The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-08-29

awful distorted image Of Black Jack.
a. he swore to the punishment he
would mete out 10 her.
Freckies stopped when he came to
the first guard. and telling him Of his
luck. asked him TO 20 for the otter and
carry II M TO the cabin. ar he was
anxious 10 meet Mclean. Freckies
passed the second guard without seeing
him. and hurried up 10 the boss. lie
stood silent under the eyes Of Mclean.
The boss was dumfounded. Mrs.
Duncan had led him TO expect that he
would find Freckles In a bad way, but
this was almost deathly. The fact
was apparent that the boy scarcely
knew what he was doing. His eyes
had a glazed, farsighted look in them.
that wrung the heart OF the man that
loved him. without n thought OF pre-
llminaries Mclean leaned In the sad
die and drew Freckles 6p to him.
MY poor ladr he said MY poor.
dear lad; tell me. and we will try to
right itr'
Freckles had twisted his fingers In
Nellie's name. At the kind words his
face dropped on McLean's thigh and
he shook with nervous chill. Mclean
gathered him closer and waited.
"Freckles." said Mclean at last.
twill you tell me, or must set to
work In the dark and try to find the
trouble7"
"Oh. want TO tell youl must tell
you. SIR" shuddered Freckles. II can
not be bearing II the day out alone.
I was coming TO you when I rcmim-
bered you would he here"
He lifted his face and gazed on
across the swale. with his jaws set
hard a minute, as II gathering his
forces. Then he spoke.
Its the angel. sir" he said.
Instinctively McLean's grip on him
frightened
II tried hard the other day." said
Freckles, "and couldn't seem 70
make you see. It's only that there
hasn't been an hour. waking or sleep
ing. since the day she parted the
bushes and looked into me room. that
the face Of her hasn't been before me
In all the tinderness. beauty and mis-
chief OF Il. She talked to me friendly
like. She trusted me entirely 20 take
right care OF her. She helped me with
things about me books She traited
me like was born n gintleman. and
shared with me like | was OF her
o,x-,, ttooI Sha x.-otlaH tho atroots 81
the town with me before her friends
with all the pride OF a queen. She
forgot herself and didn't mind the
Bird Woman. and run big risks 20 help
me- out that first day. sir. This last
time she walked into that gang OF
murderers. took their leader and
twisted him % the will OF her. Sho
outdonc him and raced the life almost
out Of her trying TO save me.
"Slnce | can reminder. whatever the
thing was that happened 10 mo in the
beginning has been me curse. I've
been bitter. hard and smarting under
me voice and put hope OF life and sue
cess like other men into me in spite Of
It."
Freckles held up his MANNED arm.
Look at 10. sirg' he said. "a thou.
sand times I've cursed II. hanging
there helpless She took II on the
street. before all the people. Just as II
she didn't see that Il was n thing TO
hide and shrink from Again and
again I've had the feeling with her.
II didn't entirely forget It. that she
didn't see II was gone and I must pull
her sleeve and be pointing II out TO
her. Her touch on II was so sacred
Ike. at times since I've caught meself
looking at the awful thing near like
! was proud OF Il. sir. II I was born
your son she couldn't DO treating me
more as her equal. and she can't help
knowing you amt truly me father.
Nobody can know the ugliness or the
ignorance OF me better than do and
all me lack of birth. home. relatives
and money and what's II all to herr"
Freckles stepped back from Mclean.
squared his shoulders and with a
royal lift Of his head looked straight
into the boss eyes.
"You saw her In the beautiful little
room Of her and you can't be forget. |
ting how she begged and pleaded with
you for me. She touched me body. |
and twas sanctiHed. She laid her lips |
on me brow, and twas sacrament No |
body knows the height OF her better
than me. Nobody's studied my depths
closer. There's no bridge for the great
between us. sir. and. clearest
Of all. I'm for realizing IL But she
risked terrible things when she came to
me among that gang of thieves She
wore herself past bearing 10 save me
from such an easy thing as DEATH
Now. here's me. a man. a big. strong
man, and letting her live under that
fearful oath. SO worse than any death
'twould be for her. and lifting not a
finger to save her. cannot bear II.
SIR It's killing me by inchesl II any
evil comes TO her through Black Jack
Il comes from her angel like goodness
10 me. Somewhere he's hidingi
he is waiting his chancei
I