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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1912)
Ml FRtCKLES 5Ty. you ruuTdYt " w-k-TTTlng nie If ' lltl ! AX" i felled tbe Oiist tree in tbe Lira- PROLOGUE. TWj romance of Freckles and the Angel of the Limbertost is one of the most novel, entertain ing, wholesome and fascinating stories that have come from the pen of an American author in many years. The characters in this sylvan tale are-: Freckles, a plucky waif who faards the Limberlost timber leases and dreams of angels. The Swamp Angel, in whom Freckles' sweetest dream ma terialixes. McLean, a member of a lumber company, who befriends Freckles. Mrs. Duncan, who gives moth er love and a home to Freckles. Duncan, head teamster of Mo Lean's timber gang. The Bird Woman, who is col- teeting camera studies of birds for a book. Lord and Lady O'More, who come from Ireland in quest of a lost relative. The Man of Affairs, brusque manner, but big of heart. Wessner, a timber thief who wants rascality made easy. " Black Jack, a villain to whom thought of repentance comes too iate. CHAPTER XXI. , SEIXXHO A BIBTOBIOBT. B HECKLES' sinewy Oat knotted Into the coverlet. Ill chin pointed celllngward and hi bead rocked on the pillow. "Walt a bit, angeir be begged. "H firing me a little time!" The angel rose with controlled fea tures. She bathed bla face. straigDten td bis balr and held water to his Up. It seemed an age before be reached for ber. Sbe took his band and leaued ter cheek upon It "Tell me, Freckles," she whispered ofUy. lf I con.v said Freckles. In biting agony. "It's Just this. Angels are from above. Outcasts are from below You've a sound body and you're beau tlfulest of all. You have everything that loving, careful raising nod money can give you. 1 have so mucb less than nothing that 1 don't suppose I bad any right to be born. It's h sure things nobody wanted me afterward, o, of course, tbey didn't before tiom of them should nave been telling yon long ago." "If that's all yon have to tell. Freckles, I've known that quite awhile." said the angel stoutly. "Mr. McLean told my father, and he told me. That only makes me love you more, to pay for all you've missed." "Then I'm wondering at you." said Freckles. In a voice of uwe. "Can't yon see that If you were willing and your father would come and offer you to me. I couldn't be touching the soles of your feet. In love me, whose people brawled over me. cut off me hand, and throwed me nway to freeze and to die! Me. who has no name Just as much because I've no rteht to any, as because I don't know It. When I wn little, t plunned to And By G03 Stated Pirtar COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PACE & CO. to tnis country and start a family with none of tbelr'relntlres here Chi cago Is a big ctry. and grown people could be wiped out In a lot of ways, and who would there ever be to find to whom their little children belonged? It's all so plain to me. Oh, If 1 could only make you see!" She burled her face In the pillow and presently lifted It. transfigured. Now 1 have It!" she cried. "Oh. dear heart! 1 can make It so plain! Freck les, can yon imagine you see the old Limberlost trail? Well, when we fol lowed It, you know, there were places where ugly prickly thistles overgrew the path, and you went ahead with your club and bent them back to keep them from stinging through my cloth ing. Other places there were great shining pools where lovely, snow white lilies grew, and you waded In and gathered them for me. Oh, dear heart, don't you see? It's thlsl Everywhere the wind carried that thistledown, oth er thistles sprang up and grew prick les and wherever those Illy seeds sunk to the mire the pure white of other lilies bloomed. But. Freckles, there was never a place anywhere about the Limberlost, or In the whole world. where tbe thistledown floated and sprang up and blossomed Into white lilies! Thistles grow from thistles and lilies grow other lilies. Dear Freckles. think bard! You must see it! ou are lily, straight through! Vou never, nev er could have drifted from tbe thistle patch. Where did you get tbe courage to go into tbe Limberlost and face Its ter rors? You Inherited It from the blood ot a brave father, dear neurt. Where did you get tbe pluck to bold tor over a year a Job that few men would have taken at all? Vou got It from a plucky mother, you bravest of boys. You wad ed single banded into a man almost twice your size and fought like a demon, just at tbe suggestion that you could be deceptive and dishonest. Could your mother or your father have been untruthful? Here you are, so