CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE PENANCE FOR SIN.
Maggie Brady had been free for exactly a week, but the prison pallor hadnot yet left her features.
Thanks to Mr. Denton, she had a comfortable home and her husband wasawaiting for permission to join her.
She had not seen Faith since that day in the jail when she read thegirl's carefully guarded secret, but in the few short interviews whichshe had with her husband she learned that which caused her to bless theyoung girl fervently.
James Denton told her honestly that he did not love her, but his manneras he said it was gentle, even tender.
He regretted his foolish marriage, both for her sake and his own, stillhe was ready now to do his whole duty by her, and it was Faith Marvin'swords that had taught him that duty.
But Maggie Brady was a greatly changed woman. There were thoughts in herheart which she revealed to no one, but which influenced her every deedand decision. She had gone over and over her wasted life and could findno blame for any one individual, for, looked at from all points, it wasconditions that were her enemies, conditions made by the rich in theirgreed of plunder.
If she had been stronger she might have combatted these conditions, butthe uselessness of such a struggle had been demonstrated by so many--shedid not have courage or faith in her own ability to conquer.
Like hundreds of poor girls, she had drifted from bad to worse, untilthat mad marriage to Jim Denton capped the climax of her wickedness.
Now, with her newly awakened understanding she desired to do penance forher sin. It was a part of that old religion which she had long agodiscarded.
At the confessional she told her wrongdoing and received absolution sofar as it is in the power of God's mediators to absolve one, but topromise to live, uprightly forevermore did not satisfy her soul. Shefelt the need of further self-abnegation; she must crucify body andspirit to complete the penance.
With the calmness, even exultation, of a martyr she made herpreparations. There were wishes to be expressed and letters to bewritten.
One of these letters reached Faith as she sat with her mother early oneevening; the writing so faint and uneven that she could hardly decipherit.
"Oh, mother! mother!" she cried as she perused it. "Quick! get on yourhat and come with me! The letter is from Maggie--she is sick--or dying!"
As they hurried from the house Mr. Watkins joined them. In five minutesthey were in a carriage driving swiftly toward Maggie's address.
As Faith opened the door leading to Maggie's rooms she came upon a scenethat nearly paralyzed her senses.
Poor Maggie was half lying and half sitting upon a couch, her husbandsupporting her tenderly while Miss Fairbanks stood by administering acordial. There was another person in the room whom Faith knew at once tobe a physician, but she had eyes nor ears for no one but Maggie.
"Oh, you poor, dear child! What has happened?" she asked quickly as shewent over and knelt by the side of the poor creature.
"I thought you would come," whispered Maggie faintly. "I wanted to seeyou, oh, so much! I wanted--to--thank--you!"
She lay back on her pillow with a stifled groan while James Denton wipedher brow--his own the color of ashes.
"You were so good," murmured poor Maggie again as Faith leaned over her."You taught me, to pray. May the good God bless you."
She closed her eyes and a sigh escaped her lips. In an instant thephysician took her wrist between his fingers.
"Gone," he said, softly, "the poor child is at rest. Cheer up, Mr.Denton, your wife is in heaven."
"Thanks to her," whispered James Denton, with a look toward Faith. Shewas kneeling, convulsed with sorrow, with her mother's arms about her.
No one really knew how the secret leaked out first, for the physician,acting as he thought wise, refrained from telling it openly, but Faithsoon learned that Maggie's death was not natural--she had died by herown hand--it was her full and complete penance.
"It is not for us to judge," whispered Mrs. Marvin when she heard it.
"God alone knew her thoughts," was Faith's tearful answer.
When the news reached the store, even Mr. Denton wept. It was the end ofa familiar but heart-rending tragedy.
And now it came time for Faith to change her plans--for reasons of herown she felt that she must stay behind the counter no longer.
James Denton had gone abroad, so she put him out of her thoughts ascompletely as possible; only a vagrant memory now and then showed herthe lurking shadow of her girlish passion.
As soon as she could she had a talk with Mr. Denton, whom she found, asusual, busily working in his office.
