Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-04-04
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"On, yes, l Shall!' said the angel.
1.-THE Bird Woman says that these birds
stay over a month in the nest and she
Would like to make a picture every
few days for seven or eight weeks
perhaps"
Freckles barely escaped crying out
for JOY.
"Then don't you ever be %torturing
yourself and your horse to be coming
in here again." he said. "I1l show
you a way to drive almost to the nest
on the east trail, and then you can
come around to my room and stay
While the Bird Woman works. It's
nearly always cool there, and there's
comfortable seats and water"
ooh. Did you have drinking water
there:' she cried. II was lever so
thirsty or so hungry in my life, but
l thought I wouldn't mention it."
"And l had not the wit to be see
ing!!' walled Freckles. 81 can be get
ting you a good drink in no time"
He turned to the trail.
"Please wait a minute" called the
angel. whats your name? 1 want
to think about you while you are
gone"
Freckles smiled quizzically.
."Freckles:' she guessed, with a peal
of laughter. "And mine is
"1'm knowing yours" interrupted
Freckles.
81 don't believe you do. What is
it" asked the girl.
"You won't be getting angry?"
"Not until I've had the water at
least"
1t was Freckles' turn to laugh. He
whipped off his big, foppy straw hat,
stood uncovered before her and said
in the sweetest of all the sweet tones
of his voice, There's nothing you
could be but the Swamp. Angel"
The girl laughed happily.
Once out of her sight Freckles ran
every step Of the way to the cabin.
Mrs. Duncan gave him a small bucket
of water, cool from the we'll. He r
ried it in the crook of his right arm
and a basket filled with bread and
butter, cold meat, apple pie and pickles
in his left hand.
"Pickles are kind O cooling" said
Mrs. Duncan.
The angel was on her knees reach
ing for the bucket as he came up.
"Be drinking SLOW" he cautioned
her.
Freckles stood blinking in the daz-
zling glory of her smile.
"Mercy..' she exclaimed. 81 think
I had best be naming you the angel
my guardian angel"
"Yis,' said Freckles. II look the
character every day, but today most
emphatic"
Angels don't go by looks laughed
the girl. Your father told us you had
been scrapping. But he told us why.
I'd gladly wear all your cuts and
bruises il l could do anything that
would make my father look as pea
cocky as yours did. He strutted about
proper. l never saw any one look
prouder."
"Did he say he was proud Of me?:'
marveled Freckles.
HE didn't need to-" answered the
angel. "He was radiating pride from
every pore"
The angel spread the lunch on the
carriage seat. The daintiest parts she
could select she carefully put back into
the basket. The rest she ate. AS he
watched her with famished eyes
Freckles told her of his birds, flowers
and books.
Suddenly the angel cried. "There
comes the Bird Woman"
She was staggering under a load of
cameras and paraphernalia. Freckles
took all be could carry and helped her
into the carriage.
Soon they were out of the swamp.
Then he showed them how to reach
the chicken tree from the outside, in
Dictated a cooler place for the horse
and told them how the next time they
came the angel could find his room
while she waited.
Were you forgetting Little Chick
ems picture" Freckles asked the Bird
Woman.
"Why do you. call the baby vulture
Little Chicken" she asked.
"'Twas Duncan began it," said
Freckles. "You see. through the fierce
cold of winter the birds of the swamp
were almost starving. 1t is mighty
lonely here. and they were all the COM
pany I was having. I got to carrying
scraps and grain down to them. Dun
can was that ginerous he was giving
me of his wheat and corn from his
chickens feed, and he called the birds
me swamp chickens. Then when
these big black fellows came, Mr.. Nc
Lean said they were our nearest kind
to some in the old world that they
called 'Pharoah's Chickens and he
called mine 'Freckles' Chickens"
Good enough" cried the Bird Wo-
a "You must shoot something for
them occasionally, and I'll bring more
food when I come. If you will help
me keep them until I get my series, I'll
give you a copy of each study I make,
mounted in a book"
.'Tll be doing me very BEST" prom
Used the boy, and from the deeps he
n,e1nt If