The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-10
CHAPTER XVI.

or persons Nltn SIOu.
CHAPTER XVI.
FAITH FIGHTS a BATTLE AND COVER
COMES"
Faith Kirk was having one of her
great battles as she worked over that
Sunday dinner Aud she had not
fought it out when the family return
ed, bringing With them four friends OF
from other cities, whose good will it
was necessary to keep.
The dinner was served promptly, and
Faith had no reason to feel afraid OF
her success. Mrs. Fulton even came
out into the kitchen when it was over
and complimented her on the dinner.
The guests lighted cigars and retired
to the library With Mr.. Fulton. 1t was
now nearly O'clock. BY the time cv-
erything was cleared away in the
kitchen it was half past and in the
short winter day dark already.
Faith went up to her room tired and
rebellious. She sat down and at first
said she would not go to church. Then
she thought of the dear home circle.
and for almost the first time since she
came away she grew dreadfully home
sick.
She threw herself down on her bed
in the dark and had good, hard Cry.
When it was over, she felt some
what ashamed and lay still awhile
thinking. Then she rose and suddenly
turned on her electric light.
"Faith Kirk. you are ashamed of
yourself. Is this Malcolm Kinks daugh-
ter?' She asked the question as she
put on her cloak and hat and resolutelv
determined to go to church and be Il
good Christian in spite of her troubles.
ITO him that overcometh," the verse
happened to be the subject of the En-
deavor meeting that very night, and as
she took up her Bible and went out of
the house she was feeling better as sb"
started down the avenue and then turn
ed toward one of the churches of the
same denomination as the one at home
For she was homesick enough to feel
that she would enjoy the worship bet
ter in such a church.
Faiths Sundays in Chicago since
she had been there were not at all like
the Sundays at home. She had at first
tried to attend a church near her board
ing place. But at the end of her studio
experience she had found some Sunday
work to do in connection with one of
the social settlements. That work was
now too far away, and she was com
PEELED TO give it up.
Tonight. she said, she would go to
the Endeavor meeting in the large
church only a few blocks from Mrs.
! Fuiton's. She had seen the notice on
the outside of the building. giving 6
O'Clock as the hour of service.
The young people held their meeting
in the chap or prayer meeting room
adjoining the main room. 1t was beau
Faith went in she was greeted at the
door by young woman, who gave her
topic card and a hylnnbook and then
showed her to a seat
The meeting began promptly, and
Faith could not help wondering a little
as she looked around at the very we'll
dressed young men and women how
much any of them knew about the
struggle of overcoming. The next mo-
ment she rebuked herself for judging
others.
They all have their trials no doubt, :"
she said. 1T won't do to judge from
appearances Rich folks are not the
happiest ones"
She enjoyed the singing, and some of
the more familiar Endeavor songs
brought tears TO her eyes.
When the hour was about half gone.
Faith had an impulse to give her ties
timony. She kept saying to herself that
! what she had been through that day
was something that might help the
others. In her fathers church mt home
the young people had always been en-
couraged to help one another by reiat-
ing their experiences, and Faith had ne
other thought in mind when she rose
during pause and told very frankly
something of her struggle that very
day.
The young people all turned and
ipofftt ~ litl III SURPRISE. L illH KNEW
how to express herself very we'll. He.
father had helped her very much She
did not mean to eXaggerate her Difficult
ties but she spoke more frankly than
she might if She had not been overflow
ing from the days experience Besides
her heart warmed to find herself in the
society once more, and she longed for
the Christian fellowship.
When she sat down, she had time to
think if size had said anything she
ought not. She had simply confessed
her struggle as the Bible said Chris
tians ought. and she had only inciden-
tally mentioned the fact that she was
working out. At home they had girls
in the society who worked out at serv.
ice. and they did not think much about
ii.
But before the meeting was over she
grew hot and cold by turns as she
thought of having told all those young
people that she WAS Il hired girl" She
was almost tempted to get UP again
ana tell them that she was thp 6aIIrI.