hungry and starved out that you are dying for love. Where did yon get all that capacity tor loving? yon didn't Inherit it - from hardened, henrtless people who would disfigure you and purposely leave you to die. thut's one sure thing. Yet you will send miser able years torturing yourself with the Idea that your own . mother mtirtit na ve cut' off that hand. Stmuie un you, Freckles: tour mother would have done this" The angel deliberately turued buck the cover, slipped up the sleeve and laid her Hps on the scars. "Freckles," she cried, "come to your senses! Be a thinking, reasoning man! You Just must see it. i.ike breeds like in this world, ton must be some sort ot reproduction ot ymr parents, and I uni not nfrwd to vom-n for them, not for a minute. "And then, too, it more pnxit is needed here it is: .Mr .Mci.enu soy that you ore the most perfect gen tleman be ever Knew, and lie tin traveled the world over. Then there's your singing. I don't believe there ever was a mortal with a sweet er voice than yours, and while inai doesn t prove anything there is a point that does, .lust the urtle train Ing you Duo tmtu mat cnoiriimsiei won't account ror the wonderful ac cent and ease with which you situ Somewhere in your vum blood in a marveiousiy trained vocalist: we every one ot us nelleve that. Kreekies. "Why does my rather refer to yoi constantly as being ot tine perceptions and honor t Uecause you are. Freckles Why doe the lllrd Woman leave her precious work and stay here to help look after you t I never beard ot ber losing any rime over any one else. It's because sDe loves you. And why does Mr. McLean turn all of his valuable business over to hired men and wntcb over you per sonally? And why is he bunting ex cuses every day to spend money on you? My father says McLean Is full Bootes close with a dollar. He la a hard headed business mnn. Freckles, and he Is doing It because he finds me father and mother when I grew 1" '""""J " vl " " up Now I know me mother deserted ! ean a" 00 na more lQau WB ow nie. and me father was maybe a thief and surely a llur. The pity of me suffering and tbe watching over me has goue to your bead, dear angel, and It's me must be thinking for you If you could be forgetting me lost bnnd. where I was raised, and that I bnd no name to give you, and If you would be taking me as I am. some day people such as mine must be might come upon you. 1 used to pray Ivery night and morning and many times the day to see me mother. Now I only pray to die quickly and never risk the eight ot ber. 'Tain't no ways possible, angel! lt'a a wlldnesa of your dear head. Oh. do, for mercy sake, kiss me once more and be let ting me go!" "Not for a minute!" criod tbe angel. "Not for a minute, if those are all the reasons yon have. There are boqsands, of roupg conrjles whocome bow to do. deer heartl Freckles, are you listening to me? Oh. won't you see It? Won't you believe It?" "Oh. angel." chattered the bewil dered Freckles, "are you truly mean ing it? Could It be?" "Of course It could." flashed the an gel, "because It Just Is!" "Hut you can't prove it" walled Freckles. "It ain't giving me a name or me honor!" "Freckles." said the angel sternly, "you are unreasonable!" Why. I did prove every word I said! Everything proves It! You look here! If you knew for sure that I could give yon your name and your honor, and prove to you that your mother did love you, why, then would you Just go to breathing like perpetual motion and bang on for dear life and get well?" A great light leaped into Freckles' eyes. "If I knew that, angel," be said sol- em you berlost smash on me "Then you go right to work." said the augel. "and berore night I'll prove one thing to you: I can show you eas ily enough how much your mother loved you. That will be the first step, and then the rest will all come." Freckles caught her sleeve. "Me mother, angel: Me mother!" he marveled hoarsely. "Did you say you could be finding out today if me moth er loved me? Uow? Oh. angel: All the rest don't matter. It only uie moth er didn't do it!" "Then yon rest easy." said the angel, with large confidence. "Your mother didn't do It Mothers or sons like you don't do such things as tout I'll go to work at once and prove it to you The first thing to do is to go to that home where you were and get the little clothes you wore the night you were left there. I know thnf they are re quired to save those things carefully. We can find out almost all there is to know about your mother from them. Did you ever see tbecn, Freckles?" "Yis." said Freckles. The angel literally ponnced on blm. "Freckles, were they white?" she