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Updated: May 7, 2025
Waldstricker looked across the table with that strange glitter in his eyes. "Helen, must we go over again the same painful ground that women should not interfere!" Mrs. Waldstricker rose to her feet. "No, Ebenezer, no, no! Only I was thinking of Deforrest!" "Deforrest will not know of it until it's too late," said Waldstricker, rising too.
"I'll be dead, soon. Mebbe, I'll get out time nuff to die." Then, Tessibel did forget Andy. And, even, Deforrest and the baby left her mind. She stretched forth her hand and touched the man's arm. "Would you like me to sing to you, a little?" Bennet bobbed his head. "I like singin'," he mumbled.
It was difficult to go back to those long, terrible years through which she had stumbled in shame and disgrace, but Deforrest Young upheld her by sympathy and encouragement. When the pitiful tale was finished, he bent forward and drew her into his arms. "This Christmas is the happiest of my life," he murmured.
"He's so good at heart, and he did all he could for the little Skinner girl. I know there's some mistake. I'll go down and see her tomorrow." Waldstricker got up heavily. "You'll do no such thing," he retorted. "Don't dare go near her!" Helen flushed at her husband's tone. "But Deforrest is away," she argued timidly. "I feel I ought to do something." Madelene went hastily to her brother's side.
She knew the long, wintry road to the lake must again be traversed before she could lie down and rest. A sob came to her lips. She was so tired, so wearily unable to think. She had wanted to stay where it was warm, to wait until Deforrest came after her; but Mr. Waldstricker had almost thrown her into the snow. He had told her she couldn't stay, so, of course, she couldn't go back.
Ebenezer fingered the leaves of the book he held. "I've the happenings of a week to tell you, Deforrest," he stated deliberately, as if dismissing the former subject. Professor Young bent down and slipped off his overshoes. "I'm awfully tired, old chap," said he. "Won't they keep till morning? I'd like a bite to eat, and then then bed." He smiled at his sister.
"I I air goin' to try to be awful careful anyhow," replied Tess, hopefully, but she heaved a deep sigh as Deforrest Young lifted her quite into his arms and placed her on the low, broad porch-stone. Amid a crowd of laughing people, they passed into the house, and while they were removing their wraps, Helen took the opportunity to give her little protege a few last admonitions.
"Yes," she decided, "you're all very satisfactory, Tess." Then to her brother, "Now, let's go, dear." When Deforrest drove his horses up the long roadway leading to the Waldstricker mansion, Tessibel noticed the house was lighted from cellar to garret, that a long line of vehicles was making its slow way to the porch. Her heart fluttered with embarrassment.
Impetuous appreciation of his sincerity caused Tess to touch his arm. "Nobody were ever so good to me in all the world," she said brokenly. Never had Deforrest Young so keenly desired the right to care for her as he did then. The impulse to take her in his arms, to tell her, as he had once, that he loved her, almost unnerved him; but he could not.
While Tess was making her call at Longman's, Helen Young was entertaining her fiance, Ebenezer Waldstricker. "I shall never be satisfied until Bishop is back in Auburn, Helen," said he, snipping the end from a long cigar. The girl held up her needle and deftly shot the thread through the eye of it. "He's sure to be, dear," she soothed. "Here's Deforrest!"
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