ut out his hand, and touched her.

"Child," he said brokenly, "you are the one bright spirit in this
generation."

But Tessibel did not understand. She went down the long flight of steps,
and into the sun-lit street, with but a backward glance at the
rag-draped basket she had left under the church window.

CHAPTER XLIII

Tessibel was a child again, a happy, free-hearted child. The body of her
death had fallen away as Christian's burden had slipped from his
shoulders at the foot of the cross. The babe had gone to its father with
the blessing of the Holy Ghost!

Then Tess thought of Teola, and stopped on the tracks, the Dominie's
last words rushing into her mind. She had understood the import of them.
It had been carried to her by the awful expression upon Graves' face. He
was sorry, this minister who had persecuted her father and
herself--sorry for Teola, sorry for the brat!

"The Dominie ain't likin' Daddy and me, though," she murmured. "But the
student air a-likin' me!"

For the next two miles she sang lustily, childishly, with the complete
abandon of a girl without a burden. Daddy Skinner was coming home, and
God had given her back the student. The remembrance of his eyes thrilled
her from head to foot.

Tess passed down the lane, glad for Myra, glad for Teola and her
child--glad for everyone. She was still singing when she crossed the
wide plank that spanned the mud-cellar creek. She saw Professor Young
leaning against the shanty door, and the memory of their last
conversation, when he had asked her to marry him, made her pause
awkwardly, the color flying in rich waves from the red forehead ringlets
to the shapely neck.

Young took her hand, looking searchingly into her face.

"Where is the child?" he demanded in low tones.

"I took it back to its ma--she wanted it," was all Tess replied. "Air ye
comin' in and tell me about Daddy?"

"Your father will--"

Tessibel halted, with her hand on the door, waiting for him to finish.

"Go in, child. I will tell you--in there."

He spoke slowly, deliberately.... Tess gazed at him, trying to read his
thoughts. Nevertheless she obeyed him, pressing open the door with an
impatient movement of her head. She had waited so long for just this
moment. To know when the big, humpbacked father was coming home seemed
more precious to Tessibel than all the uplifting joy she had experienced
that day. Her eyes swept the hut; then they rested in a frightened
glance