a face illumined-第59部分

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low　tone；　turning　away。



〃Only　for　one　cause　could　I　withdraw　my　welcome；〃　he　said；　still

more　gravely。



〃What　is　that？〃　she　asked　in　a　lower　tone；　not　daring　to　look　at

him。



〃If　you　are　not　sincere；〃　he　replied；　looking　at　her　keenly。



Giving　him　her　hand　again；　and　looking　up　into　his　face；　she　said；

earnestly：



〃Mr。　Eltinge；　I　am　sincere。　　I　could　not　be　otherwise　with　you

after　your　words　last　night。　　I　come　to　you　in　great　trouble；　with

a　burdened　heart　and　conscience；　and　I　shall　tell　you　everything；

and　then　you　must　advise　me；　for　I　have　no　other　friend　to　whom　I

can　go。〃



〃Oh；　yes；　you　have；　my　child；〃　said　the　old　man；　cheerily。　　〃The

One　they　called　the　'Friend　of　sinners'　is　here　to…day　to　welcome

you；　and　is　more　ready　to　receive　and　advise　you　than　I　am。　　I'm

not　going　to　do　anything　for　you　but　lead　you　to　him　who　said；

'Come　unto　me；　all　ye　that　are　heavy　laden；'　and；　'Whosoever　cometh

I　will　in　nowise　cast　out。'〃



〃How　much　you　make　those　words　mean；　as　you　speak　them；〃　faltered

Ida。　　〃You　almost　lead　me　to　feel　that　not　far　away　there　is　some

one；　good　and　tender…hearted；　who　will　take　me　by　the　hand　with

reassuring　kindness；　as　you　have。〃



〃And　you　are　right。　　Why；　bless　you；　my　child；　religion　doesn't　do

us　much　good　until　we　learn　to　know　our　Lord　as　'good　and　tender…hearted；'