"See, Miss Marvin," he said almost gayly as Faith entered the door,"here are a dozen letters from Christian people this morning, allcongratulating me on the changes in my store! I have been getting a fewevery day, but this is a splendid showing! Here is one," he added,selecting an envelope, "who even offers to put a large sum of money atmy disposal just as soon as I have proven that Christianity ispracticable and profitable."
"And can you do this, sir?" asked Faith very eagerly.
A hopeful expression flitted across Mr. Denton's face.
"Mr. Gibson tells me that our business is increasing every day," heanswered slowly, "and that the poor people are flocking in to look atour honest bargains, and you see here I have proof that the rich peopleare watching us."
"Oh, I shall be so glad!--so thankful!" said Faith, with a brightsmile. "I was sure you would be rewarded for setting such a nobleexample! But I have come to ask a favor, Mr. Denton," she added, softly."I want you to give me another position in your store instead of the oneI occupy at present."
Mr. Denton looked at her, and understood at once.
"In other words, you wish to enlarge your field of usefulness, do younot, Miss Marvin? You think you can shed the light more successfully ifyou have a wider scope of action."
"That is it exactly," was Faith's glad answer; "but please, Mr. Denton,I don't wish any salary."
Mr. Denton glanced up in a little surprise. He had not yet even heard ofher change of fortune.
"Yes, I have money enough now to live comfortably," she explained, "andI can even help others, I think, a little. It came to my mother sometime ago, a few thousands that were due her from her father's estate, sowe are in a position to be helpful without remuneration."
"And you will stay with me still?" asked Mr, Denton, smiling. "You willsacrifice your liberty and your home life to stay here and labor, MissMarvin?"
"It will be no sacrifice, I can assure you!" cried Faith, brightly, "forI am far happier here than I would be anywhere else, I fancy!"
"Then I appoint you as general inspector of my store," said Mr. Denton,promptly, "and your duties are to consist of daily talks with the clerksand daily hints to me how I can improve their conditions."
"Oh, that will be delightful!" cried Faith, excitedly, "only I will notpromise to be a very wise inspector, for I am so young that I am sadlyin need of experience."
"'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.' I do not tremble forthe results," said Mr. Denton, smiling.
Faith went back to the department and told Miss Fairbanks of the newarrangement, and in less than an hour every clerk in the store knew it.
"Just think, she has money and yet she will stay here," said one, "andshe is to look after our interests, which is the strangest thing aboutit!"
"Everything is strange here nowadays," was the thoughtful reply. "Why,I'm sure this is the only store in the world that is run on a Christianbasis!"
The next remark was made in a lower tone, as if the speaker was doubtfulof her own statements in the matter.
"And do you know," she said, slowly, "the business of the store isactually increasing! I got it straight from the head bookkeeper that Mr.Denton is holding his own splendidly in spite of the fact that every onepredicted a sure failure."
"Well, I hope I shall never have to work anywhere else," was the answer."It would kill me to
go back to those old days of slavery and poorsalaries!"
As the weeks passed by, even the greatest doubter became convinced thatthe business of the store was improving. Great crowds came every day tolook about, if not to buy, for their curiosity as well as interest wasgenuine and unbounded.
Many flocked to the store to compare the prices of goods with those ofthe other emporiums and to draw their own conclusions as to thesincerity of the enterprise.
A high price on an article was often misleading until the manufacturer'sside of the question was explained and understood, and so, too, a lowprice often produced various criticism from those who could notdifferentiate between just and usurious profit.
But in the main the efforts of the merchant were pretty fairlyunderstood and a perfect flood of congratulations followed theenlightenment.
"My motto is consideration for the manufacturer, justice to myself andhonest value to my patrons," said Mr. Denton to all. "If I vary fromthis, it will be through error, not malice."
One by one the buyers learned their lesson of right dealing, and thecounters of the big establishment showed the result of their labors.
They were filled with goods whose first values had not been depreciatedand whose sale profits were in proportion to the labor expended inhandling them.
As Mr. Gibson had said, poor people had flocked to the store. They weresatisfied that, at last, they would get the worth of every penny.
"It's funny to see how suspicious they were of us at first," he said toFaith one day. "Why, they were more doubtful of us than ever, I dobelieve, and all because we had enrolled under a Christian banner."
