"Come on, come," Boy cried, tugging at her dress.
Frederick struggled to his feet, and held out his arms.
"Tessibel, oh, my Tess, be kind," he supplicated.
But she'd taken the child's hand and without answering, was making her way swiftly backward to the rock-path.
CHAPTER XLI
Tessibel's Discovery
Frederick stood for one tense minute watching Tessibel hurry over the rocks. Many times he had pictured this interview, ... even framed the sentences in which he would express his remorse and win her forgiveness. It had never occurred to his brooding thought that the years of absence which had increased his own ardor, might have lessened the squatter girl's regard for him. But the meeting wasn't working out as he'd planned. He'd been almost paralyzed at her coming, speechless except for the few halting words of entreaty. 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."