Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-04-18
FRECKLES
BY
Gene SGP@GG@m=
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE
& co.
50 -

OOOho ulduS llluCS llld .ulOIlluS. Lit
stepped to the curb to mount his wheel
and heard a voice that thrilled through
and through him. calling: "Freckles.
Oh, Freckles!"
The angel separated herself from a
group of girls and came hurrying up
to him. She was in snowy white-a
quaint little frock with a marvel of
soft lace about her throat and wrists.
Through the sheer sleeves of it her
beautiful. rounded arms showed dis
tinctly. and it was cut just to the base
Of her perfect neck. On her head was
a pure white creation of fancy braid
with folds on folds of tulle, soft and
silken as cobwebs. lining the brim, and
a great mas of white roses clustered
against the gold of her hair crept
about the crown and fell in a riot to
ner shoulders at the back. There were
CLEANS of gold with settings Of blue on
her fingers, and altogether she was
the daintiest. sweetest sight he had
ever seen.
"Oh, Freckles.." she cried. 81 was
wondering about you the other day.
Is there any trouble? Are you just
starting back to the Limberlost?'
II came to bring your hat" said
Freckles. You forgot it in the rush
the other day. l have just left it with
your father and a message trying to
express the gratitude of me for how
you and the Bird Woman were for
helping me out"
The angel nodded gravely, and
.Freckles saw in Il flash that he had
done the proper thing in going to her
father. Then she was saying that she
could scarcely wait for the time to
come for the next picture of the Little
Chickens series. II want to hear the
rest of that song. and | hadn't ever
begun seeing your yet" she com
! planned. II wonder if l couldn't bring
my banjo and some of the songs I like
best. I'll play and you'll sing"
Freckles felt that if he lifted his eyes
the alteration in them would brighten
her.
81 was afraid your experience the
other day would scare you so that
you'd never be coming again. he
found himself saying.
The angel laughed gayly.
did l look scared:" she questioned.
"No," said Freckles; you did not"
"Oh, l just enjoyed that" she cried.
"Those hateful. stealing old things! l
had a big notion to pink one of them,
but l thought maybe some way it
would be best for you that l shouldn't.
They needed it. That didn't scare me
and. as for the Bird Woman. she's &C,
customed to finding snakes, tramps,
cross dogs. sheep. cattle and goodness
knows what. You can't f%righten her
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,
and they viii. have to make it before
long now. for it's 0 o the gang will
be there to work on the swamp
"Oh. what Il shame" cried the an
gel. They'll clear out roads. cut down
the beautiful trees and tear up ev,
e%rything. 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 land.
will dig a few bitches. build
some fires, and in two summers more
the Limberlost will be in corn and DO,
tatoes."
"You like it. too.' said Freckles.
eyes," said the angel; II 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
after he had it completed. Come get
a cool drink before you start back. 1t
won't take but a 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 NEAR it? Would
she walk down that street with him,
crippled, homely, in mean clothing?
II 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 flashed. There's no sense in
that" she said. How do you think
you would have felt when you knew
I was warm and thirsty and you went
and brought me a drink and 1 wouldn't
take it because > because goodness
knows why"
She deliberately slipped her hand
under his arm-the right arm that
ended in ar empty sleeve.
"You are coming" she said firmly.
Freckles' head swan.
please don't. angel" he said softly.
"You don't understand. If your IA
Their 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 1 lift to stay him.
The angels ewes snapped. "If YOU