Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-01

blood. and the gnnts and mosquitoes
were clustering about II. Her fee
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 II
+ 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 you'll" he ordered.
She smiled on him indulgently.
"whyT she inquired.
"Did anybody let you come here and
not be telling you Of the snakes p
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 lcggins, and nice,
/ pnrboilcd time she must DO having!
Worst dose ever had. and Id moth.
ing to do but swelter."
Twill you be coming out of thcref"
grOaned Freckles.
She laughed as II 1t were a fine Joke.
NIus DC IL j VI DC tCiiiIS yOu L
RATHER curled up OH 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
be urged insistently.
What perfectly delightful little
brogue you speak," she said. NY ia
Their is Irish, and half ought to be
enough to entitle me to do that much
'Maybe-if I'd-bc telling you" she
Initiated, rounding and accenting each
word carefully.
III you was understanding the dan
ger,' be continued desperately.
"Oh, | don't think there is much"
She tilted on the morass.
III you killed one snake here it's
probably oil 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 any rafting. Do your
"Would you be knowing 1t II you
did," asked Freckles almost impa-
tiently.
How the laugh Of the young thing
rippled!
Would he knowing it?' she mock
cd. well. you should see the swamps
of Michigan where they dump rattlers
out Of the mari dredges three and four
at a time"
Freckles stood astounded She did
know. She was not in the least afraid.
She was depending on rattesnake to
live up to his share Of the contract
The one characteristic an Irishman adj
mires in 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 seatedY'
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 a big
canvas and copy each side Of it," she
said. II never saw anything so beau.
tiful. How l wish l might stay here
with you. I will. some day. II 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. 1.-THE man
who told the Bird Woman said that
was the only place where the wires
were down. We drove away In, and
1t was drendful-over stumps and logs,
and in TO the hubs. suppose you
know. though. I should have stayed
in the carriage. but I was so tired. I
never dreamed Of getting lost ! sus.
pect ] will get scolded finely. 60
with the Bird Woman half the time
during the summer vacations. MY
father says learn lot more than I
do at school. and get 1t straight.
never came within smell Of getting
lost before. l thought, at first. 1t was
going to be horrid. but since I've found
you. maybe 1t win be good fun after
all"