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shall；　no　harm　will　be　done。　　If　her　silliness　and　vanity　are

ingrained　and　essential　parts　of　her　nature；　she　shall　learn　that

there　is　at　least　one　man　who　can　see　her　as　she　is；　and　whose

heart　is　not　wax　on　which　to　stamp　her　pretty　and　senseless　image。

If　I　only　partially　succeed；　if　I　discern　she　has　a　mind；　but

so　feeble　that　it　can　only　half　reclaim　her　from　her　weakness　and

folly；　still　something　will　be　accomplished。　　Her　features　are　so

beautiful；　that　should　they　come　to　express　even　the　glimmerings

of　that　which　is　admirable；　the　face　will　be　in　part　redeemed。

But　if　by　some　happy　miracle；　as　in　the　instance　of　the　original

Undine；　a　mind　can　be　awakened　that　will　gradually　prepare　a　place

for　the　soul　of　a　true　woman；　I　shall　accomplish　the　best　work　of

my　life；　even　estimated　from　an　artistic　point　of　view。　　Possibly；

for　my　reward；　she　will　permit　me　to　paint　her　portrait　as　a　souvenir

of　our　summer's　acquaintance。〃



It　did　not　take　Van　Berg　long　to　complete　his　arrangements　for

leaving　town。　　He　wrote　a　line　to　his　friend　Stanton；　saying　that

he　proposed　spending　a　few　weeks　in　the　vicinity　of　the　Highlands

on　the　Hudson；　and　that　he　could　not　say　when　he　would　be　at　his

rooms　or　at　home　again。　　The　afternoon　of　the　following　day　found

him　a　passenger　on　a　fleet　steamboat；　and　fully　bent　upon　carrying

out　his　odd　artistic　freak。











Chapter　IV。　　A　Parthian　Arrow。











As；　in　the　quiet　June　evening；　Harold　Van　Berg　glided　through　the

shadows　of　the　Highlands；　there　came　a　slight　change　over　his　spirit

of　philosophical　and　artistic　experiment。　　The　season　comported

with　his　early　manhood；　and　the　witching　hour　and　the　scenery　were

not　conducive　to　cold　philosophy。　　He　who　prided　himself　on　his

steady　pulse　and　a　devotion　to　art　so　absorbing　that　it　even　prompted

his　impulses　and　gave　character　to　his　recreation；　was　led　to　feel；

on　this　occasion；　that　his　mistress　was　vague　and　shadowy；　and　to

half　wish　for　that　companionship　which　the　most　self…reliant　natures

have　craved　at　times；　ever　since　man　first　felt；　and　God　knew；　that

it　was　〃not　good　for　him　to　be　alone。〃　　If　he　could　turn　from　the

beauty　of　the　sun…tipped　hills　and　rocks　and　the　gloaming　shadows

to　an　appreciative　and　sympathetic　face；　such　as　he　could　at

least　imagine　the　visage　of　Ida　Mayhew　might　become；　would　not　his

enjoyment　of　the　beauty　he　saw　be　doubly　enhanced？　　In　his　deepest

consciousness　he　was　compelled　to　admit　that　it　would。　　He　caught

a　glimpse　of　the　truth　that　he　would　never　attain　in　his　highest

manhood　until　he　had　allied　himself　to　a　womanhood　which　he　should

come　to　believe　supremely　true　and　beautiful。



The　ringing　of　the　bell　announced　his　landing；　and　in　the　hurry　and

bustle　of　looking　after　his　luggage　and　obtaining　a　ticket　which　he

had　forgotten　to　procure；　he　speedily　became　again；　in　the　world's

estimation；　and　perhaps　in　his　own；　a　practical；　sensible　man。　　An

hour　or　two's　ride　among　he　hills　brought　him　at　last　to　the　Lake

House；　where　he　selected　a　room　that　had　a　fine　prospect　of　the

mountains；　the　far　distant　river；　and　the　adjacent　open　country；

engaging　it　only　for　a　brief　time　so　that　he　might　depart　when　he

chose；　in　case　the　object　of　his　pursuit　should　not　appear；　or　he

