The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-09-01
A TRUE HEROINE.

Such q lovely, bewitching face Us il
was. framed in by the vine-wreathed
window. Dark eyes, dazzling in their
brilliancy, crimson lips and warmly
tinted cheeks, great masses of high-piled
braids and clustering rings of dusky
hair 'ershadowing the low, white
brow.
jamie Arnold, the belle of LowtOwn,
sat musing there, her thoughts anything
but beautiful Us her face.
elbow dare he leave me for her, with
her pale, moonlight beauty, bah! Oh,
how can ! live and see him make her
his wife? My love! my love! my king!
Ay, mine he Shall be. l win dare any
thing to win him."
And then, walking down the shaded
street, came Faith Derrick. hepaused
moment at the open window and
greeted jamie with one of her rare, sweet
smiles.
'.Good-morning, jamie! You see l
am out early, but, having SO many calls
to make, l must, perforce, get an early
start. Cannot you accompany me to-
dayP"
''Not to-day" replied jamie. "You
will soon be known as our Sister of
Mercy" with quick glance at the
basket Faith carried; show the sick
must bless you. am so sorry, but, in
deed, mamma needs me this morning.
or l would gladly accompany you," and
then thought of such awful blackness
swept across Janie's subtle mind that,
cruel and heartless as she was, it caused
her cheek to pale slightly, and with q
wickedness of which her nearer little
dreamed, she continued:
81 suppose you have not heard of
widow Lees illness. Someone told me
she was very sick. was thinking of
calling this afternoon myself" ..Il
"Widow Lee! No, / had not heard
And no one to care for her but Willie,
and he q mere child. / must call there
Il shall 90 at once. She is such a
good, kind old SOUL Good-morning,
JAMIE"
And unsuspecting, gentle Faith Der
rick went steadily on her way, nor
paused until she had reached the door
of the obscure house at the far end of
the village street.
All was silence and gloom, but Faith
had been there many times before, and
when her second rap failed to win any
response, she opened the door and en-
tered. f,.a.salFr, ,.s.,, sa
Upon bed in the far end of the room
the woman lay, while near her, upon
the floor, was her little grandson fast
asleep.
Dear Mrs. Lee" began Faith, .'what
can do for you?'
The woman turned her head slowly,
and at sight of her face Faith started
back with little gasping cry. W.
The woman raised warning hand
and cried out: .-.----.-.---,-----....
go, go, it may not be too late! Oh,
Miss Faith! why didn't someone tell you
/ had the small-poxP'' tth
Faith had gone as far as the door in
her first surprise and terror, then she
paused and turned her pitiful gaze at the
poor suffering creature ~
least of these" she unused, and then
straightway she set the basket she bore
upon the table, and proceeded to re-
move her hat and jacket.
1--WE will fight it out together" she
said bravely. '.Ah, here comes DR..
Spence, he win see we want for'noth-
ing ENSkiEkE ~ /
And in spite of all arguments Faith !
Derrick kept her place by poor Mrs.
Lees bedside, and the entire village was
thrilled and astounded at her bravery
and heroism.
Secretly jamie Arnold rejoiced. .Her
rose-colored complexion will be a thing
of the past. She thought, exulting, sand
she may die. Oh, if 1 only dared to
hope she would die"
In the meantime Clarence Fullerton |
wondered why Faith did not answer his
letter, and continued to wonder until |
after many days he learned the truth.
my brave darling" he murmured.
"Oh, how could she so expose herselfp |
My Heaven! if she should diertfI /
But Faith Derrick did not die, neither |
did Mrs. Lee, and the little boy escaped |
the contagion; but Faith was very i'll |
for many days, and when able to return |
home she refused to meet any old
friends. - sfFsSf - 'ii
keep them away, mamma" she
pleaded. 'qAIs would rather not seed
them just yet"
And people wondered and whispered |
among themselves: "She must be fear
fully marked, poor thing, and she was
SO pretty;show dreadful" rsF F'e' Il
. But there came q pleader ut her door |
one day that would not be kept out.
II will come in," he said. II will! / |
have waited long enough. Oh, my dar-
ling! do you think anything could |
change you so L would not love you |
just the same, yea, even more? Look |
up, my sweet, and let me see the dear
SCARED face and kiss away the pain
from those gentle eyes,
But Faith kept her face hidden, and
could only ask piteously:
you are sure you won't regret itP
Sure you can bear it and love me as Of
oldP' a.
Quite sure.'' R1EsN HEEs 1gSs II
ThenuEaith raised her lace and smiled
upon. him through her happy tears. u
One long, astonished look lie gave I
the lovely blushing face, then bent rev.
erently and kissed her.