and　so　near；　too；　that　we　can　speak　to　him；　whenever　we　wish；　as

the　disciples　did　in　old　times。　　So　don't　be　one　bit　discouraged；

see；　I'll　fasten　your　horse　right　here　in　the　shade；　and　by　and　by

I'll　have　him　fed；　for　you　must　spend　the　day　with　us；　and　not　go

back　until　the　cool　of　the　evening。　　It　hasn't　seemed　hospitable

that　you　should　have　stood　so　long　here　under　the　trees；　and　I

didn't　mean　that　you　should；　but　things　never　turn　out　as　we　expect。〃



〃It　is　often　well　they　don't；〃　thought　Ida；　as　she　looked　around

the　quiet　and　quaintly　beautiful　spot；　to　which　a　kind　Providence

had　brought　her。　　It　seemed　as　if　her　burden　already　were　beginning

to　grow　lighter。



〃Now　come　in；　my　child；　and　tell　me　all　your　trouble。〃



〃Please；　Mr。　Eltinge；　may　I　not　go　back　with　you　into　the　garden？〃



〃Yes；　why　not？　　We　can　talk　there　just　as　well；〃　and　he　led　her

to　a　rustic　seat　in　a　shady　walk；　while　from　a　tool…house　near　he

brought　out　for　himself　a　chair　that　had　lost　its　back。



〃I'll　lean　against　this　pear…tree；〃　he　said。　　〃It's　young　and

strong；　and　owes　me　a　good　turn。　　Now；　my　child；　tell　me　what　you

think　best；　and　then　I'll　tell　you　of　One　whose　word　and　touch

cures　every　trouble。〃



But　poor　Ida　had　sudden　and　strong　misgivings。　　As　she　saw　the

old　gentleman　surrounded　by　his　flowers　and　fruits；　as　she　glanced

hesitatingly　into　his　serene；　quiet　face；　from　which　the　fire　and

passion　of　youth　had　long　since　faded；　she　thought。　　〃So　Adam　might

have　looked　had　he　never　sinned　but　grown　old　in　his　beautiful

garden。　　This　aged　man；　who　lives　nearer　heaven　than　earth；　can't

understand　my　wicked；　passionate　heart。　　My　story　will　only　shock

and　pain　him；　and　it's　a　shame　to　pollute　this　place　with　such　a

story。〃



〃You　spoke　as　if　you　were　alone　and　friendless　in　the　world；〃　said

Mr。　Eltinge；　trying　to　help　her　make　a　beginning。　　〃Are　you　an

orphan？〃



〃No；〃　said　Ida；　with　rising　color；　and　averting　her　face。　　〃My

parents　are　both　living。〃



〃And　yet　you　cannot　go　to　them？　　Poor　child！　　That　is　the　worst

kind　of　orphanage。〃



〃Oh；　Mr。　Eltinge；　this　place　seems　like　the　garden　of　Eden；　and　I

am　bringing　into　it　a　heart　full　of　trouble　and　wickedness。〃



〃Well；　my　child；〃　replied　the　old　gentleman；　with　a　smile。　　〃I've

brought　here　a　heart　full　of　trouble　and　wickedness　many　a　time；

so　you　need　not　fear　hurting　the　garden。〃



〃But　I　fear　I　shall　pain　and　shock　you。〃



〃I　hope　you　will。　　I'm　going　to　feel　with　and　for　you。　　What's　the

good　of　my　sitting　here　like　a　post？〃



〃Well；〃　said　Ida；　desperately；　〃I　promised　to　tell　you　everything；

and　I　will。　　If　there　is　any　chance　for　me　I'll　then　know　it；　for

you　will　not　deceive　me。　　Somehow；　what　I　am　and　what　I　have　to　say

seemed　in　such　sad　contrast　with　you　and　your　garden　that　I　became

afraid。　　You　asked　about　my　parents。　　My　father　is　a　very　unhappy

man。　　He　seems　to　have　lost　hope　and　courage。　　I　now　begin　to　see

that　I　have　been　chiefly　to　blame　for　this。　　I　do　nothing　for　his

comfort。　　Indeed；　I　have　been　so　occupied　with　myself　and　my　own

pleasure　that　I　have　given　him　little　thought。　　He　does　not　spend

much　of　his　time　at　home；　and　when　I　saw　him　he　was　always　tired；

sad；　and　moody。　　He　seemed　to　possess　nothing　that　could　minister

to　my　pride　and　pleasure　save　money；　and　I　took　that　freely；　with

scarcely　even　thanks　in　return。



〃I　don't　like　to　speak　against　my　mother；　but　truth　compels　me　to

add　that　she　acts　much　in　the　same　way。　　I　don't　think　she　loves

papa。　　Perhaps　our　treatment　is　the　chief　reason　why　life；　seemingly；

has　become　to　him　a　burden。　　When　he's　not　busy　in　he　office　he

drinks；　and　drinks；　and　I　fear　it　is　only　to　forget　his　trouble。

Once　or　twice　this　summer　he　has　looked　like　a　man；　and　appeared

capable　of　throwing　off　this　destroying　habit；　and　then　by　my

wretched　folly　I　made　him　do　worse　than　ever；〃　and　she　burst　into

a　remorseful　passion　of　tears。



〃That's　right；　my　child；〃　said　Mr。　Eltinge；　taking　off　his

spectacles　that　he　might　wipe　his　sympathetic　eyes；　〃you　were　very

much　to　blame。　　Thank　god；　there　are　no　Pharisees　in　this　garden。

God　bless　you；　go　on。〃



〃This　that　I've　told　you　about　my　father　ought　to　be　my　chief

trouble；　but　it　isn't；〃　faltered　Ida。　　〃I　fear　you　won't　understand

