The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-02-17

started of with one of those old pala
teasing sweetnesses that you mix just
on purpose to drive man back in ten
minutes. l want a clear, cool. spar
king drink that has tang of acid in
it,
The angel compounded the drink and
carried the brimming glass to Freckles
He said in the mellowest Of all the
mellow tones Of his voice, III be
drinking it to the Swamp Angel"
And as he had said to her that frs,
day the angel now cautioned him, "Bt
drinking slowly"
AS the screen door swung benin
them one Of the men at the counte
asked Of the attendant, "Now, wha
did that mean?''
Exactly what you saw" replied ht
rather CURLY. Were accustomed tt
it in here. Hardly a day passes this
hot weather but she's picking up some
poor. god forsaken mortal and bring
ing him in. Then she comes behind
the counter herself and fixes up a
drink to suit the occasion"
mighty queer specimen she had this
time." volunteered another. wonder
who he ISL"
II Think" said third. "that he's
McLean's Limberlost guard, and sus
pect she's gone to the swamp with the
Bird Woman for pictures and knows
him that way"
Out on the street the angel walked
beside Freckles to the first crossing
and there she stopped.
"Did you insist on fixing that drink
because you knew how intoxicating
'twould be?" asked Freckles.
There was subtlety in the compli
ment, and the angel laughed gleefully
"Next time maybe you won't take sc
much coaxing," she said.
II wouldn't this If had known your
father and been understanding yoL
better. Do you really think the Bird
Woman will be coming again?
The angel jeered. "Wild horses
couldn't drag her away" she cried
"She will have hard work to wait the
week out. shouldn't be in the least
surprised to see her start any hour"
Freckles couldn't bear the suspense
It had to come.
"And you?" he questioned, but he
dared not lift his eyes.
"Wild horses me, too," she laughed
couldn't keep me away either! Now
goodby."
Freckles was half way to the Linn
berlost when he dismounted. He could
ride no farther, because he could not
see the road. He sat down under a
tree and, leaning against it. burst into
a storm of sobs that shook. twisted
and rent him. If they would remind
him Of his position, speak condescend
ingly or notice his hand he could
bear it. but this-it would surely kill
him! His hot, pulsing Irish blood
could not bear it. What did they
mean? Why did they do it? Were
they like that to every one? Was II
pity?
It could not be. for he knew that the
Bird Woman and the angels father
must know that he was not really Nc.
Leans son. and 1t did not matter to
them in the least. In spite of acct
dent and poverty, they evidently ex'
pected him to do something worth
while in the world. That must be bis
remedy. He must go to work on his
education. He must get away. He
must find and do the great thing OF
which the angel talked. For the first
time his thoughts turned anxiously to.
ward the city and the beginning of his
studies. Mclean and the Duncans
spoke Of him as 1.-THE boy" but he was
a man. He must face life bravely and
act a mans part. The angel was q
mere child. He must not allow her
to torture him past bearing with her
frank comradeship that meant to him
high heaven. earth's richness and all
that lay between and Just nothing to
her.
There was an ominous growl of
thunder, and Freckles snatched up his
wheel and raced for the swamp. He
was worried to find his boots lying at
the cabin door. The children playing
on the wood pile told him that mither
said they were so heavy she couldn't
walk in them and she had come back
and taken them off. Thoroughly
frightened. he stopped only long
enough to slip them on himself and
then sped with all his strength for
the Limberlost. To the west the long,
black, hard beaten trail lay clear, but
far up the east side. straight across
the path, he could see what was GER
tainly limp brown figure.
Face down. Sarah Duncan lay across
the trail. When Freckles turned her
over his blood chilled at the look Of
horror frozen on her face. There was
a low humming. and something spat.
ted against him. CHANGING about,
Freckles shivered in terror, for there
was swarm Of wild bees settled on
scrub thorn only few yards away.
The air was thick with excited, unset
tied bees making ready to lead fur.