n her on the stone window ledge of his
cell. It was tinged with bittersweet--bitter because Daddy was going
away, sweet because she had desired it so fondly. But it had not been
like the student's kiss. She was going to ask Myra Longman to solve the
first great problem of her life.

"Air the kisses what ye had from Ben Letts--burnin' ones? Did ye lose
the thought of the night and the night things on the ragged rocks?...
Did ye want 'em again and again--more and more kisses till they scorched
yer face like the bread oven in the spring?"

Tess had risen to her feet, had whitened to the small ears covered with
the tawny hair. Myra had risen also. Both girls were eying each other
with intentness. Tess started to speak again, coming forward a step
toward the other squatter.

"Did ye forget the storm, the wavin' trees and all 'cept--Ben Letts?"

"Ye air been to the ragged rocks," moaned Myra, sinking down upon the
floor in a heap.

In a twinkling the meaning of Myra's words dawned upon Tessibel.

"I ain't been there with Ben Letts," she replied suddenly. "I ain't got
no likin' for the brat's Pa's kisses--"

"But ye hev been to the ragged rocks," insisted Myra, settling back with
a sob against the box where the child slept.

"Nope, I ain't; but I had a kiss, and Myra, it were--like the singin' in
the heavens what the song tells about--like the feelin' in here," she
placed her hand upon her heart, her eyes flashing golden, "when the
world air filled with flowers and the birds air a singin'.... Were it
like that with Ben Letts? Were it?"

"Nope," replied Myra sulkily, "Ben Letts ain't got no singin' kisses."

She rose languidly, tucked the blanket closer about the sleeping child's
head.

"Tessibel," she broke forth hoarsely, "for all women folks there air
brats a cryin' for their Pa's to tell 'em yep or nope. And there air men
a-walkin' on the ragged rocks with singin' kisses for yer pretty face
and tangled hair. There air a brat sleepin' till it's dead in the box."
The tired young mother allowed her hungry gaze to fall upon the quiet
infant. "Tessibel, yer brat--"

But Tessibel bounded out of the door, over the snow-covered rocks like a
deer. She would not lose the sweetness of the kiss in Myra's warning
words--that penetrating holy kiss she had treasured for seven long days
and nights.

* * * * *

The torturing thoughts that had filled the mind of Professor Young at
finding Fred