Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-07-23

grandmother left me father. because
she loved him and wanted him to be
having 1t. that I'll be taking. Twas
hers from her father. and she had the
right to be giving it as she chose. Any
thing from the man that knowingly
left me father and me mother to 60
cold and hungry and into the fire In
misery when just little would have
made life so beautiful to them and
saved me this crippled body-money
that he willed from me when he knew
I was living, of his blood and on char
ity among strangers, don't touch, not
If l freeze. starve and burn too! II
there amt enough besides that and
can't be earning enough to fx things
for the angel
I'VE are not discussing money"
burst in the man of affairs. 1--WE don't
want any blood money! We have all
we need without 1t. II you don't feel
right and easy over 1t, don't you touch
a cent Of any Of it."
"It's right should have what me
grandmother intInded for me father.
and l want It," said Freckles, "but
I'd die before I'd touch cent OF me
grandfather's money!
Now" said the angel, I'VE are all
going home. We have done all we can
for Freckles. His people are here. He
needs to know them. They are very
anxious to get acquainted with him.
WeIl turn him over to them and go
home. When he is well. why. then hs
will be perfectly free to 60 to Ireland
or come to the Limberlost, just as he
chooses. We will so right away"
Mclean bore 1t for week. and then
he could stand 1t no longer. COmmun'
ing with himself in the long. soundful
nights Of the swamp. he had learn' d
to his astonishment that for the last
year his heart had been circling the
Limberlost with Freckles.
He started for Chicago. loaded With
a big box of goldenrod. asters, fringed
gentians and crimson leaves that the
angel had carefully gathered for
Freckles' room, and little, LONG
slender package. He would not nd
NIT it even to himself. but he was un'
able to remain longer away from
Freckles and leave him to the care
of Lord O'More.
In a few minutes talk, while Nc
Lean waited admission to Freckles
room, his lordship had genially chat
ted of Freckles' rapid recovery. Of his
delight that he was unspotted by his
early surroundings and his desire to
visit the Limberlost with Freckles be-
fore they sailed. he said they were
anxious to do all they could to help
bind Freckles' arrangements with the
angel, as both he and Lady OMore
regarded her as the most promising
girl they knew and one that could be
fully fitted to fill the high position In
which Freckles would place her.
Every word he uttered was pungent
with bitterness to Mclean. The
swamp had lost its flavor without
Freckles, and yet as Lord OMore
talked Mclean fervently wished that
he was in the heart Of 1t.
All the tan and sunburn had been
washed from Freckles' face in sweats
Of agony. 1t was a smooth, even
white, its brown rift showing but
family. What the nurses and Lady
OMore had done to Freckles' hair
Mclean could not guess, but 1t was
the most beautiful that he had ever
seen. Fine as floss, bright in color.
waving and crisp, 1t fell about the
white face.
They had got his arms into and
his chest covered with Il finely en-
broidered pale blue silk shirt, with
soft white tie at the throat. Among
the many changes that had taken place
during his absence, the fact that Free
kles was most attractive and barely
escaped being handsome remained al
most unnotired by the boss, so great
was his establishment at seeing both
cuffs turned back and the right arm
In view. Freckles was using the
MANNED arm that heretofore be had al
ways hidden.
"Oh, Lord. sir. but I'm glad to See
youw burst out Freckles. almost rolling
from the bed rs he reached for him.
"I'm picking the angels ring stone
that me Aunt Alice ordered. It's an
emerald-just me color, Lord O'More
says. Every color Of the old swamp
is In IT. asked angel to have little
shamrock leaf cut on 1t, so every time
saw It I'd be thinking Of the love.
truth, and valor Of that song she was
teaching me. Amt that q beautiful
songw
Freckles tilted about tray Of unset
stones that would have ransomed sew
eral valuable kings.
IL tell you I'm glad to see you. Sir"
he said. II tried to tell Tue uncle what
I wanted, but this amt for him to be
mixed up In, anyway, and I don't think
1 made 1t clear to him. I can be telling
you, sir. I told him that would pay
only $500 for the angels stone. I'm
thinking that with what he has laid
up for me, and the bigness OF things
that the angel did for me, that seems
like q stingy little sum to him. / know
he thinks 1 ought to be giving a lot
more, but 1 feel as II just had to be
buying that stone with money earned
meself, and that is all have saved OF
me wages. / don't mind paying for
the muff. or the dressing table. or Mrs.
Duncan's things, from this other mon
ey, and later the angel can have every
last cent Of me grandmother's, II she'll
take It. but just now-oh, sir, can't you
see that l have to be buying this stone
with what have In the bank?"
I'm other words, Freckles," said the
boss. you don't want to buy the an
gels ring with money. You want to
give for it your first awful fear OF
the swamp. You want to pay for 1t
with the loneliness and heart hunger
you have suffered there. with last
winters freezing on the line and this
summers burning in the sun. You