Part 66 (1/2)

”Tessibel, oh, my Tess, be kind,” he supplicated.

But she'd taken the child's hand and without answering, was making her way swiftly backward to the rock-path.

CHAPTER XLI

TESSIBEL'S DISCOVERY

Frederick stood for one tense minute watching Tessibel hurry over the rocks. Many times he had pictured this interview, ... even framed the sentences in which he would express his remorse and win her forgiveness.

It had never occurred to his brooding thought that the years of absence which had increased his own ardor, might have lessened the squatter girl's regard for him. But the meeting wasn't working out as he'd planned. He'd been almost paralyzed at her coming, speechless except for the few halting words of entreaty. Now, it dawned upon him that she was going away without a word, that she was taking the child with her, and that he might never see either of them again.

”Tessibel,” he called hoa.r.s.ely. ”Stop, or ... I'll tell Waldstricker.”

His words brought Tess to a standstill. The threat filled her with fear, for well she knew the elder's power. Still keeping hold of Boy's hand, she retraced her steps.

”Why did you come here?” she asked, fear and distaste making her voice cold and hard.

”To see you and ... him.” Frederick pointed to the child, who was now hiding behind his mother's skirts.

”Well, now you've seen us.”

Frederick stared at the speaker, his lips pursed with surprise. Was this Tess Skinner, the squatter girl? The voice was hers, but its tones were resonant with contempt! Face and form he recognized, but not the new poise, the dignity of her motherhood. The brown eyes he remembered as lighted by love, now expressed unutterable abhorrence.

”Tess, dear Tess,” he pleaded, ”let me talk to you.”

Tess stooped over the child, rearranged his little waist, and pushed back the curly hair.

”Boy go home now, and mother'll come directly.”

She kissed the bewildered upturned face. The baby couldn't understand what was going on.... Mummy seemed sad, and the nice man, who was so white and sick looking, had spoken angrily to his beautiful mother.

”I'd rather stay wif you,” he lisped.

”But Mummy asks Boy to go,” said Tess, and to the dog, ”Here, Petey, go home with Boy.”

Placing his hand on the dog's collar, the child turned slowly and unwillingly toward the house. He'd taken but a few halting steps along the rocks before Frederick's voice rang out.

”Tess, Tessibel, let me hold him ... kiss him once more. Don't shake your head! Don't say no! I've wanted him so all these years. Oh, Tessibel!”

His pitiful pleading touched the listening girl. At last, face to face with the man whose cowardice and selfishness had brought her so much trouble, her one desire was to escape ... to run away. But he was begging for her to be kind, to allow him to hold her baby!... What right had he to kiss him?... To be sure, the child was his, too, but--but--

”Oh, No! No! I don't want you to!” she cried, protesting. ”You can never be anything in his life. Why don't you let us alone?”

Frederick had walked very close to her side by this time, his white face twitching.

”I must kiss him once more,” he persisted.

Tess turned to the loitering child. She could see that at a word of a.s.sent from her, Boy would rush into the outstretched arms Frederick held toward him. The mother, with a twist at her heart, recognized the tie which drew together this man and her son. A dreadful fear clutched her. Would Frederick do as he had threatened, hoping that he might thus come in contact with his son? Her mind flew to Deforrest Young.... He must never know the name of Boy's father. She could feel the blood coursing madly through her temples, and her head ached dully.

Nevertheless, she went back and took hold of the child's hand.