"I don't blame them," said Faith slowly, "for have they not good causeto doubt? Has not hypocrisy and deceit always assumed the garb ofChristianity? It is the church people who are to blame for it--theinsincere ones, I mean--so many of them are content with words alone.When it comes to deeds they are tried and found wanting."
"That is why I have never believed," said Mr. Gibson slowly. "I sawthrough their shams and thought they were all alike! Why, most peopleuse religion as a regular coat of mail, behind which they commit everysin in the calendar! And others, particularly business people, use itmerely as a trade-mark or sign of respectability, and then laugh intheir sleeves at the number of dupes they make with it!"
"Well, there's no sham or hypocrisy in Mr. Denton's dealings," criedFaith, brightly, "for no man could enter upon a Christian course withgreater sacrifice, both of friends and money."
CHAPTER XL.
A GOLDEN OUTLOOK.
One year had passed since Maggie Brady's death, and Faith Marvin wasnearing her nineteenth birthday.
She was still living with her mother in their pretty little flat andworking faithfully at the store with Mr. Denton. The year had broughtmany changes in that establishment, and there were many new faces inplace of the old ones.
Faith talked over these changes as she sat with her mother and Mr.Watkins in one of their social chats after the day's work was over.
"It hardly seems like the same place," she said, happily. "Why, we arejust one big family, with Mr. Denton for our father!"
"And Mr. Denton is certainly holding his own financially," said Mr.Watkins, a trifle reluctantly, "while the papers are full of reportedfailures all around us."
"I am so glad that Mrs. Denton is recovering," said Mrs. Marvin. "I didsympathize with her so during the first few months of her anxiety!"
"We are all glad she is better," said Faith, quickly, "for she comesdown to the store often, and she is really very charming. But thegreatest changes are in the clerks themselves," she went on,thoughtfully. "They are so courteous, so loyal and so kind to eachother. Why, a new girl is welcomed and made one of us at once, and, nomatter what her faults may be, we are almost sure to win her over. Ofcourse, we miss the little cash girls, but the tube system is muchbetter, and it did seem so terrible to think of those children beingforced to earn their living!"
Mrs. Marvin nodded her head sympathetically and her daughter continued.
"Mr. Gunning is so different that you would hardly know him," she said,"and do you know, Fred, he and Miss Jones are to be married nextTuesday? The dear girl, through God's grace, has had the happiness toredeem him. Then Miss Fairbanks has developed just the kindest andsweetest sort of character! Why, I believe every girl in the departmentloves her!"
"What do you hear of Lou Willis?" asked her mother after a moment. "Thatpoor girl who was arrested for stealing jewelry."
"She has just come back from serving her sentence," was Faith's answer,"and Mr. Denton is considering whether he had better reinstate her."
"It will be a great risk," said Mr. Watkins, soberly, "for 'what's bredin the bone will come out in the flesh,' unless, of course, the spiritof Christ takes possession of the body."
"We hope it will," said Faith, almost cheerily, "and then Lou has had afearful experience--she may be different altogether."
"And Miss Dean," suggested Mrs. Marvin, in a reminiscent manner.
Faith laughed a little before she answered. "She finds nothing to do inthe store now," she said, "but we still differ a little in our notionsand theories."
Mrs. Marvin left the room a few minutes later. Whether it was done for apurpose or not, Faith did not have time to conjecture.
"Faith, dear Faith," whispered Mr. Watkins, quickly, "am I never, neverto hear your answer?"
He bent toward her so pleadingly that Faith closed her eyesinstinctively. It cut her to the heart to have to witness his sorrow.
"I have loved you so long, so patiently, dear! Can you not give me somehope, even though it is for the far-distant future?"
"I cannot! Oh, I cannot!" murmured Faith in agony. "Oh, I wish I could,Mr. Watkins, but it is impossible! I cannot love you!"
The young man rose without a word and took his hat from the table.
"Good-night, Faith," he said, gently. "Good-night, little sister! Don'tworry about me! Some day I will get over it!"
He went silently away without waiting for Mrs. Marvin. Faith breathed asigh of relief that her sad duty was over.
"You have refused him, Faith!"
Her mother spoke softly. "Poor fellow! I am sorry, but you know your ownmind, darling."
They sat down again and Faith took up a book. A peal at the bell madeher drop it suddenly.
