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Updated: May 16, 2025
"Folks ain't havin' everythin' they want in this world, Sandy." "Then ye turned me down in the church afore Waldstricker," went on Sandy. "Ye might've been glad to marry a decent man after what ye'd done. But ye ups and says, 'I won't! An' I've come to ask the reason why." Tess walked across the shanty kitchen and sat on the edge of the cot.
"An' hair'll strangle ye, wretched man, an' may ye never breathe a fine breath after it touches yer proud throat!" Moved by a kind of superstitious horror of the prophecies of the old witch, Waldstricker pushed her roughly aside, seized Tess by the arm and dragged her out of the house.
Tess lifted her head and looked him straight in the eyes. Did he know she had had that one precious letter? Who'd told him about it? But she couldn't give it to him, it was burned. Neither would she admit receiving it. "What letters?" she asked, when she could speak. "Those Mr. Graves sent you from France!" responded Waldstricker, in very decided tones. Tess thought quickly.
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 hoarsely. "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.
"I came to speak to you, Miss Skinner," he called. "Come here?" Then Tessibel went a few steps nearer, without laying down her shears. Looking up into his face, she asked, "What do ye want, Mr. Waldstricker?" It was hard for Waldstricker to tell just what he did want when that pair of red-brown eyes were gazing at him. "I think I'll dismount," he said suddenly.
"No, she won't," replied Waldstricker, gruffly, "and what's more I won't have her here. How she had a nerve to come at all, I can't see.... Where's Helen?" "Upstairs with Madie, I guess," sighed Frederick. "Poor Helen," groaned Ebenezer, moodily. "If I could only give her some news of Elsie. But I feel sure we'll have her home by morning." "I hope so!" answered Frederick.
"Frederick well, we both wanted to speak to you." "All right, little girl," Waldstricker said pleasantly. "If it is something special, we can go to the office; or perhaps you can tell me here." Hoping to gain courage by further respite Frederick suggested, "We'd better go to the office, I think." But Madelene was too full of her new happiness to brook any more delay. "Oh, you men!" she exclaimed.
"I can't tolerate that man around," she replied. "Once in a while he comes here to see Deforrest or to sell something, and I can't get him away quickly enough." "He's a good spy, though. That's all I want. He and the Skinner girl ought to produce that dwarf between them." "I hope so for your sake, dear," murmured Helen. Waldstricker took out his watch and glanced at it hurriedly.
"Tess," he groaned, "can't you understand how much I love you; that I would save you if I could?" With uplifted hand, he tried to raise her face to his. "Don't!" she cried, pushing him away. "Tell me what Mrs. Waldstricker said!" "You've got to do it, dear," urged Frederick, "or they'll take you away." "What do ye mean by takin' me away?" she implored, moving a frightened step backward.
Tess called again, but Boy flung up a red, angry face to the elder. "Mummy said I could slide," he repeated stubbornly. "I'll teach you to argue with me," snapped Waldstricker, and before Tess could reach him, he'd raised his arm and given the child a sharp cut with his riding whip. "Get out, I tell you!" "Mover!" screamed Boy, jumping back and falling over the sled. "Oh, Mover! Mover!"
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