Good-by."
He pressed her hand in both of his as he said fervently, "God bless
you, Ida Mayhew!" Then he turned and hastened away, flying from
his own weakness and a womanly loveliness which at the moment far
excelled any ideal he had ever formed.
He had scarcely reached the road before he remembered that he had
left his sketch-book, and he went back for it, but as he turned
the corner of the shady path he stopped instantly. The strong,
clear-eyed maiden who had rallied the forces of his shattered
manhood, and given him the vantage-ground again in life's battle,
had bowed her head on the arm of the rustic seat and was sobbing
convulsively. Indeed, her grief was so uncontrollable and passionate
that in his very soul he trembled before it.
"Oh, Jennie Burton," she moaned, "it would have been easier for
me to die for you than to give him up. God help him--God help me
through the dreadful years to come!"
His first impulse was to spring to her side, but he hesitated,
and then with a gesture and look of infinite regret he turned and
stole silently away.
Chapter LIII. A Night's Vigil.
As Van Berg left Mr. Eltinge's grounds he had the aspect of a man
who had seen a vision.
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