The Washington times., 1929-02-13
Freckles. Frets in Sick>Bed
With Constant Thoughts of
the Angel as Kathleen
Watches Over Him


cbirped to me, How is Freckles?"
/ told her all the big things you
were going to do hadn't ma
teriaIized yet. but that l was
sure they would soon. They will,
won't they?
Your room in the Iimberlost is
loVelier than even; Mclean makes
the lumbermen stay away from it,
and allows no one in the Swamp
hut Mother and me. Your big
black vultures stfIl hang high in
the sky; sometimes they fly low
and drop a feather to me for good
luck. / have one stuck in the side
of my field hat; it perches there
rather defiantly
Now / must stop and start moV-
ing the Swamp out of the music
room; I'm planting all of the
flowers outside, and I'm sure most
of them will grow. I'm hoping
for a letter with great news soon.
AS always, my best love to you,
Swamp Angel-but don't
look a speck like an angel THIS
surnmer-Tve been out a lot,
and I'm all Drowned up.
Kathleen. who was almost con-
stantIy in the room, came in Just
as Barlow was finishing, and she
Siscerned the effect of the letter.
She had tried to take possession
of Freckles. and she lowered over
him constantly. Barlow disliked
her more and more; he could see
that his master was more at e-Se
when she was out of the room.
Barlow. why did you read Mr..
Terence that letter? You know
that he is not to be bothered with
mail" Kathleen was provoked;
Barlow knew what she said was
true, but he thought the letter
would do Freckles good, and II
had.
"He asked me IL there was any
mail from America, Miss, ana
when told him there was he
asked me to read it to him" And
may the Lord forgive me for tnat
lie. he added under his breath.
''Wen, see that it doesn't hap
pen again. We want the doctors
orders obeyed implicitly"
'sYes Miss but he put the
precious letter in his pocket: the
poor SICK DOg WOuAu ~
him to read it again:
Kathleen seated herself on
low stool beside the bed, ana TOOK
Freckles' hand in hers. Chum
was lying across the foot OF the
bed; he had scarcely left the room
since his masters illness; II they
put him out he barked ana
whined so incessantly they had
to let him in again.
"You are better today; aren
YOU Terence?" Kathleen leaned
over. and with the other hand
stroked Freckles' cheek: his head
was a mass of bandages. Freckles
was impatient under her touch,
and turned his head without an
swering.
Aunt Ellen came in. looking
wan and pale. IF we could only
do something-this waiting Is be-
coming uncomfortable.
At the sound of her voice,
Freckles' eyes opened, and he at
tempted smile He seemed 10
sense the fact that at heart she
was on his side; he felt a large
sympathy for her: living with
Uncle Maxwell could not be easy.
He pulled his hand away from
Kathleen and held it out ID Aunt
Ellen. Sorry Pm being such a
nuisance, he whispered. Take a
nap-you look tired"
But he would talk only at rare
intervals; mostly he lay with his
eyes closed. and it was difficult to
tell whether he was sleeping, or
merely pretending because ne
wanted to be let alone. But his
pulse was steady, and he mad no
fever.
Most peculiar-most peculiar,
said the brusk, kindly doctor. HE
is very young to be so Indifferent
-doesn't seem to care whether he
lives or dies-makSs 1t extremely
difficuIt-extremel
One evening, as the Angel
dressed for a party. she thought
OF Freckles and his unanswered
letter BY this time he must nave
gotten the one she wrote IN the
day her Dad was married. she
thought. and thought, and the
more she thought the more ridicd-
lous the whole situation became.
She had thrashed out all the cir
cumstances. with him, once-hls
birtb-hjs family--his education =
/ his work-his missing hand. Why
should she go through it all
again? What was the matter with
him? Had he no faith in her!
OF what stuff did he think she
was made? He should know she
would not change; despite her
love, her pride was hurt.
Bv the time she heard Dicks
whistle she was all washed up
on being sorry for Freckles, and
had begun to feel sary for her
self. That was a dangerous stage.
AS she stood framed in the
light of the open doorway, Dick
caught his breath: never had she
looked so lovely. She was wear
ing drapes and folds and layers Of
pale green chiffon, creation her
mother had brought her, as she
laughingly expressed it. 'as re-
ward of merit for keeping house,
and running the bank while her
parents were on their wedding
trip"
"Don't look like Mrs. Astor-
anyone bring my plush hOrseY'
she demanded, as she piroutted
before them Hello, Dickie, why
so solemn"
Dick, recovering from his mo-
mentary lapse, smiled. Hello
not solemn--just momentarily lost