sentence upon you: you are to hang by the neck until you
are--dead."

The ponderous form of the doomed man straightened as though unafraid,
whilst the commotion increased--Tess was madly tearing her way through
detaining hands. Once free, she started up the aisle, the most
ridiculous little figure ever seen in Ithaca. The red hair was in curls
to the girl's hips--the young form covered with but a calico blouse
confined about the waist by a piece of hemp rope. Four huge thorns held
together the edges of a rent down the center of the skirt, which came
just above the knees, Daddy Skinner's cowhide boots lifting themselves
under the hem.

Every one save him whom she loved was unseen by Tess, and everything
unheard save the terrible sentence of death.

The pain-puckered wrinkles settled out of the wan little face; a smile
brightened the brown eyes and dimpled the tender twitching mouth,
altering the woful expression--for what was the mandate of an earthly
judge compared to the majestic promise of Heaven? the student had
said--but her smiling eyes fell for a moment on those of Frederick
Graves. The boy partly rose but sank back again, white to the ears, a
picture of mental suffering. Here through the silence came a shock to
the citizens of Ithaca. Sweet as a spring bird carolling its love song
rose Tessibel's beautiful voice:

"Rescue the perishin'
Care for the dyin'."

On and on up the aisle toward Daddy Skinner, forgetting or not knowing
that she was desecrating the dignity of the honorable judge upon the
bench, Tessibel clattered. Still no hand stayed her progress. Daddy
Skinner was standing outside the railing, close to his attorney, guarded
by a deputy. His fierce eyes turned at the sound of her voice, and the
sight of his beloved snapped them shut like a vise.

The old beard, now shaggy and unkempt, trembled, whilst a parched tongue
licked over the lips.

The long arms of the humpback slowly rose, and Tessibel sang herself
into the throbbing bosom of her father.

The prisoner's great horny hand descended upon the curly head and for a
moment the fingers of the girl tried to pry the wrinkled eyelids open.
Her singing ceased, and she spoke--no great orator ever had a more
intense audience.

"It air--it air Tess, Daddy Skinner, did ye think that her--had
forgot--and Goddy?"

Everyone in the room heard the musical voice.

"The jedge didn't know," Tess went on, "that God promised that ye was to