"Come with me, father," said Ida, trying to give him a reassuring
smile, "and I will answer your scared and questioning glances in
your room," and he went with her as if walking in a dream.
Tears now gathered in Jennie Burton's eyes, but she smiled again
as she thought, "Better done still, Ida Mayhew, and Mr. Van Berg,
who is stalking away so rapidly yonder, is not the man I think
him, if you have not now made your best and deepest impression on
his heart."
"Ida," her father faltered, after they had reached the privacy of
his room, "what does your telegram mean? What is important?"
"YOU are to me. O father, please, please forgive me," and she put
her arms around his neck and burst into a passion of tears.
The bewildered man began to tremble. "Can it--can it be that my
daughter has a heart?" he muttered.
"Yes, father, but it's broken because of my cruel treatment of you;
I now hope better days are coming for us all."
He held her away from him and looked into her face with a longing
intensity that suggested a soul perishing for the lack of love and
hope.
"Father, father, I can't bear that look. Oh, God forgive me, how
I have wronged you!" and she buried her face on his shoulder again.
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