should　weary　of　the　effort；　or　despair　of　its　success。



A　few　days　passed；　but　the　face　which　had　so　haunted　his　fancy

presented　no　actual　appearance。　　The　scenery；　however；　was　beautiful；

the　weather　so　perfect；　and　he　enjoyed　his　rambles　among　the　hills

and　his　excursions　on　the　water　so　thoroughly　that　he　was　already

growing　slightly　forgetful　of　his　purpose　and　satisfied　that　he

could　enjoy　himself　a　few　weeks　without　the　zest　of　artistically

redeeming　the　face　of　Ida　Mayhew。　　But　one　day；　while　at　dinner；

he　overheard　some　gossip　concerning　a　〃great　belle〃　who　was　to　come

that　evening；　and　he　at　once　surmised　that　it　was　the　fair　stranger

he　had　seen　at　the　concert。



At　the　time；　therefore；　of　the　arrival　of　the　evening　stage　he

observantly　puffed　his　cigar　in　a　corner　of　the　piazza；　and　was

soon　rewarded　by　seeing　the　object　of　his　contemplated　experiment

step　out　of　the　vehicle；　with　the　airy　grace　and　confidence　of　one

who　regards　each　new　abiding…place　as　a　scene　of　coming　pleasures

and　conquests；　and　who　feels　sure　every　glance　toward　her　is　one

of　admiration。　　There　were　eyes；　however；　that　noted　disapprovingly

her　jaunty　self…assurance　and　self…assertion；　and　when　she　met　those

eyes　her　complacency　seemed　disturbed　at　once；　for　she　flushed　and

promptly　turned　her　back　upon　them。　　In　fact；　from　the　time　she

had　first　seen　Van　Berg's　frowning　face　it　had　been　a　disagreeable

memory；　and　now　here　it　was　again　and　frowning　still。　　Although

he　sat　at　a　distance　from　the　landing…place；　her　eyes　seemed　drawn

towards　his　as　if　by　some　fascination；　and　she　already　had　the

feeling　that　whenever　he　was　present　she　would　be　conscious　of　his

cool；　critical　observation。



Van　Berg　had　scarcely　time　to　note　a　rather　stout　and　overdressed

person　emerge　from　the　stage；　how　was　evidently　the　young　lady's

mother；　when　Ik　Stanton；　with　his　bays　and　a　light　country　wagon；

dashed　up　to　the　main　entrance。　　Stanton　was　an　element　in　the

artistic　problem　that　Van　Berg　had　not　bargained　for；　and　what

influence　he　would　have；　friendly　or　adverse；　only　time　could　show。



While　Stanton　was　accompanying　his　aunt　and　cousin　to　the　register；

as　the　gentleman　of　the　party；　the　young　lady　said　to　him：



〃That　horrid　artist　friend　of　yours　is　here。　　I　wish　he　hadn't

come。　　Did　you　tell　him　we　were　coming　here？〃



〃No；　'pon　my　honor。〃



〃I　have　believe　you　did。　　If　so　I'll　never　forgive　you；　for　the

very　sight　of　him　spoils　everything。〃



〃Come　now；　Coz；　be　reasonable。　　From　all　the　indications　I　have

seen；　Van　Berg　is　the　last　man　to　follow　you　here　or　anywhere　else；

even　though　he　knew　of　your　prospective　movements。　　He　is　here；　as

scores　of　others　are；　for　his　own　pleasure。　　So　follow　your　mother

to　your　room；　smooth　your　ruffled　plumage　and　come　down　to　supper。〃



Even　Miss　Mayhew's　egotism　could　find　no　fault　with　so　reasonable

an　explanation；　and　she　went　pouting　up　the　stairway　in　anything

but　a　complacent　mood。



Stanton　stepped　out　upon　the　piazza　to　greet　his　friend；　saying：



〃Why；　Van；　it　is　an　unexpected　pleasure　to　find　you　here。〃



〃I　was　equally　and　quite　as　agreeably　surprised　to　see　you　drive

to　the　door。　　If　you　cousin　had　not　come　I　might　have　helped　you

exercise　your　bays。　　I　am　doing　some　sketching　in　the　vicinity。〃