cried. "Maybe they were once. They're all yellow with laying, and brown with blood stains now." said FTeckles, the old note of bitterness creeping In. "Vou can't be telling anything at all by them, angel." "Well, but 1 Just can!" said tbe an gel positively. "But bow? Angel, tell me bow!" Why. easily enough. I thought you'd understand. People that can uf- ford anything at all. always get white for little new bables-llnen and lace. and the very finest things to be had. There's a young woman living near us who cut np her wedding clothes to have fine things for ber baby. Moth ers that love and want their babies make fine seams, and tucks, and put on lace and trimming by hand. They sit and stitch, and stitch -little, even stitches, every one Just as careful. Their eyes shine and their faces glow. When they have to quit to do some thing else, they look orry. and fold up their work so particularly. There isn't mucb worth knowing about your mother that those little clothes won't teH." A new light dawned in Freckles eyes. "Oh. angel! Will you go now? Win you be hurrying?" he cried. "Klght away." said tbe angel. "I won't stop for a thing, and I'll hurry with nil my might" She smoothed his pillow, straight ened the cover, gave him one steady look in the eyes, and went quietly from the room. Outside the door. Mcl.enn and the surgeon anxlonsly awaited her. Me lnn caught her shoulders. "Angel, what have yon done?" he demanded desperately The angei smiled definnee. "What have I dime?" tu repeorerl "I've tried to MTe Irecklcil" Me i. eon groaned fWhiif W ytmr fathee snyT he cried "It strikes me.' hum the angei. "that what Freckles snld would b to I tie M!lil ' Freckles'" burst out Mcen. "WhHt con id h say?" "II,. ici-mi-d to be nbl to tnv evrnl thlnip. said the angei swnetiv. "I fancy one that concerns vou trem at present was. that if my father would, offer nie to him he would not have me'' "And no one knows why liettr "hnn I do," thundered McLean "F.very duv be must astonish nie with some new fineness. " He urliMil the surgeon until he al most lifted him from the floor. "Save him"' he commanded. "Rave him!" be Implored, "lie Is too fine to be sacrificed." "His salvation lies here." said the surgeon, stroking the angel's sunshiny hair, "and I can read In the face ot her that sbe known bow she Is going to work It out She will snve him!" Tbe angel sped laughingly down the hall, aud Into tbe street. Just as she was. "I have come," she said to the matron or tbe home, "to ask If you will allow me to examine, or, better still, to take wltb me, the little clothes that a hoy you called Freckles, discharged last (all wore the night you took hlra In." Tbe woman eyed her In greater astonishment than tbe case called for. "Well. I'd lie glad to let you see tbem.' sbe said, "but tbe fact Is we haven't tbem. I do hope we haven't made some mistake. I was thoroughly convinced, and so was tbe superinten dent. We let his people take those things away yesterday. Who are yon. and what do you want with them?" Tbe angel looked at tbe matron fazed and speechless. "There couldn't bave been a mis take," she continued, seeing tbe girl's distress. "Freckles was here when I took charge, ten years ago. These people bad it all proved plain as day that be belonged to thorn. They bad blm traced to where he ran away down In Illinois last fall, and there tbey completely lost track of him. I'm sorry you seem so terribly disappointed, but It was all right Tbe man was bis uncle, and as like the boy as be could possibly bo. He was almost killed to go back without blm. If you know where Freckles Is, they'd give big money to find out" "Who are tbey?" stammered the an gel. "Where are they going back tor "They are Irish folks. Miss," said the matron. "Thev have been In Chi V ? T ? t t ? V A bargain If ricos OH i ti 3 ft nattrBiuinf iUU&HBHUi Owing to the fact that we are crowded to the limit for room and have no space to properly display our gas oline engines, we are are going to close them out at the extraordinary low prices listed below: 1 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y t Y Y Y One ll2 h. p. Chopie Engine $170.00 One 4 h. p. Fairbanks-Morse Engines 150.00 One 2xi h. p. Waterloo Boy Engines 57.00 One 2i h. p. Hired Hand Engine ...... 