Oxford Democrat., 1912-06-11

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Just despise that 'saddest when l sing
business. You can sing! Now you go
over there and do 1t! I'm going to
come down the aisle playing that ac-
compartment, and when stop In front
Of you you sing
The angels face wore an unusual
flush. Her eyes were flashing. and
she was palpitating with earnestness.
She parted the bushes and disap-
peared. Freckles. straight as q young
pine and with the tenseness Of a war
horse scenting battle, stood waiting
Presently. before he saw she was
there. she was coming down the aisle
toward him. playing compellingly. and
riffs of light were touching her with
golden glory. Freckles stood as II
trans6xed.
The blood rioted in his veins.
The cathedral was majestically beau
tiful. from arched dome Of frescoed
gold, green and blue in never ending
shades and harmonies to the mosaic
aisle she trod. richly inlaid In choicest
colors and gigantic pillars that were
Gods handiwork fashioned and per-
fected down through ages Of sunshine
and rain. But the fair young face
and divinely nodded form of the angel
were his most perfect work OF all.
Never had she looked 80 surprisingly
beautiful
She was smiling encouragingly now.
and as she came toward him she struck
the chords full and strong.
The heart OF poor Freck!es almost
burst with dull pain and bis great
love for her. In his desire to fulhll
her expectations he forgot everything
else. and when she reached bis initial
chord he was ready. He literally burst
forth:
"Three little leaves OF Irish green
United on one stem.
Love. truth and valor do they mean.
They form u magic gem.
The angels eyes widened curiously.
and her lips fell apart. A heavier col
or swept into her cheeks. She had
intended 10 arouse him. She had sue
ceeded with a vengeance. She was
too young to know that In the effort
to rouse a man women frequently kin.
die fires that they can neither quench
nor control. Ereckles was looking out
over her head now and singing that
song US 1t had never been sung before
for her alone. and instead Of her help
ing him, as she had intended. he was
carrying her with him on the waves
of his voice away, away into a world
she knew not of. When be struck into
the chorus. wide eyed and painting.
she was swaying toward him and
playing for dear life to keep up.
"oh, do you love? Oh. say you love.
You love the shamrock green!"
At the last note Freckles' voice died
away and his eyes fastened on the
angels. He had given his best and
bis all. He fell on his knees and fold
ed his arms across his breast. The
angel, as If magnetized. walked straight
down the aisle to him and. running her
fingers into the crisp masses Of bis red
hair, tilted his head back and laid her
lips on his forehead.
Then she stepped back and faced
him. "Good boyw she said In a voice
that wavered from the throbbing VI
her shaken heart. Dear boy!
knew you could do 1t! knew 1t was
In you! Freckles, when you 60 out
into the world. II you can face a great
audience and sing like that. just once.
you will be immortal. and anything
you want will be yours"
"Anything?" gasped Freckles.
Anything" said the angel.
Freckles found his feet. muttefed
something and. catching up his old
bucket. plunged into the swamp blind
" on pre;ense Of getting water. The
angel walked slowly across the study
and sat down ON the rustic bench and
through narrowed lids intently studied
the tip of her shoe.