〃My　cousin　shall　not　keep　you　from　many　an　idle　hour　behind　the

baysthat　is；　if　you　will　not　carry　your　antipathy　so　far　as　to

cut　me　on　account　of　my　relationship。〃



〃I'm　not　conscious　of　any　antipathy　for　Miss　Mayhew；〃　replied　Van

Berg；　with　a　slight　shrug。



〃Oh；　only　indifference！　　Well；　if　you　will　both　maintain　that

attitude　there　will　be　no　trouble　about　the　bays　or　anything　else。

I'll　smoke　with　you　after　supper。〃



〃She　evidently　has　an　antipathy　for　me；〃　mused　Van　Berg。　　〃Stanton；

no　doubt；　has　told　her　of　my　uncomplimentary　remarks；　and　possibly

of　the　fact　that　I　declined　an　introduction。　　That's　awkward；　for

if　I　should　now　ask　to　be　presented　to　her；　she　would　very　naturally

decline；　and　so　we　might　drift　into　something　as　closely　resembling

a　quarrel　as　is　possible　in　the　case　of　two　people　who　have　never

spoken　to　each　other。〃



He　concluded　that　it　would　be　best　to　leave　to　chance　the　occasion

which　should　place　them　on　speaking　terms；　and　tried　to　persuade

himself　that　her　unpromising　attitude　towards　him　was　not　wholly

unfavorable　to　his　purpose。　　He　never　could　hope　to　accomplish

anything　without　at　first　piquing　her　pride　and　wounding　her　vanity。

His　only　fear　was　that　this　had　been　done　too　effectually；　and　that

from　first　to　last　she　would　simply　detest　him。



In　his　preoccupation　he　forgot　that　the　supper　hour　was　passing；

but　at　last　started　hastily　for　his　room。　　As　he　rapidly　turned　a

sharp　corner　he　nearly　ran　into　two　ladies　who　were　coming　from　an

opposite　direction；　and　looking　up　saw　Mrs。　Mayhew　and　the　flushed；

resentful　face　of　her　daughter。　　In　spite　of　himself　our　even…pulsed

philosopher　flushed　also；　but　instantly　removing　his　hat　he

ejaculated：



〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　and　passed　on。



As　Ida　joined　her　cousin　at　the　supper…table　she　whispered　exultantly：



〃He　has　spoken　to　me。〃



〃Who　has　spoken　to　you？〃



〃Your　artist…bear。〃



〃How　did　that　happen？〃



〃Well；　he　nearly　ran　over　mehorrid　thing！　　I　suppose　that's

another　of　his　peculiar　ways。〃



〃Did　he　embrace　you？〃



〃Embrace　me！　　Good　heavens；　what　an　escape　I　have　had！　　So　this

too　is　characteristic　of　your　friend？〃



〃You　said　he　was　a　bear。　　If　so；　he　should　have　given　you　a　hug　on

the　first　opportunity。〃



〃He　didn't　have　an　opportunity；　and　he　never　will。〃



〃Poor　fellow！　　It　will　make　him　sick　if　I　tell　him　so。　　Well；　since

it　is　another　case　of　beauty　and　the　beast；　what　did　the　beast

say？〃



〃He　said　that　it　was　very　proper　he　should　say　to　me　after　all　his

hatefulness。　　He　said；　'I　beg　your　pardon。'〃



〃And　then　I　suppose　you　kissed　and　made　up。〃



〃Hush；　you　horrid　thing。　　I　noticed　him　no　more　than　I　would　a

chair　that　I　might　have　stumbled　over。〃



〃Thus　displaying　that　sweet　trait　of　yoursCharity。　　But　I　thought

it　was　he　that　stumbled　over　you？〃



〃A　musty；　miserable　pun！　　It　was　he；　and　I'm　delighted　it　so　happened；

that　the　first　time　he　ever　spoke　to　me　he　had　to　ask　my　pardon。〃



〃Well；　well！　　I'm　glad　it　so　happened；　too；　and　that　the　ice　is

broken　between　you；　for　Van　Berg　is　a　good　friend　of　mine；　and　it

would　be　confoundedly　disagreeable　to　have　you　two　lowering　at　each

other　across　a　bloody　chasm　of　dark；　revengeful　thoughts。〃



〃The　ice　isn't