The Faith Healer Part 17

_Lazarus points, without speaking, to the kitchen._

BEELER.

_To Martha._

Did you send him to the store?

MARTHA.

Yes, I did send him to the store. If I had my way, I'd send him--further.

_The boy hesitates, then goes stolidly out by the stair door. Uncle Abe lifts his arm ecstatically._

UNCLE ABE.

That's him! I tell ye that's the chil' what's said "Howdy" to the daid folks down yonder. I'se seen 'im in my dreams, an' now I'se seen 'im wif dese hyah two eyes.--O Lawd, bless dis hyah house o' grace!

BEELER.

I guess it's about time that fellow come out and exploded some of this tomfoolery.

_He starts towards his wife's room._

RHODA.

_Stopping him._

Please don't.

BEELER.

_Peevishly._

There's got to be an end to this hoodoo business in my house.

_Annie enters from the kitchen, dabbled with dye. She holds two colored eggs in her hands._

ANNIE.

Look! I've colored two.

MARTHA.

Good gracious, child. What a mess!

ANNIE.

Pa! Play crack with me! Just once, to see how it goes.

BEELER.

Go in and ask your mother if she'll let you.

_Annie, her eggs in her ap.r.o.n, opens the hall door. About to pa.s.s out, she stops, drops the eggs with a scream, and runs back, gazing towards the hall as she takes refuge behind Rhoda's skirts._

ANNIE.

Pa! Auntie! Ma's walking!

_Mrs. Beeler enters, walking uncertainly, her face full of intense exaltation. Michaelis comes just behind her, transfigured by spiritual excitement._

BEELER AND MARTHA.

_Starting forward._

Mary!

RHODA.

Aunt Mary!

_Mrs. Beeler advances into the room, reaching out her hand to Annie, who takes it in speechless fright. She bends over and kisses the child's head, then stretches out her other hand to her husband._

MRS. BEELER.

Mat, I'm cured! The Lord has heard our prayers, for His saint's sake.

BEELER.

Why, Mary, I can't believe this--it's too--it's not possible!

MRS. BEELER.

_Looking at Michaelis._

It is written that he who has faith, even as a grain of mustard seed--.

I have had faith.

MARTHA.

Law, you've had faith enough any time these five years, Mary. There was something else wanting, 'pears to me.

MRS. BEELER.

There was wanting the word of true belief, saying, "Suffer no more!

Stoop and drink of the waters of mercy and healing."

_Outside, the shrill soprano of a woman is heard, taking up a hymn.

At the sound Michaelis goes to the window. He stands rigid, listening to the hymn to the end of the verse, when other voices join in the chorus. The fog has partially cleared._