freckles-第47部分

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the　woods。　　I　never　will　quit　the　timber　business　while　there　is

timber　to　handle　and　breath　in　my　body。　　I　thought　if　you　didn't

make　a　profession　of　music；　and　had　any　inclination　my　way；　we

would　stretch　the　partnership　one　more　and　take　you　into　the　firm；

placing　your　work　with　me。　　Those　plans　may　sound　jumbled　in　the

telling；　but　they　have　grown　steadily　on　me；　Freckles；　as　you　have

grown　dear　to　me。〃



Freckles　lifted　anxious　and　eager　eyes　to　McLean。



〃You　told　me　once　on　the　trail；　and　again　when　we　thought　that　I

was　dying；　that　you　loved　me。　　Do　these　things　that　have　come　to　me

make　any　difference　in　any　way　with　your　feeing　toward　me？〃



〃None；〃　said　McLean。　　〃How　could　they；　Freckles？　　Nothing　could　make

me　love　you　more；　and　you　never　will　do　anything　that　will　make　me

love　you　less。〃



〃Glory　be　to　God！〃　cried　Freckles。　　〃Glory　to　the　Almighty！　　Hurry

and　be　telling　your　mother　I'm　coming！　　Just　as　soon　as　I　can　get　on

me　feet　I'll　be　taking　that　ring　to　me　Angel；　and　then　I'll　go　to

Grand　Rapids　and　be　making　me　start　just　as　you　planned；　only　that

I　can　be　paying　me　own　way。　　When　I'm　educated　enough；　we'll

allthe　Angel　and　her　father；　the　Bird　Woman；　you；　and　meall　of

us　will　go　together　and　see　me　house　and　me　relations　and　be　taking

that　trip。　　When　we　get　back；　we'll　add　O'More　to　the　Lumber

Company；　and　golly；　sir；　but　we'll　make　things　hum！　　Good　land；　sir！

Don't　do　that！　　Why；　Mr。　McLean；　dear　Boss；　dear　father；　don't　be

doing　that！　　What　is　it？〃



〃Nothing；　nothing！〃　boomed　McLean's　deep　bass；　〃nothing　at　all！〃



He　abruptly　turned；　and　hurried　to　the　window。



〃This　is　a　mighty　fine　view；〃　he　said。　　〃Lake's　beautiful

this　morning。　　No　wonder　Chicago　people　are　so　proud　of　their　city's

location　on　its　shore。　　But；　Freckles；　what　is　Lord　O'More　going　to

say　to　this？〃



〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃I　am　going　to　be　cut　deep　if　he

cares；　for　he's　been　more　than　good　to　me；　and　Lady　Alice　is　next

to　me　Angel。　　He's　made　me　feel　me　blood　and　race　me　own　possession。

She's　talked　to　me　by　the　hour　of　me　father　and　mother　and

me　grandmother。　　She's　made　them　all　that　real　I　can　lay　claim　to　them

and　feel　that　they　are　mine。　　I'm　very　sorry　to　be　hurting　them；　if

it　will；　but　it　can't　be　changed。　　Nobody　ever　puts　the　width　of　the

ocean　between　me　and　the　Angel。　　From　here　to　the　Limberlost　is　all

I　can　be　bearing　peaceable。　　I　want　the　education；　and　then　I　want

to　work　and　live　here　in　the　country　where　I　was　born；　and　where

the　ashes　of　me　father　and　mother　rest。



〃I'll　be　glad　to　see　Ireland；　and　glad　especial　to　see　those　little

people　who　are　my　kin；　but　I　ain't　ever　staying　long。　　All　me　heart

is　the　Angel's；　and　the　Limberlost　is　calling　every　minute。　

You're　thinking；　sir；　that　when　I　look　from　that　window　I　see　the

beautiful　water；　ain't　you？　　I'm　not。



〃I　see　soft；　slow　clouds　oozing　across　the　blue；　me　big　black

chickens　hanging　up　there；　and　a　great　feather　softly　sliding　down。

I　see　mighty　trees；　swinging　vines；　bright　flowers；　and　always

masses　of　the　wild　roses；　with　the　wild　rose　face　of　me　Ladybird

looking　through。　　I　see　the　swale　rocking；　smell　the　sweetness　of

the　blooming　things；　and　the　damp；　mucky　odor　of　the　swamp；　and　I

hear　me　birds　sing；　me　squirrels　bark；　the　rattlers　hiss；　and　the

step　of　Wessner　or　Black　Jack　coming；　and　whether　it's　the　things

that　I　loved　or　the　things　that　I　feared；　it's　all　a　part　of　the　day。



〃Me　heart's　all　me　Swamp　Angel's；　and　me　love　is　all　hers；　and　I

have　her　and　the　swamp　so　confused　in　me　mind　I　never　can　be

separating　them。　　When　I　look　at　her；　I　see　blue　sky；　the　sun

rifting　through　the　leaves　and　pink　and　red　flowers；　and　when　I

look　at　the　Limberlost　I　see　a　pink　face　with　blue　eyes；　gold　hair；

and　red　lips；　and；　it's　the　truth；　sir；　they're　mixed　till　they're

one　to　me！



〃I'm　afraid　it　will　be　hurting　some；　but　I　have　the　feeing　that　I

can　be　making　my　dear　people　understand；　so　that　they　will　be

willing　to　let　me　come　back　home。　　Send　Lady　O'More　to　put　these

flowers　God　made　in　the　place　of　these　glass…house　ilegancies；　and

please　be　cutting　the　string　of　this　little　package　the　Angel's

sent　me。〃



As　Freckles　held　up　the　package；　the　lights　of　the　Limberlost

flashed　from　the　emerald　on　his　finger。　　On　the　cover　was　printed：

〃To　the　Limberlost　Guard！〃　　Under　it　was　a　big；　crisp；　iridescent

black　feather。








End