Part 35 (2/2)
Ann pressed the girl closer.
”Is it something you can't tell me?”
Fledra nodded.
”And you can't tell my brother?”
The girl's nervous start filled Ann with dismay; for now she knew that the trouble rested with Horace. She waited for an answer to her question, and at length Fledra, crestfallen, blurted out:
”I can't tell anybody but--”
”Jesus?” whispered Ann.
”Yes; and I don't know how to tell Him.”
Ann thought a moment.
”Fledra, if you wanted someone to do something for you, about which that person knew nothing, wouldn't you have to tell it before it could be granted?”
Fledra nodded.
”Then, that's what you are to do tonight. You are to kneel down here when I am gone, and you are to feel positively sure that G.o.d will help, if you ask Him in Jesus' name. Do you think you have faith enough to do that?”
”I don't know what faith is,” replied Fledra in a whisper.
”I'll tell you what it is, Dear. Now, then, don't you remember how my brother and I prayed for Floyd?”
Fledra pressed Ann's arm.
”And don't you remember, Dear, that almost immediately he was helped?”
”You had a doctor,” said Fledra slowly.
”Yes, for a doctor is G.o.d's agent for the good of mankind; but we had faith, too. And in something like this--Is your trouble illness?”
”Only here,” answered Flea, laying her hand upon her heart.
Ann could not force Flea's confidence; so she said:
”Then if it is impossible to confide in Horace, or in me, will you pray tonight, fully believing that you will be answered? You must remember how much Jesus loved you to come down to suffer and die for you.”
”I don't believe I thought that story was true, Sister Ann.” Fledra drew back, and looked up into Ann's shocked face as she spoke, ”I shouldn't say I believed it if I didn't, should I?”
”No, Darling; but you must believe--you surely must! You must promise me that you will pray first for faith, then for relief, and tomorrow you will feel better.”
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