"Child, if I bring your father back to you, will you—marry me?"
The unexpected question sent Tess staggering back; a tearful smile spread the red lips.
"Ye'r' batty," she said presently, with a dissenting shake of the red curls. "Ye'r' gone plumb crazy.... I's a squatter, nothin' but a squatter. I stays here with Daddy. I marries no man. See?"
The proud face of Frederick Graves rose before her. She turned away with a groan.
Young misinterpreted her expression.
"Circumstances have made you a squatter.... Sit down. I want to say more to you, Tess. Don't say you won't marry me, just yet. When your father comes home, we will talk to him about it.... I love you, child."
"My Daddy air a-wantin' me with him," faltered Tess. "He said oncet as how he wouldn't give me to nobody. Ezy Longman wanted me to marry him, but I hated him.... I don't now, though, 'cause he air dead."
"Tessibel, will you let me give you some money to buy milk for the strange little boy?"
"Somebody gived me some money after my lickin' last night, so I don't need none now."