The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1892-04-09
bon-heur and a locke5 containing my

bon-heur and a locket containing nv
own likeness.
Poor little Babette! She was blessed
with the happy ignorance Of a child of
z, and yet she was precocious enough
to understand, in her own way, that
there was something serious the mat
ter between papa and mamma.
At lO.o'clock precisely she came ac-
companled by my mother-in-law's
maid, who said she would return for
mademoiselle at 2 in the afternoon.
Who can say where and how little
girls acquire tact? They must be born
with a germ oft, and, when developed,
it makes them either women OF the
world, capable of reading ones secret
thoughts or else gentle, patient nurses
for the sick and wounded. Babette
asked no more questions, but kissed
me rather gravely; sat on my knee be-
fore the fire, as was her custom, and,
when l gave her the locket, pressed
my likeness to her lips; then hung it
round her neck, Whispering:
81 will kiss it every morning and
every night"
When. we had finished breakfast,
however, she said, abruptly:
"Do you know mamma is coming
here at 4 o'clock"
eyes, my DEAR" 1 answered.
care you not going to wait to say
good-by to Iher?" she asked. After an
instant's hesitation l said:
81 cannot. / have to leave the
house at u; the train will not wait for
me-"
"Why can't you take another
train?" she persisted.
Observation-Disclosures l have promised
20 go by that train, and l must not
break my word, you know"
Then, forgetting her presence, l
added, half aloud: "Andyet, if l could
but see her alone!!"
Babette said nothing more, and
while 1 continued my prepara-
tons for going away she wandered all
over the silent house, collecting her
playthings, coming back occasionally
with doll or q little box o]ftreasures,
and looking unusually serious.
Her behavior wounded my paternal
love, for it seemed as if she were AL
ready Indifferent to our approaching
parting.
All too soon the servant came to
take my darling from me, and l need
ed all my fortitude when we kissed
each other for the last time. Never,
never should we meet again in our
home! The time dragged after she
had gone; but at last the clock struck
three. Then 1 sent my servant for a
carriage, and while he was gone, I
went into the bedroom and stood
looking at a portrait of Helen, paint
ed when she was a young girl. It be-
longed to her, so that I could not
take it with me; and, as l gazed at it,
my tears burst forth and l cried
aloud: "Forgive mel"
A slight noise startled me, and turn
ing round, [ saw Helen standing in
the doorway, pale and agitated. In
an instant / was on my knees before
her, pressing her hand to my lips and
murmuring:
"You have come anhour too soon
does this mean that you love me
still?"
Trembling and fearful, she replied:
"You have stayed an hour too long.
Why have you done so-what is the
use?"
just then Babette danced into the
room, and, clasping her arms around
our necks, exclaimed delightedly: 81
| did it, mammal put the clocks back,
papa!"
OF what avail are legal papers and
magistrates against the power OF
loves pardon? l went on my journey,
but in the company of Helen and Ba.
petite, my wife and child.
A Startling Proposal.
The proposed electric railway be-
tween Budapest and Vienna will CON-
prise 24O kilometres-149 miles-of
road, two main power stations, with
100 sub-stations, and only three OF
four stopping places. The cars will be
40 metres-about 131ft-long, and
will be fitted with four two-axle bogie
trucks. At each end OF q a there
will be two large electric motors, to
which the current will be transmitted
by contact wheels running on con-
ductor rails. The speed which it is
proposed to attain in regular working
200 kilometres-124-2 miles-pez
hour, and, in order to diminish the
1 air resistance, the ends of the cars will
be shaped like ships bows. The dis.
lance between Vienna and Budapest
is to be covered in Is minutes, and
cars are to be run at quarter-houl
intervals. Permission to build the
road has not yet been granted by the
authorities.