Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-05-28

which filtered through the branches.
Her eyes were Just the deepest blue OF
the iris. her lips the reddest OF the
foxfire, and her cheeks exactly Of the
same satin as the wild rose petals ca
ressing them. She was smiling on
Freckles in perfect confidence. and
she cried. "Oh, I'm so delighted that
I've found yOu!"
"An'-an' was you looking for met"
quavered the boy. incredulous.
81 hoped l might find you," said the
angel. "You see, l didn't do as I was
told. and I'm lost. The Bird Woman
said I should stay in the carriage until
she came back. She's been gone hours.
It's a perfect Turkish bath in there,
and I'm all lumpy with mosquito bites.
Just when I thought that I couldn't
bear it another minute. along comes
the biggest Papilio Ajax you ever saw.
knew how pleased she'd be, 80 ran
after 1t. 1t few 80 slow and 80 low
that l thought a dozen times I had It.
Then all at once 1t went out Of sight
over the trees, and / couldn't find my
way back to save me. I think I've
walked over an hour. I have been
mired to my knees. A thorn raked my
arm until 1t is bleeding, and I'm so
tired and warm"
She parted the bushes still further.
Freckles saw that her little blue cot
ton frock clung to her. limp with per-
spiration. 1t was torn across the
breast. One sleeve hung open from
shoulder to elbow. A thorn had raked
her arm until 1t was covered with
blood. and the gnats and mosquitoes
were clustering about it. Her feet
were in lace hose and low shoes.
Freckles gasped. In the Limberlost
In low shoes! he caught an armful
of moss from his carpet and buried 1t
in the ooze in front Of her for foot
ing.
"Get out here where can see where
you are stepping. Quick, for the life
of your he ordered.
She smiled on him indulgently.
"Why?" she inquired.
"Did anybody let you come here and
not be telling you Of the snakesT
urged Freckles.
1--WE met Mr.. Mclean on the cordu'
roy, and he did say something about
snakes, 1 believe. The Bird Woman
put on leather leggins, and nice,
parboiled time she must be having!
Worst dose l ever had. and I'd moth.
Ing to do but swelter."
will you be coming out Of therep
groaned Freckles.
She laughed as If it were fine joke.
Maybe If I'd be telling you l killed
a rattler curled up on that same place
you're standing as long as me body
and the thickness Of me arm you'd be
moving where can see your footing
he urged insistently.
what q perfectly delightful little
brogue you speak" she said. my IA
ther is Irish, and half ought to be
euouBu w cutiIlc Lue " w thoe AAo>A
'Maybe-if Td-be telling you,'" she
initiated, rounding and accenting each
word carefully.
IF you was understanding the dan
GER" he continued desperately.
"Oh, don't think there is much"
She tilted on the morass.
IF you killed one snake here It's
probably NIL there is near, and any
way, the Bird Woman says a rattle
snake Is a gentleman and always gives
warning before he strikes. l don't
hear Gny rattling. Do your
"Would you be knowing 1t If you
did," asked Freckles almost impa-
tiently.
How the laugh of the young thing
rippled.
"Would I be knowing it?" she mock
ed. "Well, you should see the swamps
Of Michigan where they dump rattlers
out of the mari dredges three and four
ut q time"
Freckles stood astounded. She did
know. She was not in the least afraid.
She was depending on rattlesnake to
live up to his share of the contract
md rattle in time for her to move.
The one characteristic an Irishman ad-
mires in a woman above all others Is
courage. Freckles worshiped anew.
He changed his tactics.
"I'd be pleased to be receiving you
at me front door," he said. "but as you
have arrived at the back, will you
come In and be seated?"
He waved toward bench.
The angel came instantly.
"Oh, how lovely and cool" she cried.
AS she moved across his room Free
kles had hard work to keep from falling
on his knees, for they were very weak.
and he was hard driven by an impulse
to worship.
"Did you arrange this?" she asked.
"Yis," said Freckles simply.
"Some one must come with q big
canvas and copy each side Of It," she
said. 81 never saw anything so beau
tiful. How I wish I might stay here
with you! I will, some day, If you will
let me; but now, If you can spare the
time, will you help me look for the
carriage? If the Bird Woman comes
back and finds me gone she will be
almost distracted"
did you come in on the west road?''
asked Freckles.
81 think So" she said. "The man
who told the Bird Woman said that
was the only place where the wires
were down. We drove away In. and
it was dreadful-oyer stumps and logs
and in to the hubs. I suppose you
know, though. I should have stayed
in the carriage. but I was so tired.
never dreamed Of getting lost. I sus
pect l will get scolded finely. &c
with the Bird Woman half the time
during the summer vacations. My
father says I learn a lot more than
do at school, and get 1t straight.
never came within smell Of getting