en the minister's son
who lived in the big house on the hill and not even to herself had she
mentioned that he was her ideal of manhood--he was as far above her as
the learned minister was above her own squatter father. Her heart seemed
to almost stop beating as she sprang headlong into "Daddy's bed" and
covered herself with the ragged blanket.

Only when she heard her father pounding at the door did she lift her
head. She jumped swiftly from the bed to let him in. No thought of
supper for him had entered her mind. He looked his hunger as he noted
the absence of a fire, and spoke rather mournfully, but Tess cut him
short. The lithe young form bounded squarely upon the bible-back of the
fisherman. She drew back his shaggy head, her bright wide eyes shining
into Skinner's and a low voice deepened by the first arousal of womanly
emotion which had ever come knowingly into the young life, was murmuring
to him.

"I loves ye, Daddy, I do. What does ye care for supper when I loves ye
like this. Daddy, I could--just bite ye hard, that I could, I love ye
so."

"Get off my back, Tess," ordered Skinner, trying to loosen her fingers
from his hair. "I air tired, Brat, and there be nettin' to-night. Ye air
goin' to Mis' Longman's till we get back."

"Won't get off till ye kisses me square on the bill, Daddy," replied the
girl softly, "square where I does my eatin's." And square on "the bill"
the girl got the caress--and then eagerly hastened to fry the inevitable
fish.

"I air coming after ye to Longman's when the nettin's over," broke in
Orn Skinner presently, his mouth full of bread and fish, "and ye'd best
duck yer head in the lake, Tess, afore ye go. Yer face has a week's dirt
caked on it."

Tessibel allowed her red lips to spread wide in a loving smile.

"Ye air a durn good Daddy, ye air, and I loves ye, if my face be dirty."

She rose quickly and came to his side.

"Daddy," she began, twisting his big head so her eyes met his, "Can't I
go nettin' to-night? I air a good helper, ain't I, Daddy?"

Orn Skinner dreaded the wheedling tone in Tessibel's voice and the
pleading in the eyes so like her mother's. He dropped his gaze upon his
plate and slowly shook his head.

"Nope, Tess, ye air goin' to Longman's. Don't ... now there be a kiss
... sit down and eat ... that air a good brat."

The last ejaculation was brought forth by Tess herself. She had turned
back to her place at the table and had complacently begun to eat