Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-06-04

L
She was staggering under load ol
cameras and paraphernalia. Freckles
took all he could carry and helped hel
into the carriage.
Soon they were out Of the swamp
| Then he showed them how to reach
the chicken tree from the outside, in
dicated 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 ChickenT" she asked.
"'Twas Duncan began It," said
Freckles. you see. through the fierce
cold Of winter the birds Of the swamp
were almost starving. It is mighty
lonely here. and they were all the com
pany was having. 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-
man. "You must shoot something for
them occasionally. and I'll bring more
food when I come. If you will help
me keep them until get my series, I'll
give you a copy of each study I make,
mounted in book"
"I'll be doing me very best" prom
.sed the boy, and from the deeps he
meant it.
Il wonder If that other egg is going
to hutch:' mused the Bird Woman.
81 am afraid not. 1t should have been
out today. Isn't 1t beauty? l never
saw either an egg or the young before.
They are rare this far north"
$50 Mr.. Mclean said," answered
Freckles.
The Bird Woman gave him her hand
nj parting. and Freckles joyfully real
ized that here was going to be another
person for him to love. Freckles
couldn't remember, after they had
driven away. that they had even no.
ticed his missing hand, and for the
first time in his life he had forgot
ten 1t.
When the Bird Woman and the an
gel were we'll on the home road the
angel told of the little corner OF para
disc into which she had strayed and
of her new name.
"Did YOU know Mr.. Mclean had a
SOM" asked the angel. Isn't the little
accent he has and the way be twists
a sentence too dear? And isn't 1t too
old fashioned and funny to hear him
call his father mister?"
ut sounds too good to be true" said
the Bird Woman, answering the last
question first. II am so tired with
these present day young men that
patronizingly Gull their fathers dad,
governor old man and old chap
that the boys attitude Of respect and
Difference struck me as being as nne
as silk. There must be something rare
about that young man."
But she did not find 1t necessary to
tell the angel that for several years
she had known the man who so proud
" proclaimed himself Freckles' father
to be bachelor and Scotchman.
The Bird Woman had fine way OF
attending strictly to her own business.
Freckles turned back to the trail. but
stopped at every wild brier and looked
at the pink satin Of the petals. She
was not Of his world. and better than
any other he knew 1t: but she might be
his angel. and he was dreaming OF
naught but blind. silent worship. he
finished the happiest day Of his life.
and that night he went back to the
swamp as If drawn by magnet. That
Wessner would try for his revenge he
knew. That he would be abetted by
Black Jack was almost certain, but
fear had fed the happy heart Of Freck-
les. He had kept his trust. He had
won the respect of the boss. Nobody
could ever wipe from his heart the
food of holy alteration that had welled
up with the coming Of his angel.
At the edge Of the clearing he came
out into the bright moonlight, ana
there sat Mclean on his mare. FrecK-
les hurried up to him.
"Is there trouble?" be asked anxious
ly.
THAT'S what I wanted to ask you"
said the boss. 81 stopped at the cabin
to see you minute before turned In.
and they said you had come down
here. You must not do 1t. Freckles."
Freckles stood combing his fingers
through Nellie's name, and the dainty
creature was twisting her head around
to his caresses. He pushed back his
hat and looked up into McLean's face.
'Tt's come to the sleep with one eye
open,, sir. I'm not looking for any
thing to be happening for week or
two, but it's bound to come, and soon.
II I'm to keep me trust as I've prom
ised you and meself, I've to live here
mostly until the gang comes. You
must be knowing that. SIR"
'T'm afraid it's true. Freckles." said
Mclean. "And I've decided to double
the guard until we get here. 1t will
only be a few weeks now. and I'm so
anxious for you that you must not be
left alone further. II anything should
happen to you, Freckles, 1t would spoil
one of the very dearest plans Of my
life"
Freckles heard with dismay the
proposition to place second guard.
"Oh! no. no. Mr.. Mclean" he cried
mot for the world! wouldn't be hav
ing a stranger around, soaring me
birds and tramping up me study and
disturbing all me ways for any money!
I am all the guard you need! will be
faithful. l will turn over the lease
with no tree missing-on me life,
will! Oh, don't be sending another
man to set them saying turned cow
ard and asked for help. 1t will just
kill the honor Of me heart II you do
1t. The only thing want Is another
gun"
Mclean handed a shining big revol'
yer down to Freckles, who slipped 1t