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Updated: June 7, 2025
A great deal had happened during the three weeks Frederick had been gone. Helen Young had married Ebenezer Waldstricker, and they had been away now nearly two weeks on their honeymoon. Deforrest Young, too, had spent most of the time out of Ithaca. Tessibel Skinner heard from him frequently, and through his good letters, she had been able to keep up her studies.
The powerful voice rose up and up in seeming unending volume, up and up until Deforrest Young sank against the wall and locked his fingers together. How had his sister dared to risk such a song with such a child!... Then he took a long satisfied breath, for he saw the little singer sang as a lark sings, without fear or self-consciousness, without knowledge of limitation to her thrilling harmony.
Until then the Elder had not seemed to be aware of the girl's presence, but at the introduction he extended his hand, formally polite. When, in shy greeting, Tess lifted her eyes, one corner of his mouth drew down rigidly. She was more at ease when Deforrest Young joined them. Her welcoming smile caused that gentleman's heart to bound in delight.
Not knowing how to explain her flight, she kept silent. Deforrest noted the shadow that clouded the lovely face and ascribed it to embarrassment. Thinking to put her at her ease, he asked, "Have you been studying today, my dear?" "Well I guess I have!" The girl sent him a radiant, grateful smile. "I studies every day, an' air learnin' my Daddy a lot of things now, ain't I, Daddy?"
Tessibel's fingers turned upward and closed over his, and they stood thus a moment, Waldstricker contemplating them through half-closed lids, one corner of his mouth superciliously curled. "You haven't told me where you were going to take her," Deforrest insisted. Bitter anger rose in Eb's throat.
How she adored this brother of hers, and how anxiously she desired he should be satisfied with Ebenezer's account of the church proceedings. "I'm lucky to be home for Sunday," remarked Deforrest. "I was afraid the case wouldn't close before day after tomorrow. But the jury came in last night, and everything was quickly closed up." "We read about it in the paper," said his sister sympathetically.
"Yes, it's Tessibel Skinner! He seems perfectly possessed about her. I can't understand why, either. I always tell him she's nothing to us. He has even gone so far Oh, Forrie, dear, tell me it isn't so!" "What isn't so?" asked Deforrest, puzzled. "Ebenezer says he says you'd marry " The inquisitor's courage oozed away before she finished her sentence.
Ebenezer was all upset over the letters his sister had written him from abroad, and as Deforrest was obliged to be away so much, she had spent many hours of mental worry by herself. The sound of a carriage took her into the hall, where she stood until Ebenezer threw open the door. The first sight of her young sister-in-law showed Mrs. Waldstricker that the girl was not at all contented and happy.
Deforrest Young forced his foaming horse into Waldstricker's gateway and galloped up to the porch. It took him but one brief moment to fling himself to the ground, and up the steps into the house. Andy had told him Tess had gone to Ebenezer's with little Elsie. To know his darling was out in such a night nearly drove him mad. It hadn't taken him long to decide to go after her.
He moistened his dry lips with a tobacco stained tongue and demanded, "Who air he?... Air she married?" "No, she's living in Graves' old place, the house I, now, own, with Deforrest Young." "Ye mean, your wife's brother, the lawyer?" Waldstricker nodded. "An' ye say she air livin' with him?" "Well not exactly that, I suppose, but she's keeping house for him. She's got her child there, too."
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