CHAPTER XXXIII.
FAITH VISITS MAGGIE.
The next few days were busy ones for Faith, for, besides her work at thestore, she helped pack every evening, and tried in every way possible toenter into the spirit of the new arrangements for living, which hermother was planning so enthusiastically.
At last they were settled in a handsome flat in a neighborhood whereFaith was not afraid to let either little Dick or her mother go outalone, and this one fact made her very happy.
Not a word had escaped her at the store about her altered conditions,neither had she spoken again to her mother regarding her uncle.
Mrs. Marvin told her sadly that he had gone abroad immediately afterarranging the transfer of the $50,000 and settling all the details ofher newly acquired fortune. Faith breathed a sigh of relief, althoughshe felt sorry for her mother. It was evident that his humiliation wasdeep and genuine.
She frequently caught herself wondering about his changed name. He wasborn a Courtleigh, yet he had signed himself "Deering."
She decided at last that it was a purely personal matter. Doubtless itwas for some reason which she in her innocence would neither understandnor approve.
Other things which she could understand were claiming her attention, sothat there was little time to spend in idle conjectures.
She waited eagerly as the days passed by for a word from Maggie Bradythat she was willing to see her.
At last it came, and Faith hurried down to the jail. She had nodifficulty whatever in securing Mr. Denton's permission.
At the first glimpse of Maggie behind prison bars she nearly burst intoa fit of crying. The girl was so haggard and pale that she hardly knewher.
"I suppose you've come to gloat over me," were the prisoner's firstwords, "but it don't matter to me. You can come if you want to."
"Oh, Miss Brady, don't say that," cried Faith, with the tears springingto her eyes. "I have come to see you--to try and cheer you. Do, please,believe me!"
"How do you expect to cheer me?" asked Maggie sullenly, as the keeperopened the door of her cell and let her out into the corridor.
"I don't know that I can," said Faith, very sadly, "but you will let metry, at least, won't you, Maggie?"
There was a yearning in her voice that the woman could not miss. Shestared at Faith steadily, as though trying to read her soul, and in amoment her face softened and she spoke more gently.
"Oh, I have no doubt you are sorry for me, and all that," she saidslowly. "That's natural, but, see here; I don't want any sympathy."
"But you do want my friendship, don't you, Maggie?" said Faith; "andthat is what I have come to offer you--just my honest friendship."
In an instant the fiend in the girl woke again.
"Do you expect me to believe that?" she hissed in a whisper, "afterdoing your best to cut me out with Jim Denton?"
She glanced at the girl with a perfect storm of fury in her eyes, butFaith's glance did not waver; she only shook her head sadly.
"I am sorry you will not believe me, Maggie," she said softly, "but itis the truth that I have never flirted with Mr. Denton, and the onlytimes I ever saw him in my life before this trouble arose were twice,when you saw us together."
"I don't believe you," said her listener, sharply. "If you had neverflirted with him why did he send you candy?"
"I don't know, I am sure," said Faith hopelessly. "Perhaps he thought Iwas young and silly, and would not know that he was insulting me."
Miss Brady looked at her with some surprise in her eyes.
"Did you consider it an insult?" she asked, slowly.
"Certainly," said Faith. "He had no right to do so. He forced it uponme; I did not want it."
"And he has never made love to you?" asked the woman eagerly.
She was bending forward, staring at Faith with a strained expressionupon her features. To save her life, Faith could not help blushing. Herswas a tell-tale face--it portrayed every emotion.
"I knew it! I knew it!" cried Miss Brady sharply. "You would not blushas you are doing if he hadn't done it!"
"But he hasn't, I assure you," said Faith, as soon as she could speak."Mr. Denton has flattered me a little, of course, but I can honestly saythat he hasn't made love to me."
She was firm enough now, and her voice was very convincing. Miss Bradygazed at her steadily and seemed impressed with her candor.
"Well, he hadn't better," she muttered sullenly. "Jim Denton had bettertake care--" She stopped suddenly. "I had forgotten," she said bitterly;"I am helpless and in prison."
"But I am sure you will soon be free, Miss Brady," said Faith, "for Ihave utterly refused to appear against you, and--"
"What!" exclaimed the woman in a startled whisper. "You have refused toappear against me--and you think me guilty?"
"If I knew you were guilty I would still refuse," said Faith stoutly,"for if you sent that candy you must have been crazy!"
Slowly the frown lifted from the poor girl's brow. She kept gazing atFaith as though she could hardly credit her senses.
