Part 15 (2/2)

At the same moment Waldstricker was bending over Helen Young.

”My dear, how ambitious you are for so young a pupil!” he laughed.

”There's nothing she can't sing,” she replied, rising. ”Hasn't she a wonderful range?”

”Very,” replied Waldstricker, and he, too, turned to look at the squatter girl.

Tess was striving to listen to Deforrest Young, but her disturbed mind was where Frederick stood with Madelene Waldstricker. Her whole loving heart desired him to come and speak to her.

”I never heard her sing like that before,” Madelene was saying to Frederick. ”I believe you know her quite well, don't you?”

”I know who she is,” stammered the student, flus.h.i.+ng, ”but as to saying I know her well--”

”She's very beautiful!” interjected Madelene.

Frederick lowered his head flatteringly, ”Not as beautiful as another girl I know,” he whispered, and Madelene dropped her eyes with a happy sigh.

”Let's go and speak to her,” she suggested. ”I feel I must, I'm the hostess, you know.”

Frederick reluctantly fell into step with her, and together they crossed the room, a striking picture of entrancing youth. Tessibel's heart ached at the unusual sight. For one burning moment she wanted to scream, to spring up and do some terrible thing to the small girl walking so familiarly at her husband's side. Then she looked away miserably. She could not bear the sight, nor did she turn again until she heard a strange, rather high, girl's voice say,

”It was very lovely, Helen! Such a surprise to every one! I'm ever so grateful to you.”

”Tessibel, this is Miss Waldstricker,” introduced Helen.

Tess raised a scarlet face at the sound of her name.

For one moment the two girls gazed into each other's eyes. Each had in her panting heart a feeling of proprietors.h.i.+p for the tall, dark boy standing moodily behind Madelene. Tess knew he was there, yet did not look at him.

”You've a beautiful voice,” observed Miss Waldstricker, with a shade of condescension in her manner.

Tessibel could feel the blood pulsing even to her finger tips. What did she care for compliments from Madelene Waldstricker? She wanted to hear them from Frederick! Miss Waldstricker whirled suddenly to bring him into the conversation.

”Mr. Graves.... Ah, yes, of course, you know Miss Young, and this--and this is--Miss Skinner, Mr. Graves.”

Then Frederick bent over Tessibel's hand, and her fingers shook in his.

She raised her eyes slowly and he was looking upon her as if she were a thing apart from him now and ever would be. A crimson wave flew to her face--a flood tide of humiliation.

”I've met Miss Skinner,” she heard in a low, unfamiliar tone. ”Your voice, Miss Skinner, as Miss Waldstricker says, is very beautiful.”

The accent of the ice in his words caused her to withdraw her hand from his instantly. She was stung to the quick by his coldness and indifference. She could not answer him. Was this her Frederick--this the boy who had so often knelt at her feet in ardent adoration? He had gazed at her as if she'd been a stranger, had praised her singing only by repeating what another girl had said. Her head burned like fire, and her heart gave a rebellious, defiant twist. She was his wife. All the pa.s.sion within her tempestuous soul raged in stout protest against his treatment of her. Couldn't--oh, he could have said--have said--just a little something! Then anger fell from her in a trice. Desolation like an ash encompa.s.sed her. Of course, she was but a squatter; Frederick was ashamed of her, ashamed he even knew her. It was just at that moment she saw her husband place Madelene's fingers on his arm and laughingly move away with her. Tess started out of her jealous agony as some one touched her arm. Deforrest Young was smiling down upon her.

”Let's go to supper,” he invited.

The girl made an effort to master her confusion. Slowly she rose and took the professor's arm. The unfamiliar, embarra.s.sing formality helped to hide her anger and consternation. She found herself positively unable to eat. When had she ever been capable of taking food when her heart filled her throat? She was conscious every moment of the presence of her husband and Madelene a little farther down the table, and that Frederick's attention was wholly taken up with his companion. She had but to raise her eyes to see Madelene's face beaming with pleasure.

Suddenly the voice of a stranger roused Tessibel from her bitter meditation.

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