Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-04-04

WAS 1T REAL OR WOULD IT VANISH?
the middle Of the afternoon. He
would have long hours to work on his
flower bed, improve his study and
learn about his chickens.
The heat became more insistent.
Noon came, and Freckles ate his din
ner and settled for an hour or two on
a bench with Il book.
Perhaps there was a breath of
sound, Freckles could never afterward
remember, but for some reason he
lifted his head just as the bushes
parted and the face of an angel look
ed through. Saints, nymphs and fair
les had foated down his cathedral
aisle for him many times. with forms
and voices Of exquisite beauty.
Parting the wild roses by the en-
trance was beauty of which Freckles
had never dreamed. Was it real or
would it vanish as the other dreams
had done? He took a step nearer,
gazing intently. This was real flesh
and blood. And it was in every way
kin of the Limberlost, for no bird of
its branches swung with easier grace
than this dainty young thing rocked
on the bit of morass on which she
stood. A sapling beside her was not
straighter nor rounder than her slender
form. Her soft, waving hair chung
about her face with the heat, and
curled over her shoulders. It was all
of one piece with the gold of the sun
which filtered through the branches.
Her eyes were just the deepest blue Of
the iris, her lips the reddest of the
foXfire, and her cheeks exactly Of the
same satin as the wild rose petals ca
ressing them. She was smiling on
Freckles in perfect confidence, and
she cried, 'Oh, I'm SO delighted that
I've found you!'
"An'-an' was you looking for me?''
Quavered the boy, incredulous.
Il hoped 1 might find you," said the
angel. "You see, I didn't do as I was
told, and Pm lost. The Bird Woman
said I should stay in the carriage until
she came back. She's been gone hours.
It's a perfect Turkish bath in there.
and I'm all lumpy with mosquito bites.
Just when l thought that 1 couldn't
bear it another minute, along comes
the biggest Papilio Ajax you ever saw.
I knew how pleased she'd be, so I ran
after it. 1t flew so slow and so low
that l thought Il dozen times 1 had it.
Then all at once it went out of sight
over the trees, and 1 couldn't find my
way back to save me. [ think I've
walked over an hour. I have been
mired to my knees. A thorn raked my
tired and warm"
She parted the bushes still further.
Freckles saw that her little blue cot
ton frock chung to her, limp with per-
SEPARATION. 1t was torn across the
breast. One sleeve hung open from
shoulder to elbow. A thorn had raked
her arm until it was covered with
blood, and the gnats and mosquitoes
were clustering about it. Her feet
were in lace hose and low shoes.
Freckles 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 E foot
ing.
"Get out here where I can see where
you are stepping. Quick, for the life
of you" he ordered.
She smiled on him indulgently.
"Why?" she inquired.
"Did anybody let you come here and
not be telling you of the snakes?"
urged Freckles.
1--WE met Mr.. Mclean on the cordu.
roy, and he did say something abou,
snakes, 1 believe. The Bird Woman
put on leather leggins, and a nice,
parboiled time she must be having.
Worst dose l yer had, and I'd moth
ing to do but swelter."
will you be coming out of there?"
groaned Freckles.
She laughed as if it were a fire joke.
Maybe if I'd be telling you l killed
a RATHER curled up Oh that same place
you're standing as long as me body
and the thickness Of me arm you'd be
moving where l 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 muvh.
Maybe-if I'd-be telling you.'" she
initiated, rounding and %accenting each
word carefully.