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abundantly； but he often doubted whether Ida heard him； for her
eyes and thoughts seemed to be wandering beyond the blue Highlands
which they now were entering。 At last Mr。 Mayhew left them for a
while； and Van Berg turned and said gently：
〃Miss Ida； you are not in good spirits this afternoon。〃
She did not answer for a moment； but averted her face still further
from him。 At last she said； in a low tone： 〃Mr。 Van Berg； did
you ever have a presentiment of evil？〃
〃I don't believe in such things；〃 he replied promptly。
〃Of course not； you are a man。 But I have such a presentiment this
afternoon； and it will come true。〃
〃What do you fear； Miss Ida？〃
〃What does a woman always fear？ Earthquakes； political changes；
disturbances in the world at large； of course。〃
〃I have heard that a woman's kingdom was her heart；〃 Van Berg was
indiscreet enough to say。
〃It is a pity；〃 Ida replied with one of her reckless laughs； 〃for
it so often happens that she cannot keep it； and those who wrest
it from her do not care to keep it； and so it comes to be what the
geographies used to call one of the 'waste places of the earth。'
As the world goes； I think I had better retain my kingdom； small
as it is。〃
He turned very pale； and swift as light he thought： 〃Has she； by
the aid of her woman's intuition； read my thoughts？ Has she seen
the beginnings of a regard for her far warmer than my professed
friendship； and； remembering my suit to Jennie Burton； is she learning
to despise me as fickle； or； worse； as a hypocritical specimen of
that meanest type of human vermina male flirt？〃 and his face grew
so white that Ida in her turn was not only perplexed； but alarmed。
But after a moment he said quietly： 〃It is not the size of the
kingdom that makes its value； but what it contains。 I hope you will
keep treasures of yours till you find some one worthy to receive
them； and I can scarcely imagine that such an idiot exists that he
would not retain them if he could。 That is Fort Montgomery yonder；〃
and he resolutely continued the story of its defence and capture；
until her father returned saying it was time to come down ad prepare
to land。
Ida had scarcely heard a word。 Her heart almost stood still with
dread and foreboding； and like a dreary refrain the words kept
repeating themselves； 〃Oh； I'm punished； I'm punished。 I thought
to win him from Jennie Burton； and my reckless words will now make
him true to her at every cost to himself。 He knows that I must
have seen how he won the kingdom of her heart； and he'll keep it
now in spite of my love and something I thought love that I saw in
his face。 Oh； my punishment is greater than I can bear； but it is
deserved； well deserved。 If he had won my love first； what would
I think of the woman who tried to win him from me？ She would have
suffered what I now must suffer。 My bright but guilty dream is
over forever。〃
Van Berg assisted her down to the gangway and out on the wharf with
a grave and scrupulous politeness； but she felt even more than she
saw that her words had stung his very soul。 It was their apparent
truth which he could never explain away that gave them their power
to wound so deeply； and every moment brought to him a clearer
realization of the fact that he had tried to win； and was pledged
to win a woman whom to wrong even unwittingly would be an act for
which he could never forgive himself。 And yet his heart sank at
the thought of meeting her； indeed； so guilty and embarrassed did
he become in his feelings that he decided he would not meet her
before others； and sprang out of the stage； saying to the driver
that he preferred walking the remainder of the way。 Mr。 Mayhew
looked at him in some surprise； for his manner had changed so now
as to attract his attention and excite disagreeable surmises。
To Ida's great relief Stanton had come down to meet her with his
light…wagon。 He had seen Van Berg at her side again with surprise；
and； after his fast horses had whirled them well away by themselves；
he asked a little abruptly：
〃Ida； have you seen Van this week？〃
She hesitated a moment； and then said briefly： 〃Yes。 We met at
the concert…garden again； and he dined with us last evening。〃
Stanton turned and looked at her earnestly； and her color rose
swiftly under his questioning eyes。
〃My poor little Ida； we are in the same boat； I fear；〃 he said
compassionately。
She hid her face on his shoulder。 〃Oh； Ik； spare me；〃 she faltered。
〃It's just as I feared；〃 Stanton resumed； with a deep sigh。
〃Maledictions on such a world as ours！ The devil rules it； sure
enough。〃
〃Oh； hush； hush；〃 Ida sobbed。
〃I see it all； now； indeed； I've thought it all out this past week。
You Sibley used only as a blind； poor child。〃
〃Yes； Ik； I loathed and detested him almost from the first。〃
〃And in the meantime the sagacious Van Berg and myself were
trampling on you like a couple of long…eared beasts。 How did you
ever forgive us！〃
〃Oh； Ik； Ik； my heart is breaking。 I've had such dreams the last
two weeks。 I've dared to think I had learned a little of God's love；
and ohwas I blinded by my wishes； by my hopes； by the passionate
longing of my heart？I thought I saw love in his eyes； and heard
it in his tones； last evening。 Everything now is slipping from
mehappiness； hope； and even my faith。 But I deserve it all；〃 she
added in her heart。 〃I could almost curse the woman who tried to
win him from me。〃
Stanton turned his horses off into a shady and unfrequented side
road where they would not be apt to meet any one。 〃Good heavens！〃
he thought； 〃this is just the condition of mind that Van warned me
to guard against； and； confound him； he is the cause of the evils
he feared； and in their worst form。 I be hanged if I can understand
him。 All through July he was Jennie Burton's open suitorat least
he made no secret of it to me； although his cool head enabled him
to throw the people of the house off the scentand now he follows
another lady to New York； and leaves his first love on very flimsy
pretexts。 By Jove！ I don't like it； even though it were possible
for me to profit by his folly。〃
〃My poor little Ida；〃 he said gently； putting his arms around her；
〃you and I must stand by each other； for we are like to have rough
weather ahead for awhile。 It's no kindness to you now to hide the
truth。 I do not know that Van Berg has formally proposed to Miss
Burton； but； as an honorable man； he is committed to her； and
I believe he has won her affections； although I confess I don't
understand her very well。 She has evidently had very deep sorrows
in the past； and I am satisfied that she has felt his absence keenly
this week。〃
〃I deserve it all；〃 Ida murmured again； but so low he could not
hear her； and she gave way to another outburst of grief。
〃It will pain even your heart； Ida； to see how slig