of the squatters, but
both of them could see that the girl had been caught in open-handed
theft.

"Father," Teola implored, "give the girl the milk. She says she needs
it--"

"Yes, Father," interrupted Frederick, "give it to her.... She won't
steal again.... You won't, will you--girl?"

This was the first word to her since that night he had lost faith in
her. His voice seemed harsh; it fell upon her, numbing her senses. Her
body went cold as if a frosty gust had struck it.

"You won't steal again--ever? Will you?" demanded he.

Tessibel struggled to speak. At last there came a fluttered confession,
which made Teola Graves shiver like an aspen leaf. If she could only
summon courage to tell her arrogant father the truth! She could not bear
to look upon her squatter friend, nor upon Frederick's white face.

"I has to steal," said Tess. "I has to have the milk.... I can't get it
no way else."

"There! There!" exclaimed the Dominie, with a derisive laugh. "If that
isn't depravity, I don't know what is.... Now, then, miss, put down that
pail, and go!"

He strode forward and grasped the handle in his fingers. But Tess held
it firmly. Her mind flashed to the child in the hut, smacking fiercely
through the long night ... she thought of the morning, of the hungry
gray eyes and the ceaseless baby whimper--and defied the minister.

"I air a-goin' to have it," she insisted. "Take yer hand offen that
handle."

Graves gasped for breath, but did not relax his hold upon the pail. With
a motion as quick as lightning flashes, Tess lowered her head, and set
her teeth into the Dominie's fat white hand. A cry of pain escaped him,
and he opened his fingers.

"I said as how I got to have the milk--and--and I air got it! Open that
door!"

Tess shrieked out the last words, her eyes, full of hatred, bent upon
Graves. Frederick strode forward, turned the key in the lock, and Tess
sprang out.

* * * * *

Tessibel ran swiftly through the orchard, out into the lane, her rage
dying out in her fear for the babe. She had never left him so long
before. Her flesh still tingled from the Dominie's blows, but her
admission before Frederick that she was compelled to steal hurt her
worse than the blue welts rising upon her shoulders. She regretted, too,
that she had bitten the clergyman's hand, but that had been done for
the baby--little Dan had to live.

She came to an alert standstill in front of the cabin