At the "Cranium" Fraternity, Dan Jordan was closeted with three little
freshmen. Swipes looked downcast.
"I want to do something to help," he wailed; "I feel as if it were all
my fault that the parson is gone. We can't have any fun without him.
It's tedious, too, being cooped up here not being able to go anywhere
for fear of being taken ourselves."
Dan cleared his throat preparatory to speaking.
"If you fellows won't peach," said he in an eager undertone, "I'll tell
you something and you can help."
"What?"
"We'll have Graves if you will all do as I tell you."
"Watch me," cried Swipes, turning a somersault. When he was in the most
harrowing position, Brown gave him a swift kick.
"Give him one for me, Shorts," whispered Spuddy, but Swipes was on his
feet again, ready to listen.
There was a general hurrah when Jordan in subdued tones had outlined the
plan.
"Where are Graves' evening clothes," demanded Dillon; "we must smuggle
them into the opera-house some way."
"They'll be there all right," replied Jordan; "they've gone in with the
caterer's stuff. You'd better send your own best togs in a barrel or the
sophomores will see to it that you won't have them when you want
them.... Now mind, mum's the word."
The fishermen of squatter's row did not recognize the stranger who
slouched along by the side of Tessibel, the night of the freshman
banquet. She was on her way to the city with her fish. One after another
women poked frowsy heads from the hut windows at the barking of their
dogs. But Tess went steadily on, not even heeding her companion who
hurried his footsteps to keep close to her.
"Ye sells yer fish for a shillin' a pound," said she after a few
minutes' walk.
The man nodded. Once only did he raise his eyes. They were passing a
dingy-looking empty house, with a large broken window.
Just then, Ben Letts, accompanied by Ezra Longman, met them. The red
head of the squatter girl rose a little higher, the lines growing deeper
about the narrowed lids. To the fisherman she deigned no good-morrow,
nor had she a thought of them after they had passed.
"He air a new squatter," said Ben laconically, turning to look at the
queer pair.
"He air her uncle," added Ezra pompously; "he air here to help her pappy
out of his scrape."
Ben did not answer, but stepped to the tracks with another evil backward
look at Tess and her squatter friend.
* * * * *
Forty or fifty sophomores loafed about the opera-house watching the
caterers buzz to and fro. Tables had been spread inside for several
hundred guests, and the president's chair was decorated with roses and
winter ferns. Three little freshmen and Dan Jordan, surrounded by many
juniors went calmly in to inspect things.
Several underclassmen stood disconsolately inside.
"Be on your guard," whispered Dan, passing them.
The fifty sophomores outside were waiting for something to happen.
Graves would be produced--how, they could not tell. The strangeness of
the actions of Frederick's fraternity brothers made the affair more
unsolvable. Threatening looks were showered upon them as freshman after
freshman, guarded by juniors, filed in. Dan Jordan slouched to the door
of the opera-house, his eyes falling mechanically upon Tessibel Skinner
across the street. He heard her arguing with the man from the café about
her fish. Tessibel then crossed to the opera-house.
"Does ye want any fish?" she smiled, showing her white teeth.
"No," replied Jordan. "What have you?... Eels?"
"No, nothin' but bullheads and suckers."
Dan looked about, grinning upon the sophomores.
"There's enough of them here already.... I want some eels--"
The sophomores pretended not to hear. They were not interested in
fishermen, but kept their eyes open for a carriage that would dash in
from the main street with the rescued president within it.
"Sling them eels over here," commanded Tessibel, beckoning to the
slouching squatter across the way. The man with the basket offered the
contents to Dan.
"I'll take what you have, too, girl," said Jordan in a loud voice, "how
much do they weigh?"
"Don't know," replied Tess.
"Take them in and get them weighed," said Swipes, innocently coming to
Dan's side.
"Hey there, you old guy," chuckled Spuddy; "drag your fish into the
opera-house and dump them out.... We're going to have some fun.... If we
can't have our president, eels will have to do."
The squatter disappeared inside the building.
"A pile of fun they'll have without their president," grunted a
sophomore.
Tessibel gathered her empty basket upon her arm and amid the smiling
looks of the students who stood watching her she walked away with her
head high in the air.
But Dan Jordan, with a mighty yell, triumphantly taken up by his
classmen, grasped the hat from the squatter's head. The smiling, open
face of Frederick Graves was before them. The sophomores never quite
puzzled out how the freshman president was in his chair at the banquet,
and directly in front of him in the place of honor was a huge dish of
eels.
* * * * *
Shaking the snow from her shoulders like a great dog in a storm, Tess
knocked softly on the Longman shanty door. Mrs. Longman had gone to the
city with Satisfied, and Myra, with the whining brat in her arms,
welcomed her.
One whole week had passed since Tess had seen the student--seven long
interminable days since--and now she had come to ask Myra Longman some
of the mysterious questions about the kiss that Frederick had given her.