40.00 Two y2 Waterloo Boy Engines 37.50 One 1 h. p. Aremoter Engine 27.00 Y PLATTSMOUTH - - - - . - NEBRASKA f Y Y Y t Y X Y Y X Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y X Y Y X Y Y Y LOCAL NEWS luuiit', cago and over The country for the last three months, bunting blm everywhere, Tbey have given up and are starting home today.. The" "WHO ABB TOO AXD WHAT DO TOC WANT WITH THBJI?' "Did tbey leave "an address? Where could I find tbemr burst In the angel. Tbey left u card, and I notice in morning paier-has4 tbe man's picture and Is full of tbem. They've adver tise! h great deal In the city papers. It's n wonder you haven't seen some thing." "Trains don't run right. We never get Chicago puirs,' snapped the an gel. "Please give me that card quick ly. Tbey may get away from me. 1 simply have to catch them!" Tbe matron came back wltb a card. "Their addresses are on there," she said. "Both here In Chicago and at their home. They made them full and plain, and I was to cnble at once If I got the least clew of blm at any time If they've left the city, you can stop them In New York. You're sure to catcb tbem before tbey sail If you hurry." Tbe matron caught up a paper and thrust it Into tbe angel's band as sue rushed tor tbe street. v (To He Continued.) ' From Friday's Dally. Mrs. W. II. Scylicrt of Cullom arrived this morning and spent the day with IMattsmoulh rela tives. Jidin Colbert, t tie Weeping Wa ter real estate man, was in thu city esterday looking after mat ters in the county treasurer's olllce. George Sayle8 and wife were passengers to Omaha on the morning train today, where Mr. Sayles was called on business for a few hours. Fred Krecklow of Louisville visited his father-in-law, fleorgo Shoeiiian and wife, of this city, for the day, coming down on No. 4 this iniirning. James Terryberry motored in from his farm yesterday after noon for a short time, returning to Murray, where he had a suit pending in court. Mrs. Henry Lohnes of Peoria, Illinois, who has been visiting the Philip Stoehr home for a few days, left for her home last even ing on No. 2 in response to a mes sage informing her of the sick ness of a member of her family. L. O. Todd and Hans ChrT5?en sen, prominent farmers of near Union, were in the city yesterday to pay their taxes, and took oc casion tod rop in at the Journal olllee nnd renew their subscrip tion for another year. Mrs. Charles Campbell of South Ilend and Mrs. VanSickle and her daughter, Mrs. O'Neil, both of Ashland, spent the day yesterday wilh Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Young and daughter, Mrs. Karl I.eesley, nnd departed for I heir homes on No. 33. These gentlemen were pleasant callers at this olllce, Mr. Pautsch renewing his subscription for an- oiner year. William and Louie Meisinger drove in from their homes neap Cullom this morning and did the week-end shopping. John Albert went to Omaha on. the morning train today, where he will visit his nephew, John Mei singer, jr., al the hospital for a short time. Fred Henton of Missouri Val ley, own, who has been visiting his aunt, Mrs. Adams, for a few days, returned to his home this morning. Mrs. John Musgrave of Hanni bal, Missouri, and her daughter, Mrs. M. Shade, of Marquette, Neb., who have been paying a visit to Hugh Irwin and family for a time, departed for their homes this morning. William Fight of the precinct was in the city last evening at tending to the week-end shopping. Mr. Fight has the large part of his farm sowed to grass, having sowed much of it last fall, and the same is coming on nicely this spring. He will have but five or six acres for corn this season. Prof. A. L. Stockdale of the Union schools, and Attorney C. L. (leaves of Union were Platts- mouth visitors this morning, look ing after some matters of busi ness pertaining to the schools of Union. Judge A. J. Heeson has been secured to deliver the com mencement address, which will occur on the night of May 24. From Saturday's Dally. Kmc s, .Paulsen and H. E. Pankoiiin of Louisville were visitors in this city today, having come down to the county seat to al lend In some business matters. Buys New Automobile. Superintendent of the shops William Ilaird is the owner of a line new up-to-date $2,500 J. I. Cas ifl-horse power automobile, which he purchased through M. Manspeaker of this city. Mr. Haird believes in patronizing the home dealers when a good article is offered for sale. Mr. Ilaird dis posed of his Ford, which he pur chased last year, to A. W. Smith. Ovrlsv,ed if ! 3 3 'A f JBeBSBUWeB I eearssrsMrseyesreysayaa OVERLAND MODEL 59T 5&y $900 for this elegant 30-horsc power car. $1,200 for the same, only larger and 35 horse power. $1,500 for the 45-horsc power, still larger. The above models are made in two-passenger, four-passenger and five-passenger cars just to suit size of family. iTPhone or write us if interested. Cars in stock here for immediate delivery. Union Overland Company, c Agents Eastern Cass County, Union, Nebraska 8 4