The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-12-13

I
rarci 10 see her tied IN n country clo'l
hopper"
She went back to her kitchen duties
full of new thoughts.
Il think 1t is plain to sec that MIR.
Kenwick l. in love with my girl, she
ruminated; "such a chance must not
he thrown away. must get kitch-
en- girl to do Babetle's work, for he
will he better pleased with the child
when he sees her in the parlor How
queer that this fine city gentleman
should fancy her, even in the COW
yard"
But in her enforcement Of a new
regime, Mrs Faxon only dropped one !
tyrannical blunder to take up anoth'
er; for Babette was lily fitted to act
the frivolous. fascinating queen of the
parlor and piano, as she was to serve
as the maid Of the milking and the
scullery.
Only for the kindly notice of Roy
Konwick, she would have beenuiierly
disconsolate.
This geAtlemsn was past forty, grand
and handsome, but quite austere in
his mien, and the girl never even
dreamed of loving him, while some
thing IN thequizzing hut interesting
expression with which he always re-
garded her latterly, filed her with
awe and a shy fear. '.t'' ID d
She cane down to the Parior one
afternoon to find him and Mrs. Faxon
together. She was dressed in sim
pie, cool, white muslin, Topped here
and there with pale pink ribbon knots,
bewitchingly becoming to her dreamy,
psrple blue eyes, and mtisticslly ar
ranged braids Of purplish black hair
in which was fastened a single scarlet
bud Of some late wild flower. len
"You must sing for Mr.. Kenwick,
Babette," said her mother.
4 WHAT shah 1 sings' inquired the
girl, timidly.
"What you can execute the best, OF
course" returned Mrs. Faxon, who.
believing herself TO be a paragon Of
maternal discretion, abruptly left the
two alone.
Babette attempted simple Italian
a,id, and in the midst Of IT, catching
a quizzical glance from Roy Kenwick 5
handsome, cynical eyes. broke down
and burst into tears.
Her sensitive soul scarcely liked be-
ing the football Of her mothers capri
ces.
Instantly Roy Kcnwick was at her
side. y i'-
care YOU Ill, Babette?7 he asked
kindly. .... 4..
"No, sir, she replied, turning her
tear-wet face away from him in n
shamed way.
"what ais you, them" he persist
ed, smoothing Der heavy braids with
his firm white hands. ':Tell me free
ly, my child. You know am very
fond of you IN the brotherly or father
ly sort of way, that can never he any
thing else. Come, tell me. DO you
think you would be happier shut up
in some solitary place working at such
beautiful things as those are?"
He pointed at the crude specimen
of her handicraft that adorned the
homely walls, and there was some.
thing speaking dumbly. on his keen
and friendly countenance that told her
that he had not been quite obliviOus to
her mothers darling schemes.
"Much happier" she answered, lit
ing her passionate, dark blue eyes to
his face. That's the only sort of life
| care for--an artists life. "
THAT you shall have on one condi.
tiOn," he said, holding toward her a
small blood stone, rough and fresh
from the mine, and streaked through
lie green surface with red jasper like a
dash ofgore. Take this and carve it
into a scarlet bud, like that yonder, in
a set of leaves Of its own natural green
ness, and when you bring it to me
perfected with the artistic touch Of
which ] think your genius capable,
any thing you ask shall be yours. |
am going home for a month or more,
but ! will fix things with your aunt,
so she shall give you sufficient leis-
ure."
And with true polite duplicity, Roy
Kenwick did arrange matters with
Mrs. Faxon, so that Babette was safe
in dolce far niente of liberty that she
had never known before.
The month and more time still,
passed swiftly, and under Babettes
deft fingers the rough silicious stone
had been transformed into a gem of
amazing art and beauty; for Roy Ken.
wick had sent he the sharp, cunning
instruments necessary for its perfec.
ton, and her surprising talent had
made the most of their use.
Her task was done, and hiding the
! Il 4 A