"Not if I am needed.I have a few minutes.Can you be telling me briefly?""I am the Limberlost girl to whom your wife gave the dress for Commencement last spring,and both of you sent lovely gifts.There is a reason,a very good reason,why Imust be hidden for a time,and I came straight to you--as if I had a right.""You have!"answered Freckles."Any boy or girl who ever suffered one pang in the Limberlost has a claim to the best drop of blood in my heart.You needn't be telling me anything more.The Angel is at our cottage on Mackinac.You shall tell her and play with the babies while you want shelter.This way!"They breakfasted in a luxurious car,talked over the swamp,the work of the Bird Woman;Elnora told of her nature lectures in the schools,and soon they were good friends.In the evening they left the train at Mackinaw City and crossed the Straits by boat.Sheets of white moonlight flooded the water and paved a molten path across the breast of it straight to the face of the moon.
The island lay a dark spot on the silver surface,its tall trees sharply outlined on the summit,and a million lights blinked around the shore.The night guns boomed from the white fort and a dark sentinel paced the ramparts above the little city tucked down close to the water.
A great tenor summering in the north came out on the upper deck of the big boat,and baring his head,faced the moon and sang:"Oh,the moon shines bright on my old Kentucky home!"Elnora thought of the Limberlost,of Philip,and her mother,and almost choked with the sobs that would arise in her throat.On the dock a woman of exquisite beauty swept into the arms of Terence O'More.
"Oh,Freckles!"she cried."You've been gone a month!""Four days,Angel,only four days by the clock,"remonstrated Freckles."Where are the children?""Asleep!Thank goodness!I'm worn to a thread.I never saw such inventive,active children.I can't keep track of them!""I have brought you help,"said Freckles."Here is the Limberlost girl in whom the Bird Woman is interested.
Miss Comstock needs a rest before beginning her school work for next year,so she came to us.""You dear thing!How good of you!"cried the Angel.
"We shall be so happy to have you!"
In her room that night,in a beautiful cottage furnished with every luxury,Elnora lifted a tired face to the Angel.
"Of course,you understand there is something back of this?"she said."I must tell you.""Yes,"agreed the Angel."Tell me!If you get it out of your system,you will stand a better chance of sleeping."Elnora stood brushing the copper-bright masses of her hair as she talked.When she finished the Angel was almost hysterical.
"You insane creature!"she cried."How crazy of you to leave him to her!I know both of them.I have met them often.She may be able to make good her boast.
But it is perfectly splendid of you!And,after all,really it is the only way.I can see that.I think it is what Ishould have done myself,or tried to do.I don't know that I could have done it!When I think of walking away and leaving Freckles with a woman he once loved,to let her see if she can make him love her again,oh,it gives me a graveyard heart.No,I never could have done it!You are bigger than I ever was.I should have turned coward,sure.""I am a coward,"admitted Elnora."I am soul-sick!
I am afraid I shall lose my senses before this is over.
I didn't want to come!I wanted to stay,to go straight into his arms,to bind myself with his ring,to love him with all my heart.It wasn't my fault that I came.
There was something inside that just pushed me.She is beautiful----""I quite agree with you!"
"You can imagine how fascinating she can be.She used no arts on me.Her purpose was to cower me.She found she could not do that,but she did a thing which helped her more:she proved that she was honest,perfectly sincere in what she thought.She believes that if she merely beckons to Philip,he will go to her.So I am giving her the opportunity to learn from him what he will do.
She never will believe it from any one else.When she is satisfied,I shall be also.""But,child!Suppose she wins him back!"
"That is the supposition with which I shall eat and sleep for the coming few weeks.Would one dare ask for a peep at the babies before going to bed?""Now,you are perfect!"announced the Angel."I never should have liked you all I can,if you had been content to go to sleep in this house without asking to see the babies.Come this way.We named the first boy for his father,of course,and the girl for Aunt Alice.
The next boy is named for my father,and the baby for the Bird Woman.After this we are going to branch out."Elnora began to laugh.
"Oh,I suspect there will be quite a number of them,"said the Angel serenely."I am told the more there are the less trouble they make.The big ones take care of the little ones.We want a large family.This is our start."She entered a dark room and held aloft a candle.She went to the side of a small white iron bed in which lay a boy of eight and another of three.They were perfectly formed,rosy children,the elder a replica of his mother,the other very like.Then they came to a cradle where a baby girl of almost two slept soundly,and made a picture.
"But just see here!"said the Angel.She threw the light on a sleeping girl of six.A mass of red curls swept the pillow.Line and feature the face was that of Freckles.
Without asking,Elnora knew the colour and expression of the closed eyes.The Angel handed Elnora the candle,and stooping,straightened the child's body.She ran her fingers through the bright curls,and lightly touched the aristocratic little nose.
"The supply of freckles holds out in my family,you see!"she said."Both of the girls will have them,and the second boy a few."She stood an instant longer,then bending,ran her hand caressingly down a rosy bare leg,while she kissed the babyish red mouth.There had been some reason for touching all of them,the kiss fell on the lips which were like Freckles's.
