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.
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