The Irish standard., 1912-03-16

tnat 6WayeO o curtain aside. ana In
an adjoining room. lounging in great
chair. with paper In his hand. sat
the man who was. beyond question,
Of Freckles' blood and race.
With perfect control the angel
dropped Lord OMore's card on the
tray. whipped past his servant and
stood before his iordship.
Good morning." she said With
tense politeness.
Lord O'More glanced her over with
amused curiosity until her color be-
gan to deepen and her blood to run
hotiy.
"Well. my dear" be said at last,
"how can | serve your
Instantly the angel brtstled. She
had been so shielded In the midst OF
almost entire freedom. owing to the
circumstances OF her life. that the
words ana the look appealed to her
as almost insulting. She lifted her
head with a proud gesture.
1 Il am not your dear" she SAID
| with slow dist1nctness. ''rhere isn't
thing in the world you can do for
me- came here to see ii | could do
something's very great something
for you: but II don't like you | won't
do it!'
There was silken rustic and q
beautiful woman with cheeks Of
cherry bloom. hair OF Jet and eyes
OF pure irish blue. moved to Lo. i
O'More's side and. catching his arm.
shook him lmpat1ently
Terence! Have you lost your
senses?' she cried. Didn't you IN
derstand what the child sa1dY Look
at her face! Nee what she has!'
Il beg your pardon" he said. 1.-THE
fact is. | am leaving Chicago sorely
disappointed. 1t makes me bitter and
reckless thought it was some more
Of those queer. useless people that
have thrust themselves on me con-
stantly. and was careless Forgive
me and tell me why you came"
II will If l like you said the an.
gel stoutiy. land II I don't | won'ty
But | began all wrong. ana now
don't know how to make you like
me-" said his lordship, with sincere
penitence in his tone
The angel looked into the beautiful
woman's face.
Are you his wife2" she asked.
"Yes." said the woman, Il am his
WIFE"
WELL" said the angel judicially.
''the Bird Woman says no one In the
whole world knows all a mans big
nesses and all his littenesses as his
wife does. What you think of him
ought to do for ME. DO you like
him?'' ]
Better than any one in the whole
world" said Lady OMore promptly.
The angel unused second. and then
her legal tinge came to the fore again
Eyes. but have you any one you could
like better IL he wasn't all rightY
she persisted.
II have three of his sons. two
little daughters. father. mother and
several brothers and sisters" came
the quick reply.
"And you like him best?' persisted
the angel with tinality.
II love MIN 40 much that I would
give up every one OF them With dry
eyes. II by 30 doing could save him"
said Lord O'More's wife.
"Oh! cried the angel "Oh. my!'
She lifted her clear eyes to Lord
O'More's and shook ner head.
'She never. never could do THAR
she said But it's mighty big thing
to your credit that she thinks she
could. guess Iii tell you why 1
came"
She laid down the paper and touched
the portrait
when you were Just a boy. did
people call you FreckiesY" she asked
Dozens of good fellows all over Ire
land and the continent are doing it to-
day." answered Lord O'More.
The ANGELS face lighted with her
most beautiful smile.
Il was sure OF It," she said winning.
~. ''That's what we call him. and be
is 80 like you. doubt u any one OF
those three boys of yours are more 80.
But it's been twenty years. Seems to
me you've been a long time coming"
Lord O'More caught the ANGELS
wrists and his wife slipped her arms
about her.
STEADY. my girl" said the mans
voice hoarsely Don't make me think
you've brought word Of the boy at this
last hour unless you know surely"
Its all right said the angel. 1--WE
have him. and there's no chunce Of a
mistake. II hadn't gone to that home
for his little clothes and heard of you
and been hunting you ana mad me,
you on the street. or anywhere.
should have stopped yon and asked you
who you we're just because you are &c
like him. It's all right can tell
you where Freckles 10: but whether
yon deserve to know-that's another
matterv'
Lord OMore did not hear her He
dropped back In MS chair ana. covering
his face. burst into those terrible sobs