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toward the man who apparently had been her favorite； would seem to
others； she thought； the quintessence of meanness。 She felt that
she had been caught in the meshes of an evil web； and that it was
useless to struggle。
Despairing； hopeless； her cheeks burning with shame as with a fever；
she sat hour after hour refusing to see any one。 She would not go
down to supper。 She left the food untasted that was sent to her
room。 She sat staring at vacancy until her face became a dim pale
outline in the deepening twilight； and finally was lost in the
shadow of night。 But the darkness that gathered around the poor
girl's heart was deeper and almost akin to the rayless gloom that
positive crime creates； so nearly did she feel that she was associated
with one from whom her woman's soul； perverted as it was； shrank
with inexpressible loathing。
〃Ida is in one of her worst tantrums；〃 whispered Mrs。 Mayhew to
Stanton； 〃I never knew her to act so badly as she has of late。 I
wouldn't have thought that such a man as you have found Sibley to
be could gain so great a hold upon her feelings。 But law！ she'll
be all over it in a day or two。 Nothing lasts with Ida； and least
of all； a beau。〃
〃Well；〃 said Stanton； bitterly； 〃she is disgracing herself and all
related to her by her inexcusable folly in this instance。 Those
who pretended to be Sibley's friends at dinner； are now trying to
win a little respectability by turning against him； and the story
of his behavior is circulating through the house。 All will soon
know that he shot at Van Berg； and that he made insulting remarks
about Miss Burton。 It will appear to every one as if Ida were
sulking in her room on Sibley's account； and people are usually
thought to be no better than their friends。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 half sobbed Mrs。 Mayhew； 〃won't you go up to her room
and show her the consequences of her folly？〃
〃No；〃 said Stanton； irritably； 〃not to…night。 I know her too
well。 She will take no advice from me or any one else at present。
To…morrow I will have one more plain talk with her； and if she
won't listen to reason I wash my hands of her。 Where is Uncle？〃
〃Don't ask me。 Was there ever a more unfortunate woman？ With such
a husband and daughter； how can I keep up appearances？〃
Stanton walked away with a gesture of disgust and impatience。
〃Curse it all！〃 he muttered； 〃and their shadows fall on me too。
What chance have I with the snow…white maiden I'd give my life for
when followed by such associations？〃
Chapter XXX。 The Deliberate Wooer Speaks First。
Mr。 Burleigh was one of those fortunate men who when the weather
is rough outsideas was often the case in his callingcan always
find smooth water in the domestic haven of a wife's apartment。 Thus
Mrs。 Burleigh soon learned the cause of his perturbation； and as
she knew Jennie Burton would hear the story from some one else；
could not deny herself the feminine enjoyment of being the first
to tell it； and of congratulating her on the knightly defender she
had secured； for the quarrel had come before Mr。 Burleigh in such
a form as to make Van Berg the principal in the affair。
Miss Burton's cheek flushed deeply and resentfully as she heard
the circumstances in which her name had been spoken； and she said
with emphasis：
〃Mr。 Van Berg impressed me as a chivalric man from the first day of
our meeting。 But I wish he had paid no heed to the words of such
a creature as Mr。 Sibley。 That his life was endangered on my
account pains me more than I can tell you；〃 and she soon grew so
white and faint that Mrs。 Burleigh made her take a glass of wine。
〃Death seems such a terrible thing to a young； strong man；〃 she
added； shudderingly； after a moment； and she pressed her hands
against her eyes as if to shut out a vision from which she shrank。
〃May he not still be in danger from this ruffian's revenge？〃 she
asked； looking up in sudden alarm。
〃I'm afraid that he will be；〃 said Mrs。 Burleigh； catching the
infection of her fears。 〃I will have Mr。 Burleigh see that he is
kept away from this place。〃
Soon after； as Miss Burton was passing through the main hall…way；
she met the artist； and stepping into one of the small parlors that
was unoccupied； she said：
〃Mr。 Van Berg； I wish to speak with you。 I wish both to thank you；
and to ask a favor。〃
〃Please do the latter only；〃 he replied； smiling。
〃Mr。 Van Berg；〃 she resumed； looking into his face with an expression
that made his heart beat more quickly； 〃your life was endangered
on my account this afternoon。〃
〃That's a pleasant thought to me；〃 he said； taking her hand； 〃that
is if you are not offended that I presumed to be your knight。〃
〃It is a dreadful thought to me；〃 she answered； earnestly； then in
a strange and excited manner she added： 〃You cannot knowdeath
to some is a horrible thingit prevents so muchI've knownlet
it come to the old and sadI could welcome itbut to such as
youO merciful Heaven！ Grant me； please grant me； the favor I
would ask；〃 she continued； clinging to his hand。 〃They say this
man Sibley is very passionate and revengeful。 He may still try
to carry out his dreadful purpose。 Please shun him； please avoid
himin mercy do。 I've more than I can bear now； and ifif〃
and she buried her face in her hands。
〃And can my poor life be of such value to you； Miss Burton？〃 he
asked； in a deep low tone。
〃Ah！ you cannot understand；〃 she said； with a sudden and passionate
gesture； 〃and I entreat you not to ask me to explain。 From the
first you have been kind to me。 I have felt from the day we met
that I had found a friend in you； and your risk； your care for me
to…day； gives you a peculiar claim as a friend； but in mercy do
not ask me to explain why I am so urgent in my request。 I cannot；
indeed I cannotat least not now； in this place。 Something
happenedSudden death in one young； strong； and full of hope； like
you； seems to me horriblehorrible。 In mercy promise to incur no
risk on my account；〃 she said passionately； and almost wildly。
〃My poor little friend； how needlessly frightened you are！〃 he
said； soothingly and gently。 〃There； I will promise you anything
that a man of honor can。 But a word against you； Jennie Burton；
touches me close； very close。 As said the Earl of Kent； 'It invades
the region of my heart。'〃
She looked up swiftly and questioningly； and then a sudden crimson
suffused her face。 With a strong and uncontrollable instinct she
appeared to shrink from him。
〃Kent served one who had lost the power to make return；〃 she said；
shaking her head sadly as she turned away。
〃Let me reply with Kent again；〃 he earnestly responded。 〃'You
have that in your countenance'in your character'which I would
fain call master'； and I am mastered； nor can I be shaken from my
allegiance。 I can at least imitate Kent's faithfulness； if not
his ob