Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-30
f||RECkLES
N
Gene SGraGG@m@
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DouBLE EBAY. PAGE
q 90.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BIRD WOMAN.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE BIRD WOMAN.
~RECKLES was amazed to hear
In hizaself excusing. 1T was so
III hot in there. You couldn't be
IL expected to bear it for hours
and not be moving. I can take you
back around the trail almost to where
you were. Then you can get up in
the carriage. and l will go find the
Bird Woman"
you'll get killed If you do! When
she stays this long. it means that she
has q focus on something. You see.
when she gets focus, and lies in the
weeds and water for hours. and the
sun bakes her. and things crawl over
her, and then some one comes along
and scares her bird away just as she
has it coaxed up-why. she kills them.
II melt. you won't go after her.
She's probably blistered and half
eaten up. but she will never quit until
she is satisfied"
Then it will be safer to be taking
care Of YOU" suggested Freckles.
~ " you're talking sense" said the
angel,
MAY try to help your arm:" he
asked.
"Have you any idea how it hurts?"
she parted.
"a little" said Freckles.
"Well. Mr.. Mclean said we'd prob
ably fad his son here
Ills son. cried Freckles.
'That's what he said. And that you
would do anything you could for us.
and that we could trust you with our
lives. But l would have trusted you
anyway. if hadn't known thing
about you. Say. your father is ram
paging proud of you, isn't he?"
Il don't know" answered the dazed
Treckles.
"Hes So proud Of you he is all
swelled up like the toad in Aesop's ia
bles. If you have ever had an arm
hurt like this and can do anything,
why. for pity sake do it,"
She turned back her sleeve, holding
out to Freckles an arm Of palest cameo.
Freckles unlocked his case and band
aged the ugly. ragged wound. rs
worked with trembling fingers and
face tense with earnestness.
"Is It feeling any better?" he asked.
ooh. it's we'll now" cried the angel.
"1t doesn't hurt at all any more"
The veivety touch Of her warm arm
was tingling in Freckles' finger tips.
Dainty laces and fine white stuffs
peeped through her torn dress. There
were beautiful rings On her fingers.
Every article about her was of the
finest material and in excellent taste.
There was the trembling Limberlost
guard in his coarse clothing. with his
cotton rags and his old pail Of swamp
water Freckles was sufficiently ac-
customed to contrasts to notice them
and sufficiently fine to be hurt by them
always.
He lifted his eyes to hers with a
shadowy pain in them and found them
Of serene, unconscious purity.
1--WE must go and find the carriage"
said the angel, rising.
Freckles led the way, sharply watch
ing every step. He went as near the
log as he felt that he dared and with
little searching found the carriage.
'.This is a shame"' said Freckles.
you'll never be coming here again."
ooh. yes, l shall.' said the angel.
"The Bird Woman says that these birds
stay over a month in the nest and she
would like to make picture every
few days for seven or eight weeks
perhaps"
Freckles barely escaped crying out
for joy.
'"Then don't you ever be torturing
yourself and your horse to be coming
in here again." he said. I'm show
you way to drive almost to the nest
on the east trail, and then. you can
come around to my room and stay
while the Bird Woman works. It's
nearly always cool there, and there's
comfortable seats and water"
"Oh! Did you have drinking water
there" she cried. Il was never so
thirsty or 50 hungry in my life. but
I thought I wouldn't mention it."
"And I had not the wit to be see
lngr' walled Freckles. II can be get.
ting you a good drink in no time"
He turned to the trail.
PLEASE wait minute" called the
angel. whats your name? I want
to think about you while you are
gone"
Freckles smiled quizzically.
"'Freckles:" she guessed, with a peal
Of laughter. And mine is''-
"Hm knowing yours" interrupted
Ffeckles.
II don't believe you do. What is
IT." asked the girl.
"You won't be getting angry~
mot until I've had the water at
least"
It was Freckles' turn to laugh. He
whipped OF his big, doppy straw hat,
stood uncovered before her and said
In the sweetest Of all the sweet tones
Of his voice, There's nothing you
could be but the Swamp Angel"
The girl laughed happily.