Myra relinquished the child to her and the little fellow sank to sleep
under Tessibel's crooning voice. His regular breathing told her that he
slept; she placed him in the box and sat thoughtfully down.
"Air Ben Letts been here lately?" she asked after a pause.
Myra shook her head.
"He ain't got no time for such as the brat and me," she replied
bitterly.
Tess waited until Myra had ceased scattering the shanty chairs in her
rage.
"Did he say as how he loved ye that night in the storm on the ragged
rocks?" she asked presently.
"Yep, he did say it, he did," answered Myra.
"Air he--air he a-knowin'--how to kiss?"
The very word slipping from her lips brought back with a sudden joy that
night a week ago, and the never-to-be-forgotten kiss of the student. She
could feel again the warm, strong lips pressed to hers--the long
muscular arms enfolding her.
Myra scanned her face closely.
"To kiss--yep; but he ain't never kissed the brat."
There was wonderful longing and passion in her tones.
This was a new thought for Tess. The "Pappy" should kiss his brat--but
were they one and the same kisses? She remembered the sweetness of that
first caress "Daddy" had given her on the stone window ledge of his
cell. It was tinged with bittersweet--bitter because Daddy was going
away, sweet because she had desired it so fondly. But it had not been
like the student's kiss. She was going to ask Myra Longman to solve the
first great problem of her life.
"Air the kisses what ye had from Ben Letts--burnin' ones? Did ye lose
the thought of the night and the night things on the ragged rocks?...
Did ye want 'em again and again--more and more kisses till they scorched
yer face like the bread oven in the spring?"
Tess had risen to her feet, had whitened to the small ears covered with
the tawny hair. Myra had risen also. Both girls were eying each other
with intentness. Tess started to speak again, coming forward a step
toward the other squatter.
"Did ye forget the storm, the wavin' trees and all 'cept--Ben Letts?"
"Ye air been to the ragged rocks," moaned Myra, sinking down upon the
floor in a heap.
In a twinkling the meaning of Myra's words dawned upon Tessibel.
"I ain't been there with Ben Letts," she replied suddenly. "I ain't got
no likin' for the brat's Pa's kisses--"
"But ye hev been to the ragged rocks," insisted Myra, settling back with
a sob against the box where the child slept.
"Nope, I ain't; but I had a kiss, and Myra, it were--like the singin' in
the heavens what the song tells about--like the feelin' in here," she
placed her hand upon her heart, her eyes flashing golden, "when the
world air filled with flowers and the birds air a singin'.... Were it
like that with Ben Letts? Were it?"
"Nope," replied Myra sulkily, "Ben Letts ain't got no singin' kisses."
She rose languidly, tucked the blanket closer about the sleeping child's
head.
"Tessibel," she broke forth hoarsely, "for all women folks there air
brats a cryin' for their Pa's to tell 'em yep or nope. And there air men
a-walkin' on the ragged rocks with singin' kisses for yer pretty face
and tangled hair. There air a brat sleepin' till it's dead in the box."
The tired young mother allowed her hungry gaze to fall upon the quiet
infant. "Tessibel, yer brat--"
But Tessibel bounded out of the door, over the snow-covered rocks like a
deer. She would not lose the sweetness of the kiss in Myra's warning
words--that penetrating holy kiss she had treasured for seven long days
and nights.
* * * * *
The torturing thoughts that had filled the mind of Professor Young at
finding Frederick Graves in the cabin of the fisher-girl were new
sensations to him. He loved Tessibel, and in her lay his future
happiness. Her stolid indifference to his endeavors to aid her through
her father had blasted his hopes somewhat. Then again he would
feverishly reason that she had been born to overlook all save those whom
she desired and for whom she fought. It was like her kind. Excuses for
the girl in the aid she had given the student ran willingly through his
brain. If Tess had seen the young fellow in the storm, it was but like
the tender, loving heart to aid him. It was no proof that Frederick had
found a place in her affections. With these thoughts in his mind he had
worked for several days, quietly hoping that the girl might seek him.
Tess found him waiting at the shanty door for her one afternoon after
returning from town. She smiled a welcome as she recognized her visitor.
"It air about Daddy ye comed," she said, lifting the padlock from the
staple.
"Yes, child, I wanted to tell you of some new friends your father has
made in Ithaca--strong friends to aid him."
"Friends," echoed Tess wonderingly. "Daddy Skinner had fishermen for his
friends--and not people of Ithacy--come in," she added. The fire
crackled on the hearth and Tess sat down to listen with open lips.
"I can't explain just how this came about," said Young, "but some of the
people who were in the court-room the day your father was convicted have
risen to befriend him."
Professor Young did not add that he himself had urged that money should
be raised for a second defense.
"So last night," he went on, "there was a meeting of several prominent
men and money has been placed in my hands for another trial for your
father."
Tess tried to understand the long words, and blinked knowingly. The
import of it was plain. Daddy was coming back--but how soon?
