Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-30

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my guardian angel"
aYis." suid Frscklss. Il look the
character; every day, but today most
emphatic"
angels don't 60 by looks" laughed
the girl. .Your father told 10 you had
been scrapping. But he told VI why.
I'd gladly wear all your cuts and
bruises If could do anything that
would make my father look 40 pea
cocky as yours did. He strutted about
proper. I never saw any one look
prouder."
"Did he.say he was proud Of met"
marveled Freckles.
"He didn't need to- answered the
angel. "He 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 famished eyes
Freckles told her Of his birds, flowers
and books.
Suddenly the angel cried, There
comes the Bird Woman
She was staggering under 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 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 picture" 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. It 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
chickens feed. and he called the birds
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 enoughv' cried the Bird Wo-
man. "You must shoot something for
them occasionally, and I'll bring more
food when come. If you will help
me keep them until get my series, I'll
give you copy Of each study make.
mounted in a book
"1'll be doing me very BEST" prom.
ised the boy. and from the deeps he
meant it.
Il wonder If that other egg is going
to hatch?" unused the Bird Woman.
Il am afraid not. 1t should have been
cut today. Isn't 1t beauty? never
saw either an egg or the young before.
They are rare this for north"
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.
ticed his missing hand. and for the
first time in his life he had forgot
ten it.
When the Bird Woman and the an
gel were we'll on the home road the
angel told Of the little corner Of para
disc into which she had strayed and
of her new name.
"Did you know Mr.. Mclean had a
son:' asked the angel. isn't the little
accent he has and the way he twists
a sentence too dear? And isn't 1t too
old fashioned and funny to hear him.
call his father mister?"
at sounds too good to be true" said
the Bird Woman. answering the last
question first. II am SO tired with
these present day young men that
patronizingly call their fathers dad
governor old man. and old chap
that the boys attitude of respect and
Difference struck me as being as fine
as silk. There must be something rare
about that young man."
But she did not find It necessary to
tell the angel that for several years
she had known the man who 80 proud.
" proclaimed himself Freckles' father
to be a bachelor and a Scotchman.
The Bird Woman had fine way of
attending strictly to her; own business.
Freckles turned back to the trail, but
stopped at every wild brier and looked
at the pink satin Of the petals. She
was not Of his world, and better than
any other he knew it: but she might be
his angel, and he was dreaming Of
naught but blind, silent worship. he
finished the happiest day Of his life.
and that night he went back to the
swamp as If drawn by magnet. Tint
Wessner would try for his revenge he
knew. Tint he would be abetted by
Black Jack was almost certain, but
fear had fed the happy heart Of Freck-
les. He had kept his trust. He had
won the respect Of the boss. Nobody
could ever wipe from his heart the
food Of holy alteration that had welled
up with the coming of his angel.
At the edge Of the clearing he came
out into the bright moonlight, and
there sat Mclean on his mare. Freck-
les hurried up to him.
SIS there trouble7" be asked anxious