Straining her eyes into the darkness, while the angels' message tugged
at her heart strings, the overwrought girl saw another vision. Boy
smiled upon her out of the storm. Ineffable happiness shone in the
lovely face and steady eyes. Freed from mortal chance and change, she
beheld him safe and secure in the everlasting now of eternity. The
apprehension of Life's unalterable continuity--unfolding to her uplifted
thought--destroyed the hopeless sense of separation and banished hate
and anger from her heart. The compelling light of reawakened Love
penetrated the inmost recesses of her spirit, and dissipated the shadows
of discord and resentment. Peace possessed her. While the wonder of her
healing held her motionless a little longer, the song she'd often sung
to Boy at twilight came bubbling to her lips.
"In heavenly love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear."
Amazed, Andy stepped to her side. Gratitude for his darling's
deliverance filled his heart. Turning to him, she put one arm around his
shoulders. His throaty tenor joined the caroling soprano.
"The storm may roar without me,
My heart may low be laid,"
Above the raging of the wind, they lifted the triumphant refrain,
"But God is round about me,
How can I be dismayed?"
Moving into the brighter light of the shaded lamp, she seemed
transfigured. All the strained hurt look was gone. The brown eyes
expressed a deep brooding content and the bright face glowed with love.
"Tess, dear Tess," cried Andy, "you found 'im, didn't ye, Tess? It air
wonderful."
"Boy lives forever!" the smiling lips ejaculated.
A tiny snore directed their attention to the little girl in the big
rocking chair.
"Wrap her up, Andy," Tess directed. "I'm going to take her home."
Andy's shaking hands could hardly do the girl's bidding.
"It's an awful night, brat. Can you do it?"
"I'll get her back, all right," promised Tess, and she went out and down
the stairs.
When she came back, Andy viewed her with amazement. She stood tall and
slender before him, dressed like a stripling youth in one of Deforrest
Young's riding suits, boots on her feet and a cap in her hand.
"I couldn't walk in a dress," she explained simply. "Help me wrap up my
hair. I've got to go cross-lots."
Quickly, Andy fastened the shining curls under the big cap. Elsie was
still asleep in the blankets. Tess picked her up and went out into the
hall and down the stairs. When the dwarf opened the outside door, the
stinging gale slashed at the open portal.
"God help my brat!" prayed Andy. Tess looked into his face a moment, and
then strode away with her burden.