stepped back, hesitant.

"It will make me happier, if you will take it," he urged.

Tess extended her fingers, blushing crimson, but took the coin from his
hand. A sob choked the utterance of further gratitude.

"Professor Young says," broke in Frederick, after a painful silence,
"that he is going to bring your father back here before the winter....
But, Tess, I don't want you to live in this shanty. I want you to be a
better girl, Tess. Will you? Will you?"

His eyes rested upon the child. The darkness of the night, the ghostly
sound of the wind, the swish of the thousands of wet leaves over the
roof, roused the romance in the girl until she felt an impulse to tell
him the whole painful story; to feel his kisses warm upon her face, to
have his arms about her, to kneel with him again, and hear his earnest
voice interceding for Daddy Skinner.... But her oath! It was Teola's
secret, not hers.

"Ye couldn't go on a-trustin' me the same as before ye knowed of him?"
Her head inclined toward the infant in a large-eyed question.

Frederick shook his head.

"No," he ejaculated; "no! Nevertheless, I would save you from--worse.
The more I think of it, the more I believe that you were honest in your
desire to know God and the truth. He will forgive you your sin,
Tessibel, if you ask Him."

"If God air forgivin'--then couldn't ye forgive, too?"

It took a desperate effort to utter the words. Nothing but her love for
him could have forced them from her.

"That's different," reddened the boy. "I wanted--I wanted to marry you
some day."

To marry her! She drew a great, heaving breath, more strongly tempted to
tell him than before. But, as she struggled with her desire, her face
grew paler, and the drooping mouth gathered sad lines.

She did not reply, and the student continued,

"You have one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard, Tess. It
is a God-given gift, and He will hold you responsible for it if you
neglect it."

"I air only a squatter," she moaned forlornly, shaking the red curls.
"Daddy air a squatter, too, and if he air a-comin' home, then I stays
with him. If he says as how we stay in the shanty, then we stays, even
if it air yer Daddy's. I asks Daddy Skinner to give it back, but a brat
can't boss her Pappy, can she?... Ye sees, don't ye?"

"Yes, Tess, I see," slowly replied Frederick. "But it's not because of
my father I want you to go. You have the squatter's rights, and may
remain if you wish