He sank down, and rested his head on his arms upon the chair back, his shoulders shaking violently.
The minister came to Tessibel's side. He placed a pitying hand on her head, facing his elders.
"Let her go home, brethren," he entreated. "You can't make her do this thing if she refuses, and the ... business can go on without her."
"She's a wicked girl," snorted Ebenezer, with a bitter twist of his lips.
"I say to let her go," repeated Griggs.
"And I say she shall be punished," Waldstricker glared from the minister to the elders and then rested his gaze on Frederick, who was by this time sobbing in great gulps.
Pastor Griggs considered his parishioner's angry face. Griggs was young and stood in awe of some members of his flock--Waldstricker most of all, but the sight of the girl in such anguish overcame his timidity, and he cried: "Let him that is without sin among you first cast a stone at her."
Tessibel sank sobbing to the floor, and her pastor stood by her side, hand uplifted, waiting.
Then over Ebenezer's countenance flashed a look of self-righteous fanaticism, which made large the pupils of his dark eyes and inflamed his swarthy skin deepest crimson. He strode to the stove, picked from the scuttle a ragged chunk of coal, and when he turned again, he had changed from red to white. Crazed, he took two steps toward the kneeling girl.
"I can cast the first stone," he said swiftly.
He lifted his arm and before any man could stay his hand, something whirled through the intervening space and struck the kneeling squatter girl. High pandemonium broke loose. Voices, some censorious, some approving, contended.
"I have first cast a stone at her," cried Waldstricker, above the din. "Let others follow if they dare!"
Tessibel crouched lower to the floor, a bleeding wound in her neck. She had made no outcry when the missile met and lacerated her flesh. Dully, she wondered if they intended to kill her, and for a moment a sickening dread took possession of her when she thought of Daddy and Andy. She was growing faint and dizzy, but struggled to her feet as Griggs took her arm. He led her through the Chapel aisle, pushing aside the other men. At the door, Tess caught one glimpse of Sandy Letts' dark, passionate face.
"Go home," the minister said hoarsely; "and may God forgive us all."
* * * * * How Tessibel found her way home, she could never afterwards tell. Spent by the struggle with the storm, she staggered into the shanty. It took almost the last atom of her strength to close the door against the howling blizzard. Leaning against the wall, she looked up and saw Andy staring at her from the hole in ceiling, his fingers on his lips.