CHAPTER XVI.
FAITH'S TALK WITH YOUNG DENTON.
"Miss Marvin, I beg that you will excuse this intrusion," said JamesDenton as he joined her on the street after her call at theundertaker's, "but there is something I wish very particularly to say toyou; it is something regarding that poor girl, Miss Jennings."
He had raised his hat politely and stood regarding the young girl in amost courteous manner. As Faith studied his face she could see that hemeant no disrespect, but was painfully in earnest.
"I shall be glad to hear anything that you have to say about poor Mary,"she answered sadly, "for she was my very dear friend, although ouracquaintance was a brief one."
"Let us walk a little, Miss Marvin, please. I can talk better when I'mwalking. The fact is, I'm horribly upset, and I don't know why I shouldbe, either."
Faith looked at him sharply. He had removed his hat again and waspassing his hand over his brow in a thoughtful manner.
She discovered in that glance that he was a remarkably handsome fellow,for youth, even in its hour of sorrow, cannot help being attracted toall that is gracious and beautiful.
His eyes would have been fine had their glance been a little moresteady, but he shifted his gaze constantly, like one who possesses anundecided nature.
"What I have to say is this," he began very bluntly. "I think the firmshould arrange to let all you girls attend the funeral of Miss Jennings,and I don't exactly know how to go to work to get them to do it."
"Oh, what a lovely idea!" exclaimed Faith, impulsively, "and it is sokind of you think of it, Mr. Denton," she added.
The young man blushed a little at her enthusiastic words, but went ontalking as calmly as possible.
"I've been doing a little thinking since Miss Jennings died; I don'tknow why, for the death of a clerk doesn't usually affect me."
"Perhaps it was because it occurred in the store," suggested Faith,gently. "You have probably not known the details of any other such sadoccurrence."
"That is doubtless it," said Mr. Denton promptly, "but another thing isthis: I knew Mr. Watkins before he went to work for my father. His folksused to be rich, you know, and Fred was always a good fellow. He was inlove with the girl, and I can't help feeling sorry for him, though, as Isaid before, I don't quite understand why I'm interested."
"Poor fellow! He needs all our sympathy," cried Faith. "He is lying atthe undertaker's now in a terrible condition!"
"Is that so!" exclaimed Mr. Denton. "Why, I met him not more than anhour ago; he was just coming from Mr. Forbes, the superintendent. Hisface was positively ghastly when I saw him. No doubt old Forbes had beengiving him the devil!"
"Surely not at this time!" cried Faith in dismay. "He could not be socruel--so utterly heartless!"
"Forbes has no heart; he is a machine!" said young Denton. "He is simplya human octopus for pulling in money. Not that I object to money," headded, with a laugh, "but I hate to see men make it through such inhumanmethods!"
Faith was utterly astonished at the young man's words. She had been ledto believe that he was a thoroughly unscrupulous person, but here he wasexpressing her own sentiments exactly.
In an instant the young man noticed her look of surprise.
"You are puzzled," he said quickly. "You thought I was nothing but abrainless young scamp! No doubt you have heard my character from thegirls in your department!"
"Oh, no!" said Faith quickly. "I have not heard that, indeed! But youwill pardon me, Mr. Denton, I did think you were unprincipled, else whyshould you come in the store and try to make fools of all the youngwomen?"
"Not all of them, only the prettiest!" laughed young Denton, gayly."Surely a man can flirt a little without doing any harm, and the girlsall like it--why shouldn't they, Miss Marvin?"
"But do you ever think what this flirting means?" persisted Faith, whohad lost all her timidity and was plunging into the subject in earnest.
"It means a good time and a lot of money spent," said the young fellow,still laughing. "But why not spend it on the girls? Don't they help thegovernor to make it?"
"Oh, Mr. Denton!" cried Faith, who was now thoroughly shocked. "Is itpossible that you are speaking now of your own father?"
"I certainly was," was the unabashed answer. "I did not mean to bedisrespectful; that is only a habit."
"A very bad habit," said Faith, reprovingly, "but to return to thesubject of poor Mary's funeral. Do you think if we asked for a day wewould get it? You know, the store is closed to-day; they might not liketo lose another."
"Of course, they wouldn't like it, but that don't make any difference,"said young Denton, grandly. "What was Jack Forbes's funeral to youclerks, anyway? The closing to-day was only a bluff--one of the bluffsthat all stores put up to keep the good opinion of the public. Now, thisaffair is entirely different. This girl was one of you, and you ought tobe allowed to attend her funeral!"
"Have you spoken to your father?" asked Faith, after a minute.
"Not yet, but I'm going to. Now this is my plan: You get up a petitionand get the clerks to sign it and then you go yourself to old Forbesto-morrow. He'll be worse than a brute if he dares to refuse you!Meanwhile I'll see my father at home to-night. He's a little soft on meyet, even if he is a hard-headed old sinner!"
"Oh, Mr. Denton, don't say such things!" cried Faith, "I will never talkto you again if you persist in speaking so of your father!"
The young man threw back his head and had a hearty laugh.
"You're the most innocent little kitten I ever saw," he said softly;"it's a deuced shame that you have to work for a living!"
Faith's eyes blazed angrily before he had hardly spoken the words.
"I am glad to be able to earn my living!" she said sternly; "it is everso much nobler than to be living on one's parents!"
The flush that mantled the young man's brow showed that her words hadstruck home, but he tried to turn it off with a neatly put compliment.
"I'm a sad beggar, I know, Miss Marvin, but I'm going to reform! I neverwanted to be different until, well, until now--to be honest."
"You are not serious, Mr. Denton; I see laughter in your eyes," saidFaith, smiling. "But I will get up the petition at once, as you suggest,and I shall pray that our appeal may not be in vain."
She had paused at a street corner and was extending her hand to saygood-by to the young man when a woman passed them and jostled Faithrudely.
It was Maggie Brady, the girl who loved Jim Denton. As she faced themfor a second both saw that her eyes gleamed dangerously. Without evenstopping she made a remark to Faith--the words were hissed between herteeth with the venom of a serpent.
"You'll be sorry for this, you little hypocrite! I thought you were toopious to be altogether healthy!"
Faith turned as pale as death as the woman strode on; James Denton wassmiling in a half-hearted manner.
"That is the result of your flirting," Faith managed to say at last."Oh, Mr. Denton, can't you see what you've done? You've made that womanlove you, and now she is going straight to destruction!"