Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1896-01-03
MY FAITH.

l away VllO tAll1O, WhCh SiAuhSSsA " Aoon
down the long avenue of Gins, and
saw a graceful figure, clad in sober
gray, atanding where an opening in
| the trees let the sunshine through.
The light fell upon tho woman's hair,
and made it shine like gold. Her face,
as she lifted it toward the sunshine,
was fair as the face of any child, pure,
sweet, and with that innocent look in
it which we always associate with
children upon whose lives the world
has not yet left its mark.
..Who is it?" asked, breaking of
rather abruptly from my pretty speech
making.
Faith Farley" answered Miss
Grayle, with a flush of annoyance; "a
friend of my fathers died. and left
this girl to his care. He gave her a
home and sent her to school. She
came back to us yesterday, q finished
young lady, ] suppose. !"
Miss Grayle laughed, but there was
nothing pleasant in the sound of her
merriment. 1t was like a discord. |
felt sure that she did not like the girl
with the sweet, Madonna face. [
wondered at it, for could not under
stand how any one could help liking
her. Such face would win its way
to most hearts at once. 1t had to
mine.
II should be pleased to form her ac-
quaintance, | said; 81 like the looks
of her.
"You have got into such habit of
making hattering speeches to us wo-
men that you can not rid yourself of it
when speaking OF them" she said,
pulling the roses 1 had given her apart
and scattering their pink leaves over
the veranda floor, in vexcd way. 1t
was plain to see that she had no love
for the girl down the path.
II was in earnest when I said that l
liked the looks of her. answered.
81 am always attracted by a pretty
face. Itaf1ects me like pleasant mu-
sic.''
Every poetical," she said, with a
curl Of the lip, II never heard any
one say before that they though Faith
Farley pretty. She always makes me
think of a Quaker, with her gray gown
and sly ways.
81 have always admired neat, de-
mure little Quaker women" answer
ed. 81 think you mistake quietness
for slyness, you certainly do if by sly
ness You mean artfulness. I'll wager
good deal that the girl yonder is as
artless as a child. She could not be
otherwise with such face"
"You seem to have been captiyated
by Miss Farley's charms" said Miss
Grayle, and her voice had sound Of
irritation in it.
II admire her." answered, "but I
could hardly fall captive to her until I
knew her. Don't you think she would
look well in a picturep If her eyes
are as pretty as her face and hair, l
should like to paint her, if were an
artist. She is SO far away that I can
not see them well, but l venture the
guess that they are blue ono moment
and gray the next, Ike q spring, in
sunshine and shadow. Am ] not
right, Miss Grayle?"
Faith, come here called Miss
Grayle. I looked at her, wondering
what she intended to do. Miss Far
ley came up the avenue and stopped
at the end OF the path.
Turn your face to the ligh., said
Miss Grayle. '.Mr. Ascot wants to
see your eyes.
The sweet, grave face was turned to
me questioningly for a moment, and l
saw that her eyes were blue.
Miss Grayle laughed. A quick scar
let flush stained the girls face. as she
understood that tho other had been
making sport of her, and she turned
away with a little naughty lift of the
head that pleased me, for it told me
that she resented Miss Grayle's I'M
lady-like act
"You ought not to have said that"
/ said to Miss Grayle ut puts me in
false position, and it offended her."
"What right has she to be Offend
ed?" said Miss GrayIc, with scornful
curl of her lip. what would become
of her if my father did not take pity
on herP'
That was no reason, thought, why
the girl should be treated as if she had
no feelings Miss Graylo was bound to
respect She might be poor, and de-
pendent on the bounty of others,
but that did not prevent her
from being very much like ether wo-
men who are more happily circum,
stanced. Perhaps Miss.Grayle thought
poor people could not, or ought not
to, afford the luxury of a sensitive ma
ture.
Later IN the day met Miss Far
ley walking in the grounds back of
the house. She would have avoided
me. but prevented herfrom do.ngso.
Miss Farley" | said putting out
nv hand to stop her 81 want 10 tell