Beulah - Page 69/348

"No, sir; it never will be past; it will always be burning here in

my heart."

"I thought you professed to believe in the Bible."

She looked up instantly, and answered: "I do, sir. I do."

"Then your belief is perfectly worthless; for the Bible charges you

to 'forgive and love your enemies,' and here you are trying to fan

your hate into an everlasting flame."

She saw the scornful curl of his lips, and, sinking down beside him,

she laid her head on his knee, and said hastily: "I know it is wrong, sinful, to feel toward Mrs. Grayson as I do.

Yes, sir; the Bible tells me it is very sinful; but I have been so

miserable, I could not help hating her. But I will try to do so no

more. I will ask God to help me forgive her."

His face flushed even to his temples, and then the blood receded,

leaving it like sculptured marble. Unable or unwilling to answer, he

put his hands on her head, softly, reverently, as though he touched

something ethereal. He little dreamed that, even then, that

suffering heart was uplifted to the Throne of Grace, praying the

Father that she might so live and govern herself that he might come

to believe the Bible, which her clear insight too surely told her he

despised.

Oh! Protean temptation. Even as she knelt, with her protector's

hands resting on her brow, ubiquitous evil suggested the thought:

"Is he not kinder, and better, than anyone you ever knew? Has not

Mrs. Grayson a pew in the most fashionable church? Did not Eugene

tell you he saw her there, regularly, every Sunday? Professing

Christianity, she injured you; rejecting it, he has guarded and most

generously aided you. 'By their fruits ye shall judge.'" Very dimly

all this passed through her mind. She was perplexed and troubled at

the confused ideas veiling her trust.

"Beulah, I have an engagement, and must leave you. Stay here, if you

like, or do as you please with yourself. I shall not be home to tea,

so good-night." She looked pained, but remained silent. He smiled,

and, drawing out his watch, said gayly: "I verily believe you miss me when I leave you. Go, put on your

other bonnet, and come down to the front door; I have nearly an hour

yet, I see, and will give you a short ride. Hurry, child; I don't

like to wait."

She was soon seated beside him in the buggy, and Mazeppa's swift

feet had borne them some distance from home ere either spoke. The

road ran near the bay, and while elegant residences lined one side,

the other was bounded by a wide expanse of water, rippling,

sparkling, glowing in the evening sunlight. Small sail boats, with

their gleaming canvas, dotted the blue bosom of the bay; and the

balmy breeze, fresh from the gulf, fluttered the bright pennons that

floated from their masts. Beulah was watching the snowy wall of

foam, piled on either side of the prow of a schooner, and thinking

how very beautiful it was, when the buggy stopped suddenly, and Dr.

Hartwell addressed a gentleman on horseback: "Percy, you may expect me; I am coming as I promised."