The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-02-15
FRECKLES
Continued from Page 6.

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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 a small bucket
OF water, cool from the well. he car
ried it in the crook of his right arm
and a 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 daz-
zling glory of her smile.
Mercy" she exclaimed. II think
| had best be naming you the angel
my guardian angel"
"Yis," said Freckles. Il look the
character every day, but today most
emphaticn'
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. He strutted about
proper | never saw any one look
prouder."
did be say he was proud of me?"
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 famished eyes
Freckles told her of his birds, flowers
and books.
Suddenly the angel cried. There
comes the Bird Woman
She was staggering under a load of
cameras -paraphernalia. Freckles
took all be could carry and helped her
into the carriage.
Soon they were out Of the swamp.
Then he showed them how to reach
the chicken tree from the outside. in
Dictated 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, said
Freckles. you see. through the fierce
cold Of winter the birds of the swamp
were 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
ran was that ginerous he was giving
me of his wheat and corn from his
chickens feed. and he called the birds
the swamp chickens. Then when
these big black fellows came, Mr.. Nc
to some in the old world that they
called 'Pharoah's Chickens and he
rallied mine 'Freckles' Chickens.
Good enough" cried the Bird Wo-
man. 'You must shoot something for
them occasionally, and I'll bring more
food when ] come. If you will help
me keep them until I get my series. I'll
give you copy of each study ! make.
mounted In book"
"I'll be doing me very BEST" prom
ised the boy. and from the deeps he
meant 1t.
Il wonder if that other egg is going
to hatch:'' unused the Bird Woman.
Il am afraid not. 1t should have been
out today. Isn't it beauty? | never
saw either an egg or the young before
They are rare this far north"
$50 Mr. Mclean said" answered
Freckles.
The Bird Woman gave him her hand
at parting. and Freckles joyfully real
lied that here was going TO be another
person for him to love- Freckles
couldn't remember. after they had |
driven away. that they had even no |
ticed his missing band, and for the |
first time in his life he had forgot
ten it.
When the Bird Woman and the an
gel were well on the home road the |
angel told of the little corner of para |
iise into which she had strayed and |
If her new name.
did you know Mr.. Mclean had
SOM" asked the angel. Isn't the little |
accent he has and the way he twists
!, sentence too dear? And isn't 1t too
I'D fashioned and funny TO hear him
all his father mister?"
ut sounds too good to be true" said
he Bird Woman. answering the last
question first. 81 am so tired with
hese present day young men that
call their fathers dad,
governor old man and old chap
hat the boys attitude of respect and
difference struck me as being as fine
IS silk. There must be something rare
bout that young man."
But she did not find it necessary to
ell the angel that for several years
he had known the man who so proud
Y proclaimed himself Freckles' father