The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-04-18
FRECKLES
SSekinued from Page 6

for Freckles. His people are here. He
needs TO know them. They are very
anxious 10 get acquainted with him.
Well turn him over TO them and go
home When be is well. why, then ne
will be perfectly free to go to ireland
or come to the Limberlost, just as he
chooses. We will go right away"
Mclean bore II for a week, and then
he could stand 1t no longer Commun-
ing with himself In the long, soundful
nights of the swamp, he had learned
to his establishment that for the last
year his heart had been circling the
Limberlost with Freckes.
He started for Chicago. loaded With
a big box OF goldenrod, asters, fringed
gentians and crimson leaves that the
angel had carefully gathered for
Freckles room, and a little. long
slender package. He would not ad-
NIT it even 10 himself. but he was I'M
able TO remain longer away from
OF Lord O'More.
In a few minutes talk. while Mo
Lean waited admission TO Freckes'
room, his lordship mad geniaIly chat
Ted of t'reckles rapid recovery, of ms
delight that be was nnSpotted by his
early surroundings and his desire TO
visit the Iimberost with FreckIes be-
fore they sailed. He said they were
anxious TO do all they could to help
bind Freckies' arrangements with the
angel. as both he and Lady O'More
regarded her as the most promising
girl they knew ana one that could be
fully fitted 70 fill the high position in
which Freckles would place her.
Every word he uttered was pungent
with bitterness TO Mclean. The
swamp had lost Its favor without
Freckles. and yet as Lord O'More
talked Mclean fervently wished that
ne was in the heart of il.
All rhe tan and sunburn had been
washed from Freckles face in sweats
OF agony. 1t was smooth, even
white. Its brown rift showing but
family. What the nurses and Lady
O'More had done TO Freckles' hair
Mclean could not guess, but it was
the most beautiful that be had ever
SEEN Fine as tioss. bright IN color,
waving and crisp, II fell about the
white face.
They had got bis arms info and
his chest covered with finely en-
broidered pale blue silk shirt, with
soft white tie ar the throat. Among
the many changes that had taken place
during his absence, rhe fact that Free
kes was most attractive and barely
escaped being handsome remained al
most unnottced By the boss. so great
was his establishment at seeing both
cuffs turned back and the right arm
in view. Freckles was using the
MANNED arm that heretofore be had al
ways hidden
"Oh. Lord. sir, but I'm glad to see
your burst our FreckleS. almost rolling
from the bed as be reached for him.
I'm picking the Angels ring stone
that me Aunt Alice ordered. It's an |
pmerald-just me color. Lord O'More |
says. Every color of the old swamp |
is in II. asked angel to have little |
shamrock leaf cut on it, so every time
saw It I'd he thinking OF the love.
truth. and valor of that song she was
teaching Inc. Amt that a beautiful
Soug?"
Freckles tilted about a tray of unset
stones that would have ransomed sew
erai valuable kings.
81 tell you I'm glad to see you. sir"
he said. 81 tried to tell ME uncle what
I trontad ht1tf bfc nfn't for him I'm he
mixed up in. anyway. and don't think
l made it clear to him. | can be telling
you. sir. | told him that | would pay
only $500 for the angels stone. I'm
thinking that with what he has laid
up for me. and the bigness of things
that the angel did for me. that seems
like stingy little sum to him. | know
he thinks | ought to be giving lot
more, but feel as If just had TO be
buying that stone with money earned
meself. and that is all | have saved OF
me wages. | don't mind paying for
the muff. or the dressing table. or Mrs.
Duncan's things, from this other mon
ey. and later the angel can have every
last cent of me grandmother's, If she'll
take ii. but just now-oh, sir. can't you
see that | have to be buying this stone
with what | have In the bank?
in other words. Freckles." said the
boss. you don't want TO buy the an
gels ring with money. You want TO
give for it your first awful fear of
the swamp. You want to pay for it
with the loneliness and heart hunger
you have suffered there. with last
winters freezing on the line and this
summers burning in the sun. You
want the price of that stone TO be
the fears that have chilled your heart
the sweat and blood Of your body
Freckles' face quivered with feeling.
Dear Mr.. Mclean" he said. reach I
ing up with a caress over the boss
black hair and along his cheek. Dear
boss. that's why I've wanted you so