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full of suffering that she could not disguise it。 〃If he fails
her utterly she'll die；〃 murmured Ida； as she climbed wearily to
her room。 〃Merciful Saviour； forgive me that I tried to tempt him
from her。〃
She watched from her window； but he did not come。 She saw Jennie
Burton hastening away on one of the lonely walks to which she was
given of late。 She saw Stanton drive off rapidly； and when a few
hours later he came back； she went down to meet him； and asked
hesitatingly：
〃Have you seen or heard anything of Mr。 Van Berg？〃
〃Confound him！ no。 I don't see what the deuce he means by his
course！ Burleigh says he has not seen or heard a word from him
since early Monday morning when he started off with his sketch…book；
and Burleigh also says he seemed very glum and out of sorts when
he joked him a little。 I've been to the landing and depot； and no
one has seen him。 Unless Van can give a better account of himself
than I expect； he and I will have a tremendous falling out。〃
〃No； Cousin Ik； you will leave him to himself； for anything like
what you threaten would wound two hearts already sad enough。〃
〃Well； curse it all！ I must do something or other； or I'll explode；
I can't sit by and twirl my thumbs while two such women as you
and Miss Burton are in trouble。 When a man breaks a girl's heart
I feel like breaking his head。〃
〃Merciful heaven！ SeequickMiss Burtonshe's beckoning to
you。〃
Stanton sprang from the piazza at a bound； and was almost instantly
at Jennie Burton's side； who sank into a seat near； and gasped：
〃Do as I bidno wordsa carriage； and a stout man with yourselftake
brandy。 Haste； or Mr。 Van Berg will die。〃
〃O God！ don't say that；〃 Ida sobbed； kneeling at her feet with a
low shuddering cry。
Jennie stooped over and kissed her and said： 〃Courage； Miss Mayhew；
all will yet be well。 Be your brave self； and you can help me save
him。 Tell Mr。 Burleigh to come here。 Have a physician sent for。〃
Ida almost dragged the bewildered host from his office。 Under the
inspiration of hope her motions were lithe and swift as a leopard's。
Within five minutes after Miss Burton's arrival； a carriage containing
herself； Stanton； and two stout men； dashed furiously towards the
ravine in which Van Berg was lying； and a buggy was sent with equal
rapidity for a physician。 Then came to poor Ida the awful suspense
and waiting； which is so often woman's part in life's tragedies。
〃Oh； can it be；〃 she thought； with thrills of dread and horror；
〃that he has attempted my crime？〃 and she grew sick and faint。
Then she resolutely put the suspicion away from her as unjust to
him。 〃Will they never return？ O God； if they should be too late！〃
She stood on the piazza with eyes dilated and strained；
in one direction； caring not what any one saw or surmised； but in
the increasing excitement； as the rumor spread and grew； she was
unnoticed。
At last the carriage appeared； and it was driven so slowly and
carefully that it suggested to the poor girl the deliberate and
mournful pace of a funeral procession； when all need for haste is
past forever； and she sprang down the steps in her intense anxiety；
and took some swift steps before she controlled herself。 Then
pressing her hand on her side； she sank into the seat which Miss
Burton had occupied a little before。
Jennie Burton waved a handkerchiefthat meant life。 〃Thank God！〃
she murmured； and tears of joy rushed into her eyes。 She now saw
that Stanton was supporting Van Berg。 She sprang up the steps
again； broke through the excited and curious throng on the piazza；
and was back with a strong arm…chair from the office by the time
the carriage stopped at the door。
〃That's a sensible girl； Ida；〃 said Stanton； 〃that's just the thing
to carry him in。 Now； Van； rally and do your best a few moments
longer； and you're all right。〃
At the sound of Ida's name he lifted his head and looked around
till he met her eyes； and then smiled gladly。 His smile satisfied
her completely； and she stepped quietly into the background。 〃He
has not broken his pledge； even in thought；〃 she murmured。 〃I can
trust him still。〃
He was carried up the steps and stairs to his room； followed by all
eyes。 Ida stole to Jennie Burton； and kept near her as she sought
to quietly gain her room by a side stairs。
〃You are faint； Miss Burton；〃 she said gently； 〃lean on me；〃 and
Jennie did lean on her more and more heavily until she reached her
room； and then her blue eyes closed； and the day she so dreaded
was over； as far as she had consciousness of it。 So slight and
fragile had she become that even Ida was able to carry her to her
couch。 Her swoon of utter exhaustion was long and deep； and when
she rallied from it there were symptoms which led the physician to
say that she must have absolute quiet and sleep； and he gave her
strong opiates to insure the latter。 Jennie only reached out her
hand for Ida and whispered： 〃Don't leave me；〃 and then passed into
a slumber that seemed like death。
With her old imperious manner Ida silenced all who entered the
room； or motioned them out if they had no business there。
Stanton whispered： 〃You know I will be within call any moment。〃
But Ida's reply was： 〃If you lover her； if you care for me； don't
leave him； make him live。〃 Thus； in restoring rest and patient vigils
the night wore away。 The physician found that while Van Berg's
leg was much bruised and wrenched； it had received no permanent
injury； and in regard to Miss Burton he said： 〃If she wakes quiet
and sane； all danger will be past； I think。〃
His hopes were fulfilled。 With the dawn her deep stupor passed
into a light and broken slumber； in which she tossed； and moaned；
and whispered； as if the light of thought were also streaming into
her darkened mind。 At last she opened her eyes and looked at Ida；
who smiled reassuringly。 In a few moments the events of the past
day came back to her； and she started up and asked earnestly：
〃Mr。 Van Bergis he safe？〃
Ida stooped down and kissed her as she replied； 〃Mr。 Van Berg is
rallying fast； and is out of all danger。〃
Jennie leaned back among her pillows with a smile of deep content；
and closed her eyes。 When she opened them again Ida had gone； and
Mrs。 Burleigh had taken her place as watcher。
But the need of such care passed speedily。 The doctor； after his
morning call； said that the critical moment of danger had gone by。
So it had； but his understanding of Jennie's case was superficial
indeed； and he ascribed to his opiate a virtue that it had never
possessed。 The balm that had soothed her wounded spirit was
the thought of saved life and the happiness that might result to
those in whom she was deeply interested。 The dreaded anniversary
had passed； and she was profoundly grateful that it had ended in
physical exhaustion rather than in vain and agonized regret。