The Washington times., 1929-02-16

dark cerise OF lronWort, the in.
tense orange of butterfly flower:
the strong rose Of. Joe-Pye weed:
and the blues OF wild asters and
chicory. In the fields the grain
was cut; great, yelIoW pumpkins
dotted the ground between the
shocks of corn, and at twilight the
fireflys lighted their tiny lanterns
over the golden sheaves Of wheat
and oats; the air was heavy with
the perfume of drying clover
hay and alfalfa. Many of the
smaller birds had gone South
for the winter, SO tlat their
dainty songs were replaced by
the harsh calls of greedy black
birds and ravens, as they sal.
Vaged what grain and corn they
could from the stubble. The air
was filled with the chattering of
squirrels, as they 5usily carried
nuts and grain into winter
quarters in hollow trees.
After Mclean had been with
Freckles for a week, he had
written to the Angel 1t was the
typical letter of business man,
but 1t put hope, and new life
into the Angel.
Dear Girl:
Il am with Freckles' at the
O'More home in Ireland. The boy
has been terribly ill. but is now re-
cuperating nicely. He is fighting
with himself, trying to get back
his equilibrium, trying to decide
what is best for him, and all the
time filled with remorse because of
his letter TO you.
Lord O'More has passed out of
the picture. for reasons which l
will explain later. l am merely
standing by to see that Freckles
is allowed to follow his own in
clinations, when he finds out what
they are.
Meantime, my dear, be patient
with us-we are just couple of
laundering males. but we mean
well, and we'll be coming along to
you one of these days. / can as
sure you, our hearts are in the
right place, and that place Is with
you. your. father and mother. and
the Limberlost.
Ever faithfully,
JAMES r. MCLEAN.
This letter the Angel kept with
her constantly, and whenever the
blue fog became too thick, she
read it, She went regularly to
Freckles' room in the Limberlost,
and kept the vines trimmed, the
fallen leaves cleared away, and
the mosses watered during the hot,
dry spells of August; SO now 1t
was cool and restful. the mosses
green, and the autumn leaves flut-
tered over it like myriads OF 1ei'
low Emperor" moths.
1t was dusk on an evening IN
mid October. The Angel had
gotten through one of her diff
ficut daysAone of those we'll
known days when everything goes
| wrong.
She took her banjo and went
to the Limberlost; she was sitting
in Freckles' room playing and
singing their little Irish melody,
when from somewhere-surely
she could not be wrong-from
somewhere behind herz-Freckles
voice Joined her in the chorusI
Stupefied. she looked - sure
enough-there he was - taller,
broader and older, but the same
old sFreckles, with the laughing
eyes and bright, rebellious hair.
FPeckles came toward her and
held out his arms-both arms
and without word, she rushed
into them. Then an age-old scene
followed, but one ever new to
lovers. who have been parted for
a long time. When they re-
covered from their state Of
b1eathless ecstasy, Freckles ex.
plained everything. satisfactorily,
OF course, the while he put q
gorgeous ruby ring on her
finger, red, just like the heart
of you, Angel
I've a surprise for you, dear
heart. Mr.. Mclean is married to
a lovely woman he met on the
boat. They are at your home
now, waiting for us. When we
arrived, and you were not theres
knew you were here"
Why didn't you let us know
you were .conling?"
Someway, r. couldn't bear the
thought of seeing you first in q
railroad station. This is perfect
just as I would have had it,"
How did you get here?"
Your Mother drove me; when
we saw your car, she let me out,
and went back"
I'm unspeakably happy for
Mclean"
He says / am to manage mis-
business while they go abroad on
their honeymoon; meanwhile I'm
to go to Chicago for music les.
sons every week, and then"
and then?"
And then, when they return,
you and are to go abroad on
our honeymoon, and we are to
stay a year. and am to study
music some more" and they
passed into Oblivion again.
N"Angel, you've never said q
word about my new hand--I have
two, one wood and one hard rub
Der, jointed different ways, and
gloves of all colors," and he told
her all about Paul. who had left
them and gone to his own
Mother.
Its great If you're pleased.
dear, but personally, your hand
was never the slightest concern
ri never even thought about it,"
So they strolled along the little
path leading out of the shades
| and shadows. of the Linberlost.
to the open road Of life stretching
before them. lighted by the
Eolden CLAW of an enormous har-
vest moon,
THE END.
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