The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-11
The Locket Man,


can't have any supper till mademoiselle
gets those vests done. We didn't have
much for dinner" she added, rehectively.
Mile. Cecilia, sewing by the window.
smiled brayely az the childish face above
the faded brown pinafore. Then she look
ed at the pile Of heavy vests on the chair
beside her and sighed
Not yet, cherie," she said. Have pa
tience. Well have a good supper after
l get the money for them; perhaps some
swet erackrs, too
Babette nodded gayIE She closed her
door again and went back TO her seat
On the top stair
I'VE mustn't bother mademoiselle when
she's so busy, an besides it hurts her
10 talk she carefully explained TO Marie
Antoinette.
All. Yes, Babette remembered how mad
emoiselle used TO sing in church and at
concerts, and earn such lot of money
till she lost her voice.
That's after she 'dopted you and me.
We're waits, you know, Marie
Marie Antoinette listened with resig
nation.
An she spent all her money. an they
didn't make her voice well again, an
now there's a big doctor who come an
she's not got any money TO go an get
cured" Babette's unchildlike eyes grew
big and solemn. AN she don't tell US
bout the 'locket man any more. He's
a nice man. When he was little boy he
lived right next door TO mademoiselle,
way of IN the country"
she rocked her knees and sang part OF
a lullaby 10 Marie Antoinette, but Marie
Antoinette wasn't sleepy.
Babette grew tired, of the stiffness and
the darkness. She wondered if IL was
too cold to go out. She opened the door
again and looked cOaXingly into Nile.
Cecilia's tired eyes.
Were going up to the corner, me and
Marie, to see the BIRDS she said
Mademoiselle nodded.
"Au right, cherie. Run along. Don't
so any further, and come back soon.
Out upon the streets boys were playing
marbles, their dirty hands blue with the
cold, and the first hand organ of the sea-
son was grinding out wheezy dance.
Babette listened a moment. then. tuck
ing Marie Antoinette securely under one
arm, went on uD the street and stationed
herself contentedly before the windows
Of a bird store.
People smiled at the odd little figure.
Some gave a few pennies. More passed.
Babette took courage. Now it was a
quaint Easter carol, now a lullaby, now
an uneven chant. She began to grow tired.
and Marie Antoinette hung head down.
ward in a detected fashion.
She was growing hungry, too, and the
afternoon faded into dusk. Mademoiselle
would worry if she didn't go soon; but
there was so little money in the cup.
A big tear splashed down the little dark
face, and she wiped it away with Marie
Antoinette's sprigged calico skirt
Suddenly some one touched her on the
shoulder.
Babette looked up into the brown eyes
bent upon her. She noticed the pointed
beard and curly hair, and light came
into her eyes.
Why" she said. Its the locket man.
The locket man smiled family.
"'Who's the locket man'?'' he said.
"Why. it's you-it's Richard, you know,
in the locket-in mademolselle's locket.
You're the little boy she used to tell me
and Mary bout. We're 'dopted, me an
Marie"
What are you begging this way for?
Mademoiselle must earn a good deal OF
money singing" he said, harshly.
Babette looked up into his face.
30. but she sews vests now, an we
don't have nice things any more, an she
cries lots of nights. She's lost her voice,
you know
Lost her voice-Cecilia?"
Babette nodded YEARLY.
AN she's paid out all her money, an
they couldn't make her well again, an
we come to Poverty Flats, an there's a
doctor now who'll cure her. only ali her
gone-an' I'm so hungry"
Babettes tired little voice broke. He
looked down at her
Come" he said; take me home with
you
yes" he said, confidently. it'll be all
right now
Mile. Cecilia, sewing by the little win
dow that looked out over blackened roofs
and tail chimneys, cried a little 10 her
self that afternoon. She wondered what
was going 10 become of her and Babette.
II she only hadn't BaDettei But she
had taken the waif in days OF pros
perity; the little one was such a loyal
soul. and besides she was French and the
poorhouse was a lonely place for the or
phan. Perhaps il would De better If sc
had let the child go. There one was sure
of something to eat and a place TO sleep.
at least, and she was sure or nothing any
more.
She thought of the dear old days when
her father was alive, teaching French in
the country academy-when Richard
Hemingway lived just across the garden.
What good times they had together-un-
til her father died. Everything was diff
ferent after that She had the inherited
Legrand pride and independence. She
would be no mans portionless bride.
She did not tell Richard that-she knew
he would not listen. She had slipped
quietly away 10 the city with her little
stock Of money. and a friend of her faith
er's had helped her on to success. In
the height of her prosperity, after she
had taken Babette. she read OF Richards
departure TO a western state in the IN
terest OF a mining concern. and for awhile
her heart had failed her. What If he
should never come back. or something
should happen that he would never know
i was for him she was singing and work
inE-for him. and not for fame?
Then she lost her voice and she knew
i was the end of al her dreams. She
fought bravely. but little by little her
money drifted away and her voice did not
come back.
The door opened and some one stepped
into the room.
She held her work nearer the window.
Daylight was giving place to dusk. Shad-
ows lurked IN the low ceiied corners.
" here could Babette be?
I'm glad you've come back, cherie.''
said mademo;selle. not looking Up.
Cecilia. dear heart, don't send me
away
"D-ck. o Dick"'
Then she forgot her lost voice her pow
erty. her independence, and went into MS
arms like q child. And from the threshold
she heard Bsbette saying IN her happy,
tired voice:
.'It's the Iocket rnan'-it's Richard. Are
you CAD, mademoiseIle? baltimore Her
aid
Major Lowrie and the spider
(From Public ODiniou)
Major Louvre IS the hero q al interest
.uz superstition Before Atbars he dis