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deepening twilight； and saw the young people enter a confectionery
shop； but observed； with increased uneasiness； that Miss Mayhew
parted from them and went to an adjacent drug…store。 She soon
joined the party again； however； and they all apparently started
homeward。
Van Berg at once determined to go to this drug…store and learn； if
possible； if there were anything to confirm the horrible suspicion
that crossed his mind。 He remembered that despair and desperate
deeds often went together； and the daily press had taught him how
many people； with warped and ungoverned moral natures； place their
troubles beyond remedy by the supreme folly of self…destruction。
By a considerable detour through a side street； he reached the
store unperceived； and found the druggist rather disquieted himself。
〃Are you staying at Burleigh's？〃 he asked。
〃I am；〃 Van Berg replied。
〃Do you know a young lady boarding there with large dark eyes and
auburn hair？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Is thereis there anything wrong about her？〃
〃Why should there be？ Why do you ask？〃
〃She has just been in here； and she looked sick and strangely； and
all she wanted was a large phial of laudanum。 Somehow her looks
and purchase have made me uneasy。 I never saw so white a face in
my life； and she seemed weak and very tired。 If she's sick； how
comes it she's walking to the village？ Besides； she seemed to have
very little to do with the party she joined after leaving here。〃
Van Berg controlled himself only by a powerful effort； and was very
glad that the brim of his soft hat concealed the pallor of his own
face。 He managed to say quietly：
〃The young lady you describe has not been well； and has probably
found the walk longer and more wearisome than she supposed。 As
for the laudanum； that's used in many ways。 Some cigars； if you
pleasethank you。 I'll join the lady and see that she reaches home
safely；〃 and he hastily left the store and walked swiftly away。
〃He wouldn't go as fast as that if he wasn't a little uneasy； too；〃
muttered the druggist； whose dearth of business gave him abundant
leisure to see all that was going on； and to imagine much more。
Van Berg determined to overtake Ida before she reached the hotel；
and his strides were as long and swift as mortal dread could make
them。
In the meantime； while the artist was making the detour necessary
to reach the drug…store without meeting Ida； she and her companions
had started homeward。 As they approached a church on the outskirts
of the village； the bell in the steeple commenced tolling。
〃What's that for？〃 asked a young man of the party of a plain；
farmer…like appearing man； who was just about to enter。
〃For prayer…meetin'；〃 was the good…natured reply。 〃It wouldn't
hurt you to come to it；〃 and the speaker passed into the lecture…room。
〃I call this frivolous assemblage to order；〃 cried the youth；
turning around to his companions。 〃If any one of our number has
ever attended a prayer…meeting； let him hold up his right hand。
I use the masculine pronoun； because the man always embraces the
womanwhen he gets a chance。〃
No hands were held up。
〃Heathen； every mother's son of us；〃 cried the first speaker。
〃The daughters are angels； of course； and don't need to go to
prayer…meetin'； as he of the cowhide sandals just termed it。 But
for the novelty of the thing； and for the want of something better
to do； I move that we all go to…night。 If it should be borous；
why； we can come out。〃
The proposition pleased the fancy of the party； and with gay words
and laughter that scarcely ceased at the vestibule； they entered
the place of prayer and lighted down among the sober…visaged；
soberly…dressed worshippers like a flock of tropical birds。
Ida reluctantly followed them。 At first she half decided to walk
home alone； but feared to do so。 She who had resolved on facing
the 〃King of Terrors〃 shrank； with a woman's instinct； from a lonely
walk in the starlight。
She sat in dreary preoccupation a little apart from the others and
paid no more heed to the opening services than to their ill…concealed
merriment。
the minister was away on his August vacation。 Prayer…meetings
were out of season； and very few were present。 The plain farmer
was trying to conduct the service as well as he could； but it was
evident he would have been much more at ease holding the handle of
a plow or the reins of his rattling team； than a hymn…book。 Dr。
Watts and John Wesley might have lost some of their heavenly serenity
could they have heard him read their verses； and certainly only a
long…suffering and merciful God could listen to his prayer。 And
yet rarely on the battle…field is there more moral courage displayed
than plain Thomas Smith put forth that night in his conscientious
effort to perform an unwonted task； and when at last he sat down
and said； 〃Bruthren； the meetin' is now open；〃 he was more exhausted
than he than he would have been from a long day of toil。
〃The Lord looketh at the heart〃 is a truth that chills many with
dread； but it was a precious thought to Farmer Smith as he saw that
his fellow church members did not look very appreciative； and that
the gay young city…people often giggled outright at his uncouth
words and manner。
Ida would have been as greatly amused as any of them a few weeks
since； but now she scarcely heard the poor man's stumblings； or
the wailing of the hymns that were mangled anew by the people。 She
sat with her eyes fixed on vacancy； thinking how dreary and empty
the world had become； and it seemed to her that religion was the
most dreary and empty thing in it。
〃What good can this wretched little meeting do any one？〃 she thought；
more than once。
She was answered。
Near her was a very old man who had been regarding the ill…behaved
party with an expression of mingled displeasure and pity。 Now that
the meeting was open to all he rose slowly to his feet； steadying
himself with his cane。
〃He looks like the Ancient Mariner；〃 giggled an exceedingly immature
youth； who sat next to Ida。
She turned upon him sharply and said； in a low tone； 〃If you have
the faintest instincts of a gentleman you will respect that venerable
man。〃
The youth was so effectually quenched that he bore the aspect of
a turnip…beet during the remainder of the service。
〃My young friends；〃 began the old main in tones of gentle dignity；
〃will you listen patiently and quietly to one that you see will
not have the chance to speak many more words。 My eyes are a little
dim； but you all appear young and happy； and yet I am sorry for
you； very sorry for you。 You don't realize what you are and what
is before you。 You remind me of a number of pleasure boats just
starting out to sea。 I have been across this ocean； and have almost
reached the other shore。 I know what terrible storms and dangers
you will meet。 You