CHAPTER XXXV.
MAGGIE BRADY'S SECRET.
"What is it? Is anything wrong?" asked Mr. Denton quickly.
"Mother is worse," was the short answer. "She's gone out of her headcompletely."
Mr. Denton paused and rubbed his brow perplexedly.
"Oh, what is it, sir?" asked Faith eagerly. "Is your wife really ill? Ihave heard it rumored that she was, but I did not know whether tobelieve it."
"She is, indeed!" exclaimed young Denton, looking angrily at his father;"and she has every reason to be. It is only natural."
"Hush!" exclaimed Mr. Denton sternly. "You shall not criticise myactions. As your father, I expect and demand your silence. I amresponsible to God alone--not to my wife or family."
"Well, you will have her to answer for, just the same," said the son,sullenly. "She can't see you throwing away your money and keep hersenses much longer."
"For shame!" cried Faith hotly. "Can't you see, Mr. Denton, that yourfather is sorely distressed? How dare you trample upon his feelings insuch a brutal manner?"
James Denton wheeled around and faced the speaker.
"My mother is going crazy," he said, almost gently. "You must pardon me,Miss Marvin, but I love my mother."
Mr. Denton opened the carriage door and motioned for Faith to enter.There was a look in his face that permitted no misunderstanding.
"Your mother's doctor and nurse are with her, are they not? Then I shallnot be needed for an hour, and I have an important engagement. I amgoing to call upon Maggie Brady, one of my son's unfortunate victims,"he added slowly.
James Denton turned as pale as death as he listened to these words. Fora moment it looked as if he were about to spring forward and drag hisfather from the carriage in order to prevent this visit. In a secondthey were rattling away from the door. Faith's last glance showed theyoung man still standing motionless and livid.
"He fears something from the interview," was her first quick thought.She glanced up at Mr. Denton. It was plainly to be seen by his face thathe shared her suspicions.
They were admitted at once to the corridor of the jail, and the keeperallowed Miss Brady to join them.
"How are you to-day, Maggie?" asked Faith as sweetly as she could. "Yousee, I have kept my promise. I have brought Mr. Denton to see you."
"My poor child!" said Mr. Denton, offering Miss Brady his hand. "I ammore than sorry to have been the means of bringing you here; but I hadno alternative. I had to do my duty."
"Oh, I don't lay it up against you," said the girl, almost coldly. Shehad drawn away from him quickly and put her hands behind her. "I supposeyou thought I was a dangerous person to be at large--well, perhaps youwere right; there's no telling what a jealous woman will do. Did theytell you, Mr. Denton, that I was jealous of Miss Marvin?"
There was a steely ring to her tones as she said the words, and theglance of her eyes was both cold and cruel.
"I heard that it was on account of my son," was Mr. Denton's sad answer."I am very sorry indeed, Miss Brady, if James ever deceived you."
"Oh, he hasn't deceived me a bit," said the girl quickly. "On thecontrary, he took pains to parade his attentions before me."
She laughed a harsh, grating laugh as she answered. Mr. Denton lookedpuzzled. He could not understand her.
"But perhaps you expected too much from his attentions," said Mr. Dentongently. "Young men are often unscrupulous and say more than they mean toyoung women. Perhaps he led you to believe that he cared more for youthan he did, and in this way gained your affections and did notappreciate them."
"He did all that," said the girl, very coldly; "and I was not the womanto endure such treatment calmly. I'm sorry if I was mistaken in MissMarvin's part in the matter. She says she was innocent, and I'm willingto believe her."
"Well, what can I do for you?" asked Mr. Denton kindly. "I have alreadytried to get your case dismissed, and as Miss Marvin refuses to appearagainst you I think we shall be successful. But if there is anythingthat James has done--any wrong that I can right, you have only to sayso, and I will try to do my duty."
Miss Brady stared at the speaker in undisguised amazement. She couldhardly believe that it was Mr. Denton who was speaking. As her employerhe had always been cold and distant. She had never looked on him asanything more or less than a despot and tyrant.
"Mr. Denton is perfectly sincere, Maggie," said Faith quickly as shenoticed the amazement depicted on her countenance.
"But I don't understand," said the girl, still staring.
"Let me explain," said Faith quickly, "and you must try and believe me,Maggie. Both Mr. Denton and myself are thinking only of your good. Wewant to help you to see this awful sin which you have committed in theright light--that is, as a sin not only against yourself and your fellowbeings, but against the God who made you and who wishes you to loveHim."
As she spoke she put her arms around the girl in an affectionate manner.Maggie did not draw away, but remained silent and passive.
"You see, Maggie, you are not wronging any one by your bad temper andyour stubbornness as much as you are wronging yourself. These sinsalways react on one's self, you know. They may hurt and grieve others insome degree, but they sear your own heart with the wounds of agony andshut the light of God's tenderness from your soul. Can you not see it,Maggie, how you have marred your own happiness? Do try, dear, to humbleyour stubborn spirit? Ask God to help you forgive those who wrong you.Believe me, it will make you far happier than this cowardly revenge."
Faith's tones were so beseeching that Mr. Denton was touched beyondexpression. He had never seen a more holy sight than this young girlpleading with tears in her eyes with an erring sister.
"It's easy for you to talk," muttered Maggie finally. "Your life hasbeen different from mine. What do you know of trouble?"
"A great deal," said Faith quickly. "If I did not I could not feel as Ido. Why, it is through my own experience that I have come to feel thissympathy for others."
"But you don't understand," said the woman more bitterly. "By 'trouble'I do not mean just hard luck and poverty."
"I think I do understand, Maggie," said Faith, more softly. "And I canstill say sincerely that I am very sorry for you. I believe that youhave been more sinned against than any of us realize."
"I have, indeed!" cried Miss Brady, sharply. Her lips twitchedconvulsively and tears trembled on her lashes.
"Then God will surely pity you," cried Faith, almost cheerily. "He willunderstand the length and breadth of your temptation, Maggie, as well asthe injustice which you have suffered."
The poor girl gazed at Faith a moment and then burst out crying.
"Oh, I have been wronged most fearfully," she whispered between hersobs. "And I could not help it. I could bear the agony no longer!"
As she spoke she thrust her hand into the bosom of her dress. In anothersecond she had drawn forth a crumpled paper.
"Read it!" she said hoarsely, holding it out toward Mr. Denton. "Readit, and tell me if you blame me for doing as I did, and after you haveread it say again that you will help me!"
With a quick wave of horror coursing through his brain, Mr. Denton tookthe paper and quickly unfolded it.
Only a glance was needed to show him what it was. Mr. Denton staggeredto a chair, his face pale and haggard.
"Oh, what is it?" asked Faith, looking from one to the other.
Maggie Brady gave a short, hoarse laugh as she replied:
"Only the certificate of my marriage to young James Denton!"