Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-07-16

me and tell me why you came"
II will If I like you" said the an
gel stoutly, land If l don't l won'tF
But l began all wrong, and now
don't know how to make you like
me-" said his lordship, with sincere
penitence In his tone.
The angel looked into the beautiful
woman's face.
"Are you his wife3" she asked.
"Yes," said the woman, IL am his
wife"
"Well," said the angel judicially
1.-The Bird Woman says no one In the
whole world knows all mans big
nesses and all his littlenesses as h.
wife does. What you think Of hin
ought to do for me. Do you like
himW
Better than any one in the whole
world" said Lady O'More promptly.
The angel unused second. and ther
her legal tinge came to the fore again
"Yes, but have you any one you could
like better II he wasn't all rightT
she persisted.
"I have three Of his sons. two
little daughters. father, mother ant
several brothers and sisters" came
the quick reply.
And you like him best?" persisted
the angel with tinality.
81 love him so much that l woul'
give up every one Of them with dr.!
eyes. II by so doing could save him.
said Lord OMore's wife.
"Oh!" cried the angel. "Oh, my.
She lifted her clear eyes to l.or
O'More's and shook her head.
"She never. never could do that!
she said. But it's a mighty big thin,
to your credit that she thinks sh'
could. guess III tell you why
| came"
She laid down the paper and touched
the portrait.
when you were just boy. die
people call you Frecklesf" she asked.
DOZENS Of good Fellows all over Ire
land and the continent are doing 1t to
day." answered Lord O'More.
The angels face lighted with he
most beautiful smile.
81 was sure of It," she said winning
". That's what we call him. and ht
| is so like you. 1 doubt II any one o.
| those three boys Of yours are more 80
But It's been twenty years. Seems te
me you've been long time coming"
Lord O'More caught the anger'
wrists and his wife slipped her arms
about her.
STEADY, my grip said the man'i
| voice hoarseIy. Don't make me thlni
you've brought word Of the boy at till
last hour unless you know surely.
"It's all right" said the angel. 1--WE
have him, and there's no chance OF
| mistake. II hadn't gone to that home
| for his little clothes and heard U: y1r
and heen hunting you and had me-
you on the street, or anywhere.
should have stopped you and asked yor
| who you were just because you are 50
like him. It's all right. ] can tel
| you where Freckles is; but whether
YOU deserve to know-that's another
| matterW
Lord O'More did not hear her. HI
| dropped back in his chair and. covering
his face, burst into those terrible sob'
that shake aud reud strong man
Lady O'More hovered over him. weep
ing.
"Umph! Looks pretty fair for Free
kles," muttered the angel. Lots ol
things can be explained. Now perhaps
they can explain this"
They did explain so fully that In a
| few minutes the angel was on her feet
hurrying Lord and Lady O'More te
reach the hospital.
"You said Freckles' old nurse knew
his mothers picture instantly" said
the angel. Il want that picture and
the bundle Of little clothes"
Lady O'More gave them into bel
hands.
The likeness was large miniature
painted on ivory, with frame Of
beaten gold, and the face that looked
out Of It was Of extreme beauty and
surprising sweetness. Surrounded by
masses of dark hair was delicately
cut face, with big eyes. In the upper
part of 1t there was no trace OF
Freckles, but the n..e c.:'ing IN
smile were his very own. The angel
pazed as II she could never leave on
Then with a quivering breath she laid
the portrait aside and reached botn
arms for Lord O'More's neck.
"That will save Freckles' life and
insure his happiness" she said posi-
lively. "Thank you, oh, thank you fo'
coming!'
She kissed and hugged him and tber
the wife who had come with him. She
opened the bundle Of yellow and
brown linen and gave just a glance
at the texture and work. Then shs
gathered the little clothes and the pic
ture to her heart and led the way tt
the cab.
Ushering Lord and Lady O'More into
the reception room, she said to Nc
Lean, "Please 60 call up my fathel
and ask him to come on the frs
train"
She swung the door after him.
"These are Freckles' people," sh'
said to the Bird Woman "You col
find out about each other. I'm Goini
to him."
And she was gone.
The nurse left the room quietly al
the angel entered, still carrying th'
bundle and the picture. When the!
were alone the angel turned t
Freckles and saw that the crisis was
indeed, ut hand.
"AngeI." he painted. "Oh, angel
Did you get them? Are they white
Are the little stitches there? Oh, an
gel! Did me mother love meT'
The words seemed to leap from hi
burning lips. The angel dropped tn
bundle on the bed and laid the pic
ture, face down. across his knees. Sh
gently pushed his head to the pillow
and caught his arms in frm grasp.
"Yes, dear heart" she said Will
fullest assurance. mo little clOthe
were ever whittier. I never In all IN.
life saw such dainty, fine littl
stitches, and. as for loving you. n
boys mother ever loved him morer
| A great trembling seized Freckles.
"Surel Are you sursT he urged