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The next ers' boats, loaded with household goods, one by one as they passed This ti winter, and told Tess a few more weeks would see the snow piled up about the hut and the lake covered with ice Deacon Hall's private launch stea heaped up on the bow One after another of the su for the hill-house people also to leave

She heard Frederick's voice in the lane, and closed the door, pressing her face to theShe saw him climb into his father's little yacht to e Teola, too, was on the shore, and Tess saw the girl turn longing eyes toward the hut Then, with a boyish tug at his belt, Frederick started up the hill His face in profile showed the squatter that he had changed--he was thinner, paler, and looked years older Closer pressed the sweet face to the dirty pane, brighter grew the brown eyes Drawn by his own desire, the student turned and looked at her First an expression of eagerness leaped into his face; then one of sorrow settled upon it He went on to the cottage without even nodding his head He would soon come doith his father, mother and sister Babe, and Tess would see hi child, and did not hear the hut door open softly

"Tess, Tess! It's Teola, dear What is the matter?"

The squatter choked back her tears, and sat up

"There ain't nothin' the matter," she replied sulkily "I can cry if I wants to, can't I?"

"But, Tessibel, I have never seen you cry like that before, never! Is it ave it to me It will buy soain Darling little man! Your mother does love you, even if she must leave you Tess, he looks worse than he did when I went ho him to the church to-morrow?"

"Yep"

"And, Tess, I left a lot of white cloths on the pear-tree near the barn I could not bring them to you before, for Mother only sorted the Oh, the baby looks so thin and ill, Tess!"

Tears trickled down upon the infant Teola pressed her lips again and again to the thin e sharply against the dead blue of the rest of the baby face