e
weeds of the earth must be cut down, and by weeds I mean bad men. If a
petition is handed you to sign asking time for Orn Skinner, I ask you
one and all not to place your names upon it."

The clergyman suddenly stopped, closing his Bible. "Papa would cut off
Tessibel's father's head if he could, wouldn't he, Frederick," whispered
Babe.

Frederick gave the child a reproving glance and the little girl sank
back after explaining that if Skinner were hung "papa" would have the
land which ought to be his.

But as his father was speaking again the student turned his serious face
toward the pulpit.

"Brethren," finished the pastor impressively, "before I close I would
adjure every one of you to take the reins of his household into his own
hands," and then looking straight at Deacon Hall, he concluded:

"And if you have never had the reins, then I command you to take them
this day and rule your homes as God would have you. 'Let us pray.'"

Augusta Hall made but one remark on her way home from church.

"Wednesday evening, I am going to show Dominie Graves that he can't rule
every woman in Ithaca, and I want you to go with me, dearie."

CHAPTER XVII

Orn Skinner was to be taken to prison the Monday after the famous sermon
preached by Dominie Graves. Professor Young had gained permission for
Tessibel to spend fifteen minutes with Skinner before his departure.
There was something about the fishermaid that touched his heart. Her
ignorance, her devotion to her father, and the loveliness of the anxious
young face haunted the professor during his working hours, and at night,
when he could not sleep, he created plans for her future and her
father's release. He persuaded himself continually that Tessibel was not
the motive for clearing the fisherman of the murder charge, it was the
love of justice--justice to the squatter and his lovely child. Often the
lawyer had set his jaw when he thought of Minister Graves and the
evident malice shown by the parson against the fisherman.

That Monday afternoon he met Tessibel as she came into the jail-yard,
much the same Tessibel he had seen in the court-room.

Professor Young took the girl's hand in his and led her into the small
waiting room of the stone prison. He desired to be alone with her for a
few minutes that he might satisfy himself as to her history, which since
her dramatic entrance into the court-room had been so distorted.

"You have no mother, I understand, my d