austing the air that the poor child
should be breathing? You were a brave girl to come to her rescue as you
did. If any trouble results from it, be sure and let me know it."
She dropped her card into Faith's lap, and left the place with Mr.
Denton.
The doctor was just entering and there was no spare room. She had seen
at a glance that Faith could do all that was needed.
A few minutes later Miss Jennings opened her eyes. When she saw Faith
bending over her she smiled very happily.
"You are better, dear, aren't you?" whispered Faith, as she tried to
return the smile.
Miss Jennings shook her head gently. "I am satisfied," was her low
answer.
"But I want you to be happy, Mary," cried Faith, who saw death in the
poor girl's face. "Look up, dear; there is One who loves you. Can you
not believe it?"
"I trust it is so," said the dying girl, faintly, "I have not believed,
but I may have been mistaken."
"You were indeed, Mary, but you were not to blame! Poor child, yours
has been a sad lot, but there is happiness coming."
There were stifled sobs from many of the girls who were standing in
frightened groups about the room. The hush upon each lip spoke only too
plainly of death's presence.
"Poor Dick!" sighed Miss Jennings. "If it were not for Dick--"
Dick was the crippled brother who was her only charge.
"I will take him to live with me, Mary," whispered Faith, nobly. "My
mother will love him and so will I--but what is it, dear?"
Miss Jennings was trying to say something more. Her voice was so low
that only Faith could hear it.
"Will He forgive indifference, rebellion, distrust?"
"Though your sins are as scarlet, He shall wash them white, dear Mary.
As we forgive our enemies, so He will forgive us."
The dying girl raised her eyes. Strangely enough their gaze rested upon
the face of Mr. Denton.
He had come back to the scene only a moment before, and for perhaps the
first time in his life, pangs of remorse were seizing him.
"I--forgive--" murmured the poor girl, still gazing at Mr. Denton. Her
eyes closed slowly as she spoke.
With a fearful groan, Mr. Denton fled from the place.
The physician had done what he could, but his efforts were useless.
Another life had gone out at the very dawning of its day; crushed out by
the injustice and the greed of fellow-beings. Faith choked back her sobs
as well as she could, and looked on in amazement at what followed the
tragedy. An undertaker was cal
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