime。
She stood before him with bowed head。 In her weakness and agitation
she trembled so violently that even in the starlight he could not
help seeing her distress； and it filled him at once with pity and
alarm。
〃You are ill； Miss Mayhew；〃 he said； anxiously。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； then； conscious of her growing need； she
said； appealingly； 〃Mr。 Van Berg； with all my faults I am at least
a woman。 Please help me home。 I'm so weak and weary that I'm
almost ready to faint。〃
He seized her hand and faltered hoarsely； 〃Miss Mayhew； you have
notyou have not taken that drug…〃
She was so vividly conscious of her own dark secret； and so
impressed by his power to discover all the evil in her nature； that
she replied in a low tone；
〃Hush。 I understand you。 Not yet。〃
〃Thank God！〃 he ejaculated； with such a deep sigh of relief that
she looked at him in surprise。 The he drew her hand within his arm；
and weary as she was； she could not help noting that it trembled
as if he had an ague。
For a few moments they walked on without speaking。 Then the artist
addressed her。
〃Miss Mayhew…〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she said； hastily interrupting him。 〃Spare me
to…night。 I'm too weary even to think。〃
Again they walked on in silence； but his agitation was evidently
increasing。
〃Let me enter by that side door； please；〃 she said as they approached
the hotel。
〃Miss Mayhew；〃 he began in a low； hurried tone； 〃I must speak。 You
said you were a woman。 As such I appeal to you。 A woman may； at
times； have no pity on herself； but it rarely happens that she is
pitiless towards others； and it is said that she is often the most
generous and merciful towards those who have wronged her。 I have
wronged you cruelly and unpardonably。 I knew it as soon as you
entered the parlor last evening。 There is no excuse for meI
will never forgive myself； but I do most sincerely apologize and
ask your forgiveness。 Miss Mayhew； I appeal to your generosityI
appeal to your woman's heart。 If you should consummate the awful
purpose which I fear has been in your mind； I should go mad with
remorse。 You would destroy me as surely as yourself。 Pardon me for
speaking thus； but I fear so greatlyO God！ can she have already
committed the fatal act？〃
Ida's overtaxed powers had given way； and she would have fallen had
he not sustained her。 His words had overwhelmed her； and； taken
in connection with those spoken by old Mr。 Eltinge； had given a
glimpse of the awful abyss into which she had well nigh plunged；
dragging others； perhaps； after her。 She recoiled from it all so
strongly that she became sick and faint from dread； and Van Berg
was compelled to support her to a rustic seat near the path。 He
was bout to leave her in order to obtain assistance； when she put
her hand on his arm and gasped：
〃Waitgive me timeI'll soon be better。 Do not call any one； I
beg。〃
〃Let me quietly bring you a little wine； then； from my own room？〃
She bowed her assent。
The stimulant soon revived her。 He stood at her side waiting with
intense anxiety till she should speak。 At last she rose slowly
and weakly； saying in a low tone：
〃Mr。 V
