Come
and tell me if you still recognize it," and he took out the little
note-book in which was pressed the imperfect and emblematic rose-bud.
"Poor little thing!" Ida sighed, looking over his shoulder, "how
faded it has become!"
By a motion that was almost instantaneous he dropped the note-book
and caught her hand. "Yes, Ida," he said eagerly, it is faded, but
it grows dearer to me daily, as you will long after the exquisite
color has faded from your face. Ida Mayhew, the brook has stopped
now because it cannot help itself, nor will it ever go on again,
even in spring or summer, unless it bears you away with it."
She turned and looked him full in his eyes, in accordance with her
custom when she felt that she must know the innermost thoughts of
the speaker.
"Mr. Van Berg," she said very gravely, "let that little emblem
there remind you that you are speaking to a very faulty and ignorant
girl. I cannot regain in a few weeks what I have lost in a wasted
life. You may regret---"
"Hush, Ida; for once I will not listen to you. When I believed
myself dying my chief thought was of you, and when I heard sounds
near me, in my half unconscious state I called your name.
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