The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-01

 By Gene SGraGG0m-
 Porter COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE
 & co.
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PACE
 & co.

she parried.,
 "A Iittle." said Freckles.
 ''weiI. MT. Mclean said we'd prob ably find his son here"-
 ''His son. cried FreckIes.
 '"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 I would have trusted you anyway. if I hadn't known a thing about you. Say. your father is ram- paging proud of you. isn't he?"
 "I don't know" answered the dazed FreckIes.
 ~He's so proud of you he is all sweIIed up like the toad in Aesop's fla bles. If you have ever had an arm hurt like this and can do anything. why. for pity sake do itT'
 She turned back her sleeve. holding ont to Freckles an arm of palest cameo
 Freckles unlocked his case and band aged the ugly. ragged wound He worked with trembling fingers and a face tense with earnestness.
 '-Is it feeling any better?" be asked.
 "Oh. it's well nowv' cried the angel. ~It doesn't hurt at all any more."
 The ~elvety touch of her warm arm, was tingIing in Freckles' finger tips. Dainty Iaces and fine white stuffn 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.
 We must go and find the carriage" said the angel. rising.
 FreckIes led the way. sharply watch ing every step. He went as near the log as he felt that he dared and with a little searching found the carriage.
 ''This is a shamer' said Freckles. You'll never be coming here again."
 @Oh. yes. I shalIi'' said the angel 'dThe Bird Woman says that these birds stay over a month in the nest and she would like to make a picture every few days for seven or eight weeks perhaps"
 FreckIes 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'n show you a 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. T was never so thirsty or so hungry in my life, but l thought I wouldn't mention it."
 ''And had not the wit to be see ingT' walled Freckles. "I can be get ting you a good drink in no time."
 He turned to the trail
 "Please wait a minute.'' called the angel. Whats your name? I want to think about you while you are gone"
 Freckles smiled quizzicaIly.
 ''Freckles?" she guessed. with peal of laughter. And mine 1s"-
 'I'm knowing yours," interrupted FreckIes.
 --I don't believe you do. What is itT' asked the girl.
 You won't be getting angry2"
 Mot until I've had the water at least"
 It was Freckles' turn to laugh. He whipped of his big. hOppy straw hat. stood uncovered before her and said ln the sweetest of all the sweet tones of his voice. There's nbthing you could be but the Swamp Angel"
 The girl laughed happily
 Once out of her sight FreckIes ran every step of the way to the ca bin. | Mrs. Duncan gave him a small bucket of water. cool from the well. He car ried it in the crook of his right arm and a basket filled with bread and butter. cold meat. apple pie and pickles In his left hand.
 Pickles are kind O cooling" said Mrs. Duncan.
 The angel was on her knees reach Ing for the bucket as he came up. I
 Be drinking slow," he cautioned her.
 Freckles stood blinking in the dag zling glory of her smile.
 Mercy" she exclaimed 'I think 1 had best be naming you the angeP- my guardian angel"
 I LOOK LQG | character every day, but today most | 
 Angels don't go by looks" laughed l he girl. Your father told us you had | been scrapping. But he told us why | I'd gladly wear all your cuts and | bruises if l could do anything that | would make my father look as pea ,ocky as yours did. He strutted about | proper. 1 never saw any one look )rouder"
 Ibid he say he was proud of meT' narveled Freckles.
 He didn't need to-" answered the IngeI. He was radiatinG pride from very pore
 The angel spread the lunch on the arriage seat. The da;ntiest parts she ould select she carefully put back into he basket. The rest she ate. As he watched her with famiShed eyes Treckles told her of bis birds. howerS nd books.
 Suddenly the angel cried. There