"When air he comin' home, then?" she demanded.
"After another trial.... See if you can read this?"
From a long envelope the lawyer took a piece of paper. Tess examined it
carefully for some moments. Young eyeing her with a sense of happiness.
He would fight for this child as man never before fought for woman. She
would love him out of gratitude if for nothing else. He took the paper
she was holding out to him.
"Can't read a damn word--can't read writin' anyway. Tell me what it says
about Daddy."
"It's a list of names," replied Young, "mostly members--"
"Of Graves' church?" put in Tess eagerly.
Hadn't the student been praying for just this? she thought.
"Yes; they are all desirous to see your father home again with his
little daughter."
"Air the minister givin' money for Daddy?" was the anxious demand.
Young shook his head. He felt a sudden swift-coming desire to tell her
enough about the minister's family to make her hate them all. Deforest
Young realized for the first time that he was jealous of the student, of
a tall dark lad of whom in the past he had taken no more notice than of
many other students.
He drew a long breath.
"Not exactly the minister," said he, flushing with shame. "Here--let me
read the names to you. William Hopkins of the toggery shop, one hundred
dollars. Do you know him?"
Tess shook her head in the negative.
"Deacon Hall and his wife Augusta gave one hundred dollars."
"I know her," Tess cried, "and I knows him a little, too. I tooked them
berries and fish--they has a cottage below the ragged rocks."
"And there's the druggist, Mr. Bates--he did not put down his name on
the list, but he gave fifty dollars."
Tessibel listened to the explanations as Young read on, making it all
plain to her as he proceeded.
She was leaning far over toward him, her chin resting on her open palm.
"They be dum good blokes, to give their money to a squatter, ain't
they?"
The professor started perceptibly. She did not understand that all had
been done under his supervision; he had tried to impress upon her his
great desire to help her, but no words of praise fell from her lips for
him. He would have willingly given worlds had she said that he was "a
dum good bloke."
"They are all sorry for you and your father," he ended lamely.
"It was the student, Graves, what brought Daddy the money," she burst
out with a vivid blush.
"No, the student, Graves, had nothing to do with it," was the grim
reply.
"He's a-been prayin' since Daddy went away--that air somethin'," Tess
said stubbornly.
Professor Young rose--then seated himself again. He had come for
something else, something that meant work and satisfaction for him.
"Now that your father is sure to be saved, will you leave this hut?" he
asked peremptorily.
"Nope!"
"But it's not fit for you to be here alone, Tessibel. Listen ... I'll
save your father's squatter rights, if you will study in some good
school until he returns."
"Aw, cuss! Who air to pay all the money?" Tess got to her feet with
effort.
"I will," deliberately answered Young.
"Nope, I air goin' to stay here," snapped Tess. "I can fish and live
likes I have been doin' till Daddy comes. I promised him I'd stay. I can
read the Bible now," she ejaculated, promptly producing the book from
under the blankets of the bed. "I's a-readin it every day.... If ye
don't believes, ye can listen and see."
She tossed back the curls from her shoulders as she ended emphatically:
"I air a goin' to bring Daddy home through this here book--the student
says."
Again the terrible jealousy of the handsome student flashed alive in the
professor. Tess had opened the Bible to a chapter she had never read
before.
"And straightway in the morning," she spelled, "the chief priests--Aw,
that ain't no good! Wait till I find about Daddy."
Then suddenly she threw the Bible down upon the floor.
"There air places what says as how Daddy air a comin' home. The student
says it air there. I ain't found it yet but I air a-lookin' for it every
day. 'Tain't in that place where I just read about them geezers, the
priests."
The lawyer stood up. A pain seized him. He would save this ignorant girl
in spite of herself, marry her in spite of Frederick Graves. It would be
as difficult as scaling the icy mountains, but he would force her to
love him more than the whole world.
"You understand," he said shortly, "that these good people have given
money toward helping your father come home. It will be some time before
the trial will come up, but when it does--I will bring him back to you."
The assurance in his tones brought Tess to his side.
"Ye be a lawyer," she said abruptly, "and the squatters says as how
lawyers air liars and tramps, but ye ain't no tramp, and ye ain't no
liar, ye ain't--and when I sells a lot of fish I air bringin' ye the
money for what ye air a doin' for Daddy and me. I says once and I says
again as how ye air Daddy's friend, and I air glad that the student's
meeting-house folks gived ye a little money to help us."
Mist had gathered in her eyes and she slipped her fingers into Professor
Young's. She laid her lips upon his hand, covering it with tears and
kisses. Opening the shanty doors, she said:
"I likes ye, I likes ye, but how much a squatter's brat likes don't make
no difference. Ye go now, for the tracks get dark about five."
"I have my horse at the top of the hill," replied Young, confusedly.
The sensation from the moist lips upon his flesh prompted him for one
brief moment to take the girl to him. He was filled with a strange
desire to force this rude shanty maid from her surroundings and place
her in another life with him.