Gloom and darkening shadows had taken the place of the
light and joyousness she first had seen. In the face and voices
of nature, as in those of earthly friends, the changes are often
so great that we are tempted to ask in dismay, are they--can they
be the same?
She was stiff and cold as she rose from her rocky couch, but she
wearily turned her face towards the hotel, muttering, as she plodded
heavily along,
"The little people of the woods are happy while they can be, as I
was, but the sportsman's gun, or the hawk, or winter's cold, will
soon bring to them bitter pain, and death. their brief day will
soon be over, as mine is."
"Ah, the sun is sinking behind that cloud," she said, in a low tone,
as she came out into the open fields. "I shall not see it again;
it will not be able to warm me to-morrow;" and with a slight gesture
of farewell, she continued on her way with bowed head.
Chapter XXXVIII. A Good Man Speaks.
As Ida approached the hotel, Van Berg and Stanton saw her, and the
latter hastened down the steps to join her.
"Why, Ida!" he exclaimed, "where have you been? I've searched for
you high and low."
"You had no right to do so, sir," she said coldly, as she passed
on.
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