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Updated: May 16, 2025
By the light of the day it would be easier. Then he would explain everything to her and his mother. "Put your arms around me," whispered Madelene. Thrusting Tessibel from his mind, he drew the little figure close into his arms. "Kiss me," she breathed, and two hours later, when Frederick Graves shut his bedroom door, he had promised to marry Madelene Waldstricker.
How could she smile when the world was no longer glad, no longer beautiful? But a few hours before he had left her in tears, almost insane. Now she stood quietly, happily, as if joy unlimited were hers. Mrs. Waldstricker placed her fingers on her lips. "Come up, dear heart," she whispered. Ebenezer mounted the stairs. "I'm so miserable, Helen," he said. "I don't know what to say."
Waldstricker raised her eyes to her husband's face. "But Ebenezer " "There's no argument, my dear," the man interrupted. "I tell you I know whereof I speak. It came to me like a flash on Wednesday in the church ... I had to show the world a man a man without sin." Helen stared back at him in amazement.
Except for Mother Moll, he was alone in the house with Tess and the Waldstricker child. Here was a terrible predicament. He'd already lost many years of his life, because he was present when Waldstricker's father was killed. He'd done what he could to avert that crime and paid a heavy penalty, for his interference. What to do, now, he didn't know.
In the long hours of silent meditation in prison, he'd tried to outline that meeting, and to figure out how he could work Waldstricker. His errand provided for both contingencies. He swaggered along the street, bumped into people roughly, and for his rudeness gave them oaths instead of apologies.
As she awkwardly scraped the snow from her shoes, Pastor Griggs came to her and led her to a seat near the fire. Waldstricker gazed at her critically, but didn't bow his head. Tessibel didn't mind if people failed to speak to her, and she didn't like Waldstricker anyway.
"I don't know what to say," the boy mumbled. "Couldn't ye tell 'em?" entreated Tess. "Please listen. Couldn't ye couldn't ye tell Mr. Waldstricker 'bout our little baby our baby, Frederick?" He refused by a negative gesture of head and hand. "Oh, don't shake your head, Frederick!" cried Tess, frantically.
"Daddy," panted the girl, closing the door, "I jest seen Waldstricker an' he air a comin' down here tomorrow. I don't know what he wants, but Andy mustn't come out of the garret, not fer anythin'. An', Daddy!" She paused with a sudden sob, "He says he air a goin' to root Mother Moll off'n her place. But don't let 'im turn us out of our shanty, will ye, Daddy?" "Nope," answered Skinner, grimly.
She's an angel, isn't she, Helen?" Helen smiled dubiously. "An angel, very much spoiled, I fear." "No such thing," argued Waldstricker, glad of an opportunity to air his favorite theory. "Now Helen thinks the child's spoiled because she drops on the floor and kicks and cries until she gets what she wants. I tell her it's human nature, and perfectly right for my child to have her own way.
His wife and his sister reunited brought him a feeling of content. Frederick, fussing with his coat and rubbers, seemed hardly aware of their going. "I'm glad to have you back, Fred," began Waldstricker, anxious to express the gratification he felt. "We're glad to get back, of course," Frederick responded coldly.
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