A few moments later young James Denton entered. He was taller, broaderand deeply bronzed by travel.
"At last, I see you again," he whispered softly as soon as Mrs. Marvinhad left them together.
"Tell me of your travels," said Faith very quickly. The color had risento her face and her heart was beating wildly.
"Well, I went all over Europe and the Continent," he said wearily; "buta year is not long enough for a fellow to down a bad reputation! I havecome back to find myself in contempt, the same as before, but I havedecided that I shall not run away again. I am going to try and live downwhat I could not run away from."
Faith looked at him questioningly, but did not speak. The young manunderstood the glance and hurried with his explanation.
"I am going to work in the store with my father now," he said, quietly,"and I am going to put in a small sum of money that has come to me inthe past year from a distant relative."
"But are you not afraid you will lose it?" asked Faith, a little shyly."You know you always had grave doubts as to the financial results ofyour father's undertaking."
"Well, what if I do?" asked the young man, smiling back at her. "Othershave done as much, and I can but follow in their footsteps, and thenreformation to be acceptable should not be half-hearted."
There was a light in his eyes that was not to be mistaken. As Faithbeheld it she uttered a cry of joy and held out both hands toward himimpulsively.
Young Denton gathered both her hands into one of his own, while hisother rested lightly upon her shoulder.
"And after I have proven myself worthy may I claim my reward?" hewhispered. "May I ask my good angel to share h
er labors with me and socrown her noble life with the seal of forgiveness?"
"I have nothing to forgive," whispered Faith, blushing deeply. "IfChrist has forgiven there is nothing further."
"And you will marry me, Faith, if I prove worthy?" he murmured. "For,oh, I love you, sweetheart, and I cannot live without you!"
"I will marry you--yes," was the girl's low answer, "if at the end of ayear you are still in the faith--still carrying the light to the darkestplaces."
There was just one kiss to seal the compact, but that kiss was abenediction, a holy consummation.
* * * * *
Meanwhile Mr. Denton was still sitting in his chair, although the bigbuilding was empty of all but its watchman.
His head was bowed down upon his bosom, as the year just passed spreadpanorama-like before his vision.
What had he accomplished of his Master's work? He breathed a sigh thatit had been so little.
He had tried to put justice in the place of its opposite, to installsweet liberty in the place of oppression. In his dealings with hisfellow men he had been fair and equitable, even leaning toward mercywhen opportunity offered.
In fact, he had incorporated the Spirit of Righteousness into the Templeof Mammon and molded worldly affairs after the principles of divineteaching.
And what to him had been the results? He smiled with gratefulsatisfaction as he briefly reviewed them.
There was a trifling shortage as compared with the accounts of previousyears, so trifling that it astonished him when he reflected upon theamounts which he had paid his two partners. Beyond this the business ofthe store had been good and his books showed new accounts recentlyopened with wealthy persons, which assured him beyond doubt that theyindorsed his methods.
Further than this, there were offers of capital from a dozen differentsources. The sincere Christians of the city could not have expressedmore tangibly their ardent desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with themerchant who had resolved to deal according to his conscience.
The outlook for the future was more than hopeful. He could see noobstacle in the path of his ultimate victory.
There should be no more grinding down in the work-rooms where his goodswere made, no undercutting of prices to ruin a brother merchant.
He should be just with others and they must be just with him or he wouldrefuse absolutely to have dealings with them.
Every employee of his establishment should be suitably remunerated, andby this treatment he felt assured that he would receive their ablestservice.
Co-operation in his humane work was all that he needed, and here, on hisdesk and in his books, was ample proof of this assistance. He bowed hishead in thanksgiving as he finished his reflections.
"Surely, with God all things are possible," he murmured audibly, andthen a thought of his son's conversion and his wife's gradual but surereturn to reason with health brought a flow of happiness that irradiatedhis countenance.
A glimpse of starlit sky was visible through his window and Mr. Dentonraised his eyes to it in solemn contemplation.
"Thy ways are not our ways," he whispered humbly, "but though the crossis heavy and hard to bear, Thou wilt give Thy servant a just reward, andthe end is peace--peace that passeth understanding."
THE END.
For Gold or Soul? Page 39
