The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-03
The angel laughed gayIy.

| but l thought maybe some way it
 would be best for you that 1 shouldn't.
 Trey needed it. That didn't scare me.
 sni. as for the Bird Woman. she's ac- customed to finding snakes. tramps.
 cross dogs. sheep, cattle and goodness
 knows what You can't frighten her 1 when she's after a picture Did they | come back?"
 "No," said Freckles. ''The gang got there a little after noon and took out the tree. but l must tell you and you must tell the Bird Woman that there's no doubt but they will be coming back. l and they will have to make it before | long now, for it's soon the gang will
 be there to work on the swamp"
 "Oh. what a shame.' cried the an- ] gel. They'll clear out roads. cut down the beautiful trees and tear up ev- erything. They'll drive away the birds and spoil the cathedral. When they have done their worst all these mills about here will follow in and take out the cheap timber. Then the iand- owners will dig a few ditches. build some fires. and in two summers more | the Limberlost will be in corn and po- | tatoes." tS
 "You like it. too." said FreckIes. "Yes." said the angel; q love it. Your room is a little piece right out of the heart of fairyland. and the cathe- dral is Gods work. not yours. You only found it and opened the door l after be had it completed. Come get a cool drink before you start back. It won't take but minute, and you can ride fast enough to make up for it." FreckleS looked into the beautiful face of the angel in sheer wonder ment- Did she truly mean 1t? Would she walk down that street with him, crippled. hOmely, in mean clothing?
 ''I rally must be off.' said FreckleS earnestly, but I'm thanking you more than you'll ever know for your kind ness. I'll just be drinking bowls of icy things all me way home in the thoughts of it.
 Down came the angels foot. Her eyes 6asbed. There's no sense in that" she said. How do you think you would have felt when you knew l was warm and thirsty and you went and brought me drink and wouldn't take it because - because goodness knows whyr'
 She deliberately slipped her hand under his arm-the right arm that ended in an empty sleeve.
 You are coming" she said firmly.
 Freckles' head swan.
 Please don't, angel" he said softly. "You don't understand. If your fa- ther came on to me on the street in my station and dress with you on me arm he'd have every right to be can ing me before the people. and not a finger would lift to stay him."
 The angels eyes snapped. "If you of ing anything that is right and kind and that makes me happy to do. why. then you completely faifed in reading my father. and I'll ask him and just show you"
 She dropped Freckles' arm and turn ed toward the entrance to the build ing. "Why, look thereI" she exclaim- ed
 Her father stood at a window, watching the scene with eyes that compreheEded quite as thoroughly as if he had heard every word. The an- gel made a despairing gesture toward Freckles. The man of affairs answer ed her with look of infinite tender ness. He nodded his head. and the veriest dolt could have read the words his lips formed. Take him aIong|
 A sudden trembling seized Freckles.
 The angel turned on him with tri- umphing eyes. She was highly strung and not accustomed to being thwart- ed. Did you, see that?' she demand ed. ''Now are you satisfied? Will you comeP" FreckIes went.
 On every hand she was kept busy giving and receiving the cheeriest greetings. She walked into the parlors exactly as if she owned them. A long row of people stared with varying de grees of insolence and curiosity as FreckleS had felt they would. He glanced at the angel Now would she see?
 "On my souI!'' he muttered under his breath. They don't aven touch herr' She turned the full battery of her eyes on the attendant
 '1 want to mix a drink for my friend" she said. He has a long, hot 1de before him. and 1 don't want him started off with one of those old palate teasing sweetnesseS that you mix just on purpose to drive a man back in ten minutes I want a clear, cool. spar king drink that has a tang of acid in it."
 The angel compounded the drink and carried the brimming glass to Freckles. He said in the mellowest of all the mellow tones of his voice. I'll be drinking 1t to the Swamp Angel
 And as he had said to her that 1rst day the angel now cautioned him, Be drinking slowly"
 AS the screen door swung behind them one of the men at the counter asked of the attendant. Now, what did that mean?"
 Exactly what you saw" replied he rather curtly. Were accustomed to 1t in here. Hardly a day passes this hot weather but she's picking up some | poor. god forsaken mortal and bring | ing him in. Then she comes behind 1 the counter herself and fixes up a drink to suit the occasion"
 Mighty queer specimen she had this | fime." volunteered another. "WOnder |