"You will not accuse me," she stammered again. "Well, that's more mercythan I ever expected on earth or in heaven."
"What is more, Maggie," continued Faith, "I want you to be my friend.As soon as you are out of this place we can see more of each other."
This was a little too much for even Maggie Brady's nature. Her lipstrembled suspiciously before she answered.
"Oh, I won't get out; you mark my words. Old Denton will send me up, or,if he don't, the District Attorney will do it."
"I don't think so," said Faith. "They won't if I can prevent it, and asI am the person most interested, I think I should have some voice in thematter."
"You understand, I don't admit that I did it, yet," said Miss Brady,sullenly. "I have never admitted a thing, not even to the lawyer."
"Would you not be happier if you did admit it?" asked Faith, softly. "Iam sure it would relieve you to get it off of your conscience."
"Oh, it ain't troubling me much!" said the girl indifferently, "but Iwill say that I'm glad the stuff didn't kill you!"
"But it might have killed Sam Watkins if the dog had not happened to bethere. Why, Miss Brady, just think; you might have killed a dozenpeople!"
The woman shuddered and turned away her face.
"Well, as it didn't kill any one there's some hope for me," she said,"and I want to live long enough to get square with Jim Denton!"
"What has he done to you?" cried Faith, impulsively. "I can't think whathe could do to make you hate him so bitterly."
"Hate him!" cried the girl. "Me hate Jim Denton! Why, you don't knowwhat you are talking about! Would I be jealous if I hated him?"
"But you certainly can't love him," said Faith, with another blush. "Ifyou did you could not harm him so much as in your thoughts. You would beglad to suffer anything to be able to protect him."
"Oh, I've protected him all right," said the girl, with a sneer; thenshe straightened up suddenly and said:
"I want to ask you a favor. I want you to bring old Denton down here,"she said eagerly. "Bring him yourself and let Fairbanks come with you.Come any day you like. I'm not particular."
"I will ask Mr. Denton to come, if you wish," said Faith, a littlewonderingly, "and I am sure he will come. He is very sorry for you,Maggie."
"He'll be sorrier, I'm thinking," was the answer. "But my time is up.Good-by, Miss Marvin."
"Good-by," said Faith, sweetly, "and you believe me, Miss Brady. Youknow now that I am innocent in regard to young Mr. Denton?"
"Bring the old man down, and I'll believe it," was her answer. "If youwill do that for me, I shall have some faith in your friendship."
When Faith got back to the store she went straight to Mr. Denton, andrepeated in as few words as possible her conversation with Maggie.
Mr. Denton had found out himself many things about his son, so Faith didnot hesitate to tell the entire story.
"I can't think that my son has really wronged t
he woman," he said,sadly, "but he has been very reckless, I fear, and it is my fault ingreat measure."
"And you will go to see her, will you not?" asked Faith, eagerly.
"With pleasure," said Mr. Denton, "and I trust that with our words andour prayers, Miss Marvin, that we shall be able to bring the poor sinnerto repentance."
Faith left the private office feeling very hopeful and happy. She wasmore so when she met Mr. Watkins just entering the building.
There was a hearty hand-clasp and an earnest greeting; then Mr. Watkinstold her briefly of his recovery and his prospects for the future.
"I am to have the same position; only a much larger salary," he said,brightly, "which will enable us to live in comfort without Sam'sworking. He can go to day school for at least another year."
"Everything is shining with hope down here," was Faith's answer."Really, Mr. Watkins, you will be astonished at the changes."
As briefly as possible she told him of her own good fortune, and givinghim her new address, she cautioned him to keep it secret for thepresent.
"And now I have some news that will astonish you," said Mr. Watkins. "Arich old lady, whom I once met, wrote me a letter the other day--sheknew my poor sweetheart, and wants to adopt her brother."
"Adopt little Dick?" cried Faith, in distress. "I can hardly think ofit, Mr. Watkins; yet we must look into it, of course. I must not let mylove for him stand in the way of his welfare."
"That is what I thought," said Mr. Watkins, soberly; "but do you chanceto know her, Miss Marvin? Her name is Mrs. Graham."
"Yes, indeed, she's the sweetest old lady in the world," cried Faith."She used to come in here and shop, and Mary and I both loved her."
"Well, I'm to see her to-night, and hear what she has to say. I willtell you all about it later," he said as they parted.
"It will be a better home than we can give him," murmured Faith,thoughtfully; "for while we have a few thousands, Mrs. Graham hasmillions."
For Gold or Soul? Page 33