The Washington times., 1929-02-13
FRECKLES FINDS THE ANGEL By Jannette Sraton Porter

There she turned DaCk the, Deu-
ding, and busted herself laying out
extra blankets, strips of cloth for
bandages, and whatever else she
could find that might he needed in
an emergency.
The four men, almost thoroughly
exhausted, were just able to carry
their still unconscious burden up
stairs. and lay it on the bed, be-
fore they collapsed.
Then. indeed was the well-or-
dered routine of the O'More house
hold upset. Confusion, strange
subdued voices, soft footfalls,
shaded lights, and then silence
and matchmaking g-waiting-.
For Freckles had a four-inch frac-
ture in his skull, and for 80 hours
he lay unconscious; but he had
no fever, and his pulse held steady.
There was nothing to do but wait,
and hope that consciousness would
return, and with it, sanity. Lord
and Lady O'More did all within
their power, for beneath their for
NAL and dignified exterior, they
were extremely fond of their
nephew.
In the far away Limberlost, the
Angel was seated on moss and
lichen covered log in Freckles'
room, leaning back against the
smooth bark of giant sycamore
tree. On her lap lay Freckles'
letter: her hands hung futilely
at her sides; her puzzled eyes
searched the sky as If seeking
courage and advice among the scat
tered clouds, whispering breezes
and flutter of wings. She glanced
again at the letter:
F'ailure-conventio
ing ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
pied -- cannot risk hurting your
pride or being a burden-forget
me-"
The Angels eyes settled on a
butterfly. fluttering over cluster
of wild hyacinths. What an emo
tionless, passionless existence" she
muttered.
I rmality-dignity-
all the things we taught him were
trivial and Observation-Disclosures
a change for him-how he had
suffered-what agony and chaos
of mind had driven him to write
like this"
The Angel, as she had often
done before, had brought this
letter to the Swamp because she
enjoyed Freckles' letters more in
the surroundings in which she
best remembered him. But this
one was so perplexing-so out of
harmony with all the happy little
sounds around her-this Freckles'
was q stranger to her-she could
not stand it; she took her letter
and went back home. Her dad
and mother were to arrive on the
afternoon train. just in time to
save my life, she thought rue
fully.
The Angels mind was still in
whirl when she met the train:
never had she been so glad to
see two people. Her dad stopped
at the bank to see how things
were there, having noticed nothing
strange about his daughter. But
the new mother noted at once the
unnaturally brilliant eyes, the
constant conversation and the
quick, nervous movements After
she had freshened herself from
her journey. she questioned the
Angel.
What's on your mind, girlte?"
she drew the Angel down beside
her on a divan and kissed her.
The Angel fished the letter out
of the front of her dress. and
silently handed it to her mother.
She read it through once, and
then she read it again.
why, what have they done TO
our boy--it doesn't sound like him
at ALL"
"No. 1t doesn't. Oh, Mother,
how could he have changed like
that? I'm sure couldn 't-neither
could you"
You must remember that
Freckles is abnormally sensitive,
my dear; also that he has their
blood in his veins-some OF II
may have cropped out
Yes, but he said he loved me,
this doesn't sound much like it.
''Oh, yes, 1t does-that's ex-
actly what it does sound like.
This time. Angel. you will nave
to rescue him from something
worse than death"
II have some pride; can't
keep chasing him. and arguing
with him forever" /"
quite right. my dear-there
must be some other way-this is
case where the woman must
be the stronger"
" thought / had all this fool
ishness out of his head once;
thought it was out to stay,
Guess | overestimated my ability
a bit"
eWell, there is no need to de-
eide in hurry; we will just
think it over for few days, and
perhaps a way will suggest IT.
self
Yes, / have a mental picture
of a bright little suggestion rush
ing up and knocking on the
door,
Her mother smiled. That
doesn't sound like you, MY dear.
Try not to worry. All of us
can't be wrong about Freckles."
The Angel was restless and un.
satisfied She took the letter and
started out.
Where are you going, DEAR"
I'm going down to the bank
to see if Dad will have any
brilliant ideas on the. subject Of
red-haired. freckle-faced, stub.
born Irishmen," and the Angel
kissed her mother as she de-
parted.
Hello, Dad" she SAID, a few
minutes later. How dc you like
the way ] ran your business while
you were away?"
1T seems to be all right. How
did you stand the strain?"
TIM not so good. but it's not