Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-01

ut doesn't hurt Mt all any more"
The velvety touch Of her warm arm
was t1ngling in Freckles' hnger Ups.
Dainty laces and fine white stuns
peeped through her torn dress. Ihere
were beautiful rings on her fingers.
Every article about her was OF the
finest material and in excellent taste.
There was the trembling Limberlost
guard in his coarse clothing, with his
cotton rags and his old pail or swamp
water. Freckles was sufficiently ac-
customed to contrasts to notice them
and sufficiently fine to be hurt by them
always.
He lifted his eyes to hers with
shadowy pain in them and found them
Of serene, unconscious purity.
I'VE must 20 and find the carriage"
said the angel, rising.
Freckles led the way. sharply watch
Ing every step. He went as near the
log as he felt that he dared and with
a little searching found the carriage.
This is a shame said Freckles.
You'll never be coming here again."
"Oh. yes, shall" said the angel.
THE Bird Woman says that these birds
stay over n month in the nest and she
would like to make picture every
Few days for seven or eight weeks
perhaps"
Freckles barely escaped crying out
for Joy.
Then don't you ever be torturing
yourself and your horse to be coming
In here again." he said. iii show
you a way to drive almost to the nest
on the east trail, and then you can
come around to my room and stay
while the Bird Woman works. It's
nearly always cool there, and there's
comfortable seats and water"
"Oh. Did you have drinking water
there?" she cried. II was never SO
thirsty or so hungry in my life, but
l thought l wouldn't mention it."
And l had not the wit to be see
ing! walled Freckles. 81 can be get
ting you good drink in no time
He turned to the trail.
please wait minute called the
angel whats your name? I want
to think about you while you are
gone"
Freckles smiled quizzically.
"Freckles!" she guessed. with peal
Of laughter And mine Isl
I'm knowing yours" interrupted
Freckles.
81 don't believe you do. What is
it," asked the girl.
"You won't be getting angryT
mot until I've had the water at
least"
1t was Freckles' turn to laugh. He
whipped off his big, aoppy straw hat,
stood uncovered before her and said
in the sweetest Of all the sweet tones
of his voice. 'There's nothing you
could be but the Swamp Angel"
The girl laughed happily.
Once ont of her sight Freckles ran
every step Of the way to the cabin.
Mrs. Duncan gave him small bucket
of water. cool from the well. He car.
ried 1t in the crook Of his right arm
and basket filled with bread and
butter, cold meat. apple pie and pickles
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 daz-
Ling glory of her smile.
Mercy" she exclaimed. II think
had best be naming you the angel
my guardian angel"
"Yis,' said Freckles. II look the
character every day. but today most
emphatic"
angels don't go by looks laughed
the girl. your father told us you had
been scrapping. But he told US why
Id gladly wear all your cuts and
bruises if could do anything that
would make my father look as pea.
cocky as yours did. lie strutted about
proper. l 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 be
watched her with famshed 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 hel
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," sale
Freckles. "You see. through the fierce
cold Of winter the birds Of the swamI
We're almost starving 1t is mighty
lonely here. and they were all the com
pany ! was having. got to carrying
scraps and grain down to them. Dun
can was that ginerous he was givinl
me OF his wheat and corn from hi'