ith--that's why you're not
afraid."

The pathetic face turned suddenly upon Tess with a questioning look.

"My brother, you know, thinks you are such a good girl--and--and--you
are a good girl, aren't you, Tess?"

"Squatters ain't never good," answered Tess in a low tone, her eyes
dropping under the steady gaze of the other girl. "But I--I love the
student's God, I does."

She was standing with rag hanging from her right hand, her face
illumined by a deep flush that disappeared only when it met the red
hair.

"I believe that you do love Him, Tess," Teola breathed. "And Frederick
told me that if he had your faith, he could do anything in the world.
You know, the Bible says that if we had faith as large as a mustard
seed, we could move a mountain."

Her voice faltered on the last words. Tess grunted significantly.

"Aw! a mustard seed ain't no bigger than a speck of dirt."

"I know it, Tess; I know it. But one only has to have a little faith in
God to enable Him to answer every prayer we utter."

She grasped the thin baby to her breast frantically, kissed the crimson
mark up and down, until where the frenzied lips had traveled the flesh
turned purple. Oh! to have faith to believe that she might soon have
her child with her always--always! Of late there had crept over Teola
the shadow of the great beyond, into which her student lover had been so
hastily summoned. The shrieking of the wind, and the mournful fluttering
of the tiny hands made her shiver, and she coughed slightly.

"A mountain air bigger than that hill with the look-out on it,"
ruminated Tess, picking up a huge knot of wood from behind the stove.

"I know that, too," replied Teola.

For the space of many minutes only the smacking of the baby lips upon
the sugar rag and the roaring of the turbulent wind were heard in the
hut. Suddenly the vibrations of a great peal of thunder shook the shanty
with violent effect; a streak of lightning shot zig-zaggedly through the
room like some livid, malicious spirit. Teola screamed in terror.

"It hit some place near here," said Tess.

"Yes, and wasn't it awful? Oh, if the storm would only cease!"

"It air comin' nearer," answered Tess, with the keen instincts of a
squatter. "It air got to turn sidewise through the window afore it goes
over the hill. What air ye afraid of, if ye believes that ye can move a
mountain if ye has the faith? God wouldn't hit the brat with lightnin',
would He?"

"Oh, I haven't t