overed her life. Of that
Teola felt sure, but the humiliation would be too great. Better die
apart from her child. With another racking cough, she turned her face
toward home, two hectic spots shining clear and red upon the white
cheeks. Rebecca silently helped her to bed.

That night, at ten o'clock, after Tess had silenced the child in her
arms and Teola had lost her nervousness in a stupor, three boats shot
from different points of the west shore, and quietly oared a path
through the moonlit lake toward the netting place.

The occupants of one boat were Satisfied Longman and his son. In another
Jake Brewer sat, alone. In the third Ben Letts puffed upon his pipe. His
thoughts were upon the one person he desired--Tess. Like most of
mankind, he wanted what he could not get; wanted the girl who turned a
mocking, beautiful face toward him and used such a bitter tongue. Tess
was responsible for the scars upon his face, but he would feel them well
carried if he gained the girl--and tamed her. That Tess was a devoted
admirer of the student Graves made her none the less desirable. Ben
dipped his oars with dexterous aptitude and shot under the shadow of the
trees. An instant later, his boat was beside those of the other
squatters, and he was standing with his hand upon the north reel. Out
into the lake the net was carried by Satisfied Longman and Jake Brewer.
Ben could see the tall, thin form of Ezra through the shadows, guiding
the ropes as they slipped through his fingers. Here was a boy aspiring
to the love of Tessibel Skinner. Ben heard the swish of the net far out
in the lake as it took to the silent waters, heard the dipping of the
oars, and saw the boats strike for the shore. Then Ezra came toward him,
at the command of his father, Satisfied Longman.

During that evening, Deforest Young was calling upon Deacon Hall. He
refused the Deacon's invitation to row him to the city.

"Thanks," said he, "but the night is delightful. I think I shall walk. I
shall go by the shore and skirt to the tracks at the Hoghole."

He failed to say, however, that his reason for walking was that he
desired to catch a glimpse of the red-haired Tess. He had not seen her
since the discovery of the new-born babe.

The candle was lighted in the Skinner hut, and he tapped gently. For an
instant there was no response, He knew the girl was at home--there had
been a sudden discontinuance of a humming when he knocked.

"Miss Skinner, it is I--Pro