The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-07-25

VI us 'ViSc' iHtrts HOtuinR you
could be but the Swamp Angel"
The girl laughed happily.
Once out OF her sight Freckles ran
every step OF the way to the cabin
Mrs. Duncan gave him n small bucket
Of water, cool from the well. He car
ried II in the crook Of his right arm
and a basket filed with bread and
butter, cold meat, apple pie and pic kles
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.
BE drinking slow" he cautioned
her.
Freckles stood blinking in the dan.
cling glory Of her smile.
Mercy she exclaimed. 81 think
had best be naming you the anger
my guardian angel"
"Yis," said Freckles. II look the
character every day, but today most
emphaticw
angels don't go by looks" laughed
the girl. "Your father told us you had
been scrapping. But he told US why.
I'D gladly wear all your cuts and
bruises II could do anything that
would make my father look as pea
cocky as yours did. He strutted about
proper. | never saw any one look
prouder."
"Did he say he was proud Of me p
marveled Freckles.
"He didn't need to-" answered the
angel. "IIe was radiating pride from
every pore"
The angel spread the lunch on the
carriage seat The daintiest parts she
could select she carefully put back into
the basket. The rest she ate AS he
watched her with furnished eyes
Freckles told her of his birds, flowers
and books.
Suddenly the angel cried, There
comes the Bird Woman
She was staggering under n load OF
cameras and paraphernalia. Freckles
took all he could carry and helped her
into the carriage.
Soon they were out Of the swamp.
Then he showed them how to reach
the chicken tree from the outside, in.
dicated a cooler place for the horse
and told them how the next time they
came the angel could find his room
while she waited.
"Were you forgetting Little Chick.
ems pictureT Freckles asked the Bird
Woman.
"why do you call the baby vulture
Little Chicken" she asked.
"'Twas Duncan began IT," said
Freckles. you see. through the fierce
cold Of winter the birds Of the swamp
were almost starving. II Is mighty
lonely here. and they were all the com
pany was having. I got to carrying
scraps and grain down to them. Dun.
can was that ginerous he was giving
me Of his wheat and corn from his
me swamp chickens Then when
these big black fellows came. Mr.. Nc
Lean said they were our nearest kind
TO some In the old world that they
called 'Pharoah's Chickens and he
called mine 'Freckles' Chickens"
Good enough cried the Bird wo-
man. "You must shoot something for
them occasionally. and I'll bring more
food when I come. II you will help
me keep them until get my series. I'll
give you copy OF each study make.
mounted in a book"
"rii be doing me very best" prom
ised the hoy. and from the deeps be
meant II.
Il wonder II that other egg Is going
to hatchT unused the Bird Woman.
II am afraid not. II should have been
out today. Isn'S 1t a beautyl I never
saw either an egg or the young before.
They are rare this far morrill,
80 Mr.. Mclean said" answered
Freckles.
The Bird Woman gave him her hand
at parting. and Freckles joyfully real
ICED that here was going to be another
person for him to love. Freckles
couldn't remember, after they had
driven away. that they had even no
uced his missing hand. and for the
first time In his life he had forgot
ten II.
When the Bird Woman and the an
gel were well on the home road the
angel told of the little corner Of para
disc into which she had strayed and
Of her new name.
ibid you know Mr.. Mclean had a
son p asked the angel. Isn't the little
accent he has and the way he twists
a sentence too dear7 And isn't II too
old fashioned and funny to hear him
call his father misterY'
cit sounds too good TO be true" said
the Bird Woman. answering the last
question first. 81 am 80 tired with
these present day young men that
call their fathers dad
governor old man and old chap
that the boys attitude Of respect and
Difference struck me as being as nne
as silk. There must be something rare
about that young man."
But she did not hnd 10 necessary to
tell the angel that for several years
she had known the man who so proud
" proclaimed himself Freckles' father
TO be a bachelor and Scotchman.
The Bird Woman had a fine way OF
strictly TO her own business.
Freckles turned back to the trail, but
stannad ne avarv Wild hrfer and looked