The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-08-29

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Along the north line came Freckles
fairly staggering When he turned east
and reached Sleepy Snake creek, slid
ing through the swale like the long
black snake for which Il was named
be sat down on the bridge and closed
his burning eyes. but they would not
stay shut As II pulled by wires, tbs
heavy lids dew open and the outraged
nerves and muscles OF his body
danced. twitched and tingled-
He bent forward and idly watched
the limpid little stream flowing be-
meath his feet. Stretching back into
the swale. 1t came creeping between
an impenetrable wall OF magnificent
wild flowers. vines and ferns. Milk
weed. goldenrod. ironwort. fringed
gentians. cardinal flowers and turtle
head stood on the very edge OF the
creek. and every flower OF them grew
a double in the water. Wild clematls
crowned with snow the heads of trees
scattered here and there along the
bank.
Freckles sat so still that presently
the brim OF his hat was covered with
snake feeders. rasping their crisp
wings and singing as they rested.
Some OF them settled on the club and
one on his shoulder. He was so quiet
and feathers. fur and gauze were so
accustomed 10 him that all about the
swale they went on with their daily
Life and forgot he was there.
The heron family waded about the
mouth of the creek. Freckles Idly
wondered whether the nerve racking
rasps they occasionally emitted indi-
Gated domestic felicity or a raging
quarrel. A sheitpoke. with faring
crest. went stalking across a bare
space near the creeks mouth. A
stately brown bittern waded out into
the clear flowing water. lifting his feet
high ut every step and setting them
down gingerly. as II he dreaded wet
ting them. and. with slightly parted
beak. stood eagerly watching about
him for worms. Behind him were
some mighty trees of the swamp
above. and below the bank glowed a
solid wall OF goldenrod.
No wonder the ancients had chosen
yellow as the color to represent vic
tory. for the fierce. conquering hue OF
the sun was In II. They had done well.
too. In choosing purple as the color Of
royalty. II was a dlgnified. compelling
color. and In It's warm tone there was
4 hint Of blood
II was the Limberlost's hour TO pro
claim her sovereignty and triumph.
she Haunted her yellow
banner and trailed the purple Of her
that was paler in the thistle
heads. took on strength in the first
opening asters. and glowed and burned
In the ironwort
Compellingly beautiful was the Lin
berlost. but cruel withal: far back in
there bleached the uncofiined bones Of
her victims. and she had missed era
ding him. oh. so narrowly!
Below the turtle log. a dripping silver
gray head. with shining eyes. was eau
iously lifted. and Freckles' hand slid
around to his revolver. Higher and
higher came the head: q long. heavy.
fur coated body rose. now half. now
.hree-fourths out of the water.
Freckles looked at his shaking hand
Ind doubted. but he gathered his
forces. the shot rang out. and the otter
ny still He hurried down and tried
% lift H. He could scarcely muster
TO carry It to the bridge. The
that he really could not
20 farther with II made Freckles TO
llize the fact that he was well up TO
he limit Of human endurance. He
sould bear Il little. II any, longer.