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Chapter XVIII
“Youain’ttheonlyonethatwascrucified!”
TheAngelcaughtFreckles’handandcarriedittoherbreast.
“Freckles!”shewailedinterror,“Freckles!Itisamistake?Isitthatyoudon’twantme?”
Freckles’headrolledoninwordlesssuffering.
“Waitabit,Angel?”hepantedatlast.“Begivingmealittletime!”
TheAngelarosewithcontrolledfeatures.Shebathedhisface,straightenedhishair,andheldwatertohislips.Itseemedalongtimebeforehereachedtowardher.Instantlyshekneltagain,carriedhishandtoherbreast,andleanedhercheekuponit.
“Tellme,Freckles,”shewhisperedsoftly.
“IfIcan,”saidFrecklesinagony.“It’sjustthis.Angelsarefromabove.Outcastsarefrombelow.You’veasoundbodyandyou’rebeautifulestofall.Youhaveeverythingthatloving,carefulraisingandmoneycangiveyou.IhavesomuchlessthannothingthatIdon’tsupposeIhadanyrighttobeborn.It’sasurething—nobodywantedmeafterward,soofcourse,theydidn’tbefore.Someofthemshouldhavebeentellingyoulongago.”
“Ifthat’sallyouhavetosay,Freckles,I’veknownthatquiteawhile,”saidtheAngelstoutly.“Mr.McLeantoldmyfather,andhetoldme.Thatonlymakesmeloveyoumore,topayforallyou’vemissed.”
“ThenI’mwonderingatyou,”saidFrecklesinavoiceofawe.
