The Irish standard., 1912-01-27

TANDARD, SATURDAY, JANUA
yes. by gummy, I'll be having one
about the frogs-if 1t takes every cent
have" he promised himself.
Freckles fell into rapid pace, for
he had lost time that morning, and as
he rounded the last curve he was al
most running.
Then. wavering, pickering, darting
here and there over the sweet marsh
grass, came great black shadow. He
had seen some owls and hawks of the
swamp that he thought could be
classed as large birds, but never any
thing like this, for six feet it spread its
great shining wings. Its big. strong
feet could be seen drawn up among its
feathers. The sun glintcd on its sharp.
hooked beak. It lit on a low tree. and
a second later Freckles saw another
shadow sweep the grass.
They were evidently mates, for with
a queer rolling hop. the first conner
shivered his bronze wings, sided
10 the new arrival and gave her a silly
little peck on her wing. Then he CO.
quettishly drew away and ogled her.
He lifted his head and waddled from
her few steps, awkwardly ambled
back and gave her sort Of kiss on
her beak.
The lover sidestepped few feet. He
spread his wings and slowly and softly
waved them precisely. as If he were
tanning his charmer, which indeed
was the result he accomplished. Then
he hobbled up to his bombardment
once more He faced her squarely
this time and turned his head from
side to side with queer little jerks and
indiscriminate peckings at her wings
and head. She yawned and shufi1ed
away indifferently. Freckles reached
up, pulled the quill from his hat and.
looking from it to the birds, nodded In
settled conviction.
With ravishing swagger, half lift
ed wings and deep, cultural Kissing the
lover came on again. He suddenly lift
ed his body. but the other bird coolly
rocked forward on the limb, glided
gracefully beneath him and slowly
sailed off into the Limberlost.
Freckles hurried down the trail, and
when he neared the path to the clear
ing and saw the boss sitting motion.
less on the mare that was the pride Of
his heart the boy broke into a run.
"Oh, Mr.. Mclean" he cried, II hope
I haven't kept you waiting very long!
And the sun is getting so hot! I have
been so slow this morning! I could
have gone faster, only there were so
many things to keep me, and didn't
know you would be here. I'll hurry
after this. I've never had to be giving
excuses before. The line wasn't down,
and there wasn't sign Of trouble. 1t
was other things that were making
me late"
This flushed, painting, laxative lad
sought him in despair and bitterness.
With an eloquence of which he never
dreamed Freckles told his story. He
talked with such enthusiasm that Nc
Lean never took his eyes from his
face nor shifted in the saddle until
he described the strange bird lover,
and then the boss suddenly bent over
the pommel and laughed with him.
"They're back there in the middle
Of the swamp now" said Freckles.
do you suppose there is any chance
of them staying with me chickens7
If they do they'll be about the queer
est I have. But tell you, sir, am
getting some plumb good ones. There's
a new kind over ut the mouth Of the
creek that uses its wings like feet
and walks on all tours. 1t travels like
a thrashing machine. There's anoth-
er, tall as me waist, with bill foot
long, neck near two, not the thick.
ness Of me wrist and an elegant color.
He's some blue and gray, touched up
with black, white and brown. The
voice Of him is such that IL he'd be go
ing up and standing by tree and
saving ut it a few times he could be
cutting it square off. l don't know
but it would be good idea to try
him on the gang, sir"
Mclean laughed. "Those must be
blue herons, Freckles," he said. "And
it doesn't seem possible, but your story
of the big black birds sounds like gen
uine black vultures. They are com.
mon enough in the south. I've seen
them thick about the lumber camps
of Georgia, but l never heard Of any
this far north before. They must be
strays. You have perfectly described
our nearest equivalent to a branch OF
these birds called in Europe Pharaoh's
chickens"
HE was loving ner So" said Free
kles in a hushed voice. Freckles lift
ed his brave, steady eyes to the boss
III anybody loved me like that. Mr.
Mclean. l wouldn't be spending any
time caring how they looked OF
moved. All I'd be thinking Of was
how thew felt toward me. If they will