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her life has become so noble and beautiful； I am greatly mistaken
if you do not return her affection。 If this be true； what are you
offering me？〃
〃I HAVE given you； Miss Burton； my truth and loyalty for all coming
time。 You may decline them nowyou probably willbut you cannot
change my attitude towards you or alter my course。 I shall not
attempt to hide anything from you。 Indeed； to do so would be vain；
and I have never been intentionally insincere with you。〃 Then he
told her of the freak of fancy that had led him to follow Ida to
the country in the first instance； and much that followed since；
making no reference； however； to her dark purpose against herself。
In conclusion he said： 〃Of late； for reasons obvious to you； she
has had strong fascinations for me； but above and beyond these
has been her influence on the side of all that's right； manly； and
true。 I have never spoken of love to Miss Mayhew。 Honor； loyalty；
unbounded gratitude； and deep affection bind me to you； and shall
through life。 Please say no more； Miss Jennie； for if any question
was ever settled； this is。〃
〃Then you propose to sacrifice yourself and Miss Mayhew for the
shadowy chance of making me a little happier？〃
〃I shall not be sacrificed； and Ida Mayhew would justly reject
me with scorn were I disloyal to you。 I can give you more love；
Jennie Burton； than I fear you will ever give me； but I shall wait
patiently。 When months and years have proved to you the truth of
my words； you may feel differently。 Let us leave the subject till
then。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Van Berg； I shall have to tell you after all；〃 she said
burying her face in her hands。
〃You need not now；〃 he replied gently。 〃You have been ill and are
not strong enough for this agitation。 You never need to tell me
unless it will make your burden lighter。〃
〃It will make my burden lighter to…day；〃 she said hurriedly。 〃Pardon
me if I tell my story in the briefest and most prosaic way。 You
are the first one that has heard it。 It may not seem much to you
and others； but to me it is an awful tragedy； and I sometimes fear
my life may be an eternal condition of suspense and waiting。 You
have been very generous in taking me so fully on trust； but now
you shall know all。 I am the only daughter of a poor； unworldly
New England clergyman。 My mother died before I can remember； and
my father gave to me all the time he could spare from the duties
of a small village parish。 He and the beautiful region in which
we lived were my only teachers。 One June morning Harrold Fleetwood
came to the parsonage with letters of introduction； saying that his
physician had banished him from books and city life； and he asked
if he could be taken as a lodger for a few weeks。 Poor and unworldly
as father was； for my sake he made careful inquiries and learned
that the young man was from one of the best and wealthiest families
of Boston； and bore an unblemished reputation。 Then； since we were
so very poor； he yielded to Mr。 Fleetwood's wishes； hoping thus to
be able to buy some books； he said； on which our minds could live
during the coming winter。
〃To me； Harrold Fleetwood was a very remarkable character。 While
he always treated me with kindness and respect； he did not take
much notice of me at first； and I think he found me very diffident；
to say the least。 But； as he had overtaxed his eyes； I began to
read to him； and then； as we became better acquainted； he resumed
a habit he had； as I soon learned； of speaking in half…soliloquy
concerning the subjects that occupied his mind。 He said that an
invalid sister had indulged him in this habit； and he had tried
to think aloud partly to beguile her weariness。 But to me it was
the revelation of the richest and most versatile mind I have ever
known。 At last I ventured to show my interest and to ask some
questions； and then he gradually became interested in me for some
reason。〃
〃I can understand his reasons；〃 said Van Berg emphatically。
〃He did not know at first how much time father had given me and to
what good uses we had put the books we had。 Well； I must be brief。
Every day brought us nearer together； until it seemed that we shared
our thoughts in common。 I ought not to complain； for perhaps in
few long lives does there come more happiness than was crowded in
those few weeks。 It was the happiness of heavenit was the happiness
of two souls attuned to perfect harmony and ranging together the
richest fields of truth and fancy。 Dear old father was blind to
it all； and I had scarcely thought whither the shining tide was
carrying me until last Tuesday five years ago； Mr。 Fleetwood said
to me； 'Jennie； our souls were mated in heaven； if any ever were；
and I claim you as the fulfillment of what must have been a Divine
purpose。' I found that my heart echoed every word he said。
〃Then he appeared troubled and said that I must give him time to
untangle a snarl into which he had drifted rather than involved
himself。 His family were wealthy and ambitious； and they had
always spoken of his marriage with a cousin who was an heiress；
as a settled thing。 He had never bound himself by word or act；
and often laughingly told his parents that they could not arrange
these matters on strictly business principles； as did aristocrats
abroadthat the young lady herself might have something to say； if
he had not。 But he was wrapt up in his studieshe was preparing
for a literary lifeand events drifted on until he found that every
one of his house hold had set their hearts on this alliance。 All
that he could say against it was that he was indifferent。 The
lady was pretty and tried to make herself agreeable to him； while
he felt that they had little in common； and was also led to believe
that she would good…naturedly leave him to his own pursuits； and
so he entered no protest to the family schemes； but drifted。 That
was the one defect of his character。 He was a man of thought and
fancy rather than of decision and action。
〃When he returned home and told his parents of his attachment for
me； they were furious； and wrote very bitter letters to both father
and myself； accusing us of having intrigued to obtain a wealthy
alliance。 Thank God！ father never saw the letter； as he died
suddenly； before he knew how sore a wound I had received。 Nor did
I ever show the letter to Mr。 Fleetwood； for my father had trained
me too well to sow dissension between parents and son。
〃An aunt took me to her home。 She was a kindhearted old lady； but
very matter…of…fact and wholly engrossed in her housekeeping； and
I told her nothing。 I waited till Mr。 Fleetwood sought me out；
which he soon did。 I saw that his family were moving heaven and
earth to break off his engagement with me； and it evidently pained
him deeply that he must so greatly disappoint his parents。 But
the consideration that weighed most with him was this： they urged
upon him in