〃Well； Jennie；〃 said Ida musingly； there seems to me this difference。
〃You have a God； I have a Saviour； you have a faith； I have a tender
and helpful Friend。 Jesus Christ has said to those who love and
trust him： 'Let not your hearts be troubled。' He said these words
to men who were to suffer all things； and did so； Mr。 Eltinge told
me。 It's just the same as if he said； You don't know； I do； leave
everything to me； and it shall all be for the best in the end。 See
how all my trouble this summer has just prepared for this happiness；
and I believe； Jennie； that your eternity of happiness will be
made all the richer for every sad day of your unselfish life。 The
souls of such men as Harrold Fleetwood are God's richest treasures；
and he whose name is Love surely kindled such love as yours and
his。 The God that the Bible reveals to me will not permit it to be
lost；〃 and with Jennie's head on her bosom she sang low and sweetly：
No hope； 'tis said； though buried deep；
But angels o'er it vigils keep；
No love in sepulchre shall stay；
For Christ our Friend has rolled away
The heavy stone of death。
〃Oh； sing me those words again；〃 sobbed Jennie： 〃sing them again
and again； till they fill my heart with hope。〃
Ida did so。
〃O Ida！ God's good angel to me as well as to Harold Van Berg；〃
said Jennie； smiling through her tears。 〃I bless you for those
hopeful words。 They will repeat themselves in my heart till all
is clear and our souls that God mated are joined again。 My Harrold
was not one who said 'Lord； Lord' very often； but I know that
he tried to 'do the will of his Father which is in heaven。' I am
going to your Friend； Ida； for if ever a poor mortal needed more
than mortal help and cheer； I do。 I shall just give up everything
into his hands； and wait patiently。〃
〃The life he will give you again； Jennie； will be infinitely richer
than the one you have lost。〃
Early in the following week Miss Burton returned to her college
duties。 Before parting she said to Ida： 〃I do not think I shall
ever give way again to my old； bitter； heart…breaking grief。〃
Almost every one in the house wanted to shake hands with her
in farewell。 Poor Mr。 Burleigh tried to disguise his feelings by
putting crepe on his hat and tying black shawl of his wife's around
his arm； but he blew his nose so often that he finally said he was
〃taking cold on the piazza；〃 and so made a hasty retreat。
Ida and Van Berg accompanied Jennie to the depot； but Stanton was
not to be found till they reached the station； when he quietly
stepped forward and handed Jennie her checks。 She was trying to
say something that she meant should show her appreciation； when the
train thundered up； and he handed her into a palace car； in which
she found he had secured her a seat； and before she had time to
say a word her tickets were in her hands and he was gone。
When； after several hours' riding； she approached a station at which
she must change cars and recheck her trunks； a friendly voice said
to her：
〃Miss Burton； if you will give me your checks I will attend to this
little matter for you。〃
〃Mr。 Stanton！〃 she exclaimed。 〃What does this mean？〃
〃It means that since I am on the same train with you； I can do no
less than offer so slight a service。〃
She looked at him very doubtfully； as she said： 〃I don't know
what to think of this journey of yours。 Let me now pay you for my
ticket。〃
〃Mr。 Van Berg handed me the money you gave him for that purpose。
It's all right。 Your checks please； there is but little time。〃
His manner was so quiet and assured； that she handed them to him
hesitatingly； and a moment later stepped out on the platform。
In a few moments she called： 〃Oh； Mr。 Stanton； you have lost your
train。〃
〃Not at all。 I am going to Boston。 There are your checks once
more； and here is your train and seat；〃 he added； as he accompanied
her to it。 Then he lifted his hat； and was about to depart； when
she said： 〃Since you are on the same train； perhaps you will venture
to take this seat near me。 I never was curious about a gentleman's
business before； but it strikes me as a rather odd coincidence that
you are going to Boston to…day。〃
〃A great many people go to Boston；〃 he replied。
〃It's for my sake you are taking this long journey； Mr。 Stanton；〃
she said； regretfully。
〃Yes；〃 he replied； in the same quiet； undemonstrative manner that
he had maintained towards her for some weeks past； 〃this journey
is for your sake； and for your sake I shall take a very different
journey through life from the one I had marked out for myself。 I
know your sad story； Miss Burton。 I expect nothing from you； I
hope for nothing； and I shall never ask anything； except a little
confidence on your part； so that I can render you an occasional
service。 Never for a moment imagine that I am cherishing hopes
that I know well you cannot reward。〃
〃Mr。 Stanton； this is beyond my comprehension！〃
〃There seems to me nothing strange or unnatural in it；〃 he said。
〃You found me a pleasure…loving animal； and through your influence
I think I am becoming somewhat different。 You have taught me that
there is a higher and better world than that of sense。 How good
a work I can do in life I will let the years prove as they pass。
But I do not think my feelings will ever change towards you； save
as time deepens and strengthens them。 Van thinks all the world of
you； as well he may； but his life will be very happy and full of
many interest。 I shall think of you alone； and the work I do for
your sake until I can add another motive。 Of course I believe in a
heavensuch lives as your make one necessary； and I mean to find
a way of getting there。 In the meantime； you are my motive； but my
regard for you shall be so very unobtrusive that I trust you will
not resent it； and the thought of my unseen care and watchfulness
may in time come to be a pleasant one。〃
There was nothing in his tone or manner to indicate that to their
fellow…travelers that he was not speaking on the most ordinary
topic； and he looked her full in the face with his clear dark eyes；
in which she saw only truth and faithfulness。
She was very； very deeply touched； and she could not keep the tears
out of her eyes as she leaned towards him and said in tones that
no others could hear：
〃I am no longer the friendless orphan I was when I came to the Lake
House。 In Mr。 Van Berg I have found a friend whom I can trust； in
you； Ik Stanton； a brother that I can love。〃
If the reader's patience has not failed him up to this long…deferred
moment； it shall now be rewarded by a few brief； concluding words。
Mrs。 Mayhew felt considerably aggrieved that she had had so little
part in Ida's engagement with the wealthy and aristocratic Mr。
Van Berg； and in later years she complained that they were very
unfashionable； and spent an unreasonable amount of time in looking
after all kinds of charitable institutions。 Mr。 Mayhew drank ever
deeper at the full fountain of his child's love； and is serenely
passing on to an honorable old age。 Mr。 Eltinge is now beyond age
and weakness； but Ida often murmurs with tears in her eyes as she
looks at his portrait； 〃He is just speaking to me as he did when
my heart was breaking。〃 Stanton's city friends say that he has
greatly changed and might stand very high as a lawyer and politician
if he were not so quixotic and prone to take cases in which there
was no money； but he receives letters from New England which seem
to compensate him for lack of large fees。 Van Berg has not yet
regretted that he entrusted 〃faulty Ida Mayhew〃 with his happiness；
and he is more anxious than ever to lure her to his studio。 For
a long time he had to take the truth of her faith on trust but at
last he stood by her side at God's altar and confessed that Name
which has been the lowliest and grandest of earth。
Ida is still very human； but with all her faults； her husband often
whispers in her ear： 〃Not Ida； but Ideal。〃 She is continually
giving up her life for Christ's sake； and as often finds it coming
back to her in some richer； sweeter form； and by her simple； joyous
faith has led many to the Friend she found in the quaint old garden；
and who says of all who come； 〃I will give unto them eternal life。〃
Jennie Burton is still waiting； but at the end of each day of
faithful work she sings the song of hope that Ida taught her：
No hope； 'tis said； though buried deep；
But angels o'er it vigils keep；
No love in sepulchre shall stay；
For Christ MY Friend will roll away
The heavy stone of death。
THE END