Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-06-04
FRECkLES
BY
Gene S@raGG@n-
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY PAGE
q 90.
CHAPTER VIII.

In IREChLES was amazed to hea
himself excusing. 1T was s,
I'LL hot in there. You couldn't b,
- expected to bear 1t for hour.
and not be moving. i can take yOl
back around the trail almost to where
you were. Then you can get up II
the carriage. and will 60 find tht
Bird Woman"
You'll get killed If you do! Wher
she stays this long. it means that sht
has focus on something. You see
when she gets focus, and lies In the
weeds and water for hours. and the
sun bakes her. and things crawl over
her, and then some one comes along
and scares her bird away just as SHE
has 1t coaxed up-why. she kills them
II l melt. you won't go after her
She's probably blistered and hall
eaten up, but she will never quit until
she is satisfied"
Then it will be safer to be taking
care of YOU" suggested Freckles.
"Now you're talking sense" said the
angel.
May 1 try to help your arm?" he
asked.
"Have you any idea how it hurts?"
she parried.
"A little" said Freckles.
well, Mr.. Mclean said we'd prob
ybly find his son here
His son. cried Freckles.
That's what he said. And that you
would do anything you could for US,
and that we could trust you with our
ives But l would have trusted you
anyway. if l hadn't known a thing
about you. Say, your father Is ram
paging proud of you, isn't he?"
81 don't know" answered the dazed
FreckleS.
Hes so proud Of you he is all
swelled up like the toad in Aesop's IA
bles. If you have ever had an arm
hurt like this and can do anything.
why. for pity sake do it!'
She turned back her sleeve, holding
cut to Freckles an arm Of palest cameo.
Freckles unlocked his case and band
1ged the ugly, ragged wound. He
worked with trembling fingers and a
face tense with earnestness.
as II feeling any better?" he asked.
"Oh. it's well now" cried the angel.
1T doesn't hurt at all any more"
The velvety touch Of her warm arm
was tingling In Freckles' finger tips.
Dainty laces and fine white stufs
peeped through her torn dress. There
were beautiful rings OH her fingers.
Every article about her was Of the
Gnest material and In excellent taste.
There was the trembling Limberlost
guard in his coarse clothing, with his
cotton rags and his old pail OF 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 a
shadowy pain in them and found them
Uf serene, unconscious purity.
I'VE must go 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
n 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 q 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 u way to drive almost to the nest
Oh 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
I thought l wouldn't mention It,"
"And / had not the wit to be see-
lngr walled Freckles. Il can be get
ting you a 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 ts"-
Pm knowing yours" interrupted
Freckles.
81 don't believe you do. What is
it?" asked the girl.
"You won't be getting angryT
"Not until I've had the water at
least"
1t was Freckles' turn to laugh. He
whipped Off his big, foppy straw nat,
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 out 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. BE car
ried it In the crook Of his tight arm
and basket filed 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 das-
cling glory Of her smile.
Mercy she exclaimed Il thnk
I had best be naming you the anger
my guardian angel"
"Yis," said Freckles. Il look the
character every day. but today most
emphatic"'
"Angels don't 60 by looks" laughed
the girl. "Your father told US you had
been scrapping. But he told US why.
I'd gladly wear all your cuts and
bruises II l could do anything that
would make my father look as pea
,ocky as yours did. He strutted about
proper. ! never Eaw any one iook
prouder." r
"Did he say he was proud Of mer'