me　very　well　now；　and　you　certainly　will　never　be　able　to　understand

how　I　could　be　tempted　to　do　something　at　the　very　thought　of　which

I　now　shudder。〃



〃No　matter；　my　Master　can　understand　it　all　if　I　can't。　　He's

listening；　too；　remember。〃



〃It　frightens　me　to　think　so；〃　said　Ida；　in　an　awed；　trembling

tone。



〃That's　because　you　don't　know　him。　　If　you　were　severely　wounded；

would　you　be　frightened　to　know　that　a　good　physician　was　right　at

hand　to　heal　you？〃



〃But　isn't　God　too　infinite　and　far　away　to　listen　to　listen　to

the　story　of　my　weakness　and　folly？　　I　dare　not　think　of　him。　　My

difficulty　is　just　thishe　IS　God；　and　what　am　I？〃



〃One　of　his　little　children；　my　dear。　　Yes；　he　is　infinite；　but

not　far　away。　　In　the　worst　of　my　weakness　and　folly　he　listened

patiently；　and　helped　me　out　of　my　trouble。　　How　are　you　going　to

get　over　this　fact？　　He　has　listened　to　and　helped　multitudes　of

others　in　every　kind　of　trouble　and　wrong。　　How　are　you　going　to

get　over　these　facts？〃



Ida　slowly　wiped　her　eyes。　　Her　face　grew　very　pale；　and　she　looked

at　Mr。　Eltinge　steadily　and　earnestly；　as　if　to　gather　from　his

expression　and　manner；　as　well　as　words；　the　precise　effect　of　her

confession。



〃Mr。　Eltinge；〃　she　said；　〃at　this　time　yesterday　I　did　not　expect

to　be　alive　to…day。　　I　expected　to　be　dead；　and　by　my　own　hand。

Will　God　forgive　such　wickedness？〃



〃Dead！〃　exclaimed　the　old　gentleman；　starting　up。



〃Yes；〃　said　Ida；　growing　still　paler　and　trembling　with　apprehension；

but　still　looking　fixedly　at　Mr。　Eltinge　as　if　she　would　learn

from　his　face　whether　she　could　hope　or　must　despair　because　of

her　intended　crime。



〃And　what　changed　your　awful　purpose；　my　child？〃　he　said；　very

gravely。



〃Your　words　at　the　prayer…meeting　last　night。〃



The　old　gentleman　removed　his　hat　and　reverently　bowed　his　head。

〃O　God；〃　he　murmured；　〃thou　hast　been　merciful　to　me　all　my　days；

I　thank　thee　for　this　crowning　mercy。〃



〃But　will　God　be　merciful　to　ME？〃　cried　Ida；　in　a　tone　of　sharp

agony。



The　old　man　came　to　he　side；　and　placing　his　hands　on　her　head　spoke

with　almost　the　authority　and　solemnity　of　one　of　God's　ancient

prophets。



〃Yes；　my　child；　yes；　he　will　be　merciful　unto　youhe　will　forgive

you。　　But　in　your　deep　need　you　require　more　than　the　assurance

of　a　poor　sinful　mortal　like　yourself。　　Listen　to　God's　own　word：

'Thus　saith　the　high　and　lofty　One　that　inhabiteth　eternity；　whose

name　is　Holy：　I　dwell　in　the　high　and　holy　place；　with　him　also

that　is　of　a　contrite　and　humble　spirit；　to　revive　the　spirit　of

the　humble；　and　to　revive　the　heart　of　the　contrite　ones。'



〃'Like　as　a　father　pitieth　his　children；　so　the　Lord　pitieth　them

that　fear　him。'



〃'If　we　confess　our　sins　he　is　faithful　and　just　to　forgive　us　our

sins；　and　the　blood　of　Jesus　Christ；　his　Son；　cleanseth　us　from

all　sin。'　　God　answers　your　question　himself；　my　child。〃



〃Oh；　may　He　bless　you　for　your　kindness　to　me！　　It　has　saved　me

from　despair　and　death；〃　sobbed　Ida；　burying　her　face　in　her　hands；

and　giving　way　to　the　natural　expression　of　feeling　that　ever

relieves　a　heart　that　has　long　been　overburdened。



For　a　few　moments　Mr。　Eltinge　said　nothing；　but　gently　stroked　the

bowed　head　as　he　might　caress　a　daughter　of　his　own。　　At　last　he

asked；　with　a　voice　that　was　broken　from　sympathy　with　her　emotion；



〃How　about　my　Master；　whose　kind　providence　has　brought　all　this

about？〃



Ida　gradually　became　more　quiet；　and　as　soon　as　she　could　trust

herself　to　speak　she　lifter　her　head　and　answered：



〃Mr。　Eltinge；　I　think　I　can　learn　to　love　God　as　you　portray　him

to　me。　　But　in　my　imperfection　and　wickedness　I　have　not　dared　to

think　of　him　till　I　came　here。〃



〃Now；　isn't　that　just　like　the　devil's　work！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Eltinge。

〃It　was　our　imperfection　and　wickedness　that　brought　Christ　to

our　rescue；　and　yet　you　have　been　made　to　believe　that　your　chief

claim　upon　our　Divine　Friend　is　a　hopeless　barrier　against　you！〃



〃Mr。　Eltinge；〃　said　Ida；　slowly；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　be　sure

that　each　word　expressed　her　thought；　〃it　was　that　word；　FRIEND；

as　you　used　it　last　night；　that　caught　my　ear　and　reviv