The Irish standard., 1912-03-23


De said. ~ tried to tell me uncle what
wanted, but this amt for him to be
mixed up in, anyway. and don't think
made It clear to him. can be telling
yop, Sir. told him that would pay
only $500 for the angels stone. I'm
thinking that with what he has laid
up for me, and the bigness Of things
that the angel did for me. that seems
like stingy little sum to him. I know
he thinks ought to be giving a lot
more. but feel as If l just had to be
buying that stone with money earned
meself, and that is all have saved Of
me wages. I don't mind paying for
the muff. or the dressing table. or Mrs.
Duncan's things. from this other mon
ey. and later the angel can have every
last cent Of me grandmother's, If she'll
take It. but just now-oh, sir, can't you
see that have to be buying this stoDe
with what have in the bank?"
I'm other words. Freckles." said the
boss, you don't want to buy the an
gels ring with money. You want to
give for 1t your first awful fear of
the swamp. You want to pay for it
with the loneliness and heart hunger
you have suffered there. with last
winters freezing on the line and this
summers burning in the sun. You
want the price of that stone to be
the fears that have chilled your heart
the sweat and blood of your body"
Freckles' face quivered with feeling.
"Dear Mr.. Mclean" he said. reach.
ing up with caress over the boss
black hair and along his cheek. Dear
boss, that's why I've, wanted you so.
knew you would know. Now you
will be looking at these? don't want
emeralds, because that's what she gave
me-"
Freckles heaped the pearls with the
emeralds. He studied the diamonds
long time. The diamonds Joined the
emeralds and pearls. There was left
a little red heap. and Freckles' fingers
touched it with new tenderness.
I'm thinking here's me Angels
stone," he exulted. 1.-THE Limberlost.
and me with it, grew in mine, but
it's going to bloom. and her with it.
in this! There's the red of the wild
peoples. the cardinal flowers and the
little bunch of crushed foxf1re that we
found where she put it to save me-
There's the light Of the camp fire
and the sun setting over Sleepy
Snake creek There's the red of the
blood we were willing to give for
each other. It's like her lips and like
the drops that dried on her beauti.
full arm that first day, and I'm think
ing it must be like the brave, tender,
clean, red heart Of her"
Freckles lifted the ruby to his lips
and handed it to Mclean.
"Freckles, may l ask you some
thing?" he said.
"Why, sure" said Freckles
"There's nothing you would be asking
that it wouldn't be giving me Joy to
be telling you"
McLean's eyes Travelled to Freckles'
right arm. with which he was pushing
the jewels about.
"Oh. thatv' cried Freckles with
merry laugh. You're wanting to
know where all the bitterness is gone?
Well, sir, twas carried from me soul.
heart and body on the lips of an an
gel. Seems that hurt was necessary
in the beginning to make today come
true. The wound had always been
raw, but the angel was healing 1t. II
she doesn't care. don't. May 1 be
asking you question? Well. then. If
this accident and all that's come to me
since had never happened. what was
it you meant to do with me2'
"Why, Freckles," answered Mclean,
IT figured on taking you to Grand
Rapids and putting you in the care OF
my mother. 1 had an idea it would be
best to get a private tutor to coach
you for a year or two. until you were
At to enter Ann Arbor or the Chicago
university in good shape. Then l
. thought we'd finish in this country at
Yale or Harvard. and end with Oxford.
to get a good all round flavor"
us that all?" asked Freckles.
mo; that's leaving the music out.
intended to have your voice tested. and
If you really were endowed for
career as great musician. and had
inclinations that way, wished to have
you drop some Of the college work
and make music your chief study.
Finally. l wanted US to take trip
over Europe and clear around the
circle together"
"And then what?" queried Freckles.
breathlessly.
why, then," said Mclean. ''you
know that my heart is hopelessly in
the woods. I will never quit the tim
Der business while there is timber to
handle and breath in my body.
ed expression was the fact that,
while l,e might really hive been ma me-