Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-04-18

and that makes me happy to do, why.
then you completely failed in reading
my father and I'll ask him and JUST
show you"
She dropped Freckles' arm and turn
ed toward the entrance to the build
ing. "Why. look there" she exclaim-
ed.
Her father stood at a window,
watching the scene with eyes that
comprehended quite as thoroughly as
If he had heard every word. The an
gel made a despairing gesture toward
Freckles. The man Of affairs answer
ed her with a look of infinite tender
ness. He nodded his head. and the
veriest dolt could have read the words
his lips formed. Take him along!!"
A sudden trembling seized Freckles.
The angel turned on him with tri-
umphing eyes. She was highly strung
and not accustomed to being thwart-
ed. Did you see that?" she demand
ed. Nov are you satisfied? Will you
come" Freckles went.
On every hand she was kept busy
giving and receiving the cheeriest
greetings. She walked into the parlors
exactly as if she owned them. A long
row of people stared with varying de-
grees Of insolence and curiosity as
Freckles had felt they would. He
glanced at the angel. Now would she
see?
ION my SOUL" he muttered under his
breath. They don't aven touch herr"
She turned the full battery of her
eyes on the attendant.
81 want to mix a drink for my
trtend." she said. HE has a long, hot
ride before him. and l don't want him
etarted off with one of those old palate
teasing SWeetneSSeS that you mix just
on purpose to drive IL man back in ten
minutes. l want a clear, cool. spar
king drink that has Il tang of acid in
it,"
The angel compounded the drink and
carried the trimming glass to FreckleS.
He said in the mellowest OF Ill the
mellow tones Of his voice. iii be
drinking it to the Swamp Angel"
And as he had said to her that first
day the angel now cautioned him, "Be
drinking slowly"
AS the screen door swung behind
them one of the men ut the counter
asked of the attendant. Now, what
did that mean"
Exactly what you saw" replied he
rather CURLY. Were accustomed to
it in here. Hardly a day passes this
hot weather but she's picking up some
poor. god f%orsaken mortal and bring
ing him in. Then she comes behind
the counter herself and fixes up Il
drink to suit the OCCASION"
mighty queer specimen she had this
time" volunteered another. wonder
who he isl"
81 think" said a third. "that he's
McLean's Limberlost guard, and l sus
pect she's gone to the swamp with the
Bird Woman for pictures and knows
him that way"
Out on the street the angel walked
beside Freckles to the first crossing
and there she stopped.
did you insist on fixing that drinl
because you knew how intoxicatin!
'twould be-" asked Freckles.
There was subtlety in the compli
ment, and the angel laughed g~leefully
"Next time maybe you won't take 81
much coaxing," she said.
II wouldn't this if I had known you.
father and been understanding 70,
better. Do you really think the Birt
Woman will be coming again.
The angel jeered. wild horse:
couldn't drag her away" she cried
"She will have hard work to wait tn
week out. | shouldn't be in the leas
surprised to see her start any hour
Freckles couldn't bear the suspense
it had to come.
"And you:' he questioned, but b.
dared not lift his eyes.
"Wild horses me. too," she laughed
couldn't keep me away either! Now
goodby."
FreckleS was half way to the Lin
berlost when he dismounted. He coul(
ride no farther. because he could no
see the road. He sat down under
tree and. leaning against it,. burst int
a storm of sobs that shook. twisted
and rent him. If they would remint
him Of his position. speak condescend
ingly or notice his hand he coult
bear it. but this-it would surely xii
him! His hot, pulsing Irish bloo(
could not bear it. What did the,
mean? Why did they do it? Wer'
they like that to every one? Was i
pity?
1t could not be. for he knew that the
Bird Woman and the angels father
must know that he was not really Nc
Leans son. and it did not matter tt
them in the least. In spite Of acct
dent and poverty. they evidently ex
pected him to do something worth
while in the world. That must be his
remedy. He must go to work on hi:
education. He must get away. He
must find and do the great thing OF
which the angel talked. For the tirs1
time his thoughts turned %anxiously to
ward the city and the beginning Of his
studies. Mclean and the Duncans