Part 35 (1/2)
”Your words are not sincere, I am afraid, Mr. Denton,” she managed to say. ”You only think to flatter me as you have numbers of others.”
The young man leaned back quickly, and a flush of shame mounted to his brow.
”G.o.d forbid!” he said, sharply. ”No, you wrong me, Miss Marvin! As wicked as I am, I would not insult you.”
”But you did once!” said Faith, bravely. ”The first day I was in the store! You bowed and smiled at me as brazenly as--as though you did not respect me!”
It was out at last, and Faith's mind was relieved. She had never quite been able to forget that occurrence.
”That was because I did not know you,” explained young Denton, lamely.
”I thought you might be willing to flirt a little--no one else ever refused me.”
”Is it possible?”
Faith asked the question in out and out amazement. She could see by the young man's face that he was not lying.
”The other girls were always glad enough to flirt a little,” he went on.
”You see, they knew I had money, and was willing to spend it--you can't blame them, Miss Marvin; they were a poverty-stricken lot! It's no wonder that the prospect of a square meal and a little recreation tempted them.”
”No, I do not blame them,” said Faith, very decidedly; ”but I do blame you, Mr. Denton; it was wicked of you to tempt them.”
The young man's face fell, and he s.h.i.+fted his position uneasily.
”We can't all be sincere,” he said, rather irritably, ”and what seems right to one often seems wrong to another. I've been careless, I admit, and perhaps a little wicked, but don't condemn me utterly, Miss Marvin.
Why not try to reform me?”
Faith glanced at him sharply. There was not a trace of mirth in his face. It was evident that he had asked the question in earnest.
”I wish I could,” she answered, smiling a little; ”but if you really wish to reform, you can do it yourself, Mr. Denton. You have only to pray, and your G.o.d will aid you.”
”But I lack faith,” he said, quickly. ”I don't see things as you do, and, besides, 'the prayers of the wicked are an abomination unto the Lord;' you see, I know that much about the Bible, Miss Marvin!”
”But you will be wicked no longer when you go to Him in the right spirit,” said Faith, brightly. ”Oh, go to Him, Mr. Denton. It will give such pleasure to your father!”
”I'm afraid I can't,” said young Denton, rising. ”I have one of those natures that cannot accept the marvelous, and, further, I'm too great a sinner to reform, I guess; but please don't forget me because of that, Miss Marvin. I would give more than I can tell to have you think well of me.”
Again the admiring glance rested upon the fair girl's face, and it took all Faith's composure to reply sedately.
”I shall be glad to think well of you,” she said, a little shyly; ”but you have much to undo, I'm afraid, before that can be accomplished.”
”You are thinking now of what you have heard of me,” said the young man, quickly.
”I am thinking of what I have seen,” was Faith's decided answer, ”and I cannot think well of you when I look at poor Maggie Brady.”
”Don't mention her name!” cried her caller, almost angrily. ”It is bad.
enough for you to have to work with her, but it is worse to know that you are wasting your thoughts on her!”
”Mr. Denton, I am ashamed of you!” Faith's voice rose instinctively.