Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-07-09

50 that they could change carrier.
often and make good time.
The Bird Woman insisted upon TAX
ing the angel into the carriage and fol
lowing the cot. but the angel refused
to leave Freckles and suggested thai
the Bird Woman drive ahead. paci
them some clothing. and be at the sta
ton peady to accompany them to Chi
cago. All the way the angel walked
beside the cot, shading Freckles' fact
and holding his hand. At every pause
to change carriers she moistened his
face and lips and counted each breath
with heartbreaking anxiety.
She scarcely knew when her fathei
Joined them. nnd, taking the branch
from her, slipped an arm about bel
waist and almost carried her along
To the city streets and the swarm OF
curious, staring faces she paid NO more
attention than she had to the trees OF
the Lmberlost. When the train pull
ed in and the gang placed Freckles
aboard. Duncan made place for the
angel beside the cot
| With the best physician to be found.
and with the Bird Woman and Nc.
Lean In attendance. the four hours
run to Chicago Began. Not for IN In.
stant would the angel yield her place,
or allow any one else to do anything
for him. The Bird Woman and Nc.
Lean regarded her In amazement.
The only time she spoke was to ask
Mclean II he wao sure the special
would be ready on the Pittsburg line
he replied that 1t was made up and
waiting.
| At 5 o'clock Freckles lay stretched
on the operating table Of Lake View
hospital. while three Of the greatest
surgeons in Chicago bent over him.
At their command. Mclean picked up
the unwilling angel and carried her
out to the nurses to be bathed. have
her bruises attended to. and be put
| to bed.
In place where It Ia difficult to sur
prise people. they were astonished
women as they removed the angels
dainty stnined and torn clothing.
peeled of hose muck baked to her
limbs. soaked the dried loan from her
silken hair and washed the beautiful.
| scratched. bruised, dirt covered body.
The angel fen fast asleep lons before
they had Gnlshed. ard lag deeply un-
conscious, while the fight for Freckles'
life was being waged.
Three days later she was up earl!
and lowering near Freckles' door.
The surgeon WAS with him. The
| angel had been told that the word
he brought that morning would be
final. so she curled mp in a window
seat, dropped the curtains behind her.
and. In dire anxiety. waited the open
Ing Of that closed door.
Just as II Enclosed. Mclean. came
hurrying down the hall and up to the
surgeon. but with one glance at bis
| face he stepped buck In dismay. and
| the angel who had risen. sank 10 the
seat again, too dazcd TO come forward.
| The men faced each other. The
angel, with parted Fps and frightened
eyes. bent forward in tense anxiety.
IL thought he was doing nicelyr'
faltered Mclean.
"He bore the operation well" re
piled the surgeon. and his wounds
are not necessarily fatal told you
that yesterday. but I did not tell yo'
that something else would prolabl,
| kill him. aud II Will He need no; die
| from the accident. but he will no.
live the day out because he 80 evi
IDENTIFY prefers death 10 life. ~ he
were full Of hope and ambition TO live.
my work would be easy. If all Of you
love him as you prove you do. and
there Is unlimited means 10 give him
anything he wants. why should he
desire deathT
rs he dylngr" demanded Mclean.
He Is" said the surgeon. ''IIe will
not I've this day out. unless some
strong reaction sets in at once. He Is
so low that. preferrins death to life.
nature cannot overcome his Inertia.
II he is to live. he must be made to
desire life"
"Then he must die" said Mclean
Does that mean that you know
what he desires and cannot. or viii
not, supply itf'
1T meanr." said Mclean desperately.
that I know what he wants. but It ls
as far removed from my power to give
| II to him as It would be to give him a
star. The thing for which he will die
he can never have"
"Then you must prepare for the end
very shortly" said the surgeon. turn
ing abruptly away.
Mclean caught his arm roughly.
"Look here" he cried in desperation.
"You say that as II I could DO some
thing II I would. tell you the boy
Is dear to me past expression. would
do anythlng-spend any sum. You have
noticed and repeatedly commented on
the young girl with me. 1t Is that
child that he wants! he worships her
to alteration, and knowing he can never
be anything to her, he prefers death
to life. In Gods name. what can !
do about itT
Barring that missing hand. ! never
handled finer man." said the surgeon.
"and she seems perfectly devoted to
him, why cannot he have herT
"Why% echoed Mclean. "Why1
Well. for a good many reasons 1 told
you he was my son. You probably knew
that he was not. A little over a year
ago | had never seen him. He Joined
one Of my lumber gangs from the road.
He is q stray. left ut one Of your homes
for the friendless here In Chicago.
When he grew up the superintendent
bound him out to a brutal man. BE
ran away and landed In one OF my
lumber camps. He has no name or
knowledge of legal birth. The angel
we have talked of her. She has anees-
tors reaching back to Plymouth Rock
and across the sea for generations
back Of that. She il an idolized. petted
only child. and there is great wealth.
He sees 1t more plainly than any one
else could. There Is nothing for the
boy but death II It IL the angel that is
required to save him."