The Irish standard., 1912-02-03
~An-an was YOU looking for me?"

Il hoped | might find you," said the
angel. you see, l didn't do as was
told, and I'm lost. The Bird Woman
said l should stay in the carriage until
she came back. She's been gone hours.
It's perfect Turkish bath in there,
and I'm all lumpy with mosquito bites.
Just when l thought that | couldn't
bear 1t another minute. along comes
the biggest Papilio Ajax you ever saw.
I knew how pleased she'd be, so 1 ran
after it. 1t flew SO slow and so low
that thought Il dozen times had it.
Then all at once it went out of sight
over the trees, and l couldn't find my
way back to save me. 1 think I've
walked over an hour. l have been
mred to my knees. a thorn ralled my
arm until it is bleeding, and I'm so
tired and warm."
She parted the bushes still further
Freckles saw that her little blue cot
ton frock clung to her, limp with per-
SEPARATION. 1t was torn across the
breast. One sleeve hung open from
shoulder to elbow. A thorn had ralled
her arm until 1t was covered with
blood, and the gnats and mosquitoes
were clustering about it. Her feet
were in lace hose and low shoes.
Frecklcs gasped. In the Limberlost
In low shoes! He caught an armful
of moss from his carpet and buried it
in the ooze in front of her for foot
ing.
Get out here where I can see where
Won are stepping. Quick, for the life
of your he ordered.
She smiled OH him indulgently.
"Why?" she inquired.
"Did anybody let you come here and
not he telling you of the snakes?"
urged Frcckles.
1--WE met Mr.. Mclean on the cordu-
roy, and he did say something about
snakes, believe. The Bird Woman
put on leather leggins, and nice,
parboilcd time she must be having!
Worst dose ever had, and I'd moth
ing to do but swelter."
Twill you be coming out Of there?"
groancd Frecklcs.
She laughed ms if it We're Il fine joke.
maybe if Id be telling you l killed
a RATHER curlcd up OH that same place
you're standing as long as me body
and the thickness of me arm you'd be
moving where can see your footing"
he urged insistently.
What a perfectly delightful little
brogue you speak," she said. "My IA
Their is Irish, and half ought to be
enough to entitle me to do that much.
'Maybe--if Fd-be telling you,'" she
initiated, rounding and accounting each
word carefully.
"If you was understanding the dam
ger" he continued desperately.
"Oh. don't think there is much!"
She tilted on the morass.
"lf you killed one snake here it's
probably all there is near, and any
way the Bird Woman says a rattle
snake is IL gentleman and always gives
warning before he strikes. l don't
hear any rafting. DO your
"Would you be knowing it If you
did," asked Frcckles almost impa-
ticntly.
How the laugh of the young thing
ripplcd!
"Would be knowing it?' she mock
cd "Well, you should see the swamps
of Michigan where they dump rattlers
out of the mari dredges three and four
ut IL time"
Freckles stood astounded. She did
know She was not in the least afraid.
She was depending on II rattlcsnake to
live up to his share of the contract
nnd rattle in time for her to move.
The one characteristic an Irishman adj
mlres in woman above all others is
courage. Frecklcs worshiped anew.
He changed his tactics
I'D be pleased to be receiving you
ut me front door," he said, "but as you
have arrived at the back, will you
come in and be seated?"
He waved toward a bench.
The angel came instantly.
"Oh, how lovely and cool" she cried.
| AS she moved across his room Free
klcs had hard work to keep from falling
ON his knees, for they were very weak,
and he was hard driven by an impulse
to worship.
Ibid you arrange thisY" she asked.
"Yis," said Freckles simply.
"Somc one must come with a big
| canvas and copy each side of it, she
said. 81 never saw anything so beau-
tiful. How wish I might stay here
with you! will, some day, if you will
] let me; but now, If you can spare the
time, will you help me look for the
carriage? If the Bird Woman comes
back and finds me gone she will be
almost distracted"
"Did you come in on the west road?"
asked Freckles.
81 think So" she said "The man
who told the Bird Woman said that
| was the only place where the wires
were down. We drove away III, and
1t was drcadful-over stumps and logs.
and in to the hubs. suppose you
know, though. I should have stayed
in the carriage, but I was so tired. I