Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-03-14

s,..lA:s. tlsAl-& SsexE
to hold It II We are a little latc II
he can't then have n special ready ut
the station and another on tho Pitts.
burg ut Fort Wayne 30 wo can 30
straight through. You needn't mind
leaving us. The Bird Woman will he
here soon.
When they stood ready to lift
Freckles the angel bent over him In
passion Of tenderness.
Dear old Limberlost guard. were
going to lift you now" she said. II
suspect you will faint from the pain
Of 1t. but we will be Just as easy rs
ever we can. and don't you dare
forget your promised"
A whimsical half smile touched
Freckles' qutvering lips.
"Angel, can a man be remembering
promise when he amt knowingT'
he asked.
you can" said the angel stoutly,
because promise means 40 much
more to you than 1t does to most men. y
A look Of strength flashed into
Freckies' face at her words.
II am ready" he said.
with the first touch his eyes closed,
a mighty groan was wrenched from
him, and he lay senseless. The angel
gave Duncan one panic stricken look.
Then she set her lips and gathered her
forces again.
II guess that's a good thing" she
| I'm hn
are hurting him. Oh, boys. are you
being quick and gentlei"
She stepped to the side Of the cot
and bathed Freckles' face. Taking his
| hand in hers. she gave the word to
start. She told the men to ask every
ablebodied man they met to Join them
so that they could change carriers
often and make good time
The Bird Woman insisted upon TAX.
ing the angel into the carriage and fol-
lowing the cot, but the angel refused
to leave Freckles and suggested that
the Bird Woman drive ahead, pack
them some clothing, and be at the sta.
ton ready to accompany them to Chi
cngo. All the way the angel walked
beside the cot, shading Frecles' face
and holding his hand. At every pause
to change carriers she moistened his
face and lips and counted each breath
with heartbreaking anxiety.
She scarcely knew when her father
Joined them, and, taking the branch
from her, slipped an arm about her
waist and almost carried her along.
To the city streets and the swarm Of
curious, staring faces she paid no more
attention than she had to the trees Of
the Lmberlost. When the train pull
ed in and the gang placed Frectes
aboard, Duncan made place for the
angel beside the cot.
With the best physician to be found.
and with the Bird Woman ana Nc.
Lean in attendance. the four hours
run to Chicago began. Not for an in.
slant would the angel yield her place
or allow any one else to do anything
for him. The Bird Woman and Nc.
Lean regarded her in amazement.
The. only time she spoke was to ask
Mclean If he was sure the special
would be ready on the pittsburg line.
lie replied that 1t was made ND and
waiting
At 8 o'clock Freckles lay stretched
on the operating table Of Lake View
hospital. while three of the greatest
surgeons in Chicago bent over him.
At their command. Mclean picked IN
the unwilling angel and carried her
out to the nurses to be bathed. have
her bruises attended to. and be nut
to bed.
In place where 1t is difficult to sur
prise people. they were astonished
women rs they removed the Angels
dainty stained and torn clothing.
peeled off hose muck baked to her
limbs. soaked the dried loan from her
silken hair and washed the beautiful,
scratched, bruised, dirt covered body.
The angel fell fast asleep Iong peIor.
they had finished. and lay deeply un.
conscious, while the fight for Freckles'
dfe was being waged.
Three days later she was up early
and lowering near Frcckles' door,
The surgeon was with him. The
angel had been told that the word
he brought that morning would he
final, 80 she curled up in a window
seat. dropped the curtains behind her.
and, In dire anxiety, waited the open
ing Of that closed door
Just as 1t Enclosed. Mclean came
hurrying down the hall and up to tho
surgeon. but with one glance ut his
face he stepped back in dismay. and
the angel. who had risen. sank to the
seat again. too dazed to come forward.
The men faced each other. The
angel, with parted lips and frightened
eyes, bent forward In tense anxiety.
IL thought he was doing nicely?"
faltered Mclean.
'IIe bore the operation WE'LL" re-
piled the surgeon, land his wounds
are not necessarily fatal. told you
that yesterday. but I did not tell you
that something else would probably
Kill him. and 1t Will. He need not die
from the accident. but no will not
live the day out because he so evil
IDENTIFY prefers death to life. II he
were full Of hope and ambition to live,
my work would be easy. II all Of you
love him AZ you prove you DO. and